Mines Academics Through the Years Originally, Mines had three terms (corresponding to the quarter system now used in some schools) in the academic year. But juniors were required to do a "vacation memoir," assigned by the faculty, in the summer. A senior thesis was also required. The two terms, or semester system, was adopted in 1896. In the 1896-97 catalog, it was stated that "Board and suitable accommodations can be obtained in Golden from five to seven dollars a week" and the total expense "need not exceed $350" for the year. For those for whom thermodynamics was a bugaboo—it was introduced into the curriculum in 1892. Starting in about 1906, there was specific note of a required extended trip after the senior year including Colorado, Utah, Montana and South Dakota. Apparently, the senior trip varied in length over the years. In 1918, short trips in both junior and senior years were scheduled. Some of us remember when we had the opportunity to achieve a grade of "H," which was a level above the "A." It looks like the "H" grade was introduced in 1927 and abandoned in 1947. Dr. Melville Coolbaugh had become a professor of chemistry in 1918 and president in 1926. Jesse Morgan became acting dean in 1927 and dean in 1929. In the early years, no student was admitted to Mines under 17 years of age. This restriction was lifted in 1904. From The Mines Magazine January 1995