UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1059, 23 February 1911, Page 6

UNIVERSITY REFORM.

AND THE GRADUATES' ASSOCIATION. On the subject of University reform, the committee of -the Victoria College Graduates' Association, in its annual report presented to the association last evening, stated its belief that thero had coriie a crisis in University; affairs. With tho prefatory observation that one of the-ob-jects of the association, as expressed by tho constitution, is "to enable graduates to express a collective opinion on .matters affecting them educationally \>r academically," the committee went on to say that the reform movement has awakened all concerned to "the possibility that they have been sleeping in a faise security"; : that "the public interest has been to [ some extent aroused, and it is certain that a Parliamentary Committee will consider tho question during the coming session." The association thereupon resolved:— : "That this meeting of the Victoria College Graduates' Association is of opinion:— >

''(1.) That the functions of the governing body of the New Zealand University should' be rc-defined, in order that purely academic functions (as, for example, the arrangement of curricula) should be handed over to tho professorial boards, will a power of veto to a senate, whose chief function should bo the business management of the University. "(2.) That the present system of purely external examinations is archaic and highly inimical to tho character and reputation of the New Zealand ' University. . '"'(3.) That, in order to satisfy the .public (whose money is spent in University education, and- must continue to be so spent in increasing sums),, and in order, if necessary, to suggest a revised scheme, a Royal Commission should be appointed to consider and report on the University system." It was agreed that every effort should be put forth to see that those who represented the graduates on the University Senate truly reflected the opinion of tho association on the vital issues.'