Education: Farm System

Next fall, Pennsylvania State College will have the biggest freshman class in its 91-year history. But not one of Penn State’s 2,725 freshmen will show up on the campus.

President Ralph Dorn Hetzel, faced like most college presidents with more students than he can take in, by last week had arranged with 20 less crowded small colleges around the state (including twelve teachers’ colleges) to farm out his freshman class. A new student at Penn State will be assigned to whatever school has the right kind of courses for him. As a sophomore, he can automatically transfer to Penn State’s campus—unless he prefers to stay down on the farm.