TI - i. eft r s t It b . otottegial( VOLUMN - XXXV NO. 1 Tr , ? - 7; ";j:: . • • EMI RUB RENOVATED By Pat Sedlak Bright colors, modern fur niture, new lounges, carpeting, murals, and more characterize the REED UNION BUILDING this year. Working the majority of the summer, hired contractors busily Behrend Offers New Mcijor Marc Woytowich After two years of planning and petitioning, Behrend College is now able to offer a unique major in the field of Communications. This particular degree can not be received at any other Com monwealth campus. Behrend College is the only place you can receive this degree. To clarify any misconceptions, Dr. Archie Loss, Arts and Humanities Department Head, stated that "It is not your `dramatic' Communications degree, such as you would picture radio broadcasting or Jour nalism. Those, of course, are offered at State, but this major is different." Dr. Loss termed the program "internal com munications" or "organizational communications",referring to the type of work he program is designed for. The degree prepares one to handle inter departmental communications and employee-to-employer relations, as well as public relations and other such ac tivities. More specifically, Dr. Loss stated, "You will learn how to handle a company newsletter, such as General Electric's, and work up annual reports. A Communications major of this sort must be a good writer with a high degree of creativity. It also requires some ability to meet and Veterans Attention You are not necessarily certified each term. You must con tact the Office of Veterans Affairs at the beginning of each term and fill out the appropriate VA forms. If this is not done, there will be delays in receiving your checks. If you are not sure if you have been certified or not, stop in the VAO im mediately. added new dimensions to the Student Union. New game tables and chairs provide a spot for subtle recreation, while the new lounges add a place for relaxation and informal gatherings. The murals in the lower RUB set the pace for a busy activity center while the upper speak well with people." The creativity element is used in working with business systems and handling research problems. Employee program designs and the ability to interconnect dif ferent departments further relies on the creativity of the Com munications major. Loss also mentioned that the program is an "inter disciplinary" major, meaning that some courses are shared by several departments. Not con fined to English or Journalism, the program integrates the functions of effective speech as well. In fact, Dr. Ward, whose specialties are Speech and Organizational Communications, is heading - up the internship program for this major. The intership consists of a ten week term worked in forty hour weeks at a local corporation or government agency. The student gets actual on-the-job training while working for his degree. A program that includes the student designing his own project is also available. Dr. Loss felt that the - l - ocation of Behrend near so many industrial business, along with their support for the idea, were definite factors in getting this unique program started at Behrend. He was alio quick to give. praise to the ex tended efforts of the college faculty and Dean Fox. Published by the Students of the Behrend College of the Pennsylvania State University „..., Station Road, Erie, Pa. 16563 ipV‘,4B4 •M , Og• s :OVI;g: : , w.&c >JO • , •• ..•,•••••• .:ih hr:_ ..: ~ •.. .x.u. n.:: r:ith :". . level mellows out the Union. But that's not all! Plans have been made to remodel the Commuter and faculty cafeteria. This can be expected to be done over the coming summer. So take notice of the new and exciting changes that have taken place while you were away!! Singers, Musicians Needed Ann K armazon Can you sing? Can you play an instrument? If either one of these activities interest you, then read The 1979-80 Behrend chorus and stage bands could use your help. The chorus needs voices, especially tenor and bass, to provide a really full sound this year. The band can find a spot for In 1975 Behrend College began any available instrument. No a five-year Associate Degree auditions are needed and a nursing program which was limited musical background is no partially funded by Hamot obstacle. What's more, there is Medical Center. However, last no big hassle with drop-add year, after a series of procedures to worry about. The negotiations with Behrend of- Music and Theater Departments ficals, Hamot announced that here on -campus have a special total funding of the program exemption from the six dollar would cease after the present drop-add fee. academic year: This year Hamot The classes meet Monday, has offered a maximum of $50,000 Wednesday, and Thursday - for next year, only half of it's chorus, fifth period; band, sixth earlier committment of $lOO,OOO. period. If these times create a At present, the 47 member problem for you, consider joining freshman nursing class, faces an the class as an activity. Taking it unclear future. If no other in for credit is not a requirement. stitutions offer a similar course If you're interested in joining by next fall, Penn State is either the band or the chorus, see obligated to graduate them. But Mrs. Weber in room 122 of the beyond that the program at Reed Building, or just come to Behrend will end. class. Mrs. Weber is a new ad- The two chief coordinators for dition to the Bebrend faculty this Behrend's nursing program, Ms. term and has high hopes for the Evelyn Radziszewski and Mrs. music department. As of now she Jessica Steckler are hopeful, yet is planning to have a Christmas realistic, about the future of their Concert and Spring Concert. She program. They realize that is looking into the possibility of without community support Penn some combined musical numbers State will not underwrite any between the two groups. They're nursing program for the Erie looking forward to a really great area campus. As an alternative, year, so get going and join up Ms. Radziszewski and Ms. . soon. Steckler cite the„plsothility. , of. , Enrollment Peaks ~~ ~: By Marc Woytowich Since adding more credit courses and running the terms on a ten-week timetable, night classes at Behrend have seen a significantjump in enrollment numbers. Though the more at tractive evening schedule sparked a greater turnout, other factors contributed to the largest student enrollment ever, at Behrend. One was the awareness of program designers that a great many working people still wanted to further educate themselves. Another factor is the favorable attitude toward colleges in the late 19 ; 70'5. Combined, these reasons made for such a large evening enrollment that two extra sections had to be added. No courses were dropped. Classroom numbers were at par with day courses, about 25 students in the average English class. Some classes peaked at 40 or more much like the hectic daytime college. According to Dr. Robert Lauber, in charge of evening credit courses, a line of 60 students had formed nearly an hour before the first registration. He was asked if a good thing could go too far: "Not at the moment. We have some minor space problems, but that's only with classroom seating. We've had an increase to 150 degree seeking students coming at night." MEM Dr. Lauber admitted the potential pitfall of "over success", but was very specific in his reason why. "It puts a strain on our hiring abilities", he 'said. "We just can't pull a teacher from the street to teach an extra section. All our instructors must be accredited, and therefore, approved through State College." He went on to say that that was good, as all Penn State campuses upheld a reputation of the finest teaching staffs. Several changes were made in Dimensioning at Behrend? Thursday, September 13, 1979 !the evening program to fit 'student needs. First of all, a 'separation between night-time credit courses and the basically non-credit Continuing Education Program. "The two spearheads will grow faster", Dr. Lauber ;stated. "Each branch can con 'centrate on its own unique features and expand much faster." A student can now earn a 'Bachelor's Degree while at tending only night classes. A Master's in engineering is being made available as well. Of special interest to regular day-enrollment students is the easy ability to land a night course .if a day class should be closed. 'Some dorm students are already going both day and night. Dr. Lauber is also hopeful that once night-time students establish themselves as steady, degree-seeking pupils, they am be paired with qualified advisors. This would put them in touch with a more informed, complete approach to their career. "Personal guidance would be a definite asset", Lauber remarked. In addition, the Career Development area will be open two nights a week, where Mr. Dave Stillings is available for placement tests, advice, and tapes and brochures on the career opportunities a college education offers. Finally, Dr. Lauber expressed a wish that some freshmen and sophomores would consider taking an evening course "to experience a broader age range in a learning situation. The older students, already in the working world, can challenge the minds of the younger ones." This, he believes, will in turn inspire a better performance in the in structor as well as the varying attitudes of the class, and make teaching a greater, more rewarding challenge. Nursing U gene Grygo support from the Pennsylvania Legislature and the funds from Hamot as sources of continuing funds. But both sources may never materialize. At the heart of the issue is the decision by Hamot's board of Directors to cut off total funding of the program. A spokesman for Hamot claims that "third party payers are refusing to allow us imbursable donations." Apparently, the action on the part of "third Party payers," makes the present commitment of $lOO,OOO financially impossible to continue. The $50,000 maximum -is available to Behrend until another "successor develops locally." The Hamot spokesman did not rule out the possibility that Villa Maria College may be the local "successor" to Behrendt. Another reason given for the cutback was the low turnover rate of nursing program graduates. However, the spokesman boasted that Hamot as well as other local hospitals had a "successful year recruiting nurses." The spokesman maintained that "Our nursing Continued on page 2
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers