nnState *Z~ Collegian April 28,1988 Freshmen Survey Results by Maria Plaza Collegian News Editor The average Behrend freshman wants to make a lot of money, likes to drink beer, and feels Penn State’s academic reputation is important These are just a few results from a survey taken of last fall’s entering freshmen. The survey was taken by first time, full-time freshmen during orientation last fall. This is the twelfth year that Behrend has participated in the survey sponsored by the American Council on Education and the Graduate School of Education at the University of California at Los Angeles. A total of 562 institutions participated in the survey this year. "Being very well off financially" was essential or very important to 79.9% of the respondents. Similar percentages showed "getting a better job” and "making more money" as other reasons important in deciding to go to college. Fewer students felt the same way about "developing a philosophy of life" (36.6%) or "helping others in difficulty" Local Briefs Commission on Women A meeting of the Commission on Women faculty, staff and student body groups will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 in the Reed Seminar Room. Erie Art Museum 65th Annual Spring Art Show now in progress. On May 4, artist Lisa Lichtenfels will present a lecture on her soft, sculpture figures at 11:30 run. and 7-p.ni. Admission is $4; 54.50 for lunch (following the 11:30 lecture). Call for;.more information-. -. ' ' ' * - Grant Deadline May 1 is the filing deadline for all students seeking to renew their aid from the Pennsylvania State Grant Program. Individuals seeking aid for the first time and planning to enroll in budiness or trade schools, hospital schools of nursing, or two-year vocational (non-transferable) programs at community or Junior colleges have until Aug. 1 to file their state grant applications. Keystone Games Any amateur Pennsylvania athlete is eligible to compete at these games at one of over 200 locations. For more informaton call toll-free 1-800-445-4559 or write to the Keystone State Games, 31 S. Hancock St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Legacy of Music When Juno Almhagen Geiger passed away last year, she left music as her legacy. Her gift of a Bosendorfer grand piano to Behrend has made the Geiger estate one of the major supporters of the college's musical and cultural programs, according to Dean Lilley. "Our students will benefit in so many ways from the music created by such a wonderful instrument," said Lilley. Geiger was an antique collector, piano teacher, a former member of the board of directors of the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, a former conductor of the State Theater Orchestra, and the director of the Almhagen Orchestra for fifty years. Quality Control Insitute Conference The spring 1988 conference is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17. Quality-control specialists from companies throughout northwestern Pennsylvania will share their insights into issues facing quality management professionals. The conference, titled "Quality Management and Methods," is sponsored by Penn State Behrend, the Erie Section of the American Society for Qualty Control and the Erie Excellence Council. The program has been developed by the staff of the Quality Control Institute. (49.6%). Engineering was by far the most popular career choice. Over a quarter of the students, mostly males, reported wanting a career in that field. Fourteen percent of the males planned on majoring in electrical or electronic engineering. The most popular major among females was accounting, with 11.4% choosing that as their probable major. Over 70% admitted to drinking beer during the past year and 36.2% percent spent between six and sixteen hours a week partying. Refreshingly, only 7.6% claimed to be smokers. Thirty percent of the entering freshmen admitted to cheating on tests. Another survey taken of Behrend students (freshmen through seniors) showed that 45% have cheated on an exam since coming to Behrend. Although 11.8% of the respondents reported feeling overwhelmed during the past year, only 6.7% (mostly females) said they'd been depressed. Nearly 60% rated themselves above average in academic ability, but only half STATION ROAD, ERIE, PA 16563 expected to be satisfied with college and over 90% had been bored in class. Fifty-nine percent considered themselves politically "middle-of the-road." Just over 23% said they were liberal or far left. Eighteen percent claimed to be conservative or far right .While 67% felt the government wasn't doing enough to protect consumers, only 15.3% considered influencing political structure important. On a similar note, less than a third knew the freedoms in the Bill of Rights and another third had no interest in learning them. While most responses from Behrend students were similar to those of students around the nation, there was some interesting differences, especially concerning reasons for choosing a college and minority students. For example, when asked why they selected this college, 72.7% of Behrend freshmen said the school’s "good academic reputation" was very important, and 61.7% reported that "graduates get good jobs" was Michaek Dukakis: He asked for Erie's support and he got it. Photo by Marybeth Zawistoski Minority issues: Resignation and Assesment by Holly Lew Collegian News Editor Last Fall, Vera Lee Byrd was hired as a Minority Student Programs Counselor. Early this month, Byrd resigned from the position, without warning, for personal reasons which she has not yet formally declared. A search committee, including three student representatives selected by president of Behrcnd's Association of Black Collegians, Renee Stafford, has been appointed to find a replacement before classes resume in the Fall of 'B9. The minimum qualifications of the Minority Counselor are a Master’s Degree, or equivalent, in counseling, and student personnel administration or related field work 27th annu Students and Faculty Honored by Holly Lew Collegian News Editor At the 27th annual Honors and Awards ceremony held Sun. April 17 in the Reed Lecture Hall, 250 awards were presented to students and faculty. Over 125 Honor Certificates, 50 Scholarships, and Academic, Athletic and Special Service Awards were presented to students in addition to three Faculty Awards. The Penn State-Behrcnd Council of Fellows Faculty Research and Excellence in Teaching Awards went to Drs. Archie Loss and Robert Tauber, respectively. The Guy W. Wilson Award for Excellence in Advising went to John Gamble. important in selecting Penn State. In comparison, average results for all colleges surveyed showed that only 50.4% of the freshmen selected their college on the basis of "good academic reputation" and only 44.3% on "graduates get good jobs." Behrend results also differed in the number of minority students. Nine-two percent of Behrend’s freshmen are Caucasian, nearly 10% higher than average for all four-year public colleges. Blacks make up 14% of the freshman class at the average four-year public college, but only 5% of Behrend’s freshman class. Behrend also had a higher than average percentage of Roman Catholic students: 45.2% as compared to 33.9%. When the students were asked their religion, "None", with 11.8%, was second to Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Methodist, with 11.6% response. Six hundred and fifty-two freshmen, 86% of the class, responded to the survey. plus one to two years of effective experience. According to the Penn Stale job description, Byrd's primary function as Minority Counselor was the development and administration of campus programs aimed at retaining minority and other students. Byrd's responsibilities included maintaining contact with students, faculty, etc. regarding Student Affairs for the minority Student, serving as a primary resource for minority student retention programs, activities, problems, etc., and providing a variety of services to assist minority students with educational and vocational problems. In addition to serving as a general advisor, the minority see Byrd Resigns pg. 2 A complete list of award: presented can be obtained from tin Office of Student Services located on the 2nd floor of the Reed Unio: Building. Behrend's officer Todd Allan receives an award from Assistant to Dean of Student Services John Downey, during the honors and awards on April 17th Photo by Marybeth Zawisto. JUN 2 0 2001 O&fIEND COLLEGE library .3% D C C+ B- Average high schools grades of incoming Behrend freshmen Jesse Jackson: Full of inspiring rhetoric, but short on votes. Photo by Rick Cain by Holly Lew Collegian News Editor Early this month, Irvin A. Lewis of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) conducted a site visit here to assess the University's progress since 1983 in reaching goals set forth for Equal Opportunity. Although Penn State has had an Affirmative Action Office since 1973, Pennsylvania passed a desegregation act for the entire state of Pa. in 1983. Since the desegregation act was state-wide the assessment conducted by the OCR will also be state-wide, and results may be two years in coming. According to the Provost’s Office the OCR conducted an assessment in Delaware involving Volume XXXVI, No. 14 6.6 % 6.6% three institutions of higher education and it took a year and a half to compile results. According to U.S. Department of Labor regulations, "an institution that is a prime contractor ... to the federal government with a contract of $50,000 or more and 50 or more employees must develop and file an affirmative action compliance plan." An affirmative action compliance plan is a "written blueprint that specifies the positive efforts necessary to achieve equal opportunity through affirmative action and nondiscrimination." Penn State's Affirmative Action Office, in University Park, is responsible for coordinating the development, implementation, and assurance that the University is See Affirm. Action pg. 2 7.6% 6.8% B B+ A- A
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