N.Z. UNIVERSITY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1929, Page 8

N.Z. UNIVERSITY

COUNCIL IN SESSION

THE VICE-CHANCELLORSHIP

(By 'Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, 24th January. The meeting of the New Zealand University Council was continued today. AVith the leave of the council, Dr. Newlands moved: "That tho general committee be asked to consider —(a; the advisability of examiners attaching to each question set its allotted marks' value, to bo shown in brackets after the question; (b) to what University examinations this should apply." The motion was carried. A letter was received from the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln) submitting the names of two members of the staff 'for appointments as professors. The letter was referred to a special committee for a report. Miss Clare Soper (organising secretary of tho New Zealand. Fellowship, headquarters of which are in London) wrote stating that. the_ fellowship, which was an international organisation of educationists, teachers, and parents in all parts of the world, would hold its fifth biennial conference at Elsinore, near Copenhagen, from Bth August till 21st August, 1929. The question of sending a representative to the conference will be discussed at a later stage of the proceedings. The first report of the Finance Committee contained the following clauses: —"The committee, having considered the present financial position of the University, does not recommend the appointment at present of a vice-chan-cellor giving "his full time to tho duties of the position. As much of the work of a vice-chancellor will embrace consideration of academic questions, hfshould possess professorial status. The work of a vice-chancellor, especially in the first few years, wil|§be very con siderable, and will involve the withdrawal of the holder of office from any other various activities outside his academic duties, and should carry with it a substantial remuneration.

In all matters of academic character which come within the province of thto chancellor to decide, the vice-chancellor shall act as adviser to the chancellor, and shall bo responsible for carrying out the chancellor's decisions. In order to secure a continuity of policy at first, the appointment of a vice-chancellor should be for a period of not less than three years. It is recommended that the honorarium of a vice-chancellor should be £.300 per annum. The committee recommends that the appointment of vice-chancellor be offered to Professor Hunter.

The clause relating to the powers cf the vice-chancellor was referred back to the committee.

The appointment of vice-chancellor was offered to Professor Hunter, who said he would like time to consider the matter.

ACADEMIC BOAKD,

Professor Hunter presented the first report of the general committee dealing with matters which had been considered by the Academic Board. Tho statute dealing with constituent colleges was amended by the addition of a new section, providing that each college shall, between Ist August and Ist December in each year, hold examinations in all subjects taught, in which students who have obtained exemption from attendance at lectures, apply to be examined. The statute relating to the conduct of University examinations was altered so as to' provide "that By: making application within one calendar month from the date of receiving the official result of his examination any. candidate sittings for an examination for a degree, diploma, or proficiency, may have his scripts reconsidered by the examiner; the fee for such reconsideration shall be two guineas.

It was decided: (a) That.instructions should be issued to the office that the fee should be returned in a case in which the vice-chancellor considers the appeal to have been justified; (b) that the Academic Board be asked to consider the methods of marking papers in such a way that detailed marks of each question may be sent into "the office; (c) that the. Academic Board be asked to consider whether any provision for a recount or reconsideration should be continued in the entrance examination.

The following addition was made to section 1 of tlio -University national scholarship regulations: — "Provided that not more than three of the scholarships may be awarded, not on aggregate of marks but for excellence in ono of the following groups of subjects:—Foreign languages, science and mathematics, English, history, and geography." The value of the engineering travelling scholarship, which is tenable for oue year, was increased from £150 to £200, provided that the scholar holds no position of employment. A similar course was followed in connection with the medical travelling scholarship. The statute 'covering the degree of the Bachelor of Agricultural Science was amended by the addition of the following section:—"A candidate who has failed in any of the subjects of the intermediate examination, or who, for any reason approved by the chancellor, has been unable to sit in that examination, shall be admitted to a special examination to bo held in the month of February."

It was decided that a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Music shall be matriculated, and thereafter follow a three years' course of study, pass the prescribed examinations, and write a musical exercise to the satisfaction of the examiners. The candidate for the degree of a Doctor of Music must have taken out diploma of a- degree of Bachelor of Music. "No person shall be admitted to be a candidate. for the degree of Doctor of Music unless ho shall have taken a degree of Bachelor of Music at least five years previously.