Federal Security Agency
U. S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION
, Washington 25

MEMORANDUM

TO: Heads of Departments in
Colleges and Universities

FROM: Fred J. Kelly, Chief :
Division of Higher Education

SUBJECT: Reports on Adjustment of the College Curriculum to Wartime Conditions and Needs

The U. S. Office of Education is issuing a series of reports on the adjustment of the
college curriculum to wartime conditions and needs, and copies are being sent to the heads of
the particular departments concerned. These reports are intended to assist institutions of
higher learning in their efforts to render an effective and vital service in wartime. They
have been prepared under the direction of the following Committee een by the Office of
Education Wartime Commission:

“Lloyd E. Blauch, Senior Specialist in Higher Education, Office of Education, Chairman
Levin B. Broughton, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Maryland
Walter C. Eells, Executive Secretary, American Association of Junior Colleges

Kathryn McHale, General Director, American Association of University Women

Levering Tyson, President, Muhlenberg College

This Committee requested the national association of college teachers in each of the
principal fields of study in the arts and sciences to appoint a committee to prepare the |
report for that field, and suggested that it might be well to center somewhat geographically
the membership of each committee in order to facilitate the work. The associations responded

generously and selected committees. f
Brief instructions were given to each committee, which included the following statement:

"It is not the purpose of this project to suggest to the colleges of arts and
sciences that they offer a multitude of so-called 'defense' courses. Rather, it is
assumed that understanding of basic principles should be the principal goal of in-
struction in the colleges. It is also assumed, however, that much of the instruction
can be directly aimed at meeting the needs of the Nation for intelligent and capable
persons who understand the forces operating the world and can devote themselves in-

_ telligently and capably to the tasks that confront the Nation in wartime. There
appear to be three aspects of the present situation that should be considered in
the project: (a) the military aspect, including service in the land, sea, and air
forces; (b) the civilian aspect, including the industrial, the agricultural, the
financial, the governmental, and other phases; and (c) the cultural aspect——

understanding the issues and events."

It is hoped that the suggestions contained in the reports of the Committee will aid
college and university teachers to serve better their students and the Nation at a time when

every effort must be made to win the war.

SF ah: ANION bg lla a IN vg ERS yt eB Rah seat Wat edocs GRMN Ease ts aged ete oe A eae PRAM a ei SOMA eR, WAR ae ty Ces Eire