May 10, 1979 :
Lion's Eye
(Photo by Lynn Dudinsky of the Daily Collegian Staff)
The Nittany Lion mascot passed out balloons to youngsters enjoy-
ing the parade kicking off Spring Week '79 at University Park last
month.
The ‘Miracle’ System Will Meet Needs
of Non-Traditional Students
By ROBERT G. QUINN
Dean of Academic instruction for
Commonwealth Campuses
The Commonwealth Campus
system of Penn State is celebrat-
‘ing its" 20th anniversary this
year. There is good reason to
celebrate, for it is a unique,
multi-campus system, the largest
and one of the best in the
country.
In 1915, “Extension Branch
Schools” began offering three-
curricula on an evening class
basis. There were six of these
Branch Schools by 1926. Centers
were established during the
decade of the 1930s to/meet the
emergencies of the Great De-
pression. Additional centers
were established immediately
following World War II during a
period when returning veterans
occupied all available space.
Although they were originally
considered as temporary solu-
tions to temporary problems, the
Undergraduate and Technical
Centers served a continuing and
growing need during the decades
following the war.
In 1958, the college-age popula-
tion in Pennsylvania numbered
about one-half million. Predic-
tions were that this population
would expand until it reached, in
the 1970s, nearly a million.
University President Eric
Walker said at the time that if
the Commonwealth could pro-...
vide
appropriate educational
opportunities for the population
it would be “something approach-
“ing an educational miracle.”
of existing centers and campuses
to provide specific long-range
development programs and pro-
posals for future operations. In
January 1959, the trustees took
formal action to recognize the
establishment of a system of
“Commonwealth campuses” and
to integrate the operation of the
University throughout the
system under a set of uniform
academic, financial and public
relations policies.
The validity of the approach
has been demonstrated in the
dramatic growth of the system.
It has expanded to include
eighteen campuses, one of which
became the Behrend College.
The physical plant now includes
more than 120 major buildings on
more than 1,500 acres of land.
Today there are approximately
1,500 faculty and staff at the 17
campuses who annually serve
approximately 16,000 students in
the resident education programs.
About 65 percent of the fresh-
men who enter Penn State enroll
at a Commonwealth campus.
Students who seek a small,
intimate environment, a pro-
fessional University faculty,
small classes, easy and close
contact with faculty and advisors
— indeed, all of the academic
advantages of a small college, but
at a much lower cost — may
choose to begin their Penn State
education at the Commonwealth
Campuses.
There is a trade-off. Students
at many of the campuses do not
have the “extras” — the exten-
sive, non-academic facilities,
athletic and social, which are
"available on a large scale at the
University Park Campus. How-
ever, there is plenty of activity in
PENN STATE'S CAMPUS SYSTEM = .
AL COLLEGE
at Erie
® SHENANGO VALLEY
at Sharon
DuBOIS
BEAVER
ALTOONA
McKEESPORT
@® FAYETTE
at Uniontown
UNIVERSITY PARK
at State College
at Monaca &
® NEW KENSINGTON
MEDICAL CENTER
at Middletown ®
MONT ALTO @
WORTHINGTON SCRANTON
at Dunmore ®
WILKES-BARRE @
@ HAZLETON
SCHUYLKILL o ALLENTOWN
at Schuylkill Haven ‘at Fogelsville
HERSHEY perks @
at Reading
at Hershey
CAPITOL dona
KING OF PRUSSIA o at Abington
GRADUATE CENTER
YORK @ x
DELAWARE COUNTY at Media @
The “miracle” was about to
begin. Representatives from
commonwealth asked the Uni-
versity to enter into a joint
venture with them: they would
provide all the land, and money
for half the necessary buildings,
if the University would place
campuses in their regions.
In July 1958, the Board of
Trustees took an action which
was to be a most significant
event in the history of the
University. They directed the
officers of the University to
develop a program for the study
I 4
a MINIATURE ob
{
G OIL F
Bazaar Shopping Center
Clifton Heights
MAG-5766
sports at the campuses —
intramural recreational activity
in approximately 10 sports, from
basketball to fencing; and tourn-
aments in 10 sports, from soccer
to golf. Social events are a part of
student life at every campus.
Repeated studies of many
kinds over the years show that
students who begin their educa-
tion at the campuses articulate
the move to the University Park
Campus freely and easily. One-
half the members of each year’s
‘graduating class started at the
Continued on Page 2
Midnight til 5 am
All you can play
FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT
$1.00 OFF
REGULAR PRICE $2.50 :
Our business
is your pleasure!
Cottman Avenue at Pennway
""N.E. Phil.
PI5-9175
Spring
Week
at U.P.
Spring Week '79 took place at
the Penn State University Par
Campus April 21-29. !
The theme for this year’s
festival was Spring Week-Spring
Loose. Activities included a
Black Arts Festival, Blue Band
“Concert, Music Fest, parade in
downtown State College, Carn-
ival, Awards Ceremony, and a
Best of Luck To All
Associate Degree
Students
Congratulations}
Class of a
'79! 3
Regatta. Fraternities and Soror- J
ities participated in the Great gs
Greek Chariot Race, the carnival, :
which included games, rides,
booths, and a tent party — and
the Regatta on the Stone Valley
Lake. 3
(Philo by Hank Fink)
Delco B. Ballers take part in intramural basketball action during
Spring term
Ry :
TN
5
a!
¢
A ; A
N
§ Penn State Moms! {
—
4
J 3 > 9
ne oJ oy q
Bi
~
ap
a
Transferring to U.P.?
Pick Up Your Copy of
Berra ES Tv PUR 0 pa
Ld S25 A SOAVDE fous §
p
1 fess
fr]
2
* with today’s Lion’s Eye
Published by the Office of Student Affairs
ko :
TN : ’
chet: Z
L A
> MINIATURE 3
G O.L F
Cottman Aven at Pennway
N.E. Phila.
Phone P15-9175
ALL YOU CAN PLAY
$1.00 OFF
«I MOONLIGHT MADNESS
MONDAY
EVERY MONDAY
FROM
9am to 6pm
REGULAR
$2.00 ADMISSION
Bazaar Shopping Center
Clifton Heights
Phone MAB6-5766
Plasn oem (me (RAR SSEY GUND KAUN RE DENG UTTER GUS EIA GSM EO