The Highacres Collegian, September 26, 1975 - 2
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Enrollment at the Hazleton Campus of the
Pennsylvania State University has risen to
approximately 930-940 full time students as
compared to 850 full time students last year.
This approximate 10% increase in enrollment,
together with increases at other Commonwealth
Campuses and University Park, helped boost
enrollment six to seven per cent university
wide.
Two contributing factors which led to
enlarged enrollment include an increase in
high school graduates over the past several
years and a shift of students from more ex
pensive private colleges to cheaper, public
ones. Because of -economical pressures, many
students and parents find they cannot afford
$4»000-$5»000 for tuition and room and board.
Even Penn State's tuition increase did not
seem to affect prospective enrollment} partly
because it was expected and partly because
many other colleges raised their tuition by
an equal or greater amount.
Vocational programs are taking the brunt
of the growing enrollment. The number of en
gineering majors has risen 43% since it is at
present one of the few areas in which jobs
are available. The College of Business Ad
ministration, also due to openings in the
job market, has a greater number of students
enrolled than a year ago.
However, because of increased emphasis
on the job market, registration for the Col
lege of Liberal Arts has declined. The rea
son for this decrease is the realization on
the student's part that the availability of
jobs for English or History majors, for in
stance, is limited. Teaching has usually
been the. alternative for Liberal Arts majors;
however, the great influx of teachers into
the job market has severely limited that
possibility.
The possible consequences of an enlarged
student body is cause for concern amqng many
students and faculty members. There are now
more students per class than last year or the
year before, which may well make crowded
classrooms a commonplace this year. How will
this affect the teacher's capability to in-
struct all these students? Can a teacher
really say'that he or she has been able to
devote time to more individualized attention
other than the posting of office hours?
Registration, always a problem in the
past, will become even more difficult. There
has always been the problem of courses clos
ing, although many students needed or wanted
that particular course. Certain courses are
required and it is frustrating for the stu
dent who finds that he cannot get several of
his courses. With the increase, students
will be left in the cold with regard to
classes.
OfUttitot,
Continued on page 5.
Letters to the Editor
serve as a forum of exchange
among students, faculty, and
administration and are most
welcome. All letters must be
signed and left in the Editor's
mailbox, located in the SGA
office (Commons). Karnes may be
withheld by request.
No Confidence
Recently, the Student
Government Association (SGA)
has been fraught with per
sonal conflict, something
which does not belong in an
elected represenative body.
The more unfortunate aspect
of the matter is the invol
vement of several SGA officers,
which raises grave doubts as
Continued on page 8.