Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 148

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