University Extension in the United States. Bulletin, 1914, No. 19. Whole Number 592

In the United States, as early as 1831, features of university extension appeared in the work of the American National Lyceum, an organization which, though not associated with any educational institution, was instrumental in the wide spread of popular education. In 1874 a new agent of popular education, the Chautauqua movement, began to make itself felt by the introduction of more systematic and constructive opportunities of study than were included in the plan of the lyceum. Chautauqua, with its summer schools and literary and scientific circle, offered courses of instruction varying from the more elementary to university grades. University extension, as now interpreted, includes all extramural university service and certain types of intramural work. Under the latter head the following activities are included: Popular short courses and conferences at the institution, and also such opportunities to attend classes or lectures out of work hours as are offered sometimes with and sometimes without the customary entrance requirements. Occasionally summer schools are classified under university extension. This bulletin addresses the following topic areas as they relate to university extension in the United States: (1) History; (2) Organization and administration; (3) Correspondence study; (4) Extension teaching in relation to the elementary schools and teachers and continuation, vocational and industrial schools; (5) Extension work through lectures; (6) Local classes; (7) Departments of debating and public discussion; (8) General welfare work; (9) Publications; and (10) Institutions in which extension work is not fully organized. (Contains 1 footnote.) [Best copy available has been provided.]