Germanic languages and literatures, the English language, literature and rhetoric, Biblical literature in English, mathematics, astronomy, botany, and church history. The work of this department for the past year is summarized as follows: Total number individual students, July 1, 1895, to July 1, 1896... 466 40 496 The work of the correspondence-study department of the University of Chicago has always been maintained upon an equal footing with that of the university proper. This close relation has deprived the work of what might be called popularity, and for this reason the enrollment has never been as large as might be expected for work of this kind. The following statistical table will be of interest with reference to the development of the work in connection with the University of Chicago for the past four years: It will be noticed from the above table that the number of matriculated students has gradually increased, while the number of those not matriculated has gradually decreased. When the work of the correspondence-study department was inaugurated, there was a very large number of nonmatriculated students enrolled in divinity subjects, especially in the Semitic languages and literatures. The much better advantages now afforded for residence study along these lines has served to greatly decrease the number who desire this work by the correspondence method. The persons most interested in the work have been teachers and ministers of the gospel, and a large majority of the students have been classed as "special.” During the past year 87 courses, representing 680 minors, have been in progress in 18 different departments. The total yearly enrollment has been 426. CLASS-STUDY DEPARTMENT. One method of extending university instruction, obviously the best method when it can be employed, is that of organizing classes outside of the university to pursue the same lines of study that are followed within its walls. The great center of population in which the University of Chicago was located, presented a favorable opportunity for the practice of this method of carrying higher education to the people. This opportunity has not been neglected. From the beginning the university has sought to form in convenient parts of the city and in suburban towns Saturday and evening classes, in which persons whose occupations or circumstances prevented their matriculation as resident students might still enjoy the benefits of university instruction. Class instruction is offered in the following departments: Philosophy, pedagogy, political economy, political science, history, sociology, sanitary and domestic science, Latin, French, New Testament language and literature, Italian, English, chemistry, biology, botany, physiology, zoology, and archæology. The working terms of this branch of the work correspond almost exactly to the terms of the public-school year. The work for each quarter of the past year is summarized as follows: Average number per class during autumn quarter. Average number per class during year .................... Total number of instructors conducting classes, 1895-96 Tabulated statement of nonresident class work, 1892–1896. 625 322 195 1,142 51 12 9 8 10 24 20 15 35 11 129 15 109 1881 5 15 13 29 39 24 5 68 192 496 186 278 961 625 322 195 111 1,142 a No courses offered. A glance at the first table shows that the number of classes, as well as the number of students, has gradually increased from year to year. The total number of students enrolled during the year 1895-96 compares favorably with the number of students in residence at any time. The probability that in a few more years nonresident students will outnumber those in actual attendance, will strike many as an interesting proof of the importance of the work. From the second table it may be observed that the most popular subjects, estimated by classes, have been Latin, English, mathematics, history, and political economy, in the order named. If estimated by actual attendance, English takes the lead, with Latin second and history third. History, English, Latin, French, and mathematics are the only subjects for which there has been a continual demand. The total number of classes for the four years is 235, with a total attendance of 2,423. |