London University

Great progress has been made in all branches of the work of the university since its reconstitution. Research has been pro moted by scholarships, the establishment of research funds, by a publication fund to facilitate the production of learned and scientific works, and the creation of research degrees. The number of university professors in 1928 was 181, of readers 85, and other teachers 815. The number of matriculated students pursuing de gree courses in the university (internal students) was over 9,000.

The number of external students has doubled since the recon stitution of the university. The number examined in 1927 was 6,689.

The university extension board, in addition to extending•uni versity extension work, conducts the inspection and examination of schools and arranges vacation courses for foreign students. A joint committee of the board and the Workers' Educational Association has developed a scheme of university tutorial classes for working people.

Constitutional Changes.

In 1909 a royal commission on the university under the chairmanship of R. B. (afterwards Lord) Haldane was appointed with very wide terms of reference. Its final report was published in 1913 and in the same year a depart mental committee was set up to report as to the steps necessary to give effect to the commission's recommendations. Soon after the outbreak of the World War the committee abandoned its sittings and, although some of the recommendations of the corn mission were brought into effect administratively, no action was taken on its recommendations as to the constitution of the university until 1924. In that year another departmental com mittee was appointed to consider the "Haldane" report and to indicate what were the principal changes now needed in the con stitution of the university. That committee reported in 1926.

The most important of their recommendations are two : the first is the creation of a small body composed (as to its majority) of representatives of the senate, with representatives of the Crown and London county council which is to control finance and to be the channel for all public grants to the university and its schools. The second is the constitution of a new body known as the collegiate council consisting of the heads of the greater col leges who will together with the representatives of the faculties and convocation make up the senate.

By the University of London Act of 1926 a body of commis sioners was appointed to make statutes in general accordance with the recommendations in the report, subject to any modifications which might appear expedient. Draft statutes were published, if approved, to become operative in 1929.

Provision is made for the financial body (to be known as the court) referred to above, but the senate is to remain the supreme governing body in academic matters. It will be advised by five standing committees: (I) the academic council, elected by the faculties and concerned with the teaching work of the university; (2) the external council, composed principally of representatives elected by the graduates and concerned with external students; (3) the collegiate council, referred to above; (4) the university extension and tutorial classes council; and (5) the matriculation and schools examination council.

University Headquarters.

Up to the reconstitution of 1900 the senate had occupied buildings in Burlington gardens but soon after these were given up and the senate accepted in their place a portion of the premises of the Imperial Institute at South Kensington. These have, however, proved unsuitable in many respects and the Haldane commission recommended that the uni versity should obtain for the use of the senate, its administrative staff, the library, and for the development of the social and cor porate life of the university, permanent buildings of appropriate design, adequate and apt for the purpose, conveniently situated and bearing its own name. In 1912 efforts had been made to acquire a site for the purpose in Bloomsbury but for various reasons the project was abandoned. In 1920 the Government of fered to the university for its use and that of King's college a site of about III acres north of the British Museum. The offer was subject to a condition that King's college should surrender to the Crown the lease (held on a nominal rent) of its premises in the Strand to which condition the authorities of the college were unable to agree. The offer accordingly expired and the Gov ernment resold the site to the vendor.

The position was one which caused the senate some concern since in anticipation that the university would become the owner of the site some university institutions had been erected on it. In 1927, largely with the assistance of a munificent benefaction from the Rockefeller Trustees, the senate were able to repurchase the site free of any conditions. The question of the development of the site is now (1928) under consideration; obviously a good deal of money will be necessary to create a centre worthy of the Uni versity of the capital of the British Empire.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.—University publications:—Calendar; Historical Rec ord 1836-1912 (includes texts of Charters, Acts of Parliament, etc.) ; Historical Record (second issue) 1836-1926 (includes historical intro duction, particulars of trusts and benefactions, etc.). Government pub lications:—Report of the royal commissioners appointed to inquire whether any and what kind of new university . . . is . . . required . . . in London (The "Selborne" commission. Cd. 5709. 1889. With minutes of evidence) ; Report of the commissioners on the draft char ter for the proposed Gresham university in London (The "Gresham" commission. Cd. 7259. 1894. With minutes of evidence) ; Final Report of the royal commission on university education in London (The "Hal dane" commission. Cd. 6717. 1913. Appendices of evidence in several volumes) ; Report of the departmental committee on the University of London. (Cd. 2612. Other publications:—T. L. Humberstone, University Reform in London (1926) ; W. H. Allchin: An Account of the Reconstruction of the University of London (19o5) ; A. D. Waller: A Short Account of the Origins of the University of London (1912).

See also UNIVERSITIES. (E. D.)