160 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF EDUCATION.
[t is being given unworthily ; it is being given for studies en absentia. There is an
stitution in the State of Tilinois which has put out a paper saying that it will give the
degree for one or two years’ work ¢n absentia, sometimes with an oral examination, and
sometimes without it.” There is another institution in Iowa, where the graduates, in
‘heir annual meeting, have had to implore the authorities to put a stop to the practice
of giving the degree of Ph.D. for a little work, and the sending in of a thesis which
might be copied out of the magazines. Apparently the only way in which institutions
can at present protect themselves is to put after the degree the name of the institution
conferring it.
ProrESsor Frsaer, of Wheaton College, Illinois, said he wishea to emphasize the
last speaker’s words. He unfortunately belonged to a college that had advertised this
Jegree for study in absentia, though he was happy to say that the conditions had been
placed so high that no one has come and asked that he might do the work and receive
the degree. There are institutions in Illinois that have conferred the degree for study
in absentia, and they continue to do it. 1t would be weil for the real universities of
:he country to have some plan of concerted action go as to protect the colleges against
she importunities of degree seekers.
Proressor HaLE thought the evil had been puinted out fully and courageously.
There was no reason way we should not boldly mention names. He knew of two
nstitutions, Syracuse University in New York and Allegheny College in Pennsylvania,
which granted this degree without residence. The practice is absolutely indefensible,
and is working great injury. Perhaps resolutions adopted by this body, if adopted by
‘he great majority, would be valuable.
PRESIDENT GILMAN called attention to the fact that the American Philological Asso-
iation had passed resolutions endeavoring to arrest public attention and awaken public
sentiment upon this matter. It might be well to appoint a committee of this Congress
‘0 correspond and co-operate with other bodies with a view to protecting the Doctor’s
legree. The requirements for such a degree are, in a sense, matters of detail ; but it is
“lear that the degree, to be maintained in its dignity, ought to stand for higher work
Jone in our universities, through a prolonged period, under competent men. with
yeeess to suitable laboratories and libraries.
PRESIDENT BLANCHARD agreed in deprecating the too common practice of conferring
Jegrees upon persons who are unworthy of them. Still, the main stress of the
argument in this matter did not, in his judgment, lie so much between residence and
non-residence at universities as between merit and demerit. If a degree is merited, it
is a credit to the institution which confers it, and to the person who receives it, no
matter how he may have got the attainments which have called forth that recommenda-
tion ; and if a degree was not merited, it does not make any difference, for it is a dis-
sredit to the institution which confers it, and also to the person who receives if. -
On motion of President Gilman, seconded by President Gates of Iowa College and
professor Hale of the University of Chicago, the following resolution was then unani-
mously adopted :
Resolved, That a committee of this section be appointed to correspond and co-operate
vith committees of other educational and scientific bodies, which have been or may be
\ppointed, to protect the significance of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor
of Science.
It was moved by Professor West that the Chairmen printed in the programme of the
sessions of this Congress be appointed such a committee, and that the committee have
power to add to their number.
The motion was unanimously adopted. The members of the committee elected under
she resolution of the Congress are as follows :
President Gilman, of Johns Hopkins University, Chairman ;
President Angell, of the University of Michigan ;
President Dwight, of Yale University ;
President Harper, of the University of Chicago ;
President Low, of Columbia College ;
President Patton, of Princeton University.
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