Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/368

364: CORNELL UNIVERSITY remarkable for its many picturesque cascades. It contains apartments for professors and stu- dents, a large reception room, and various university offices. Attached to the university farm are a farm house, barns, and other out- buildings. In addition to these buildings the construction of a handsome dormitory for fe- male students has been begun through the mu- nificence of Henry W. Sage of Brooklyn, N. Y. A chapel, the gift of the same person, is now erecting at a cost of $30,000 ; and the present president has built at an expense of $40,000 a president's house, which he has deeded to the university. Cornell university is under its charter an organic part of the educational sys- tem of the state, and is visited by the regents of the university of New York. Having accepted the proceeds of the land granted by congress for the encouragement of agricultural and the mechanic arts, it is bound by the conditions of the act of incorporation, " without excluding other scientific studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts." It is also bound to educate free of all fees for instruction one student from each of the 128 assembly dis- tricts of the state. This has been construed to mean an appointment for four years ; so that each district may appoint one student each year, and thus have four students in the university. These students are to be selected by yearly competitive examinations from the various public schools and academies maintained by the people of New York. The number of trus- tees is 24, including the founder, who has been made a trustee for life, 8 ex officio trustees, and 15 others who are elected for a term of five years, three retiring each year. The ex cfficio trustees are the eldest male lineal de- scendant of the founder, the president of the university, the governor and lieutenant gov- ernor of the state, the speaker of the assembly, the state superintendent of public instruction, the president of the state agricultural society, and the librarian of the Cornell library in Ithaca. The graduates of the university are Cornell University. entitled to fill the place each year of one of the retiring trustees, while the other two are elected by those trustees whose term of office has not expired. The trustees meet regularly twice a year ; but the more immediate super- intendence of the university is confided to an executive committee. The special features of Cornell university which distinguish it from many other institutions of learning are: 1, non-resident professors ; 2, a wide liberty in the choice of studies ; 3, the prominence given to studies which shall be practically useful; 4, the absence of a daily marking system ; 5, the unsectarian character of the institution. Simple religious services are held daily in the univer- sity chapel, but attendance is not compulsory. The faculty is divided into resident and non- resident professors. There are 32 of the for- mer, who have control of all measures of aca- demic government and the various courses of study; the latter are chosen from among echolars of acknowledged eminence in particu- lar departments of learning, and are now (1874) seven in number, each of whom delivers a series of lectures each year. Besides these, there are several special instructors. The plan of instruction embraces three general courses : in arts, in literature, and in science. There are features common to all, but the leading char- acteristic of each course is implied in its name. In the first named or classical course, which corresponds to the usual academic course in colleges, prominence is given to the ancient languages ; the course in literature is intended for those who wish to devote special attention to history, political and social science, and modern literature, especially English ; while in the last named course scientific studies pre- dominate, though modern languages, history, literature, and kindred subjects are incor- porated. Each of these courses covers four years, at the completion of which the degree of bachelor of arts, of literature, and of science is conferred; a student may, however, enter