All University Research Committee Records (All College Educational Research Committee)
UA.1.7.1

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator
Michigan State University. All College Educational Research Committee.
Creator
Michigan State University. All University Research Committee.
Title
All University Research Committee records
ID
UA.1.7.1
Date [bulk]
Bulk, 1949-1955
Date [inclusive]
1940-1968
Extent
2.0 Cubic feet
Language
English

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing,Michigan".

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Historical Note

Following World War II the experience of Michigan State College with the legislature revealed the fact that publicly supported institutions would, in all probability, need to find ways of providing higher education of the same grade as previously provided at a lower cost to the public. As a result of this experience, the first step taken was that the Governing Board of the College asked the President’s Office to review with the deans and department heads in the spring of 1948 their future staff needs. As a result, staffs in the various schools were pruned to the extent of some 80 positions within a year or so. This job had to be done on a rule of thumb basis as there was no scientific data or studies which would indicate what constituted optimum class size or service load of staff members, both of which were related to the problem of optimum staff size. The above decrease in positions was accomplished without any violation of tenure rules. The release of part-time and temporary staff and the normal turnover were sufficient at this point to take up the necessary slack.

At about the same time that staff size was being cut, the President created an All-College Educational Costs Committee composed of one representative from each of the seven schools, the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the President. This Committee was charged with the study of unit costs of instruction and any other related matters. This group did make an elaborate study of the cost per student credit hour of instructional work in the various departments and schools. This survey provided the various departments with data for a study of comparative costs. The Committee discovered among other things that there was an enormous number of courses being offered and that class size was exceedingly low in some areas, facts attributable in part to the “undue proliferation or splintering of subject matter” in the various fields at the undergraduate level. Furthermore, this Committee and the Committee on Course and Curricula Changes, which is mentioned later, discovered that (1) there was much duplication of courses offered in the various departments (a few cases where even the same text was used in courses in different departments); (2) no serious effort had been made to fit well the curricula of the upper schools upon that of the Basic College with much duplication resulting from this failure to adjust; (3) courses and curricula in departments were proposed and adopted without reference to what was being done in other departments; in fact, the competition was such in some cases that areas were preempted by the establishment of proposed courses which were not to be offered until sometime in the future.

By action of the President and approval of the faculty, there was then established a Committee on Course and Curricula Changes composed of a representative from the President’s Office as chairman and two faculty members appointed by the President and the Assistant Registrar as an ex-officio member and secretary. Its primary purpose was to discourage the bad educational practices and policies referred to above, to make sure that in the technical curricula there would be courses of a liberal and cultural nature at the upper school level, and to discourage proliferation of subject matter fields.

At that time, no new courses or new curricula could be adopted, nor could any changes be made in existing courses and curricula, until they were passed upon favorably by this Committee and by the faculty. If proposed courses or curricula appeared to duplicate those already established in other departments, the department proposing such courses or curricula was obliged to secure the approval of others concerned. Even if clearance and approval were properly made, the Committee could call any or all parties concerned before it for an examination of the proposals and it could hold up the proposals or even refuse to clear them. Such drastic action was taken in only a very few cases.

Obviously the above Committee was one whose powers were largely police in character and, therefore, because of its nature it could hardly be charged with policy matters in the instructional and research programs of the institution. Consequently, there was established an All-College Educational Research Committee composed of representatives of the several schools. This Committee had wide powers of investigation of any question which had to do with educational policy. For example, it could study or request that studies be made of proliferation of subject matter areas, the optimum class size at the various levels, counseling services in the institution, educational costs, etc. It reported to the President and faculty and, if faculty approval was given, its recommendations were put into effect. This Committee was organized in such a manner that it had counterparts in the various departments, divisions, and schools of the College. This made it possible for ideas to flow up and down and for participation in the various studies by several faculty members.

The following was the plan of organization:

1.Each department nominated to the Dean of its school two of its teaching members. These two members and the department head, or someone designated by the department head, constituted the Departmental Committee. 2.From the two nominated by the department, the Dean selected a School Committee composed of one representative from each department. 3.In Schools other than Science and Arts, the President and Dean selected a member from the School Committee for the All-College Committee, which person also became the chairman of the School Committee. 4.In the School of Science and Arts, the Dean and Director of each division selected from among those nominated a Divisional Committee, one person for each department included in the division (for Education, at least three members) and also the Dean and Director designated the chairman of each Divisional Committee. The Dean and President selected from among these six chairmen the person who is to represent the School of Science and Arts on the All-College Committee and be the overall chairman of the School Committee.

The President named the chairman of the All-College Committee, who may or may not have been one of the members of the All-College Committee.

The All-College Committee reported to the President through the Administrative Assistant in Charge of Academic Affairs, who could be a member ex-officio of the All-College Committee.

The All-College Educational Research Committee recommended, and the faculty approved, a study of the course offerings in each and every department of the school with a view to reducing the number of undergraduate courses in those areas where a great deal of “splintering” has previously occurred. Many one and two hour courses would be abandoned and courses carrying four and five hours of credit would be established. By this arrangement it was hoped that the University offered fewer courses broader in scope for the undergraduate student.

In addition, this Committee studied all counseling services in the institution with a view to recommend reorganization which reduced costs and provided a more effective type of service. The Committee also launched a study on class size and service loads of staff members.

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Scope and Contents note

This collection comprises largely the work of the All-College Educational Research Committee, also later referred to as the All-University Research Committee.

The bulk of the materials fall between the years 1949-1955. The main emphasis of the collection focuses on the committee’s work with: the study of and changes in faculty organization; changes in the college’s course and credit structure; establishment of a standard calendar; and change from a term to a semester plan.

Other committees and their work, mentioned in the history, are noted as they related to the work of this committee. Materials also contain the financial records and correspondence, meeting minutes, notes and membership lists of this committee.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections

Revision Description

  March 2009

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University Property Rights: Michigan State University

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Michigan State University. All University Research Committee.

Subject(s)

  • School enrollment
  • Universities and colleges -- Curricula

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Collection Inventory

Box Folder

General File 1943-1944 

32 1

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Rough Notes of Meetings 1947-1948 

32 2

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Class Size (Study of) 1949-1950 

32 3

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Correspondence 1949-1950 

32 4

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Counseling Services 1949-1950 

32 5

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Course & Credit Study 1949-1950 

32 6

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Enrollment by Courses 1949-1950 

Box Folder

(Agricultural Economics - Chemistry) 

32 7

(Botany-Effective Living) 

32 8

(Electrical Engineering - French) 

32 9

(Geography - Italian) 

32 10

(Journalism - Music) 

32 11

(Parasitology - Poultry Husbandry) 

32 12

(Psychology - Soil Science) 

32 13

(Spanish - Zoology) 

32 14

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Box Folder

Financial: Ledgers and General 1949-1950 

32 15

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Integration of B.C. & U.S. (Place of Philosophy, Committee) 1949-1950 

32 16

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Integration Between B.C. & U.B. (Sub-Committee Rept.) 1949-1950 

32 17

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Organization 

Box Folder

(a) 1949-1950 

32 18

(b) 1940-1950 

32 19

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Personal Files 

Box Folder

Jeffries March 2 - April 19, 1950 

32 20

Jeffries April 25 - May 31, 1950 

32 21

Kinder 1949-1950 

32 22

Luck, Runnells, Turk 1949-1950 

32 23

Stilles 1940-1950 

32 24

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Quarter - Semester Plans 

Box Folder

Other Institutions January 10-March 19, 1950 

32 25

 April 17-June 8, 1950 

32 26

Course & Credit Structure April-June 1950 

32 27

Exam Schedules 1949-1950 

32 28

Faculty Questionnaires May 8, 1950 

32 29

Information and Final Ballot Undated 

32 30

Proposed Calendars 1949-1950 

32 31

Pro and Con Statements Undated 

32 32

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Box Folder

Records of Motions, Reports and Actions 1940-1950 

32 33

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Rough Notes of Meetings 

Box Folder

 December 1-7, 1949 

32 34

 January 7-25, 1950 

32 35

 February 1-May 10, 1950 

32 36

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Box Folder

School Educational Res. Comm. (Reports and Communications) 1949-1950 

32 37

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Correspondence 

Box Folder

 July 3, 1950-May 9, 1951 

32 38

 May 23-31, 1951 

32 39

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Counseling Services 

Box Folder

 October 16, 1950-January 22, 1951 

32 40

 April-May 1951 

32 42

 April 1951 

32 41

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Box Folder

Curriculum Revision 1950-1951 

32 43

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Duplication and Fragmentation 1950-1951 

32 44

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Faculty Organization Agendas 1950-1951 

32 45

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Faculty Organization Library Staff 1950-1951 

32 46

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Financial: Ledgers and General 1950-1951 

32 47

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Integration Between Basic College and Upper School Courses 1950-1951 

32 48

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Integration of B.C. & U.S. 

Box Folder

(Place of Philosophy, Committee) 1950-1951 

32 49

(Sub Committee Materials) 1950-1951 

32 50

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Box Folder

Inter-Departmental Courses in Upper Schools 1950-1951 

32 51

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Membership 1950-1951 

32 52

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Organization 1950-1951 

32 53

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Quarter - Semester Plan 1950 

32 54

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Record of Motions, Reports and Actions 1950-1951 

32 55

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Report on Curricula School of Engineering 1950-1951 

32 56

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Rough Notes of Meetings 1950-1951 

32 57

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School Educational Res. Comm. (Reports and Communications) 1950-1951 

32 58

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Study of Class Size and Course Numbering 1950-1951 

32 59

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Written English Study 1950-1951 

32 60

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Correspondence 

Box Folder

 August 22-November 29, 1951 

32 61

 December 7-9, 1951 

32 62

 December 11, 1951-May 12, 1952 

32 63

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Box Folder

Counseling Services January-March 1952 

32 64

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Faculty Organization Departmental Organization 

Box Folder

Accounting (Dept.) - Agriculture (School of) 1951-1952 

32 65

Basic College - Economics (Dept.) 1951-1952 

32 66

Engineering (Dept.) - Social Service (Dept.) 1951-1952 

32 67

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Box Folder

Faculty Organization Committee Goals, Academic Senate 1951-1952 

32 68

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Faculty Organization Committee Considerations 1951-1952 

32 69

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Faculty Organization Proposals 

Box Folder

Individuals and Organizations 1951-1952 

32 70

General 1951-1952 

32 71

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Box Folder

Faculty Organization Terms and Letters 1951-1952 

32 72

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Faculty Organization Off-Campus 1951-1952 

32 73

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Faculty Organization Legal Powers and Library Staff 1951-1952 

32 74

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Faculty Organization Other Institutions 

Box Folder

"Digest of Plans of Univ. Organization" (Draft) 1951-1952 

32 75

"Digest of Plans of Univ. Organization" (Printed) 1951-1952 

32 76

Correspondence 1951-1952 

32 77

File Card Summaries 1951-1952 

32 78

Manuals 1951-1952 

32 79-84

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Box Folder

Financial: Ledgers and General 1951-1952 

32 85

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Integration of B.C. & U.S. (Place of Philosophy, Committee) Undated 

32 86

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Membership 1951-1952 

32 87

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Record of Motions, Reports and Actions Undated 

32 88

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Rough Notes of Meetings 1951-1952 

32 89

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Senior Examinations Study 1951-1952 

32 90

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Senior Examinations and Senior Week Report 1951-1952 

32 91

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Standards for Appointment and Promotion Study 

Box Folder

 April 2-May 27, 1952 

32 92

 May 28, 1952 

32 93

 May 28, 1952 

32 94

 May 29-June 2, 1952 

32 95

 June 3, 1952 

32 96

 June 10-20, 1952 

32 97

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Written English Study 

Box Folder

 September 26-November 26, 1951 

32 98

 January 10, 1952 

32 99-103

 January 30-February 27, 1952 

32 104

 March 3, 1952 

32 105

 March 10-May 21, 1952 

32 106

 1951-1952 

32 107

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Box Folder

Counseling Services 1952-1953 

32 108

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Correspondence 1952-1953 

32 109

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Faculty Organization 

Committee 

Box Folder

Considerations 1942-1953 

33 1

Goals March-April 1953 

33 2

Goals 1952-1953 

33 3

Departmental Organization 

Box Folder

Agriculture, School of 1952-1953 

33 4

Art - Chemistry 1952-1953 

33 5

Basic College 1952-1953 

33 6

English - Music 1952-1953 

33 7

Home Economics, School of 1952-1953 

33 8

Philosophy - Zoology 1952-1953 

33 9

Science & Arts, School of 1952-1953 

33 10

Veterinary Medicine School Committee 1952-1953 

33 11

 1952-1953 

33 12

Final Report & Recommendations 

Box Folder

 March 16-17, 1953 

33 13

 April 15-16, 1953 

33 14
Box Folder

Library Staff 1952-1953 

33 15

Proposals 

Box Folder

General 1952-1953 

33 16

Individuals and Organizations 1952-1953 

33 17
Box Folder

Reports to the Faculty (Drafts) 1952-1953 

33 18

Terms & Letters 1952-1953 

33 19

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Box Folder

Financial: Ledgers and General 1952-1953 

33 20

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Membership 1952-1953 

33 21

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Rough Notes of Meetings Undated 

33 22

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School Educational Res. Comm. (Reports and Communications) 1952-1953 

33 23

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Staff Publications Booklet Study 

Box Folder

 January 30- February 20, 1953 

33 24

 February 24-March 13, 1953 

33 25

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Box Folder

Standards for Appointment and Promotion Study 1952-1953 

33 26

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Study of Class Size 1952-1953 

33 27

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Written English Study 

Box Folder

 July 11, 1952 

33 28

 July 18-November 25, 1952 

33 29

 November 28, 1952-April 3, 1953 

33 30

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Box Folder

Correspondence, Membership 1953-1954 

33 31

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Faculty Organization 

Box Folder

Committee Considerations 1953-1954 

33 32

Library Staff 1953-1954 

33 33

Terms and Letters 1953-1954 

33 34

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Box Folder

Financial: Ledgers and General 1953-1954 

33 35

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Standards for Appointment and Promotion Study 1953-1954 

33 36

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Written English Study 1953-1954 

33 37

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Annual Report 1954-1955 

33 38

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Correspondence 1954-1955 

33 39

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Faculty Organization Committee 

Box Folder

Considerations December 1954 

33 40

Considerations February 1955 

33 41

Goals, Academic Senate 1954-1955 

33 42

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Box Folder

Faculty Organization Proposals: General 1954-1955 

33 43

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Faculty Organization 

Box Folder

Proposals: Organizations 1954-1955 

33 44

Terms and Letters, Library Staff 1954-1955 

33 45

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Box Folder

Financial: Ledgers and General 1954-1955 

33 46

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Great Issues Course 1954-1955 

33 47

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Membership Undated 

33 48

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Minutes 1954-1955 

33 49

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Miscellaneous 1954-1955 

33 50

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Retirement Policy 1954-1955 

33 51

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Smoking Regulations 1954-1955 

33 52

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Student Activities 1954-1955 

33 53

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Financial: Ledgers and General 1954-1956 

33 54

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Sabbatical Leave Policy 1955-1956 

33 55

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Financial: Ledgers 1956-1957 

33 56

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Miscellaneous 1967-1968 

33 57

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Counseling Services Undated 

33 58

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Faculty Organization Committee Considerations Undated 

33 59

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Faculty Organization Other Institutions Notes Undated 

33 60

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Quarter-Semester Plans Student Questionnaires Undated 

33 61

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