In 1884 the trustees asked the faculty to study and report on a
four-year course. Principal Thompson had advocated the change several
years before and had insisted that the course at Rose be of four
years. That neither trustees nor faculty was very enthusiastic about
the matter is indicated by the fact that it was not again considered
until 1889, at which time the faculty reported that adoption of a
four-year course was inexpedient.
The course was thoroughly overhauled in 1890, in order to introduce
more Design and Applied Mechanics. This revision was made under
Professor Alden's guidance and approved by the trustees in 1891. Early
the following year the faculty again proposed a plan for a four-year
course. Details were worked out in succeeding months, and in November,
1892, there was a joint meeting of the trustees and faculty to
consider it. Various professors set forth their opinions, all except
Alden, Sinclair, and Higgins being in favor of the change. After the
faculty had retired, the trustees voted to make the course of study of
four years' duration.
The detailed plan was adopted in January, 1893, to go into effect the
following September. Classes thereafter were to be known as Freshman,
Sophomore, junior, and Senior, a nomenclature that was a bit confusing
for a time, particularly to those who had to be juniors for two years,
this designation having previously been used for the first-year
class. The practice hours for the additional year, and one more period
of summer practice, compensated for more than three-quarters of the
former apprentice period. Entrance requirements were also increased by
the addition of Solid Geometry.
Electrical Engineering was introduced as a post-graduate course in
1889. It was open to graduates from the course in Mechanical
Engineering, and elected by three from the class of that year:
A. P. Allen, J. A. Baylis, and A. B. Kimball. Professor Kimball
proposed an undergraduate course in this branch two years later, but
withdrew his plan because of faculty opposition. In 1892, however, the
trustees adopted
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