TUTORIAL AID AT UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26984, 9 March 1953, Page 6

TUTORIAL AID AT UNIVERSITY

WELFARE OF NEW STUDENTS

DR. HULME SPEAKS OF INNOVATIONS

A tutorial system by which each member of the staff would be responsible for the welfare of 10 to 20 new students would be introduced this year at Canterbury University College, the Rector (Dr. H. R. Huhne) announced on Saturday evening. He was speaking at a reception to the Canterbury District Law Society held to mark the opening of the university Session. This scheme did not involve special but rather assistance in adjustment to the methods of study in the university, Dr. Hulme said. The tutors would help in the choice of courses and in settling to them rapidly. Freshmen students often failed, not because they lacked intelligence or adequate school preparation, Dr. Hulme explained, but because they came from different schools, had different terms in upper forms, and different schemes of study. By the tutorial service it was hoped to reduce first-year failures.

Honours courses of a different nature from the system now practised at advanced levels were also favoured by Canterbury College, Dr. Hulme said. It was suggested that students might be selected for an honours course at, say, the end of their first year. This would enable the best to be extended to the limit of their ability while the ’‘weaker brethren” would not be relegated, but given special attention. The handicap on both groups in a mixfed class could largely be eliminated. The college had failed in its first attempt because agreement of all colleges had to be obtained to such an innovation, but it was hoped this year to put up an acceptable alternative for early introduction.

A controlled experiment in devolution of more powers from the University of New Zealand might also be possible. “I think we need a great deal more separation of the functions of Canterbury College and the Senate,” Dr. Hulme said. He described some administrative duplications. Simplification and removal of drudgery would be examined this year. “One thing only is needed —willingness by the colleges to accept and by the Senate to pass over real responsibility.” The aim of this function, planned annually, was to inform some group of the community about progress in the college so that they would better understand developments as they were reported in the newspapers. Dr. Hulme