I.U. DEGREES
sm,—No one will question the personal bona fides of your correspondent, Rev. F. Barrie Flint, as a " Graduate " of the Intercollegiate University, but his argument is a specious one. There is much to be said for his plea that persons of assured professional standing should be allowed to take a degree without having to waste time on schoolboy studies such as " the minutiae of Latin or Greek Grammar," but there is no justification for such degrees being made available for them on much easier terms, and a far lower academic standard, than is required from the ordinary University student. Moreover, as a former student of one of the theological colleges of London University Mr. Flint must know that that University makes provision for such cases by its " mature matriculation " examination whereby such minutiae can be dispensed with, providing that other evidence is given that the candidate has the necessary intellectual equipment to study for a degree. The condemnation of the I.U. and similar institutions is that they make no such requirement, and that they grant sO-called degrees on standards of study and examination that are farcical in comparison with those of a real University. I have before me the syllabus of one of these institutions. Its B.A. and B.D. requirements are on a far lower level than that of the matriculation examination of an English University. In other words, they make it easier to finish a University course than a reputable University makes it to begin one. Degrees granted, and-accepted, under such conditions are a form of false pretences. Many of the candidates are quite in ignorance of true University requirements, and hence are quite honest, although deluded, in their quest for these " degrees." But many are not in ignorance.. That applies particularly to the clergy and ministers, who provide an undue proportion of these " graduates." In no other of the learned professions is an I.U. degree recognised as of any value whatsoever, and it is deplorable that so many clergymen and ministers should lower themselves to such unworthy methods, especially when they know quite well that they are repudiated by the responsible authorities of their Churches. None of the Free Churches will recognise such " degrees " in their Year Books, and if the Church Directory does so it is significant that the far more authoritative Crockford does not.
Your correspondent refers to his own thesis, later published, which was awarded an Honours degree. I doubt not that it merited it, but the boot was really on the other foot. By submitting such a scholarly work he honoured the I.U. far more than he was honoured by it. Some ten years ago Lord Horder proposed to introduce into the House of Lords a Bill to make illegal the use of bogus degrees. It is sincerely to be hoped that before long Parliamentary action will be taken to deal with this " open
sore."—Yours faithfully, PERCY AUSTIN. 202 Forest Road, Coalville, Leicester.
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