Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 129

Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science was not only a prolix title, but it no longer accurately described the institution. Its tuition had long since ceased to be free, and its products were engineers and chemists. Consequently, in 1886, the trustees voted to petition the Legislature to change the corporate name to "Worcester Technical Institute," a name that had been used unofficially for several years. Somewhere in the process of petitioning, this was amended to read: "The Worcester Polytechnic Institute," and the change was so authorized, effective July 1, 1886. The need of an official seal for the Institute was expressed as early as 1884, and numerous designs were made by students. The final design was submitted by Professor Kimball soon after the change in corporate name and was adopted in June, 1888.

Obviously there was a limit to the number of students who could be admitted with free tuition. When the enrollment, in 1887, passed the 150 mark, two-thirds coming from Worcester County, the problem became serious. Could the trustees set a limit, without violating the terms of John Boynton's gift? With tuition figured at $150, the income from the original gift provided for only 33 boys. Eventually the question became one of necessity. In 1889 it was announced that Worcester County students would receive free tuition "so far as the income of the funds given to the Institute for the purpose of free tuition" would allow. The plan adopted provided for forty students from the county, out of an enrollment of over one hundred. It was a sharp reduction, producing many expressions of regret, particularly from the Worcester High School, from which had come seventy of the students then in the Institute.

Religious training for students also came within the jurisdiction of the trustees. When a question about continuance of chapel arose in 1884, the Board directed that these devotional exercises be held every school day and that all students be required to attend. The Principal was given permission to excuse students. This permission was productive

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Last Modified: Fri Jul 30 11:15:25 EDT 1999