Spring 2006
Erica Panico and
Bobby Casiano
Smoking is a huge risk for
any college student. The
American Journal of Public
Health states 1 in 10 college
students will become a smoker.
A Penn State 2004 Student
Smoking survey shows that
85.6% believed smoking
should not be allowed in
campus buildings, 62.4%
responded that smoking
restaurants, 35.9% said it
should be allowed in some
areas, and 28% were aware of
the Penn State policy banning
smoking near most campus
buildings. When students were
asked to describe their current
smoking behavior, 72.7%
As a result of a decrease in
enrollment university-wide,
Penn State’s overall revenue is
down, which means that less
money will be allocated to the
colleges, administrative units,
and campuses. In response to
the deficit experienced by all
Penn State campuses, President
Spanier has instructed every
college at every administration
level to evaluate expenditures
and cut where possible.
The Mont Alto campus
alone receives almost $7
million; however, in January
the campus still faced a
$138,000 permanent budget
reduction. The Chancellor, Dr.
David Gnage, charged a
committee of faculty and staff
to assess the 2006-07 Mont Alto
budget in order to make
recommendations for
reductions. The committee
took as its core principle that
any cuts must have no effect on
the quality of the students’
education.
See Budget page 4
The committee’s
recommendations were
announced the week of
February 14. There were
rumors of potential lay-offs, but
enough savings were found
within departmental allotments
(such as Information
Technology and Enrollment
Management) and a number
of other measures that nothing
so drastic was needed. Some
currently unfilled positions will
be left vacant for the time
being, however, and a
tightened, more efficient
schedule of course offerings was
prepared for the coming year.
No core courses or curricular
requirements are jeopardized.
At the same time, there was
also good news: Director of
‘Academic Affairs Dr. Francis
Achampong was able to secure
the committee’s recom-
mendation to fund a new
position, a full-time instructor
of Spanish.
The budget cut does not
necessarily compromise the
responded they don’t smoke;
13% smoked mostly in social
situations; 7.7% smoked
cigarettes every day; 3.7% used
to smoke but quit; and 2.9%
smoked occasionally. When
asked a series of questions
about their smoking behavior,
37.5% typically smoked 5 or
more cigarettes on the days
they smoked.
According to the student
smoking survey 76% smoked
before coming to Penn State,
42.5% indicated their smoking
increased since coming to Penn
State, 56.1% responded that
their smoking always coincides
with drinking alcohol, 65.7%
have smoked at least 100
cigarettes in their lives. When
students were asked about their
tobacco use in the last thirty
days there had been a decline
in tobacco use among
undergraduate students since
1999. In 2004, 23% smoked a
cigarette while in 1999 37.3%
smoked a cigarette, 3.1% used
chewing tobacco, while in 1999
8.7% used chewing tobacco,
See Smoking page 4
Research from the previous two
years indicates that students
who participate in Start Smart
have more positive academic
experiences when compared to
those students who qualify but
choose not to participate. From
last year’s data, Start Smart
students had a 2004 fall
semester average GPA of 2.69
and a 2005 spring semester
GPA of 2.76 compared to the
control group’s GPA of 2.52
and 2.33. This data is
supported by students’
comments about their
experience in Start Smart.
Students said they benefited by:
“Seeing that my needs were
being met.”
“I improved on several
things like studying and
working together, and I came
to college hoping that I
wouldn’t become lost as to
what is going on around me,
and I didn’t.”
“I know I always had help
if I needed it.”
According to the National
Center for Education Statistics
the average six-year bachelor
degree completion rate is
slightly greater than 50%. In
1983 Penn State University
created the Equal Opportunity
Planning Committee in
response to a federal mandate
and as a part of its desire to be
a caring community. The
mission of the Equal
Opportunity Planning
Committee is to promote
greater equity within the
university. To that end, EOPC
oversees the allocation of funds
to Mont Alto and other
campuses for new and
continuing programs aimed at
supporting equity at Penn State
University.
Equity and diversity have
been part of the mission and
philosophy of the university
from its origins. To achieve its
mission Penn State created “A
Framework to Foster Diversity
at Penn State 2004-09.” The
framework identifies seven
challenges. Among those
challenges are “Recruiting and
Retaining a Diverse Student
Body.” In taking on that
challenge, Penn State Mont
Alto created “Start Smart,”
now in its third year. Each year
the program has been funded
in part by a grant from the
Equal Opportunity Planning
Committee and by Penn State
Mont Alto.
In promoting equity and
diversity, Start Smart works
closely with traditionally
underrepresented groups of
students: African-American,
Hispanic, and first generation
college students. Students who
qualify for this program take a
group of common courses
designed to lay a strong
foundation for academic
success and to create a sense of
community among students
and the university. Start Smart
students are also provided with
See Start Smart page 4