Cornell University occupies in the United States a middle ground between the institutions of private or c:iiefly private foundations, with independent corporate existence, and the State universities supported and controlled by the States. The government of the State of New York is represented in Cornell University by ex officio members on the board of trustees. Its constitution has undergone many changes, as well of internal arrangement as of outward expansion. Its present organization is as fol lows: 1. Graduate department. 2. College of Arts and Sciences. 3. College of Law. 4. Col lege of Medicine. 5. New York State Vet erinary College. 6. College of Agriculture. 7. College of Architecture. 8. College of Civil Engineering. 9. Sibley College' of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanic Arts.
The graduate department has charge of the graduate studies of the other departments. Courses leading to the degrees of A.M. and Ph.D. are pursued in this department; and 16 graduate scholarships of the value of $200 and free tuition each, 23 fellowships of $400 and free tuition each, and 2 of $500 and free tuition each are annually granted to gradulte students, besides one traveling fellowship in architecture of the annual value of $1,000, good for two years. The College of Arts and Sciences allows elective courses in science and the classics and leads to the A.B. degree B. Chem. The College of Law has the usual law courses and grants the degree Of LL.B. The College of Civil Engineering provides instruction in all depart ments of that subject, and particularly in some of the more advanced developments of the science. Special instruction is given in bridge engineering, railroad engineering, sanitary, municipal, hydraulic and geodetic engineering.
The Sibley College includes eight. depart ments: mechanical engineering, experimental engineering, electrical engineering, machine design, mechanic arts or shop-work, marine en gineenng, naval architecture and railway me chanical engineering. Courses of study are
four years in length, and the degree of mechan ical engineer is conferred upon those who successfully complete the respective courses. The laboratories, museums, shops and other parts of the college are very completely furnished and equipped. Hiram Sibley con tinued malcing additions to his first donations, and in 1885 the trustees of the university organized the college under the name by which it is now known. Mr. Sibley's gifts amounted to $160,000, and $150,000 additional have been contributed by his son, Hiram W. Sibley. The College of Architetture gives the usual course in this subject, both in theory and practice arid confers the degree of B.Arch. The College of Agriculture gives extended and practical courses. An experiment station established try the Federal government is connected with this department In 1904 the New York State legis lature established a State College of Agricul ture at Cornell, and appropriated $250,000 for buildings therefor. The College of Medicine (established in 1898) has a two years' course in Ithaca, and a full four-year course in New York.
The entrance requirements to all courses are substantially the, same as those of other first class universities. In 1914 the total number of students in attendance was 5,094, and of this number the College of Arts and Sciences had about 1,223 and Sibley 887. There were 700 mem bers of the faculty, some of whom were en gaged in university extension work. The sum mer school has always had a large attendance. See SUMMER ScHoots.
The campus is admired for its beauty and extent, and the group of buildings which belong to the university are models of architecture. The library, with its famous Fisk Dante collec tion and the Andrew D. White French Revolu tion collection; the laboratories, halls and dormitories; the classrooms, and other features of the university all present special advantages and attractions.