Not Enough Instructors

The present enrollment is 370 greater than that of 1930, the previous high year,
yet the instructional staff is about 10 less. This means larger classes, heavier
teaching schedules, less attention to individual students—in a word, instruction
below accepted standards.

In addition, most of the expansions made since 1933 have been of a temporary
nature—inexperienced, inexpensive young instructors or part-time graduate
assistants. In the interest of good instruction, part of this temporary staff should
be replaced with more experienced, permanent personnel.

Equipment Needs Accumulate

During the past six years the maintenance allotments to departments and offices
had to be cut out of proportion to the appropriation reduction in order to maintain
certain essential items which could not be cut (fuel, power, water, gas, postage,
books, telephone service, etc.) This necessitated rather general postponement
of the regular program of class and laboratory equipment replacement, as well
as curtailment or elimination of important student services. The result is a
critical accumulation of needs that must be relieved soon if instruction is not to
suffer further.

Repair Program Lags

Compared with 1915 the current appropriation for repairs and improvements
has increased only 50 per cent while the building volume to be maintained has
increased 110 per cent. The result is that major repairs have been eliminated,
routine maintenance (repainting, rewiring, etc.) has been greatly reduced, and
minor improvements have been limited to emergency items.

Acute at Medical School

The data above applies only to the Lawrence division of the University. The
situation at the Medical School at Kansas City is perhaps more acute than that
at Lawrence, due to the fact that the enrollment increased rather than decreased
during the depression years.

Spirit Is Good

The spirit of the University is good. Student activities go forward with the
same old enthusiasm. Progress is noted in many departments, examples of which
are chemical engineering, public school music, law, medicine, and several others.
But students and their parents are more concerned now than ever before regarding
the kind of training they are getting throughout the University. Deans and de-
partment heads are finding that it takes a nation wide search to get capable
replacements for staff members. The only way they are able to fill key positions
with strong persons at all is by finding some special case, perhaps in a small
college, and then paying the new person more than his predecessor received.

The administrators and friends of the University are determined that the quality
of training at the University shall remain high so that a degree from Kansas in
any department will continue to be recognized anywhere as a stamp of excellence.

State officials are uniformly interested and friendly. But the University’s prob-
lem is only one of several demanding attention of the next legislature. The others
are worthy. But the University needs attorneys at the bar to plead its case in the
busy days ahead.