<p>Actually Hope2getrice, although I agree with you on the quality and reputation of JHU, it is Michigan, not JHU, that started the seminar and German method in the US. JHU took it a step further, but Michigan was the originator. </p>
<p>“The University of Michigan has since expanded to become one of the top universities in the United States, with one of the largest research expenditures of any American university as well as one of the largest number of living alumni at 420,000. The university is also recognized for its history of student activism and was the first American university to use the seminar method of study.”</p>
<p>“A new state constitution was adopted in 1850, with two significant changes related to the university. The office of Regent was changed from an appointed one to an elected one, and the office of President of the University of Michigan was created, with the Regents directed to select one. In 1852, they chose Henry Philip Tappan as the university’s first president. Tappan modeled UM’s curriculum on the broad range of subjects taught at German universities (the so-called “research model”), rather than the classical models (the so-called “recitation model”). The German, or Humboldtian model, was conceived by Wilhelm von Humboldt and based on Friedrich Schleiermacher’s liberal ideas pertaining to the importance of freedom, seminars, and laboratories in universities. To that end, Tappan enlarged the library, and supported the development and establishment of laboratories, an art gallery, and the Detroit Observatory.[22] However, Tappan was dismissed in 1863 over conflicts with the Board of Regents concerning matters of policy and personality.”</p>
<p>Michigan modeled itselft after the German model in 1850 and JHU was not founded until 1875. The link below provides you with the entire article. </p>
<p>[History</a> of the University of Michigan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_University_of_Michigan]History”>History of the University of Michigan - Wikipedia)</p>