The Beginning of a Four-Year College
Dublin Core
Title
The Beginning of a Four-Year College
Date
October 26, 1922
Creator
President Palmer
Description
According to this letter by president Palmer to the Alabama governor and the school's board of trustees, the first year of the four-year college was already underway by October 1922 in the home economics major--but all other majors still only offered three-year course studies. This offering of a four-year degree plan helped bring in new college applicants and fewer high school applicants overall, which would eventually lead to the discontinuance of high school courses. The letter then gives an outline of enrollment numbers over the past twelve years which show a reversal in the numbers of high school students versus college students--the high school students outweigh the college students greatly and then start to slowly decline as more college students are gained. The numbers indicate that even without the active discontinuance of the high school courses, there would no longer be enough students to effectively support the program within the next few years. The document also explains that there was not a college curriculum in place in the early years of the program to justify the small numbers.
The letter then laments that many students had decided to withdraw from the institution and go elsewhere before the semester even began, due to "unsettled ratings". Because of this, the letter moves to implement the new full, four-year college and explains that a committe was set in place to determine the worthiness of this cause.
Palmer then apologizes for the lack of a budget sent to the State Budget Commission, due to a new act that he had not been made aware of. Later in this letter, he fixes this issue and submits his budgets.
In the section "Training School" Palmer discloses that teacher training is a primary function of the college/institute as many of the schools in the area are under their supervision. The training school is paid for by the University with a sum of $8,080 or $119,343.54 (all inflation calculations in 2017 dollars) and the State/County/Town/District with a sum of then: $9,681.45 ($142,997.34).
Under the section "Library," Palmer says that the new library is almost completed and should be done by December 1, 1922, though it was supposed to be done by August 9, 1922--the delays were unavoidable.
"Extension Work" discusses giving teachers high school and college credits to encourage them to go back to college (particularly the Alabama Technical Institute and College for Women).
There is a brief recounting of the Montevallo Newsletter.
The letter also discusses the dairy farm's success within the school, revealing that the dining room receives seventy-two gallons of milk a day. Due to the need of a dairy care room, not only was the room built for $1,250 ($18,462.80), but a new course of study in the dairying field was developed. A new shed for storing hay and protecting the cattle was also built for $250 ($3692.56). He goes on to discuss more about how the cattle are beginning to pay for themselves.
President Palmer then gives his recommendations before signing off and also enclosing the salaries, budgets, and various other expense reports to the Budget Commissioner.
The letter then laments that many students had decided to withdraw from the institution and go elsewhere before the semester even began, due to "unsettled ratings". Because of this, the letter moves to implement the new full, four-year college and explains that a committe was set in place to determine the worthiness of this cause.
Palmer then apologizes for the lack of a budget sent to the State Budget Commission, due to a new act that he had not been made aware of. Later in this letter, he fixes this issue and submits his budgets.
In the section "Training School" Palmer discloses that teacher training is a primary function of the college/institute as many of the schools in the area are under their supervision. The training school is paid for by the University with a sum of $8,080 or $119,343.54 (all inflation calculations in 2017 dollars) and the State/County/Town/District with a sum of then: $9,681.45 ($142,997.34).
Under the section "Library," Palmer says that the new library is almost completed and should be done by December 1, 1922, though it was supposed to be done by August 9, 1922--the delays were unavoidable.
"Extension Work" discusses giving teachers high school and college credits to encourage them to go back to college (particularly the Alabama Technical Institute and College for Women).
There is a brief recounting of the Montevallo Newsletter.
The letter also discusses the dairy farm's success within the school, revealing that the dining room receives seventy-two gallons of milk a day. Due to the need of a dairy care room, not only was the room built for $1,250 ($18,462.80), but a new course of study in the dairying field was developed. A new shed for storing hay and protecting the cattle was also built for $250 ($3692.56). He goes on to discuss more about how the cattle are beginning to pay for themselves.
President Palmer then gives his recommendations before signing off and also enclosing the salaries, budgets, and various other expense reports to the Budget Commissioner.
Language
en-US
Coverage
October 26, 1922
Rights
University of Montevallo
Subject
Transition from Technical School to College
Contributor
Victoria Gould
Format
Paper
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Paper
Physical Dimensions
8.5” x 14” legal
Files
Collection
Citation
President Palmer, “The Beginning of a Four-Year College,” Archiving Montevallo, accessed May 4, 2024, https://carmichaeldigitalprojects.org/archivingmontevallo/items/show/170.