EDUCATION Facilities, programs and enrollment figures continued to expand in the field of education throughout the year, while student demands increased and courses were revised to satisfy local needs. By an Act of the Legislature, on August 12, 1968, the College of Guam was renamed the University of Guam with a five-member board of regents. The University was organized into three undergraduate colleges-the college of letters, arts, and sciences; the college of education; and the college of continuing education-and a graduate school, each under the direction of a dean. On the capital improvements scene, close to $3 million were expended by the Department of Education on the construction of two new elementary schools having a total of 66 classrooms. In the blue-print stage are plans for a new elementary school to be built in the Mongmong-Toto-Maite area, and a much needed junior high school to be constructed in Inarajan to serve students living at the southern end of the island. . The University saw the completion of the new science building early in the year, and is anticipating the completion of a Student Center plus three dormitory buildings by the fall of 1969. The dormitory is designed to accommodate 300 students. By January, 1970, a twostory Health Science Building to house the school of nursing should ~!so have been completed. • The operational budget for the Department of Education reached a rec-
ord high of $15 million for the 1968-69 school year. The budget for the University soared from $1,608,177 for fiscal year 1968, to $3,392,870, of which $302,570 was supplied through Federal grants. Although the construction of new school facilities has finally liberated students from the World War II quonset huts, the expected increase in enrollment of 2,000 students next year will continue to cause an acute classroom shortage with the resultant high ratio of students per class. The anticipated enrollment for 1970 is 22,500, as compared to the 20,500 students enrolled this year. Of the 988 12th graders enrolled, 769 received high school diplomas, compared to 889 graduates the previous year. A record number of 1,000 teachers were employed by the Department of Education to staff the system's two high schools, five junior high schools, the school for handicapped children, and the 21 elementary schools. Enrollment at the University of Guam averaged 2,000 students this year, compared with the previous student body of 1,700. A total of 114 degrees were conferred during May, of which 91 were bachelor of arts degrees, 21 were masters degrees, and two were associate in arts degrees. From the school of nursing 19 students graduated, 17 of whom are now ·employed, and two pursuing baccalaureate degrees on the mainland. From the three police academy classes 9
