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THE INSTITUTION OF HONOUR LOANS—FRANCE
The Students National Union at its annual Conference in 1922 proposed
that a National Fund for Honour Loans should be created in Order
to help the poorest among the students, requesting that the state participate
and help with two million francs during a period of ten vears to
assist in the inauguration of the fund. This proposal of the National
Union was passed only after a long parliamentary discussion on the principles
and applications of Honour Loans.
Administration and Distribution of Funds
An Administrative Committee meets twice a year at the Board of
Education, Paris, to administer the funds of the Institution and distribute
them among the different French Universities. This Committee
with the Minister as Chairman, is composed as follows:
The Director of Higher Education
The Rector of a Provincial University
A Dean of the Paris University
A Dean of a Provincial University
A Senator, a Deputy, a Member of the Council of State
A member of the General Council
A member of the “Cour des Comptes”
Three heads of the great Technical Schools
One important contributor
President of the Students’ National Union
President of a Provincial Students’ Association
One Student front each of the Paris Faculties, chosen by the Minister.
Local Committees
A local committee meets to study the requests and distribute the loans
in each university two or three times a year. This committee is formed
of professors and students in equal number, and each committee in the
different universities has as one of its members the President of the
Students’ General Union.
Method of Granting Loans
A loan is made without interest and normally does not exceed 3,000
francs, but in exceptional cases may be raised to 5,000 (for Doctorates).
The Student binds himself in honour to repay the loan. The repayment
does not have to begin until the second year after his studies are finished.
