New Dean comments on Chowan role
Dr. B. Franklin Lowe, dean of the college at Chowan, recently named
by the Board of Trustees in their February meeting. Dr. Lowe has served
as acting dean and director of summer school since the summer of 1968
Dates for scholarship tests
announced by Dean Lowe
MURFREESBORO, N. C.-Dr. B.
Franklin Lowe, Jr., became dean of
the college at Chowan at the recent:
February meeting of the Board of
Trustees. Dr. Lowe has been serving
as acting dean and director of the
summer school for the college for the
past 18 months. He has also been a
professor in the college’s department
of religion, arriving on the campus in
1964.
Dr. Lowe received the B. A. degree
from Furman University, the B. D.
degree from Southeastern Baptist Theo
logical Seminary, and the Ph.D, from
Emory University. The following is a
recent interview with Dr. Lowe con
cerning the academic program at Cho
wan.
Question: Dr. Lowe, what do you
believe to be the present role of Chowan
College?
Dr. Lowe: Chowan College is, and
shall continue to be, a college which is
primarily concerned with helping the
average student develop his potential
ities. TTiis in no way means that the
college will not seek to recruit those
Classes of ’29,
’54 reunion
Special recognition will be accorded
Chowan College alumni who graduated
fifteen and forty years ago when class
reunions are held on campus during
Spring Festival on April 26.
Mrs. Bela Udvarnoki is chairman of
the 1929 class reunion and Reverend
Gene Williams, who was the 1954 Class
President, is serving as chairman of
his class.
CLASS OF 1929 AND 1954 REUNION
SCHEDULE
10:00 A. M., Class of 1929—Coffee
Hour, Home of Mrs. Bela Udvarnoki,
609 Woodridge Drive. Murfreesboro,
N. C.
10:30 A.M., Class of 1954, Coke Party
Alumni Office, Ground Foor, Whitaker
Library.
11:00 A. M., All Visitors — CAMPUS
TOUR.
12:00 noon. Class of 1929 and Class
of 1954, Buffet Luncheon, President’s
Room. Thomas Cafeteria.
1:30 P. M., All Alumni, Alumni
President’s Reception, Lounge, Mc
Dowell Columns Building.
3:00 P. M., All Alumni, Spring Fes
tival Pageant, featuring the crowning
of the Queen of Spring.
Suffolk alumni
to hold meeting
The Suffolk-Nansemond County Alumni
have scheduled a “Dutch Treat” supper
meeting to be held April 14, 1969, at
7:00 p.m. at Travelers Rest. The Suf
folk Chapter is headed by Bobby Ralph,
Executive Director of the Suffolk-Nan
semond County Chamber of Commerce.
students who are above average or
who are below average. Such students
will be actively sought and special
programs will be designed for them,
such as honors programs for the above
average student. However, our major
emphasis will remain on the average
student
Question: How will this affect the
standards of the college?
Dr. Lowe: This does not mean that
the educational standards of the college
will be lowered. Indeed, we cannot
allow that to occur. Rather, while
appealing to the average and the low
average student, and giving these every
advantage and encouragement, edu
cational standards must constantly be
raised. This is an absolute necessity in
view of man’s rapidly expanding body
of knowledge.
Question: What will be the future of
the Chowan student in the educational
world?
Dr. Lowe: We must strive to see
that any student who is granted a
degree from this institution will be as
well prepared as any student who
has completed two years of study at
any other institution in this country.
Excellence in education involves taking
a student where he is and inspiring him
to achieve at his highest level.
Question: What about research pro
grams at Chowan, Dr. Lowe?
Dr. Lowe: Chowan shall remain
primarily a teaching college, rather
than one dedicated to research. Faculty
members will, to be sure, be encouraged
to contribute to scholarly research, but
the primary thrust will continue to be
that of excellent teaching. For this
there is no substitute. In other words,
Chowan will remain student oriented,
rather than research oriented.
Question: Dr. Lowe, there is an
indication that the faculty ratio is now
one faculty member to 19.5 students.
What is the future expectation of the
faculty-student ratio?
Dr. Lowe: The college will continue
to make a conscious attempt to reduce
its faculty-student ratio, in order that
increased attention may be given to
the individual student. The college has
for some time been making gradual
progress in this area. In 1965-66 it was
1:20.9, in 1966-67,1:20.27; in 1967-68,
1:19.81; and 1968-69, 1:19.5. The goal
of the college is to gradually reduce
this ratio to 1:15.
Question: What is Chowan’s role on
the broader scene of higher education?
Dr. Lowe: Chowan College is, and
shall remain, an institution of Christian
higher education. It is my belief that
church-related colleges have a vital
part to play in ^he education of this
nation’s youth. As a church-related
college, Chowan ~makes an unapolo-
getic Christian commitment which it
attempts to translate into its total
program and policies. I would by no
means advocate a narrow sectarianism
nor denominational exclusivism. On
the other hand, unless a church-related
college can provide a religious di
mension of education not available in
public colleges, it cannot justify its
appeal for support from a church
body.
Chowan College is now receiving ap
plications for competitive examina
tions to be administered in the col
lege’s Competitive Honor Scholarship
Program on two Saturday mornings,
April 19 and 26.
Dr. B. Franklin Lowe, Dean of the
College, has announced that several
applications have already been receiv
ed for the tests which will be given
at 10:00 a. m., on these mornings in
Marks Hall classroom building, room
124. According to Dr. Lowe, the stu
dents will compete for 25 academic
scholarships ranging from $300.00 to
$1,000.00 each. Students are eligible
for these examinations upon applying
and being accepted as a regular stu
dent at Chowan for the forthcoming
fall semester. The applicant must also
present the scholarship application
blank to the college’s Competitive
Honor Scholarship Committee. Stu
dents living too far from the campus
to make the trip in one day will be
given lodging and meals for the equi
valent of one 24-hour period.
The Scholarship Program, designed
to encourage and reward students,
is based primarily on scholastic ability
although need is considered.
Other scholarships are available at
Chowan which are based primarily on
financial need, as well as scholarships
in special disciplines such as music,
graphic arts and athletics. James
Cooke, Director of Student Financial
Aid at Chowan, administers these pro
grams and will provide information
WT prospective Chowan students upon
request.
For March, 1969
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