A large number of researchers from the French Academy of Sciences were appointed to teach at this school. Napoleon personally set the guidelines for student training at this university—promoting mathematics, physics, chemistry, and mapping techniques, particularly for artillery, engineering, road bridges, shipbuilding, military and civilian engineering, mining, and geography within technical public colleges.
During the grand military parade in 1804, students from the Paris Polytechnic School also participated in the inspection. Surprisingly, Napoleon personally ordered their procession to be placed immediately after the honor guards of the three services, but before all other military formations. When they passed by, Napoleon stepped forward to present the first graduate of the Class of 1804 with a flag embroidered with 'For the Homeland, Science, and Honor'.
