STATE BOARD HEARINGS CONTINUE
by Christine Schramm
UNIVERSITY PARK (ALPS)--The State Board
of Education brought to life again the touchy
Heald-Hobson report in public hearings which
began Sept. 20 in Erie, and continued during
the following weeks in Bethleham and Phila
delphia.
The report, a study of the Commonwealth
Campus system, was ordered by the Board last
spring to determine the system's effective—
ness and was compiled by Heald—Hobson, Asso—
ciates, independent educational consultants.
When the report was released it caused
ccnsern among state er.::_ucators and rents
'oecause it recommends the closing of
Commonwealth Campusec. and the conver3icY , cf
others into community c.-)Lieges.
K , .nneth L. Hol , ' , erman, rarector of Os-im—
month Campu, said in an interview last
riat while report was interesting,
th, , , , re
is no need fo . J anyone to beco= , unnec—
esarily alarmed about it.
Aolderman explained that the State
Education was set up six years ago
::;1 the State legislature to establi
plan for higher education in the S - 7, st,
requests from the Stae'
2cc . •mmendation to th:,
3n tho recraests.
and t 2 review
and riu•::
ture and goirirnc,
Holclerman $2. f(6_ ::.:,:::: the Board. has no
actual control eovr t;. , , Univel.sity, that it
is the Univer2it'7 3;:.r of Trustees t•l^ -D.:. is
resoonsiblz. to ththe legisin.—
ture.
Therefore, in ordering the report, the
Board was actually entering an area in which
it had no concern, and ordered a study on
which it could take no action. The round.
hearings may be an attempt on the part of the
Board of Education to cover up the fact that
it "stuck its neck out," so to speeak, in or
dering the report.
The Board appeared to get what it paid
for though, since Heald-Hobson knew before
hand that the Board of Education favored com
munity colleges and would like to have more
control over the University system.
This could be one reason why the report
recommended "mission assignment" and the cloy
ing of some Commonwealth Campuses, and the
conversion of others to community colleges.
"Unfortunately, this is the news that
received the publicity when the report Ivas
released," Holderman lamented. But he went
on to say that there were other findings made
by Heald-T - Tobson that were quite favorable to.
the University, although these never received
much publicity.
These included such items as the effec—
tiveness of the University for the icier e 4
zJ3ent. Studies show that the Coznmonealth
continued - c. 2
AND N'
TES EXTRA
FACULTY SENATE COMMITrtit,
PASSES NEW RULINGS
UNDEttSITY PARK (APS)--The Faculty Senate
Committee on Undergraduate Student Affairs has
passed two new rulings. One allows students to
have an adViser with them at all disciplinary
meetings, and the other abolishes the practice
of barring, students on disciplinary probation
from taking part in extracurricular activities.
In the first ruling, students now called
before Administration officials for disciplinary
act ::r. have the right to be accompanied be an
adviser of his choice, as a result of the 'oas—
p.age cf the "Witness Bill."
new ruling also applies to meetings
t:le student court, the campus patrol and
the c
":us security.
- bill allows the student to by-pass
:IL; meetings and go directly to the die
? , neetings. The counseling sessions
:, - "to advise the student of his rights.
REcoons calling and attending the counse
ling meetings cannot take any disciplinary ac
tiont so the student is not permitted to bring
ar
C.'Orlq: - :•:.
T`,/ . 1
are
\r' s e r
7^, e r 7a.
soe debete on whether or not the
ze allowed to by—pass the coun—
..-.
e2.L-ig so. on..
=eats of the bill felt that in the
- past the T.t.:..nt have been pre—judged guilty
during these counseling meetings and that by
pre—supposition of guilt can be avoided.
In anvier to a Question brought up by one
of the senators, La-::erence H. Lattmen, chair—
mar, o
the committee, said that the student can
refuse to meet with the (University Park) campus
partol of security department until he has an
adviser with him.
I"tman said that this was done because
t 1.1.0 petr - a is sometimes more interested in
gather._ ig evidence than in the student's pro—
cedural rights.
Also provided for in the bill is the right
of the student to call on his behalf a reason—
able number of witnesses and to cross—examine
all accusers "who can reasonably be expected
to at:•end the (disciplinary) meeting."
Under the new bill, the student must be
notified in advance of the charges being brought
against him, so he may have sufficient time to
prepare a defense.
The bill also states that the burden of
Proof-of-guilt lies with the person[s] bringing
the charges.
As in the past, students may have the case
taken directly to the Dean of Student Affairs,
instead of the student court.
The student may also appeal the case to
the Dean of Student Affairs after it has been
heard and acted on by the student court.
While an appeal is being made, no disci—
plinary action can be taken against the student.
continued p. 2