Rhodes Scholarships

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ARSHIPS, THE, THE, fel- fel Oxfor lowships for general general study University, England, established, to the number of 189, under the will of Cecil John Rhodes (q. v.) for the purpose of perpetuating, in so far as possible, the idea of dominant Anglo-Saxon leadership, by educating Anglo-Saxon youths of proper attainment. For this purpose the founder divided the allotment of students between South Africa, Australasia, Canada, the Atlantic Islands, the West Indies, the United States, and Germany. The United States received 96 scholarships. The arrangement for the election of the American scholars has been so settled as to provide for the election of scholars in 32 States each year and, in several of the States, the matter of designating the students has become established by rotation among the institutions of higher learning. The candidates are required to qualify in examinations covering Latin, Greek, and elementary mathematics. They must be men 20 to 25 years of age and must have attended a recognized institution of advanced educational standard for at least two years. In addition, a Rhodes scholar must be unmarried and a citizen of the United States to qualify for an appointment from the United States. The effect of these requirements has been to secure as incumbents of these scholarships men who have passed beyond the general age at which the English schoolboy enters his university. This has insured a more serious and mature type of man and when taken in connection with the rigorous personal qualifications demanded in the selection of candidates, it has been productive of a very high grade of scholarship and character among the students which may be expected to react in the form of social influence, somewhat approximating the desire which the donor expressed in his will when he said that it remained his belief that "a good understanding between England, Germany and the United States will secure the peace of the world, and that educational relations form the strongest tie." Awarded on a basis of points and taken from a unit of ten, the founder suggested the following significant standard: three-tenths for proficiency in literary and scholastic attainments; two-tenths for success in outdoor 24 sports; three-tenths for distinguishing qualities of manhood; two-tenths for qualities of leadership; and provided further with discriminating wisdom that the candidate's qualifications in literary and kindred lines and his qualities of leadership should be judged by his masters, but that the other characteristics of excellence in sport, with all that was thereby implied, and manliness, should be determined by the vote of his fellowstudents. This system of selection has been followed.