,o C |k ^nttemtp of Chicago FOUNDED BY JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER ANNOUNCEMENTS Vol. VIII FEBRUARY, 1908 No. 1 ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Published five times a year February, March, April, May, June THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 58th Street and Ellis Avenue CHICAGO, ILL. Entered February 28, 1907, at the Post-office at Chicago, Ill., as second-class matter, Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/assistancetostud00univ_0 ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO The various kinds of assistance offered by the University, or in connection with it, may be classified under seven heads: (i) Fellowships; (2) Scholarships; (3) Prizes; (4) Remissions of Tuition; (5) University Service; (6) Other Service in the University; (7) The Funds of Students’ Fund Society; (8) Outside Em¬ ployment. I. FELLOWSHIPS The University bestows annually Fellowships to the value of $21,500 in the Graduate Schools, and $2,700 in the Divinity School. Fellowships range from $120 (covering tuition) to $520 ($400 besides tuition). Candidates for Fellow¬ ships should have attained proficiency in some department; and should have shown promise of ability in research. In general, it is expected that an applicant for a Fellowship will have spent at least one year in residence study in some insti¬ tution of good standing since receiving his Bachelor’s degree. In the assignment of Fellowships, special weight is given to evidence of ability to conduct original investigation. The University provides a regular form on which applications for Fellowships are made. These forms are sent on request. Applications should be addressed to the Deans of the Graduate Schools, and should be submitted not later than March 1 of the year preceding the academic year for which appointment is sought. The annual assignment of Fellowships is made in the later part of March, at the same time as in most other universities. A Fellowship is available for any three of the four quarters of the year beginning in June following the date of appointment. The University asks of its Fellows a modicum of service, consisting of work (a) as an instructor; ( b ) as an assistant in reading examination papers; (c) as an assistant on a University journal; or ( d ) as an assistant in one of the departmental laboratories, museums, or libraries. In no case is a Fellow allowed to devote so much time to the work here indicated, as to interfere seriously with his own study. Each Fellow makes a written report to the President at the beginning of each quarter. This report outlines his work as a student, and the work assigned to him as an officer of the University for the current quarter, and is indorsed by the Head of the Department before it is transmitted to the President. II. SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships are divided into two classes: Honor Scholarships and General Scholarships. Honor Scholarships in the Graduate Schools and in the Senior Colleges are assigned on the recommendation of departments. Twenty such scholarships are assigned each year to students entering the Graduate Schools from the Senior 3 4 THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Colleges, and twelve to students entering the Senior Colleges from the Junior Colleges. There are also a limited number of Honor Scholarships assigned on entrance to the University, for excellence of work in preparation for college. Holders of Honor Scholarships who maintain high standing in their University work, may secure a renewal of the scholarship for the second year. No service is required of holders of Honor Scholarships. General Scholarships are assigned to applicants who have attained distinction in their work. They are intended especially for students who need financial assistance. Holders of General Scholarships are, as a rule, expected to render the University a limited amount of service for the aid which they receive. This service is usually in libraries, but is not so restricted. Applications for scholarships are made to the Deans of the several Schools and Colleges. III. TUITION FEE PRIZES A number of prizes are awarded annually by the University. In the Junior Colleges declamation and debating contests are held during each of three quarters of the year. Each of the successful contestants each quarter receives a scholarship yielding the amount of the University tuition fees for one quarter. The value of $480 in scholarships is awarded annually to winners of the University debate, in the contest for the University debating team. To the winners of the University oratorical contest for the selection of a representative of the University in the contest of the Northern Oratorical League, scholarships to the value of $240 are awarded. Tuition-jee prizes may be used only jor payment of fees due after the date of award, and not to cancel notes or meet deferred payments. IV. REMISSIONS OF TUITION The Board of Trustees has authorized remissions of tuition for a limited number of students who are in need of financial aid. Such remission is granted only to students whose scholarship is creditable. As a rule, the remission will not exceed three-fourths of the tuition, but in special cases this proportion may be increased. Students whose tuition is remitted, either wholly or in part, are expected to render the University some service in return. This service is usually in connection with libraries; but students receiving this assistance must be ready to perform any service which the University may ask of them. In special cases, the Deans administering the remission of tuition have power to exempt students from any part or all of the service ordinarily required. Applicants for remission of tuition fill out a duplicate blank furnished by the Deans, stating their reasons for the application, and giving such other information as is deemed necessary. In the case of minors, one of the applications may be forwarded to parents or guardian, before the assignment is made. All applications for remission of tuition are made to the Dean under whom the student is registered. ANNOUNCEMENTS 5 V. UNIVERSITY SERVICE Another means of assistance to students consists of University Service. Stu¬ dents who receive assignments to such service work a limited number of hours as clerks or messengers in the various offices of the University, and are remunerated at a rate varying from twenty to thirty cents per hour, according to the nature of the work. Compensation takes the form of a voucher covering the whole or part of the quarterly tuition fee. In general, no student receives an appointment who has not been a member of the University for at least one quarter, and paid Univer¬ sity fees in full for this period. A creditable record in studies, and faithful per¬ formance of work assigned, are also conditions of University Service, and it is understood that an assignment may be cancelled at any time for failure in either of these respects. Applications must be filed at the Office of Information and Exchange at least three weeks before the opening of the quarter in which service is to be rendered. Applications are submitted to the Deans for approval. VI. OTHER SERVICE IN THE UNIVERSITY Remissions of tuition to the amount of $1,200 are granted to the University Choir, each person receiving a portion or all of his tuition fees, according to his ability. Members of the University Band receive help in a similar way, the appro¬ priation for tuition for members amounting to more than $2,500. Thus there is a special opportunity at the University for persons of musical talent to defray a portion of their expenses. Inquiries on these points may be addressed to the Director of the University Choir, and the Director of the University Band, the University of Chicago. Another source of income for students is waiting on table in the Men’s Com¬ mons, the compensation being furnished in board. The rate of compensation for this service is twenty cents an hour. VII. THE STUDENTS’ FUND SOCIETY As a rule, the University does not encourage students to borrow money. There are cases, however, where this may be done wisely. For such cases, limited provision is made by the Students’ Fund Society, composed of a number of citizens of Chicago, who work in co-operation with representatives of the University. This society makes loans to students upon the joint recommendation of its own committee and the committee of the faculty. Students are not eligible for loans until they have been members of the Univer¬ sity for at least one quarter, and have made creditable records as students. Appli¬ cations are considered by the committee of the faculty at the end of each quarter; but in order that the necessary preliminary information may be secured, all appli¬ cations for loans to be granted in any quarter must be submitted at least a month in advance. Application blanks, which may be secured at the Bureau of Infor¬ mation and Exchange, should be filled out in duplicate, and deposited with the President’s Secretary. In addition, each applicant should consult personally with the chairman of the faculty committee, Professor J. Laurence Laughlin. 6 THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Failure to consult with the chairman is sufficient reason for the rejection of an application. VHL OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT The University of Chicago is situated in a city where opportunities for employ¬ ment are many. It follows, therefore, that a large number of students, both men and women, are able to earn a part of their expenses by outside work, if they have the requisite energy and ability. Among the kinds of employment which such students have found are the following: tutoring; clerical work; typewriting and stenography; draughting; bookkeeping; collecting accounts; work in railway stations; operating stereopticons; lighting street lamps; carrying newspapers; canvassing for City Telephone Co.; operating night telephone switch-board; canvassing for City Directory; work for express companies; clerking on Satur¬ days and holidays in stores; waiting on table; housework; caring for lawns and furnaces; night clerking in hotels; packing books and furniture; operating soda fountains; addressing and mailing circulars; posting advertisements; ushering in theaters; janitor work; caring for children; moving and dusting books; wheeling invalids; carrying meals to invalids; work in newspaper offices; work as chauffeurs; work as companion; work in post-office; pen-work copying; decorating halls for entertainments; serving at polls on election day; assisting photographers; other miscellaneous work. Persons of special skill, as stenographers, operators of stereopticons, photog¬ raphers, etc., have an advantage over those without special training. But experience has proved that students of ability and persistence may succeed, even without initial skill in any one line. A word should be said in regard to tutoring. This work is under the special supervision of the University, which aims to protect students from incompetent guidance. To this end, the Board of Recommendations keeps on file a list of official tutors who have been indorsed by the Heads of Departments in which they offer instruction. Persons desiring pupils should invariably obtain this indorsement and formally register with the Board, and persons needing the assist¬ ance of tutors, should, in their own interests, require this formality of tutors whom they engage. In general, students may be greatly aided in finding employment by availing themselves of the services of the University Employment Bureau, which is con¬ ducted without charge either to employers or employees. This Bureau keeps, on the one hand, a register of students who come to it seeking employment, and on the other, a list of positions. By letters addressed to employers stating the opportunity which the Employment Bureau affords them to obtain capable help, and by personal interviews and applications, the Manager of the Bureau seeks to maintain and increase the number of positions which are open to University students. The Bureau has been able to aid a considerable number of women to find employment in house work, the care of children, as companions, etc. ANNOUNCEMENTS 7 SUMMARY The means of assistance to students are summarized in the following table: Fellowships University service Scholarships Other service in the University Prizes The Students’ Fund Society Remissions of tuition Outside employment Although the aggregate of assistance to students is large, employment cannot be guaranteed, and no amount of organization can take the place of energy and economy in the student himself. Every student must bear the chief burden of his own support, and of this burden no organization can relieve him. Few students are equal to the task of carrying on University work successfully, and at the same time earning sufficient money to meet all their expenses. It is especially important that students coming to the University for the first time have sufficient money to meet their expenses for a few months at least. The opportunities for earning money increase as students become acquainted with the city and prove themselves efficient.