PROBATION. In colleges and universities, the examination of a student as to his qualifications for a degree.
2. The time which a student passes in college from the period of entering until he is matriculated and received as a member in full standing. In American colleges, this is usually six months, but can be prolonged at discretion.—Coll. Laws.
PROCEED. To take a degree. Mr. Halliwell, in his Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, says, "This term is still used at the English universities." It is sometimes used in American colleges.
In 1605 he proceeded Master of Arts, and became celebrated as a wit and a poet.—Poems of Bishop Corbet, p. ix.
They that expect to proceed Bachelors that year, to be examined of their sufficiency,… and such that expect to proceed Masters of Arts, to exhibit their synopsis of acts.
They, that are approved sufficient for their degrees, shall proceed.—Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ., Vol. I. p. 518.
The Overseers … recommended to the Corporation "to take effectual measures to prevent those who proceeded Bachelors of Arts, from having entertainments of any kind."—Ibid., Vol. II. p. 93.
When he proceeded Bachelor of Arts, he was esteemed one of the most perfect scholars that had ever received the honors of this seminary.—Holmes's Life of Ezra Stiles, p. 14.
Masters may proceed Bachelors in either of the Faculties, at the end of seven years, &c.—Calendar Trin. Coll., 1850, p. 10.
Of the surviving graduates, the oldest proceeded Bachelor of
Arts the very Commencement at which Dr. Stiles was elected to the
Presidency.—Woolsey's Discourse, Yale Coll., Aug. 14, 1850, p.
38.