The Graduate School is born of controversy
he Princeton Graduate School was born of controversy, first between President James McCosh and his opponents, who doubted the wisdom of attaching a graduate school to a small college with a religious complexion, and then between President Woodrow Wilson and the formidable Dean Andrew Fleming West. Dean West, who won every point at issue between them, went on to establish a graduate school that has increasingly been identified with excellence in all fields in which it offers training.

A Model for American Higher Education
Long before Princeton established its Graduate School -- and even before it became a university -- students often remained after graduation to study informally as "resident graduates." The first graduate student in a field other than theology was future U.S. President -- James Madison of the Class of 1771, who stayed to read law and Hebrew. A century later President James McCosh -- drawing from the colleges at Oxford and Cambridge -- developed at Princeton a distinctly American model for graduate education. Through McCosh's efforts, Princeton awarded its first earned doctorates in 1879 and formally inaugurated the Graduate School on December 13, 1900.

The Interdependence of Princeton's Graduate School and Undergraduate Education
Princeton's strength derives largely from the synergy of the University's undergraduate and graduate programs; their shared commitment to excellence in teaching, research and scholarship. Princeton's Graduate School, though smaller than many peer institutions, is internationally prominent. Princeton's diverse programs of graduate study are crucial to the academic vitality of the University, spurring extensive and sophisticated libraries and laboratories, and cutting edge interdisciplinary research and teaching.

Distinguished scholars are drawn to Princeton because of important work being accomplished by teams of graduate students and faculty. Princeton's undergraduate curriculum benefits enormously from the Graduate School -- not only because all faculty members teach courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, but also because qualified undergraduates enroll in graduate courses.

The Graduate School and Global Leadership
The importance of the Graduate School extends far beyond its contributions to the University. Alumni of the Graduate School have gone on to positions of leadership in a wide variety of fields in academia, and in business and government around the globe. The Centennial celebrations will highlight the distinction of the Graduate School and its alumni as well as provide opportunities for celebration and reflection within the broader University community.

Centennial Celebrations
To mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Graduate School, Princeton will host a series of special programs in 2000-2001. The Centennial is designed to provide opportunities for alumni

• to renew their ties with faculty and friends, and

• to stimulate discussion about Princeton's leadership role in higher education now and in the future.

Plans include a public lecture series by distinguished alumni, academic symposia and conferences looking to the future of various disciplines, special events at Alumni Day, Reunions and Commencement, regional events organized by the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA) and the Alumni Council, as well as on-campus celebrations for the Princeton community.
Celebrating the centennial of the Graduate School in 2000-2001