UNIFORM CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The tutorial system has been the butt of so many criticisms, that further comment on it would seem to make the situation even more perplexing; but one immediate change,--a more nearly uniform conference schedule--would do much to help relieve the present confusion, and would be welcomed by both the friends and foes of tutorial work. At present there seems to be no co-ordination between tutors; some meet their advisees for ten minutes monthly, while others hold two hours of conferences a week. As long as this irregular condition remains, it is impossible for the college office to assign course credit for tutorial work,--the reform suggestion which seems most popular among the undergraduate body.

In the Sophomore and Junior years the dreaded "Divisionals" are so far distant that it is difficult for the ordinary student to take a very active interest in his tutorial reading, which, at best, is only a very indirect preparation for the examinations. The Senior, however, is anxious to do some thorough work, but is prevented from accomplishing much by lack of time. The most effective tutorial method for Seniors which is now used by at least one member of the Department of Economics, is to hold two "group" or individual conferences a week, one hour on the "general" and one hour on the "special" field, with different reading for each. If this uniform scheme were adopted by the whole Division it would even up the present discrepancies which prevent the assignment of credit for tutorial work, and would also make the present system far more adequate in its preparation for the Divisionals.