Newspapers / Forsyth Technical Community College … / Dec. 1, 1981, edition 1 / Page 1
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the ^Reporter STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF FORSYTH TECHNICAL INSTITUTE Volume 1 Edition 1 December, 1981 New President Feels Optimistic By Brenda Settle “In looking at the five months that I’ve been here, I think the staff’s been extremely cooperative—and the student body, I just couldn’t be happier with,” commented Bob Greene on his first few months as president of Forsyth Technical Institute. Greene ended an eight year stay as principal of the Career Center to assume duties as FTI president on May 1,1981. He is a native of Boone, N.C. and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ap palachian State University. He recently earned his Ed.D. from Nova University. The new president is very concerned with the quality of the programs offered at FTI. He believes that of the 58 technical and community colleges in North Carolina FTI ranks fifth overall in the programs offered and first in some individual programs. He stated, “I see no reason why we shouldn’t be first in all areas....the potential is here.” He feels all that is needed is to get everyone behind us and thinks he can already see local businesses and industries becoming more supportive. Greene believes that students are the best ambassadors of the * school to the community. “I think one of the things this In stitute needs as much as anything is for the students to sell their school themselves, and it should be an all-out effort.” Although he recognizes needs in facilities, equipment and personnel, he sees it as a challenge that can be met, for the better part, in the next two or three years. So far, in his job as president, Greene is convinced that students can help with the growth of the school by sharing their problems and concerns. He says that what students have shared with him informally has been the best way of knowing what is happening with the staff and programs. If several students come to him Bob Greene - a new image for FTI! The Big Mistake The Electronic Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Drafting and Design Engineering Technology programs are no longer accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET). On Sep tember 30, 1981 the accreditation ran out. What happened? “It was a mistake,” said T. Glen Fleeman, executive vice president for instruction. “Probably one of the biggest mistakes we’ve made.” Fleeman was referring to a decision made last year by some of the Institution’s administration not to seek reaccreditation by ABET for the three engineering technology programs. One of the reasons given at the time was the State Board of Education’s refusal to pay the fees for certain types of accreditation. Another reason was the claim by administration that local industries did not require ABET ac creditation for employment of Tech’s graduates. When the decision was discovered by the student body, a petition of protest was presented to the Board of Trustees by the engineering technology students, represented by Bill Price and Vivian Holt. As a result of this petition, the Board of Trustees reversed the decision of the administration and directed an active pursuit of ABET ac creditation. On October 19 and 20, four members of the technology accreditation commission of ABET conducted an on-site visit of the programs. After the visit an exit interview was conducted with the staff and in structors. The next step in the process will be a preliminary report submitted to the Institute’s new president in about six weeks. In July or August of 1982 the Accreditation Board will meet to determine the accreditation status which, if approved, will be retroactive to September 30, 1981. In an interview with Dr. Greene, he stated that he felt optimistic that the programs would be accredited. “Right now we just do not know, but we can generalize and feel optimistic (that) we’ll be accredited; but right now it will be impossible to know,” he said. Fleeman stated that he believed the loss of accreditation would not affect 80 percent of our May 1982 graduates who will be entering the local job market. He based this on the industry survey and opinions held by the advisory committees of Forsyth Tech whose members represent local industry. Fleeman did concede that there could be a possible problem for the 8-10 percent of our students who seek em ployment in other areas, as well as the 10-12 percent who go on to four year institutions. Price believes that the graduating class of May 1982 may experience problems within the local job market with even a temporary loss of accreditation. To support his claim, he produced a letter from R. P. Wilson, director of engineering data design at Western Electric, which stressed WE’s recognition of graduates from ABET accredited curricula. “Such accreditation is a continuing asset to ET students as they pursue their professional careers,” the letter stated. Greene has offered to write a personal letter explaining the cir cumstances involved in the accreditation status for each May ET graduate who may want one to include with his resume. He has also offered to speak both publicly and privately with students concerning these issues, and will share with the students the results of the team’s visit as they become available. “I will not rest,” he said, “until our three ET programs have achieved accreditation status.” On June 18,1981 the Forsyth Tech Board of Trustees adopted the following policy: Accreditation and Reaccreditation Accreditation and reaccreditation shall be sought where necessary to make the course or courses attractive to business, other schools, and students. The funds to cover accreditation and reaccreditation may come from the County Commissioners, Canteen fund, or outside business sources. Changes in reaccreditation shall be reviewed by the Curriculum Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees. Hopefully this will prevent any further mistakes which may affect our school and its students. Hail To The (New SGA) Chief We’re chiming in with warm wishes for a very happy holiday season! SGA with complaints about their programs, he knows there is something the deans should in vestigate. He feels our students can help our instructors grow by speaking with them if they feel their grades or lectures aren’t going right. Greene also stressed the responsibility of the Student Government Association for solving problems. “We have to be honest with each other. I think that if Student Government is honest with itself and honest with me and the administration in general, most of the things that appear to be problems can be solved. Usually problems are just a lack of communication.” “That’s the way I see it,” he said. “I see major needs in terms of facilities and equipment. I think these are the areas we have to work on the hardest. ...I’m student oriented and very anxious to see good things come from (our) association.” By Cassie Stamey Forsyth Tech students are very fortunate to have Bill Price and the SGA working for them! Price is a second year student in Electronics Engineering Technology. He graduated from West Forsyth in 1978 and plans to continue his education at UNC- Charlotte next year. Price takes his job seriously - working long afternoon and evening hours in the SGA office. His duties, which include getting out among the students and at tending FTI Board of Trustees meetings, leaves him very little time for studying and even less time to call his own. He recognizes this, however, and accepts this as part of the job. “I think anybody who is going to be SGA president and do a good job is going to have to make awfully big sacrifices,” he said. “This (SGA) is as important as my academics. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m changing as a person because of it.” Price first became interested in Student Government last February when he became in volved with helping the school keep the ABET accreditation for the engineering programs. He went to the SGA that either wasn’t able or wasn’t willing to he.p him. Basically, he had to tackle the problem “all by myself.” “That’s not right,” he Bill Price, a true force in this institute. said. “The Student Government should be here to serve the students and to offer some place where students can get satisfaction when everything else fails.” Because Price and a small group of students who supported him were up against tough odds, a lot of people thought he would give up. “But I’m not a quitter,” he said. “Not if it’s something I believe in.” He is positive in his belief in a strong student government organization. “The SGA is ex tremely important. As long as you have a well organized SGA, it can be a true force in this In stitute in helping to make it the best technical institute in this state.” He believes that to ac complish that requires cooperation from the faculty and staff as well as the students. He has seen the relationship bet ween faculty and staff and the SGA improve considerably since he took office in June. He at tributes much of this to our new school president, Dr. Greene. “Dr. Greene is extremely student oriented. He really cares about the students.” Price feels Greene is changing the whole at mosphere of the school due to his energy and “caring for the students’ well being.” Price likes his job and the opportunity to lead. He likes the challenge of “changing things to the way they’re supposed to be.” “I think the greatest mistake a person can make is doing nothing because he only can do a little. You’ve got to do whatever you can.” A neurotic is the man who builds a castle in the air. * A psychotic is the man who lives in it, and a psychiatrist is the man who collects the rent. - Lord Webb-Johnson
Forsyth Technical Community College Student Newspaper
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Dec. 1, 1981, edition 1
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