11-page booklet for the 1941-1942 school year, a supplemental catalog. Image is of first page of document which outlines the dates of summer session.
BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA
Supplement to 1941-1942 Catalog
SUMMER SCHOOL 1942
JUNE 22-JULY 25
JULY 27-SEPTEMBER 5
SUMMER WORK CAMP 1942
JUNE 9-SEPTEMBER 5
EDUCATION IN WARTIME
Black Mountain College has extended its curriculum and revised its calendar to meet the demands of the war. While the immediate and future need of education citizens is more imperative than ever, the present demand for practical effectiveness and speed is also obvious. The accelerated program described below makes graduation possible in three years or less; students are to be encouraged to enter as young an age as feasible; new courses both academic and practical provide training for immediate needs; and continued emphasis on a democratic way of life and on physical development build the moral and physical stamina so essential to these times and to all times.
While adapting itself to the war effort the College retains the basic function of higher education as its major objective: training in thoughtful action, transmission and enhancement of our cultural heritage, and development of a consciousness of those principles for which we are now struggling. The enormous social, economic, political, and ethical problems that the war brings with it- and which the peace will render even more colossal- can be solved only through the application of deep understanding, imaginative intelligence, and true conviction. Education cannot be improvised; good judgement requires a seasoned mind and disciplined feelings.
EXTENSION OF CURRICULUM
New courses of particular relevancy to the present situation are being introduced. Some of these are immediately practical- such as surveying, first aid, automobile mechanics, photograph; others- such as inter-American affairs, Oriental history, world geography- comprise only a pertinent expansion of the liberal arts curriculum. The student’s main purpose, however, is to achieve a solid general education embodying the indispensable values of clear thinking, discipline, method, imagination, will and character.
ACCELERATED PROGRAM
Heretofore the College has been in session thirty-two weeks each years. Beginning June 22, 1942, it will be open for four quarters of eleven weeks each. Under this plan students may come for three quarters each year, the equivalent of the present program, or for four quarters, which they will be encouraged to do. Students, as heretofore, will continue to graduate when they are prepared to do so, the average time being at the end of twelve quarters.
New students who planned to enter in September, 1942, should consider entrance in June.
ADMISSION TO THE STUDENT BODY
The College has never had fixed regulations concerning the age or scholastic background of applicants for admission, since it has preferred to consider each individual case upon its merits. Although most applicants are of usual college age and have completed a four-year course in accredited secondary school, younger students, or students who have not finished secondary school, have been admitted when it seemed likely that they could carry college work. Almost without exception such students have proved to be ready for college. In the present emergency the College will encourage students of this kind to apply, provided their secondary school principals or headmasters recommend them for college entrance before graduation. Although the College knows that genuine education cannot be accelerated beyond a certain point, it does believe that those who can proceed rapidly should be given the opportunity to do so.
FEES FOR THE YEAR
Believing that a cross-section of American life, economic as well as geographical, its intrinsic to the idea of the College, and realizing that a student’s ability to pay the full cost of his education is in no sense a criterion of his desirability, the College makes use of a sliding scale in its yearly fee. This scale ranges, according to pay, from $1200 to $450 for room, board, and tuition, for the normal academic year of three quarters. In so far as possible, admission to the student body is made to depend upon personal merit. The Admissions Committee decides on each applicant, in the first instance, quite independently of financial considerations. Unfortunately, lack of endowment and limited resources do not permit as full an expression of this principle as is ultimately desired, since a certain gross income from student fees must be maintained in order to meet the operating expenses of the College. Nevertheless, during the academic year 1941-1942, over $35,000 in fee reductions was granted.
Those who can are required to bear the full cost of their education, and to pay the full yearly fee of $1200 for the academic year of three quarters. Others pay as much of this fee as they can afford, the deficiency being partially made up from gifts to the College. Since there are more applicants for admission than can be accepted, and since many of these need a large reduction of fee, the competition is, of course, greatest at the lower fee levels, particularly at the minimum fee of $450.
Within the College money is minimized as a basis for the measurement of the individual. No distinction of any kind is made between students paying reduced fees and those paying the full fee, the amount paid by each student being known only to a small financial committee, unless the student himself chooses to reveal it. No provision is made for students to work their way through the College, for the extra-curricular work done by students is regarded as educational activity and is on a voluntary basis with no references to their financial status.
There are available a few tuition scholarships whereby a limited number of students who cannot pay the minimum fee are enables to attend college for less than $450 a year. As vacancies occur in these scholarships, and as new ones are created, awards will be made to entering students, on a basis of merit as determined by the Admissions Committee. Some financial assistance, also, is available from a small Student Loan Fund to students who have attended the College for at least three quarters and whose resources have unexpectedly changed. With the exception of the loans described below in connection with the accelerated program, applicants for admission should have in sight sufficient funds for the total length of time that they expect to attend the College, since in general they will not be eligible to borrow from the fund unless unforeseeable and authentic changes have occurred in their finances. Such loans as are made must be secured by notes signed by the student and endorsed by his parents or guardian. The College believes that a student should rarely borrow, from all sources, more than about $1800 for his education; and that all borrowing should be under such conditions of repayment that the debt contracted will not be too onerous a burden after graduation.
Applicants paying the full fee must submit with their Application for Admissions a signed Financial Agreement, and a new Agreement must be signed every year that they remain in College.
Applicants for a reduction of fee are required annually to make a detailed confidential statement of their families’ financial resources on a blank furnished by the College. This statement must be signed by the person responsible for the payment of fees. From the information submitted the Committee on Student Fees sets what it believes to be a fair fee, taking into account not only the individual circumstances of each case but also the comparative circumstances of all cases. Only in this way can a reasonable equity be maintained. Although fees may vary from year to year depending upon the resources of the applicants’ families, it is generally expected that the initial fee set will be either maintained or increased in subsequent years when initial expenses do not recur. Because of rising costs the College may find it unavoidable, reduced fee has been agreed upon, a Financial Agreement embodying it will be sent for signature to the person responsible for fees; a new Agreement must be signed each year.
No student may enter or remain in residence while any financial arrangements are pending.
All fees will be set on the basis of an academic year of three quarters. Students who follow the accelerated program, attending four quarters in one year, will be charged in addition one third of the fee paid for three quarters. Although it is understood that this arrangement may work a temporary hardship on some people, and even present others from following the accelerated program, the College has no alternative since its income is largely derived from student fees. At their present average level these do not meet educational costs. Thus the total fees for twelve quarters will be the same whether they are spread over three years or four. It may be pointed out, however, that a year’s personal expenses will be saved by following the accelerated program. It is anticipated that in many cases the additional expense for a fourth quarter will have to be met by borrowing. In such cases the College will cooperate by suggesting possible sources of help where such are known and, in a very limited number of instances may be able to lend up to one half of the additional fee for a fourth quarter taken within any given twelve-month period. Such loans would be repaid during what would otherwise have been the fourth year of the student’s attendance at College. Loans for the fourth quarter may be applied for after two quarters of residence.
For personal expenses students need per quarter at least $20 to $30, exclusive of transportation.
PAYMENT OF FEES
The College will guarantee the reservation of a place in the student body only if a deposit of $200 is made thirty days prior to the date of entrance. This deposit is not refundable except at Faculty discretion if the student withdraws, since a withdrawal from a reserved place may create a vacancy which otherwise would have been filled. When students are admitted less than thirty days prior to date of entrance the $200 deposit must be made within ten days of date of admission and before arrival. This deposit is credited to the student’s account for the year.
The yearly fee is payable as follows:
Deposit thirty days prior to entrance Full Fee $200.00 Reduced Fee $200.00
On entrance Full fee $400.00 Reduced Fee Two-fifths of the balance
Opening date of next quarter $400.00 Two-fifths of the balance
Opening date of third quarter $200.00 The balance
If a student attends all four quarters in a given year, the extra fee for the fourth quarter is due as follows: one half of fee for this quarter thirty days prior to opening date of quarter; balance on opening date of quarter.
For new students entering more than three weeks after a quarter has begun special adjustments will be made.
The only other fees are:
Application fee $5.00
Contingency deposit $25.00
Examination for graduation $25.00
Fee for late payment of any bill $10.00
The application fee must accompany application for admission to the College and is not refundable. Applicants who are accepted by the College should make the contingency deposit of $25 within ten days of notification of acceptance, since admission does not become effective until this deposit is received. It is not refundable if the new student fails to enter. While a student is in attendance it must be maintained; but any unused portion of it is refunded upon graduation or withdrawal. Bills are payable on the date of the bill and if not paid within ten days are subject to the fee for late payment.
For information concerning fees for the summer quarter and the work camp, see pages 9 and 10.
SUMMER SCHOOL 1942
The summer quarter of 1942 will consist of two consecutive sessions, the first of five weeks, the second of six weeks. Either or both may be attended; and both are open not only to Black Mountain College students but to any qualified person. Some courses will be particularly designed for teachers from secondary schools and from colleges.
The following course list for the summer quarter is both incomplete and the tentative due to the fact that some members of the Faculty are giving their full time to the war effort. In cases where alternatives are given, the courses ultimately offered will depend on registration.
ARCHITECTURE
The architectural work will be in connections with the work camp. The students will be given a schedule of building and supervisory activities. In addition, during the first session, this practical experience will be supplemented by evening classes consisting of lectures, discussion, reading and drawing.
A. L. KOCHER.
ART
The study of fundamental design will be offered: form, color, and material; the principles of graphic and plastic composition and of color and material combination. Some emphasis will be placed on method of teaching for developing imagination. During the first session there will be courses in advanced textile design and weaving.
A.ALBERS, J.ALBERS.
MUSIC
In addition to chorus and instrumental ensembles one or more of the following will be offered: musical forms, harmony, rhythms, phases in musical history, and instruction on individual instruments.
H.JALOWETZ, J.NELSON, G.STRAUS
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE
Two of the following courses will be offered: a freshman course in readings in literature survey course in English literature; for more advanced students, a course in some particular phase of literacy history.
K.KURTZ.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Introductory work will be offered in French, German, Russian, Spanish, Greek, and Latin. In addition, advanced studies, both conversational and literacy, will be offered in French and Spanish.
F.DE GRAAF, F.R. MANGOLD, E.W. STRAUS, G. STRAUS.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Due to vacancies in the Faculty made necessarily by the war emergency it is impossible at this time to state definitely what courses will be offered in this area. Aside from the usual courses in the social sciences, it may be possible that the planned courses in the department of inter-American affairs will be offered by the summer quarter. Final information concerning courses in this field may be obtained from the Registrar at a later date.
BIOLOGY
One or two of the following courses will be offered; elementary botany, field botany, elementary zoology, field zoology, ecology and reconstruction planning.
J.R. CARPENTER.
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
Basic courses in physics and chemistry will start in the fall quarter. Preliminary and specialized courses will be offered for at least one of the summer sessions.
M.E. BERGMANN, P.G. BERGMANN.
MATHEMATICS
One of more of the following courses will be offered: trigonometry, navigation, analytic geometry, calculus.
T. DREIER.
PSYCHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY
One of the following courses will be offered: the role of the psychopathology in the development of modern civilization; readings in political psychology.
E.W. STRAUS.
FEES FOR THE SUMMER SCHOOL
Regularly enrolled students will be charged as indicated on page 3. For special students wishing to attend only the summer school (either or both sessions) the fee covering room, board, and tuition is:
First session only Full Fee $187.50 Minimum Reduced Fee $75.00
Second session only Full Fee $225.00 Minimum Reduced Fee $87.50
Both Sessions Full Fee $400.00 Minimum Reduced Fee $150.00
Applicants for a reduced fee must submit the information required of regular applicants for a reduced fee.
A non-refundable application fee of $3.00 must accompany Application for Admission to the summer school. Applicants who are accepted will be liable for a breakage deposit of $10 on entrance; any unused portion of this deposit Is refunded at the close of the session.
Summer school fees are payable as follows:
First or second session: one half of the total fee thirty days prior to the opening of the session, or within ten days of admission and before arrival (for those admitted after May 22 or June 27).
Both sessions: one third of the total fee on May 22, or within ten days of admission and before arrival (for those admitted after May 22); one third on June 22; remaining third on July 27.
The College launders, free of change, one sheet and one towel or pillow case per week.
Beds are the only furniture the College provides. Other necessary furnishings, including mattresses, may be rented for thirty-five cents per week from regular students who own them.
SUMMER WORK CAMP 1942
In the summer of 1941, Black Mountain College operated a work camp of eight weeks, which was attended by students from a number of different colleges and secondary schools and which was of particular interest to students of architecture. Due to the summer school in 1942, a smaller work camp will be operated.
It will be open from June 8 to September 5. A restricted number of campers will be admitted for any given period; three weeks is the minimum time for which campers will be accepted. Anyone may apply for admission, but the majority will be limited to high school and college students. Some lectures and courses in the summer school will be open to work campers. The projects will be both in building construction and in agricultural work. The main purposes of the camp will be to provide practical training, to encourage physical development, and, as part of the war effort, to help meet the shortage in farm labor. The farm work will include land clearing. For students of architecture there will be a special course of five weeks under the direction of Mr. A. Lawrence Kocher, architect.
Work campers who take courses will in general work five hours a day, and for these there will be a small tuition charge (see Fees). Campers who have demonstrated ability and who wish to work full time, especially on the farm work, will receive their room and board and a small cash wage.
FEES FOR WORK CAMP
The inclusive fee for room, board and tuition is $12.50 per week, payable in advance, on entrance.
In general, campers will not be accepted for less than three weeks.
Some scholarship aid will be available for those who cannot afford the regular charge of $12.50 per week.
Campers who are accepted for full time work will receive room and board and a small cash wage.
Application for admission to the work camp must be accompanied by a deposit of $5.00. This deposit will be credited to the account of applicants who are accepted, and will be refunded to applicants who are not accepted.
A rental charge of thirty-five cents per week will be made for the use of furniture, which belongs to Black Mountain College students. The fee for the work camp, however, includes the laundering of one sheet, one pillow case, and two bath towels per week.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Arthur S. Adams, Ithaca, New York
Francis F. Bradshaw Chapel Hill, North Carolina
John E. Burchard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Samuel S. Cooley, Black Mountain, North Carolina
Fernando de los Rios, New York, New York
John Dewey New York, New York
Adrian J. Dornbush, Washington, District of Columbia
Ethel E. Dreier Brooklyn, New York
Ethel C. Forbes, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Lucy Gage Nashville, Tennessee
Sarah Goodwin Concord, Massachusetts
Walter Gropius Lincoln, Massachusetts
Anna D. Jamieson, Newton Centre, Massachusetts
Joseph Katz Nashville, Tennessee
Walter Locke Dayton, Ohio
Herminio Poretll Vila, Havana, Cuba
Malcolm Ross Washington, District of Columbia
Herbert W. Sanders, Black Mountain, North Carolina
Karl Terzhagi, Winchester, Massachusetts
Robert R. Williams, Asheville, North Carolina
REVISED CALENDAR
1941-1942 Spring Semester begins Feb 5
Spring Semester ends May 23
Summer School 1942
First Session (5 weeks) June 22-July 25
Second Session (6 weeks) July 27-Sept 5
Work Camp 1942 June 8- Sept 5
1942-1943 Fall Quarter Sept 28-Dec 12
Winter Quarter Jan 4-Mar 20
Spring Quarter Mar 29-June 12
Summer Quarter July 5-Sept 18
Each quarter is 11 weeks
