UNIVERSITY SENATE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1913, Page 11

UNIVERSITY SENATE

SITTINGS AT 'AUCKLAND, (BY TELtafcAPO— HIEBB ASSOCUTIOK.) > AUCKLAND; 24th January. „ The iUni varsity Senate *esolved, by 14 vote* to 7, that the report on the. work of each student sitting for a. degree aw arts or science be furnished by the professors through the .Registrar to the Uni* versity ag«mt ■ for ■ communicatiotv to • the meeting of examiners at Home, <. Mr. Hogben moved that the degree of Bachelor of Arts be amended by insert' ■ ing after the words "already passed "• the words: "Provided further that the candidate may in the final examination, in lieu of the fifth and sixth subjects, repeat any two subjects in which he has already passed." Professor Marshall, in seconding the , motion,., explained that it was the one Btibject on which the Professorial Conference was unanimous. Mr. Hogben said that if the proposal waßs carried, it -would, enable a student to carry to a higher standard his studies in subjects' which he took up. "At presets the statute provided that a candidate might repeat as his final one of the sub* jects in which he had already passed. The motion was lost by 10 votes to 12. It was resolved that a Recess Committee be set up at the four college centres with power to deal 'with matters referred to them by the Senate or the Chancellor. ARTS AND SCIENCE. A series of motions relating to pass degrees in arts and science were proposed'by Professor P. Marshall. He lirst moved—" That all bachelors of arts who desire to take the degree of bachelor ©f science should be required to keep teriris at a university college for an additional two years and to pass an examination iii four subjects, including any or all of the subjects (pure mathematics, chemistry* and physical science) which have not been passed previously, and the others (selected from applied mathematics, botany, zoology, or geology." He eic plairied that in the past there had not been , sufficient distinction betweeii the two degrees, and candidates had passed too easily from one degree to the other. No attempt had been made previously to separate them radically, and his present intention was that a bachelor of arts should not be allowed to obtain a second degree without satisfying stricter conditions. Professor Marshall's proposal in regard ■to the bachelor' of arts degree was " that all bachelors of science who desire to graduate as bachelor of arts'bo required to keep terms at a uni* vensity college for two yearß, and to pass an examination ih four of the fol« lowing subjects! Latin, Greek, Hebrew,' English, French, German, mental science, economies, and history,, other thah thofee in" which examinations have' been passed previously."- ' He also submitted three motions proposing the restriction of repeat subjects for the B.A, and B.Sc.^ degrees, and the elimination of physical science, chemistry, and natural sciehce from the subjects allowed for the 'M. A., degree. ( After some discussion on' the first motion, it was agreed that the set of proposals should be referred to a committee for a report., EXAMINERS. Professor Hunter., Mr. H.. A. E., Milnee, and Mr. Hogben were, appointed examiner* for- Mr. Hogben'* .prize., GENERAL COURT OF CONVOCATION.'. •' ; Upon the motion .of Dr. M'Dowell* question of reviving the ' .gonetal > courjb r of convocation was refeCTed to,a> committee coneistiug- of representative* , ■ o( i the district courts of convocation mi the Senate. ' , , , : MATRICULATION., The character of the matriculation examination as a test of qualification, for entr&nce iritb the University was discussed. The , Subject of' debate vm« actually only one aspect of the question, that of allowing compensation, nut the proposal was introduced as a measure of relief from the stringency ofv the examination, of which complaint hu« been made. ' It was ' explained that, compensation is allowed by transferring marks gained in one subject' to another, to enable a candidate to pass, but the principle is applied only in grrtub* of cognate subjects. In the case of the failure in one subject and pass in a similar subject, half the excess of marks above a minimum 'is added' to 'those gained in , the former, and if this compensation supplies the deficiency a pafi» is allowed; Dr. Fitchett moved : "That in deter* mining the results of the matriculation examination the prindple of tfompenea' tion be applied generally, instead of being to cognate subjecte, a* at present." He declared that the manner in which the door of the • University had been' slammed in the fate of many young pefl» pie wits- deplorable. Dr. Fitehdtt remarked that there wasu growing impression that the' University was tending to become a class institution. Mr. H. P. yon Haast : What ha* claea to do with examination ? * ■ ' * Dr. Fitchett said he thought' it was a false impression, and ho was anxious' it should bo removed. • . Dr. ■ M'Dowell seconded the 'motion, remarking that he had 'always advocate ed that the entrance examination should 1 bo within the ability of a* large a number as' possible / ' The Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) ' 6trongly opposed the proposal: Dealing with one point, he said that 'the medicMl council' would not • recogniso degrees - conferred by the University if the standard was made .» lower, for it had specifically required that an absolute pass should be obtained in a certain subject. In hie opinion, no scholar should be allowed to pass from th« secondary school into the UniveTsitv until he was ready to proceed with higher education. Sir ( Robert Stout mentioned cases in which young men hnd maintained themselves while studying for matriculation, and added the remark that if a man had any grit he would win hi* way into the Uhivereity. Hard work was no disgrace lo anyone. . 'Dr. Ohilton recommended that a committee should be appointed each year by the Senate to consider the 1 result* of the entrants' examination. (Hear, hear.) He moved an amendment to this effect, and providing that the committee should consider the question of^ompen* nation. ■ ■ < ■ Professor J. M'Millan. Brown seconded the amendment. Mr. G. Hogben said the amendment was unnecessary, because a resolution to exactly the same effect hod been, •passed by the Senate. No effect had been given to it, but he agreed that th© committee flhould.be brought into active existence. Professor F. D. Brown expressed op* proval of the compensation flyetem, Wut> he considered it should not' we applied miles* exceptional vmeriti was ■ displayed! in come subject. The motion was "defeated by 17 votes to 5, and Dr, Chilton's proposal wan car. ried, on the voices. ' »