A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A STUDY BY THE OF CERTAIN WAR ACTIVITIES UPON SUBMITTED BY MR. BARDEN FEBRUARY 23, 1945.-Referred to the Committee of Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed, with illustrations UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1945 February 23, 1945.-Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed, with illustrations Mr. BARDEN, from the Committee on Education, submitted the following REPORT [Pursuant to H. Res. 63] The Committee on Education was authorized and directed by House Resolution 592 (78th Cong.) and House Resolution 63 (79th Cong.) to make a study of higher education to determine what effect the war has had upon colleges and universities and to make recommendations to the House for legislation to alleviate such effects. In carrying out the instructions of the House, the Committee on Education appointed a small staff and an advisory committee of leaders in the field of higher education. The advisory committee was selected to represent widely different geographic areas in the United States, and educational institutions of varying types and size, church-related colleges, small coeducational institutions, and large universities. The members of the staff and of the advisory committee The staff and the advisory committee were at work for 6 months on the study. They have submitted a unanimous report which I am glad to transmit to the House. Due to the pressure of time the Committee on Education has not specifically endorsed any of the recommendations. It does, however, transmit them to the House for its consideration. 1 The Committee on Education plans in the very near future to consider the advisability of making definite recommendations to the House for legislation dealing with the present problems. The advisory committee found that although the war has not equally affected the institutions of higher education, there are many that face a critical financial situation. This situation, for these institutions, apparently will not improve and the study definitely shows that for them it will tend to grow worse rather than better. The advisory committee has proposed a definite formula following the plans of Government in its relation to higher education to assist these institutions in standing by to render the necessary services to veterans and others when the war is over. The proposal is for a stand-by contract, without Federal control, and terminating 6 months after the end of the war and for any individual institution when it is no longer in a critical financial situation. The advisory committee also found that the war has brought on the need for coordination of research on a national basis. It also recommended retention of research in the colleges and universities throughout the country in order that young men and women may be trained in research techniques. In implementing its recommendations the advisory committee has volunteered to be of such assistance as the Committee on Education deems desirable and to render such assistance without cost to the Government. The Committee on Education consequently proposes to continue to use the advice and counsel of the advisory committee which they have so generously tendered without cost to the United States Government. This has been a unique experience in education. It has more than demonstrated its value. The report is submitted to the House for such consideration and legislative action as might be deemed necessary and advisable to take. |