RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Troy, New York

December l2, 1944
Dear Fellow Member of the College Physical Education Association;

Recently our Dean of Students wrote me that the
American Council on Education has recommended that returning veterans,
who have completed basic military training, be given credit for .
physical education. He also wrote that the War Department has asked
him whether the Institute intends to implement the recommendation,
The Dean notified the War Department that the matter has not yet
been considered by the Institute. The Dean suggested, "that we had
better let the matter rest until. we know more definitely where we
stand.

Because the advance guard of veterans has already ar-
rived in some collerés, including ours, the staff in the Physical
Education Department at his Institute feels that now is the time to
study and take action on this issuc,.

Iam attaching a copy of our reply to the Dean's letter,
giving several reasons why we do not believe veterans should be
exempt from physical education. We also sent a copy to interested
members of our faculty, as well as to some other members of the
College Physical Education Assocfation,

se eho expect colleges to schedule physical. education
classes for veterans during their entire stay in-college. We.
believe, however, that they should fulfill the requirements in
physical education that is recommended for other students, as in-
. dicated in the attached letter,

Yours very sincerely,

Ata, Gy. Van Uecker.
Harry A. Van Velsor, :
Director of Physical Education.