Seymour, in His First Annual Report, Says Colleges Must Sponsor Research

Much after the fashion of President Conant's tercentenary address, President Charles Seymour of Yale emphasized the value of both teaching and research in his first annual report issued last week.

"A university is not merely a training school but also a seat of higher learning under the continuous duty to contribute to the fund of knowledge at the command of mankind", he wrote. "This double function of scholarship and training is indivisible; there can be no separation of teaching and research."

In his tercentenary address in 1936 President Conant classified the "general educational stream of the liberal arts" and the "cultivation of learning for its own sake" as two of the essential ingredients of the university tradition. The parallel between the thinking of these two educators is furthered by the fact that Dr. Conant has repeatedly emphasized his belief that teaching and research are inseparable.

President Seymour also envisaged a reduction of the present Yale requirement of five courses per year. "There is little beyond tradition to put forward in favor of a five-course system. The history of four-course and three-course plans in other institutions indicates no loss in educational values and a decided gain in the quality of undergraduate work", Dr. Seymour wrote.

This move is regarded as a logical outgrowth of the plan of giving departmental examinations to every Junior and Senior. With regard to this practice, the creation of a "serious intellectual purpose" in the minds of undergraduates was noted by Yale's president.

Colleges of Great Value

The college system, made possible by the gift of Edward S. Harkness, also came in for a share of praise. "The colleges have passed from the stage of mere residential units and . . . are adding intellectual and aesthetic values to the social advantages they offer," he said. "The increasing number of distinguished visitors who are brought into close touch with Yale students and teachers provide educational assets beyond estimate."