MIMTES OF TIE BOARD OF TPRUST=2o    -      Iay 31, 1910



     The session opened in September 1909 with a fairly good attendance.  There

was a shortage in the matriculation as compared with previous years and notwith-

standing the addition of the matriculates in the College of Law.  The matricula-

tion in the University proper and in the Academy does not show any increase over

that of the years immediately preceding, indeed rather otherwise.  The matricula-

tion for the last six years is as follows:-

     1904-1905          705

     1905-1906          813

     1906-1907          901

     1907-1908         1064

     1908-1909          772

     1909-1910           684 (exclusive of post-graduates)

     It will thus be seen that the maximum attendance attained by the University

was in 1907-1908.   The rapid decline in the two following years, viz. Last year

and the year just closing, was due principally to the unfortunate and ill-advised

elimination of the Normal Department at the instance and insistence of the Normal

Schools by the General Assembly of 1908. I have done all that I could, by addresses

to high schools, participation in the proceedings of state, district and county

institutes, correspondence, information supplied to superintendents of county

schools and by whatever other means I could command, to redress the balance and

bring up the attendance to the level of 1907.   I have, moreover, sent out compe-

tent and energetic agents, particularly during the vacation, into the field to

address institutes, visit schools and private families and to distribute illus-

trated posters and booklets, catalogues and other literature.    I have had Dr.

Louis F. Snow, Dean of the Department of Education, in the field during more than

half of the current year, visiting high schools, making addresses, and attending

educational assemblies and conventions.   I consider this a most important work,

indeed and urgent necessity.   We must do what we can through the Department of