"

man in a single room, two men in a two-room suite or double room, and three men in a three-room suite. This will give us an average of about 40 men less in residence on South Field. This regulation is needed not only in matters of health but also in preventing the restlessness that comes when men are thrown together without privacy. The over-crowded rooms, especially the suites, caused misunderstandings and disputes without number. Our receipts for 1924-25 will be approximately the same as those of a year ago.

In April the Advisory Committee had Professor Brissenden check the methods in use in the assigning of rooms, especially in regard to the waiting lists for Furnald Hall, and suggest necessary changes. A plan by which the scholarship men are given precedence in the assignment of rooms was put in operation on May 1, 1924. The two rooms, 633 Hartley and 431 Furnald, awarded to honor students by the Class of 1892 have been suitably marked by metal plates. The Philadelphia Alumni Association is supplying a room in Hartley Hall for a designated member of the entering class. The improvements in the lobbies of Hartley and Livingston Halls are proving of increasing usefulness. The demand for single rooms compelled the dividing up of many of the suites and the installing of basins with running water in the rooms formerly designated as studies. This has been of great assistance in the assignment of rooms. A series of dances and smokers was held in each hall during the year. An attempt is in progress to recognize more adequately the members of the student hall committees, rewarding them with suitable insignia. On these committees (chosen by popular vote) depends not. only the social program for each hall but the morale as well. It is of importance that the best men be obtained to serve on the hall committees.

For next year I want to develop Earl Hall that it may be of greater value to student organizations. The progress of the past year should be but the beginning in providing for meetings and plays and dances on the campus. A plan is being considered for the supervision of the Gemot in Hamilton Hall by the Earl Hall office. The extra-curricular calendar

must be improved as a more efficient center for recording activities. Through the contacts established by the calendar the supervision of student parties is becoming more satisfactory. The most important matter in the Residence Halls administration for next year is the careful organization of the Student Committees and close cooperation with them.

HERBERT B. Howe,

June 30, 1924

Director

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF

APPOINTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 25, 1923 TO OCTOBER İ, 1924

To the President of the University

SIR:

I have the honor to present herewith a record of the work of the Appointments Office for the year 1923–1924.

The increase in the business done by this office during the past year indicates that we are building on a firm and lasting foundation, and has pointed out clearly a number of ways in which we can further increase our service to the students and graduates. The tabulated lists at the end of this report show a total of 3013 part-time positions filled during the year just ended, as compared with a total of 2357 in 1922-1923, and a total of 230 full-time positions filled during 1923-1924, as compared with 193 the year previous. Without dwelling on the figures, for the statistics are largely self-explanatory, may I point out that there has been a substantial increase in the number of part-time jobs for both men and women and in the full-time jobs for men. There has been a slight decrease in women's full-time jobs and in teaching appointments. The largest proportionate increase has been in permanent positions for men, the total for the year just past being 91 as opposed to 45 for the preceding year. This increase is largely due to the intensive effort made by this office in May and June to place the new graduates in congenial and suitable positions. Included later in this report will be found a discussion of the problem of placing our men and women as they graduate.

Undoubtedly, the most important work done by this office is the securing of part-time jobs which will enable our students to earn all or part of their living while they are studying in the University. Despite the fact that the annual number of part-time jobs filled has shown a steady increase

since the establishment of this office, the situation today is far from satisfactory. To the man who inquires as to the possibility of working his way through Columbia, we can only say: "Others, with sufficient enterprise and ability, are doing it. It is probable that you can make a success of it. Yet in justice to yourself, we can give you no guarantee that we will supply you with work." Very likely, we shall never be able to place all the men who come to us. Probably it would not even be desirable. Yet, when a man offers real possibilities as a student and appeals to the Department of Admissions as the sort of stuff we want, certainly this office should be in a position to say: "Come to Columbia. If you show enterprise and perseverence, we shall undoubtedly be able to refer you to productive profitable employment.

It might be interesting to consider in a general way just what type of employment is most desirable for our students. In the first place, the working hours should be such as to interfere as little as possible with the student-worker's studies, recitations and sleep. Afternoon jobs are the most desirable. We advise our candidates to arrange their programs so that their classes come as far as possible in the mornings, leaving their afternoons and evenings free for outside employment. In the main, no student should attempt more than four hours' outside work a day, except where the nature of the work will permit sleep or study. Secondly, the work must of necessity be sufficiently remunerative. Any wage less than fifty cents. per hour is too small, from both the standpoint of the worker's needs and the market rate. The third consideration is the steadiness of the work. It is far better for a student to earn from twelve to eighteen dollars a week at work which is permanent and regular in hours, than to be jumping constantly from one short job to another, as is too often the case at present. We should make a definite persistent effort to obtain positions on which our men can count straight through the year. Such positions have the added advantage that they are usually ones which we can secure for our candidates in succeeding years. Finally, it is desirable, where possible, that our

men in school work at jobs in which the experience will be of some definite benefit after they are graduated. The ideal job for the engineering student is in a laboratory or on a construction job, for the law student, in an attorney's office or even in a business house, and for the graduate student who is preparing for teaching work, tutoring.

As a source of supply for the types of jobs we want, we have the business, professional, and social activities of a great city. It is our problem to seek out and attract to us the jobs for which our men are fitted. Of the methods of securing jobs, personal solicitation is by far the most effective. With the increased staff and appropriation allotted to the Appointments Office, a great deal more field work can be done than was possible in the past. Publicity, both general and special, such as letters and announcements, is helpful in inducing individuals, who cannot be singled out for personal solicitation, to call on Columbia students to do their jobs. Our Department of Public Information has been, and will continue to be, of great assistance in familiarizing employers with the facilities of this office. Our alumni can be of great help in finding part-time employment for students as well as permanent employment for our graduates. This great body of interested employers in every business and profession will become, when thoroughly familiar with the facilities of this office and the capabilities of its registrants, one of the greatest aids imaginable. In developing the good-will and cooperation of our clientele, we must constantly make our recommendations with the maxim: the employer must be served. In no case can we consciously allow ourselves to make an ill-advised placement.

Following the aggressive effort which this office made last May and June to place graduates of our various schools, it seems desirable to record the most significant aspects of this full-time work, as well as the principles by which it is guided. Our work in placing the 1924 graduates showed very clearly that there is a demand for the university-trained man. The majority of the companies approached by this office prefer and often actually require men with university degrees. In