AID FOR HIGHER EDUCATION MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1961 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to recess, at 9:05 a.m., in room 4232, New Senate Office Building, Senator Wayne Morse, chairman of the subcommittee. Present: Senators Morse, Hill (presiding pro tempore), Yarborough, and Randolph. Committee staff members present: Stewart E. McClure, chief clerk; John S. Forsythe, general counsel; Charles Lee, professional staff member of the subcommittee; Samuel Halperin, consultant; and John Stringer, minority associate counsel. Senator HILL. The subcommittee will come to order. We will continue with our hearings on the bills to provide Federal aid for institutions of higher learning. Dr. Gustave W. Weber, president of the Susquehanna University will be our first witness. We'll be happy to have you come up, sir. You may proceed now, sir. STATEMENT OF GUSTAVE W. WEBER, PRESIDENT, SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY Dr. WEBER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa., a co-educational liberal arts college, has increased its enrollment from 474 students in 1959 to 810 with the opening of the fall semester in 1961. This has been accomplished with the aid of a Government loan of $800,000 for the construction of two dormitories, one for 150 men and the other for 150 women. The total cost of both buildings and furnishings will be about $1,250,000, of this sum $972,454.11 has been paid. These buildings will be occupied this fall. At tremendous expense, to the university, other buildings were refurbished for several reasons. First, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, after the disastrous Chicago fire, insisted that all buildings on all campuses in the State must be made fire resistant. Over the past 2 years the university has advanced over $500,000 on new construction and renovations to bring this about. Only one building remains to be refurbished. Our present science hall, already antiquated for our era, has been ordered changed by the addition of two internal fire towers. If this is done the building would become almost useless for its intended purpose, because the new stairs would cut into two laboratories, already too small for our present enrollment. Secondly, it was necessary to enlarge our dining hall and related facilities to accommodate the enlarged student body. When it was announced that the Government might make available funds at a low rate of interest, for academic facilities, we immediately asked our architects to prepare plans for a new science hall which would be able to serve a student body of over 1,000. The plans will be in readiness by December 1, 1961. We hope to start construction early in the spring of 1962 and by the fall of 1963 we could increase our student body by 250 additional students. The cost of this building is now estimated at $750,000. We have on hand $241,113.44 toward its construction, but because our borrowing capacity is exhausted we cannot go forward with this construction. The committee may be interested to know that we voluntarily reduced our Government grant for dormitories from $990,000 to $800,000 because of favorable bids and our own ability to supply funds for those facilities. Senator HILL. That was a good reduction, Doctor. Mr. WEBER. We were happy to, sir. Senator HILL. That was quite a good reduction. You did not sacrafice anything so far as accommodation is concerned? Dr. WEBER. Not at all. We are in an area where building costs are considerably lower than any other section of the country and, of course, the restrictions on the kind of building we could produce was a condition which was circumscribing the construction." Senator HILL. No loss? Dr. WEBER. No loss. Our architectural material requirements were fulfilled to the T. Senator HILL. Good. Dr. WEBER. Our freshman class this year numbers almost 300 students. We will be compelled to reduce the class admitted in 1962 to about 200, because our classroom space is taxed to the limit. If a new science building is constructed the present one will be converted to classrooms for our business administration department and related facilties. It would permit us to increase our student body to 1,000 or more, surely a fantastic feat in the available space when one considers that in 1959 we had only 474-in 5 years an increase of over 100 percent, an outstanding achievement and record. Senator HILL. That would be quite a feat, would it not? It would seem to me an inconsistency and fallacy to provide dormitory funds, as is now being done, but withhold similar funds for classroom construction. Since the enrollment in the academic year 1960-61 was 660, we would have gone to 1,000 this year with 300 new spaces in our dormitories, but limited classroom space made this impossible. We admit to our college capable young people regardless of religious affiliation, racial background, color, or geographical residence. We have granted free education to a student from Kenya and one from Tanganyika. I might correct that and say they are coming this fall: we have not granted it. Senator HILL. But they have been admitted. Dr. WEBER. They will be admitted. One is in this country now presently. Eighteen States are represented in our student body this year. In excess of $70,000 will be spent in the academic year 1961-62 to assist needy students meet their college expenses, this is in addition to our own and Government student loans. May we strongly urge the Senate Committee on Education to introduce a bill to make possible the borrowing of funds for needed academic facilities. We are just one college of many that would benefit from such available funds. Only one out of every four applicants could be accepted by us this year. Next year we must further restrict our enrollment. Already two dozen young people have applied and been tentatively accepted for the fall 1962. We desperately need aid for classroom construction if we are to fulfill our obligation to our citizens, community, State, country and society of nations. Senator HILL. Doctor, you speak of an excess of $70,000 being spent in the academic year 1961-62 to assist needy students to meet their college expenses. Where do those funds come from, if I may ask? Dr. WEBER. Those are current operating expenses funds from our college. We gave these as grants-in-aid to students. We used the college scholarship service in Princeton, N.J. They indicate to us what the students need from a confidential report given by the parents to this agency. Senator HILL. How old is Susquehanna University? Dr. WEBER. It is 104 years old. Senator HILL. 104 years old. What has been the main source of its support through the years? Dr. WEBER. Generally, tuition. We are church-affiliated, we are a church-affiliated college, but the amount of aid given by the church is rather small. We receive a budget of $1,300,000; this year, $50,000; however, in the additional 5 years they will give us an additional $50,000 for seating capacity in an auditorium. We have no place where larger than 500 people can assemble at any one time other than the gymnasium, which is not a proper place to gather. Senator HILL. They are going to give you $50,000 a year more? Dr. WEBER. For 5 years, which will amount to $250,000, and we will add some of our own funds to construct this facility. Senator HILL. Doctor, we certainly appreciate your statement, and I assure you it will be given the most careful consideration. Dr. WEBER. Thank you. (The prepared statement of Dr. Weber follows:) PREPARED STATEMENT OF GUSTAVE W. WEBER, PRESIDENT, SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY, SELINSGROVE, PA. Gentlemen, Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa., a coeducational liberal arts college, has increased its enrollment from 474 students in 1959 to 810 with the opening of the fall semester in 1961. This has been accomplished with the aid of a Government loan of $800,000 for the construction of two dormitories, one for 150 men and the other for 150 women. The total cost of both buildings and furnishings will be about $1,250,000, of this sum $972,454.11 has been paid. These buildings will be occupied this fall. At tremendous expense, to the university, other buildings were refurbished for several reasons. First, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, after the disastrous Chicago fire, insisted that all buildings on all campuses in the State must be made fire resistant. Over the past 2 years the university has advanced over $500,000 on new construction and renovations to bring this about. Only one building remains to be refurbished. Our present science hall, already antiquated for our era, has been ordered changed by the addition of two internal fire towers. If this is done the building would become almost useless for its intended purpose, because the new stairs would cut into two laboratories, already too small for our present enrollment. Secondly, it was necessary to enlarge our dining hall and related faciliites to accommodate the enlarged student body. When it was announced that the Government might make available funds at a low rate of interest, for academic facilities, we immediately asked our architects to prepare plans for a new science hall which would be able to serve a student body of over 1,000. The plans will be in readiness by December 1, 1961. We hope to start construction early in the spring of 1962 and by the fall of 1963 we could increase our student body by 250 additional students. The cost of this building is now estimated at $750,000. We have on hand $241,113.44 toward its construction, but because our borrowing capacity is exhausted we cannot go forward with this construction. The committee may be interested to know that we voluntarily reduced our Government grant for dormitories from $990,000 to $800,000 because of favorable bids and our own ability to supply funds for those facilities. Our freshmen class this year numbers almost 300 students. We will be compelled to reduce the class admitted in 1962 to about 200, because our classroom space is taxed to the limit. If a new science building is constructed the present one will be converted to classrooms for our business administration department. It would permit us to increase our student body to 1,000 or more, surely a fantastic feat in the available space when one considers that in 1959 we had only 474 in 5 years an increase of over 100 percent, an outstanding achievement and record. It would seem to me an inconsistency and fallacy to provide dormitory funds, as is now being done, but withhold similar funds for classroom construction. Since the enrollment in the academic year 1960-61 was 660, we could have gone to 1,000 this year with 300 new spaces in our dormitories, but limited classroom space made this impossible. We admit to our college capable young people regardless of religious affiliation, racial background, color, or geographical residence. We have granted free education to a student from Kenya and one from Tanganyika. Eighteen States are represented in our student body this year. In excess of $70,000 will be spent in the academic year 1961-62 to assist needy students meet their college expenses, this is in addition to our own and Government student loans. May we strongly urge the Senate Committee on Education to introduce a bill to make possible the borrowing of funds for needed academic facilities. We are just one college of many that would benefit from such available funds. Only one out of every four applicants could be accepted by us this year. Next year we must further restrict our enrollment. Already two dozen young people have applied and been tentatively accepted for the fall 1962. We desperately need aid for classroom construction if we are to fulfill our ob ligation to our citizens, community, State, country, and society of nations. Senator HILL. I want to thank you for your statement here this morning; I appreciate it very much. Now, Dr. John H. Clough, Jr., executive director, Commission on Higher Education, Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Clough, we are glad to have you here this morning, sir. STATEMENT OF JOHN H. CLOUGH, JR., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Dr. CLOUGH. Thank you, Senator. I would like to present the apologies of our distinguished chairman, Millard E. Gladfelter, president of Temple University. Unfortunately, he is in Europe. Senator HILL. I do not know whether that is unfortunate or not. Dr. CLOUGH. I suspect he may think not. Senator HILL. Anyway, you tell him we are sorry he could not come, but we are very happy to have you here, sir. Dr. CLOUGH. If I might just say a word Senator HILL. We will put your statement in the record in full, and then you make such observations as you see fit. Dr. CLOUGH. I will say, briefly, the Philadelphia Commission on Higher Education is a rather unique type of quasi-public agency which the city of Philadelphia supplies the funds for and relies on distinguished educators and citizens, and members from labor, industry, and minority groups to participate, without salary on its board. I am the single staff member. Senator HILL. This was established by the city of Philadelphia? Dr. CLOUGH. That is correct, sir. That was established by your colleague when he was mayor of Philadelphia, Senator Clark. There was a study committee created, and they conferred with Mayor Dilworth, and in 1958 they appropriated the funds. Senator HILL. Let me ask you, how many colleges do you have in the Philadelphia area? Dr. CLOUGH. We have 24 colleges in the Greater Philadelphia area, currently accommodating 34,000 full-time students, hopefully 65,000 by the year 1970. That is full-time, no evening, no professional, graduate students being included. This would run to, of course, several hundred thousand. These include everything from small liberal arts colleges to large universities such as the University of Pennsylvania or Temple University. Senator HILL. You might supply a list of these colleges which we could place in the record. Dr. CLOUGH. The colleges are as follows: The University of Pennsylvania Senator HILL. We can just put that list in the record. Senator HILL. So as to give you more time. Dr. CLOUGH. I will be glad to provide it to the staff. (The list referred to follows:) University of Pennsylvania. Temple University. Villanova University. Haverford College. Swarthmore College. Rosemont. Immaculata. Chesnut Hill. Ursinus. Pennsylvania Military College. Bryn Mawr. Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Philadelphia Institute of Textiles and West Chester State College. Cheyney State College. Lincoln University. Moore Institute of Art and Science. Philadelphia Museum College of Art. La Salle College. St. Joseph's College. Drexel Institute of Technology. Pennsylvania State University Extension Center Ogontz. National Agricultural Institute. Dr. CLOUGH. The essential function of the Commission is to assure the adequacy of post-high-school educational opportunities through the Greater Philadelphia area. We are not bound by the political |