University Turns Its Engineering School Over to Graduate Study

Despite the rigid terms of the Gordon McKay endowment, the University has succeeded in enabling undergraduates to take all their engineering courses under the Division of Engineering Sciences in the College rather than at the Engineering School, it was disclosed yesterday. The School will continue on a strictly graduate basis with courses in the different branches of the field leading to the degree of Master in Science in Engineering and Doctor of Science.

The reorganization is the result of the tendency in recent years for the majority of students to secure undergraduate instruction under the Division rather than at the School. Since Mr. McKay had insisted that elementary as well as advanced courses were offered under the terms of his $3,000000 fund, however, the University has found it difficult to meet the situation.

The New Set-Up

Under the new set-up which will take effect next fall, instructors of undergraduates will still receive their salaries from the endowment, and the equipment will remain the same. The change in short is solely an administrative one which permits men to take engineering courses along with their other work more freely.

The change was approved by the Trustees of the McKay estate after consultation with their lawyers.

The detailed provisions of the plan, including specifications for the use of the income of the Gordon McKay Endowment written specially for the CRIMSON are as follows:

A. "Beginning with the academic year 1935-36, Harvard University proposes to offer instruction in the Engineering Sciences as follows:

Undergraduate Instruction

"Undergraduate instruction in the Engineering School will be abolished. A Division of Engineering Science in Harvard College will offer elementary and advanced instruction in the Engin- cering Sciences with particular reference to mechanical engineering in the broader sense. Advanced instruction will be of such character that the elementary instruction offered will constitute an adequate preparation for it. Undergraduates intending to concentrate in this field will be subject to the entrance requirements established by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for admission to the College, so long as such requirements are not of a character to exclude graduates of public high schools. Requirements of concentration and distribution for undergraduates concentrating in this field will be determined from time to time by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and by the Division.

Graduate Instruction

"A Graduate School of Engineering will offer graduate instruction in those fields of Engineering which it is most competent to undertake. The courses of instruction there offered will be of such character that the undergraduate instruction offered by the Division of Engineering Science in the College will constitute adequate preparation for them.

B. "Under the administrative conditions proposed above the income of the Gordon McKay Endowment will be applied to the following purposes:

1. "Salaries of professors and of officers of instruction of subordinate rank engaged in giving instruction in the Graduate School of Engineering and in the Division of Engineering Sciences in the College, and in those courses in Physics, Chemistry, and Geology distinctly applied in nature and forming a part of a homogeneous program of instruction in engineering in its broadcast sense; and salaries of such officers engaged in research in these fields. Full professors devoting their time wholly or principally to such instruction or research, or both, will be appointed as Gordon McKay Professors. Where the entire time of an officer of instruction is not devoted to such instruction or research, he need not be called a Gordon McKay professor or instructor except is provided in the proceding sentence, but shall nevertheless receive a separate appointment on the McKay Foundation in addition to such other appointment as he may have and only such part of his salary as is proportionate to the work done under the former appointment will be met by McKay income.

2. "Maintenance of buildings, or parts of buildings, to the extent to which they are devoted to such instruction or research by officers on the McKay Foundation and their assistants.

3. "Payment for supplies, equipment, administrative and other expenses to the extent to which they are incidental to such instruction or research as is carried on by officers on the McKay Foundation and their assistants.

4. "Aid to undergraduates concentrating in the Division of Engineering Sciences and to students in the Graduate School of Engineering, such aids to be awarded as coming from the Gordon McKay Endowment.

5. "If necessary or desirable, buildings to house such instruction or research, or both, may be constructed from the income of the Endowment.