University. Along with Cluff, the committee consisted of Karl G. Maeser, and James E. Talmage from the academy, plus James Sharp, and Willard Young. The next day, the committee proposed that the new university be called "The University of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" or the "Church University". After nationwide financial issues, church leadership decided to suspend any further efforts to create the Church University and proceeded to give their support to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. After continuous financial struggles, the academy was able to stay open, but because of the death of Abraham O. Smoot who was a generous benefactor of the academy, the financial struggles lasted longer than other periods of financial challenges. In 1893, Cluff went back to the University of Michigan to work on a master's degree and left George H. Brimhall as acting president. Changes under Cluff Cluff's methods as principal have been described as nearly opposite those of Maeser. Maeser was insular and conservative in his teaching methods. He kept his teachings well within the LDS world, and adhered to classical education standards. Cluff was more open to new ideas and methods. He also believed that the world outside Mormonism had a lot to offer the school. Cluff often referred to his time as administrator of the academy as the "New Epoch" because of his commitment to academic excellence and his motto, "learn to do by doing". At the beginning of Cluff's principalship, the administration continued to strictly enforce the rules of the academy as the Maeser administration had done, but over time Cluff helped the academy transfer that power to the students themselves. This helped to establish an atmosphere of discipline and responsibility maintained by the students through self-governance. Before Cluff's principalship, Brigham Young Academy was still more like a present-day high school than a university. Cluff, however began implementing several changes to the school according to his experiences at Michigan. He began separation of the college from the high school, giving older students access to higher level materials. The Collegiate Department of Brigham Young Academy was officially established in 1896 and was an extension of the college-level courses that Cluff had been teaching since becoming principal. He also introduced an athletics program, which included baseball, football, and track and field. The football program was quickly closed by the board of trustees because many colleges at