THE AMOS TUCK SCHOOL OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

In the review of the work of the Tuck School for the year 1913-14, published a year ago in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, an extended statement was made of the School's conception of its place in higher education for administration and commerce, and of the School's plans for fulfilling its obligations, according to that conception, to the College and to its students. The work of the year 1914-15 has consisted almost entirely of quiet, persistent effort on the part of the faculty to carry out the plans presented in that statement, in accordance with the dominating ideal that the Tuck School shall be among professional schools of business administration what the College strives to be among academic institutions—a great teaching institution. There is, therefore, at this time, nothing new and little of general interest to report to the alumni.

In the report of a year ago attention was called to the fact that enlargement of the instructing force had made possible more serious endeavors to supplement instruction of the class room by instruction through supervised investigation and application of principles in actual business practice. It has long been an ideal of the School that some day a relationship should be formed between the School and business institutions of the Connecticut valley, which would yield mutually beneficial results; the business concerns should become a laboratory for the School, and the expert service of the School should be made available to the business concerns. During the past year the beginning of such a relationship was established, and the results seem to have been mutually satisfactory. Under the direction of Professor Shelton seven students made investigations, as thesis work, of as many specific problems in plants in Hanover, Lebanon, White River Junction, and Hartford. The work consisted not merely of investigations but also of constructive reports which were made to the managers of the several plants. All reports were appreciated by the managers, and, in many instances, charges in lay-out, organization, or methods of operation were made in the departments of the plants investigated, following wholly or in part the recommendations of the reports. Professor Smith early in the year, was appointed business manager of the White River Junction Board of Trade, and the Bellows Falls Chamber of Commerce, and students specializing in the commercial-secretarial field were utilized by him in the work of these organizations. Acting as assistants, the students undertook definite investigative and executive work, such as the organization of a retail trade campaign, or the making of an industrial survey. The reports on their work to the directors of the organizations constituted their theses. Under Professor Gray's direction there was undertaken, as thesis work, the adaption to the particular needs of a particular printing concern of a standard cost finding system. Two students made investigations and constructive reports concerning sales methods in two wholesale houses. In both cases the students were employed by the respective houses, and the theses, favorably received, helped to determine the nature of the beginning services of these men with the firms.

The actual results of these investigations excelled expectations from the first year of such contact with business concerns of the vicinity, and promise, with more experience in organizing and supervising students' work by instructors, better results in the future. The most significant result was the creation of good will for the School and the College among business men of the region. Seven proprietors or managers of plants in which students had made investigations were present at the Commencement dinner, and, in conversation, spoke encouragingly of the development of similar relations between the School and other plants. In the future the securing of opportunities should be easier, and, opportunities secured, there should be fewer obstacles for students to overcome at the beginning of their investigations.

There were enrolled in the School, during the year, fifty-seven first year men, seventeen second year men, and four special one year men. The special one year course is a combination of first year and second year courses, not leading to a degree, for students who have been graduated from the College, but who have not,- as seniors, taken the first year work of the School. The increase in the number of such students is noteworthy. The following is a statement of enrollment in the School during the past five years:

First year Second year one year Special 1910—11 25 8 1 1911—12 37 12 1 1912—13' 37 11 1913—14 39 19 1914—15 57 17 4

Practically all members of the graduating class had secured positions before the end of the year, either by their own or the School's efforts. The businesses entered represent a wide range: wholesale grocery; wholesale haberdashery; life insurance; accounting; statistics; commercial secretary; department store; trust company; foreign exchange ; manufacturing. It had been feared at the beginning of the year that positions for students would be difficult to secure, because of the industrial situation, and because of the fact that many concerns were discharging employees. As a matter of fact, on the whole students secured positions more easily that in any previous year, and as a result more of inquiry from employers than inquiry of employers. On the whole, also, more completely than in any previous year, students secured positions in businesses of their choice.

The following occupational statistics of Tuck School graduates should be of interest to alumni. A few students are proprietors; the greater number in managerial or sub-managerial positions; the

more recent graduates in clerical or apprenticeship positions. Advertising 6 Auditor 1 Banking Investment 6 Foreign 7 Commercial 6 Trust Company 1 20 Civil Engineer 1 Commercial Secretary 2 Diplomatic Service 1 Editor (Financial) 1 Education (Commercial) College 3 Secondary 3 6 Electric Light Co. 1 Export Trade 2 Farming 2 Hotel 1 Insurance 6 Law 2 Manufacturing Accounting 8 Managers 10 Purchasing Agts. 2 Salesmen 4 Statistics 2 Other 17 43 Merchandising 7 Port Superintendent 1 Public Accounting 4 Railroading Steam 5 Electric 3 8 Real Estate 5 Traffic Departments Tropical Fruit 2