Academic Life During the War

A pamphlet describing the academic changes made to accommadate the war effort.

"Going to College in War Time at Beloit College"

Beloit College made significant alterations to their courses during war time in order to help students gain the skills needed for the war. Each of the courses available during the 1941-1942 school year had a description of how they related to helping with the war both in direct and indirect combat.

The academic calender year was altered in order to help students and service men attend summer school and obtain their degree in less time than usual to allow students to go off to the war as soon as possible. These changes caused midterm breaks to be eliminated and winter breaks to be shortened. 

Service men sitting in a class. 

Men in Class

During the war, Beloit College's curriculum was focused mainly around war trainings. In all courses that were given during the war, at least some part of the lesson plans were based off of a type of military training either for direct combat, as technicians, or in data analyses. 

A souvenir booklet describing what life was going to be like at the college for incoming freshmen during wartime.

"Beloit College Souvenir Booklet" 

This booklet was used as a guide for incoming freshmen. It contains information on what the students should expect while they are at Beloit College, facts about the college, information on courses, as well as their accelerated program that made completing all requirements possible in 2.5 years. It also contains information of how the 95th College Training Detachment became active At Beloit College. It was used to give the new students some direction in what the training programs, as well as the social atmosphere, were like during this time. 

Women watching a group of service men in uniform on their way to a training exercise. 

College During War

The women were not involved in direct service military training and were often left to watch the men during the training exercises that took place outside. The women were given classes in first aid and were mainly in charge of stamp and bonds sales while their male friends spent almost all of their time training. 

Members of flight groups 33-34 Army Air Corps standing at attention on the lawn in front of Pearsons.

Flights 33-34 Army Air Corps

Members of flights 33-34 Army Air Corps standing at attention on the front lawn of Pearsons during training. The men spent most of their exercise training sessions in their specific flight groups.