The spring semester is officially underway. Students poured back onto campus over the weekend. Following the pattern of the last few years, there are more students on campus in January than in August. This happens because more students opt to study abroad in the fall.
Coming across the short article below prompted some thoughts about changes in college statistics.
The college no longer uses the category “Electics.” This term referred to students who came to take classes but never intended to graduate. The contemporary version of this might be auditors –although most people auditing classes now are already college graduates rather than college age students looking to pick up a few credits. The college does not count auditors in our student totals.
Davidson statistics as published in January 1916.
In January 1916, the college still offered a graduate degree. Three students “Post Graduates” counted in the Davidsonian’s summary. Below are the requirements for earning a M.A. – basically a five course addition to a bachelor’s degree. The college expanded the program requiring a thesis in 1919-1920 and 36 hours of classes. The option for earning a graduate degree ended in 1930.
Davidson’s requirements to earn a Master’s Degree.
Geography is another significant change. In 1916 the college boasted students from 12 states and 3 foreign countries. The 2015-2016 college Factfile compiled in December 2015, reports students from 48 states and territories and 43 countries. One aspect has not changed– students are considered to be from a foreign country based on their (or their parents’) home address and not by citizenship. The 1916 students listed as being from China include Philip B. Price, George Alexander Hudson, and future college physician James Baker Woods. They all grew up in China as missionary kids. At least two of the international students were citizens – Francisco Del Rio of Cuba and William Yohannon Sayad of Persia. Interestingly, in 1916 and 2016, the foreign country with the largest representation is China.
The map below dates from 1964 and shows locations of Davidson alumni working outside of the USA. It was accompanied by a 2-page listing of all the names, job titles and cities. The map included two members of the class of 1962 living in Alaska and one living in Washington, DC. There were no doubt more alumni in DC but only one was Secretary of State at the time.
Davidson alumni abroad in 1964.
How many more flags would there be today?
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