It. remains to mention a few new methods of control that have come to prevail over American colleges. Originally, they were all governed by or boards of trustees, and were chartered either by the King or by Colonial legislatures. The older institutions have re tained these charters, with the obvious modifica tions necessary after the Revolution. A little later, a movement was set on foot to take the colleges under State supervision and control, but it was checked by the decision in the Dartmouth College ease, by which States were prevented from assuming control over the property of cor porations existing by virtue of a charter sanc tioned by their legislatures. The result was that the older Eastern foundations remained under private management, while in the West and the South the system of State universities—usually merely colleges—grew up. These institutions are controlled by regents appointed in various ways, often by the Governor of the State, al though in Michigan they are elected by the peo ple. In some of the Eastern institutions also the State has conic to exercise a voice in the govern ing board. Ordinarily. the control of these private colleges is in the hands of a self-perpetu ating board, which controls the finances, ap points the instructors, makes laws for the gov ernment of the institution, and confers degrees.
The instruction and discipline of the students, their admission and dismissal, and the recom mendations for degrees are left in the hands of the faculty as a matter of immemorial custom. Much general power is lodged in the hands of the president, and in the university colleges the deans are intrusted to a large extent with the control and direction of the students. In 1899-1900 the number of students (men and women) in insti tutions of higher learning, including technical and professional schools, was 98,923. This is an increase of over 100 per cent. in actual attend ance within the period of ten years, and of over 100 per cent. in the ratio of students to popula tion within the period of twenty-seven years. The ratio of increase is highest with graduate students and with women, thus indicating the lines of present development in the work of higher education. The total number of profes sors and instructors in the same institutions amounted at the given date, in round numbers,. to about 14,000. The value of their property was estimated at $360,594,525, and the annual income was $28,558,463. See COLT F.GIATE EDU CATION FOR WOMEN ; ELECTIVE COURSES; UNI and the various colleges.