Woodrow Wilson History of Princeton University

in 1902 woodrow wilson became princeton’s 13th president. during term of office (1902–10) plans building graduate college finalized, , had been college of new jersey began grow full-scale university.

as princeton looked toward expansion, wilson focused on quality of individual teaching , learning experience. credited developing small discussion classes called preceptorials, day supplement lecture courses in humanities , social sciences.

wilson doubled size of faculty, created administrative structure, , revised curriculum include general studies freshmen , sophomores , concentrated study juniors , seniors. proposed undergraduate dormitories divided quadrangles or “colleges” in students live resident faculty masters , have own recreational facilities. variation on plan became reality in 1982 when 5 residential colleges organized freshmen , sophomores.

wilson established academic departments otherwise downplayed germanic model of phd-oriented research university in favor of oxbridge (oxford , cambridge) model of intense small group discussions , one-on-one tutorials. hired 50 young professors, called preceptors, meet students in small conferences, grilling them reading. complaining princeton dominated eating clubs in students ate each other , ignored professors, sought build oxford-style colleges students , faculty eat , talk together. failed—the eating clubs still there.

wilson promote leadership model, whereby college focused on training small cadre of undergraduates national leadership, minority plan, conceive, superintend, called them in 1902 inaugural address university s president. college no less democratic because play special part. confronted andrew fleming west, dean of graduate school, , lost. west had german research model in mind , outmaneuvered wilson obtaining outside funding graduate complex serious scholarship separated fun-loving undergraduates.

as supervising architect of princeton campus during 1906-29, ralph adams cram contributed several important buildings in medieval collegiate gothic style plan stylistic unity , development.