King's Business - 1961-06

S u m m e r S c h o o l at Wheaton Col­ lege (Illinois) has been in prog­ ress for nearly half a century during which time it has made gigantic strides. Last summer’s enrollment was one of the largest to register at this mid-western college with nearly 1000 students taking from two to ten weeks of study during the ten weeks. Instituted in 1914 by the late Dr. William F. Rise, professor of educa­ tion, while Dr. Charles Blanchard was serving as the college’s second president, the Summer School prog­ ressed under its two succeeding presi­ dents — Dr. James O. Buswell, Jr., 1926-1940, and the present Dr. V. Raymond Edman, at the helm since 1940. Opening with educational courses to encourage young men and women in the teaching profession, Dr. Rice instituted a four-week program which he directed until 1925. For two years, the late Dr. H. U. Roop directed a limited Summer School, with impetus added to the program in 1928 when Dr. Enock C. Dymess was named col­ lege registrar and director of the Summer School. When enrollment increased, the program was geared to meet the ex­ pansion by instituting two terms of four weeks each, effective in 1933. This proved helpful to students de­ siring to complete one or two courses in a limited time, with a four-week

by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Free. Two courses, Bible Civilization and New Testament Archaeology, were offered students during the ocean voyage. Lectures on shipboard and during the land travel in the Palestinian area were a part of the courses. Currently the cruises are operated independent­ ly by the Frees with college credit accorded a participant only if they take part in the archaeological exca­ vation project operated by Dr. Free at the site of ancient Dothan. In 1941 a workship for teachers was organized for the first time in the Summer School uncjpr the direction of Dr. Nelson Barnes of the Univer­ sity of Illinois. That year also saw the permanent leasing of the Black Hills site for the second term science expedition headed by the late Dr. John W. Leedy, as director. He was assisted by his son, Dr. John L. Leedy, and Drs. Russell L. Mixter and Paul M. Wright. The latter three still serve as faculty for the summer program in the Black Hills, now un­ der the direction of Dr. Donald C. Boardman. The 29th annual Summer School program in 1943 was geared to the demands of our nation at war. The College mobilized all its forces in an accelerated program including courses in engineering science, management for war training, and other projects, cooperating with the United States

period giving opportunity to earn as much as five semester hours of col­ lege credit. The same clear and uncompromis­ ing testimony and standards on which the College was founded in 1860 were maintained in the Summer School as in the regular school term. Branching out its curriculum to include courses from all of its divi­ sions, the Summer School included courses from the College, the Con­ servatory of Music, Academy (high school), and Junior Academy (ele­ mentary). Further forward strides were real­ ized in 1935 when a camp was leased in the Black Hills, South Dakota, for second term field science expeditions in botany and geology. Also instituted the same year was the Daily Vaca­ tion Bible school conducted under the auspices of the Christian Educa­ tion department in cooperation with several local churches. Provisional accreditation was grant­ ed the College by the North Central Association in 1913 and it was fully accredited in 1916. In 1930 it was placed on the approved list of the Association of American Universities and rated Class A by the University of Illinois in 1931. A ll applying to the Summer School as well. A Mediterranean cruise to the Holy Land was introduced to the Summer School program in 1937, conducted

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THE K IN G 'S BUSINESS

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