University of Vermont Celebrates Bicentennial of First English Department, Tracing Roots to James Marsh's Reforms
The University of Vermont (UVM) is celebrating the bicentennial of the first university English department in the Americas, established as part of a series of structural reforms initiated by its fifth president, James Marsh, in 1826. Marsh, who became president in October 1826, arrived at a university facing significant challenges, including a fire that destroyed University Hall and a period of instability with three presidents in five years. Despite these difficulties, Marsh, with the support of the UVM Board of Trustees and faculty members like Joseph Torrey, undertook a comprehensive examination of university education. Within a year, they introduced a new curricular system that included the formation of four departments: English Literature; Mathematics and Physics; Languages; and Political, Moral, and Intellectual Philosophy. This innovation allowed students to pursue a bachelor's degree within a specific concentration, marking the beginning of the 'major' system in American higher education.
