UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26094, 22 April 1950, Page 7

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

CORRESPONDENCE WORK IN U.S. ACCOUNT GIVEN TO CONFERENCE The university extension system operated by most State universities la the United States was described in a paper read to the international conference on- correspondence education in Christchurch yesterday by Cblondl W. R. Young, Supervisor of Correspondence at the Pennsylvania State College. The extension divisions differed widely in their programmes. Some urban institutions limited their adult programme to the use of their facilities when regular students were pot using them. Others, in rural areas, could conduct no adult programmes on their grounds unless they v were week-end classes, usually for teachers, “Almost every conceivable type of class programme will be found, from full-time day schools to evening classes requiring five years to complete a terminal programme, or perhaps single classes teaching a popular subject with no relation to any study conducted earlier or later,” said Colonel Young. "Short courses of a few days or several weeks may be conducted either on the campus or in distant cities. These may be popular programmes for groups like women’s clubs or professional programmes to prepare individuals to take State licence examinations. Special courses may be taught by travelling professors in classes meeting one evening a week. “Special instruction may be given to particular groups such as labour unions, minor executives of industries, apprentices, or maybe a single study group. Some extension divisions offer consultation service to organisations like parent-teachers’ associations women’s clubs, administrators of small high schools, and others. Many offer visual aids services, and. some have studios for the production of films And aids.” Personnel guidance and counselling services, the operation Of radio stations. and institutes of public safety were examples of other adult education specialities.

State Subsidies on Schemes _ State subsidies made up the difference between student fees and the cost of the schemes. At Pennsylvania about two-thirds of the direct operating cost of the correspondence instruction division was chargeable to fees. “If indirect costs such as building maintenance, accounting service, heat end light were included in the operating cost the subsidy would be nearer 50 per cent.” . The programme of agricultural extension was so extensive that each State had designated one institution which had a separate agricultural extension division, said Colonel Young. These divisions gave instruction in methods and practices in farm management and marketing farm and home products, in home-making, and in advancing the welfare of rural people in terms of health, recreation, education, social relationships and adjustment. "The university extension movement brings the facilities of educational institutions to individuals who are unable to go to the campus, and the Correspondence courses make the PJ°* gramme all-inclusive,” concluded Colonel Young.