When the college was first opened, most of the students accepted were government officials. They were respectfully called "master," and servants were employed to "invite master to come to class" when the class bell rang. Teachers were called by the same term of respect used for government officials: "Your honor."
大學堂初辦時，所收學生，大部分為政府官員，被稱為老爺，雇有當差，上課鈴響時，當差就來「請老爺上課」；老師被稱為中堂或大人。