Board of Advisors Study Current Trends
Under the direction of a new
chairman and with two new
members present, the Chowan
College Eioard of Advisors par
ticipated in an in-depth study of
current trends and crises in
higher education and assessed
their own function as advisors to
the college at a semi-annual
meeting held Tuesday in the
office of President Bruce E.
Whitaker.
New members welcomed by
James B. Powers, president of
Planters National Bank and
Trust Company of Flocky Mount,
presiding for the first time as
advisor chairman, were E. L.
HoUowell of Edenton and L.
Vincent Lowe, Jr. of Wilson.
HoUowell is a former Chowan
trustee and Ix)we is executive
vice president of Branch Banking
and Trust Company.
Advisors heard Chowan’s
academic dean, Dr. B. Franklin
liowe, Jr., discuss several issues -
enrollment, costs and public
image - facing higher education
in the United States today.
“Perhaps one of the most
vexing problems facing higher
education today is that of
enrollment,” Lowe said. “While
declining enrollments have
perhaps posed a more serious
problem for private higher
education, the problem in some
degree affects every element of
higher education.”
l>owe said even though the 18-
year-old population has in
creased, fewer freshmen have
enrolled in colleges in the U. S. in
the fall of 1972 than in the two
preceding years. He said one
reason has been the changing
draft laws which no longer
permit a student asylum from the
draft through college attendance.
He called this a “mixed
blessing,” adding, “It has
eliminated from the campus
many of those who are not serious
about the matter of a college
education and who have con
sequently served as a disruptive
element.”
Advisors were reminded by
Ijov/e that most colleges are
feeling the bind of spiralling
costs, "for many, deflcits are
becoming a way of life. Chowan is
indeed fortunate that it has been
able to maintain a balanced
budget, but this has been ex
tremely difficult and required
close planning and budgeting.”
Advisors heard Lowe mention
what he called “the debate over
education versus training.
Regardless of one’s vocation, a
person needs to understand
human nature and be able to cope
with the complexities of our
society. There should be no -
question of education or training,
^ther there should be both, and
this Chowan attempts to provide
in those vocational programs
which it offers.”
Members also evaluated their
own role as advisors to the
college. Among advisors con
tributing to the discussion were
two former college presidents,
Dr. R. Kelly White, president
emeritus of Belmont College in
Nashville, Tenn., and Dr. Deryl
Hart, member of the department
of surgery and president
emeritus of Duke University.
Dr. White of Conway offered
the opinion “our main influence
should be out on the field getting
other people interested in
Chowan College.” He urged
advisors to contact business and
professional people and others in
S
their communities to tell them
about Chowan.
Dr. Hart stressed the im
portance of maintaining a dual
system of higher education. He
commented that the private
college can serve as a stimulator
to the state sdiools. He said he
felt the state should aid the
student whether he attends a
state or private college.
Don Matthews of Hamilton,
trustee and chairman of the
Mission Possible drive to secure
a new, $1.2 million science-
engineering facility for Chowan,
discussed the role advisors are
assuming in the Mission Possible
program. “You have been a
source of strength to Chowan,
both in your own support and the
support you have generated in
your communities,” Matthews
said.
In other action, advisors
authorized the organizing of an
executive committee. Although
responsible to the entire Board of
Advisors, the executive com
mittee would be available to meet
on call to discuss a subject or give
counsel to the college. Powers
explained.
Staff members addressing
advisors included Ben Sutton,
business manager, who reviewed
financial matters. He said the
budget for the 1972-73 academic
year is “a balanced budget.” He
explained, “It is a ti^t budget
but Chowan is continuing to
operate in the black as it has for
the past 15 years under the ad
ministration of President
Whitaker.”
Sutton also reported on repairs
to McDowell Columns which he
said were the “most extensive in
the 122-year history of the
facility.” He said work was
progressing on schedule. He
reported workmen had removed
both interior walls, replaced one
with new brick and were finishing
bricking the second wall.
Chowan’s 125th anniversary
was discussed by Chowan’s
diaplain. Dr. Hargus Taylor. He
noted ciwwan was founded on
October 11, 1848 and said the
same date in 1973 would be “the
exact date of the 125th an
niversary.” He explained the
college is celebrating its 125th
year of operation throughout the
current academic year.
Chowan’s president thanked
the advisors for their par
ticipation and elaborated on their
role. He said among other duties,
they serve as interpretors of the
college in their communities.
“They are the eyes and ears of
Chowan. They not only com
municate the mission and ob
jectives of the college to the
public but also report reactions of
the public to the college,” Dr.
Whitaker explained.
Dr. Whitaker said that despite
a heavy demand on their time
from their work and other civic
and community service, Chowan
’s advisors find time to devote
their interests and energies to
Chowan College. He noted they
had proven “loyal in their
commitment to the cause of
Christian higher education.”
S'H I>V I’l.A.NS—Chowan’s president. Dr. Bruce E.
Whitaker, right, and Ben Sutton, business manager,
.review Uie architect’s plans for Chowan’s new science-
engineering facility with Robert E. I.,ee, left, executive
vice president of Tarheel Bank and Trust Company. A
recent contribution from the bank will aid the college m
linancing construction of the building.
KK( KI’TION AT PRKSIDKNT’S HOME!—Honor roll students were honored at a
reception recently at the home of President and Mrs. Bruce E. Whitaker. Top
plioto shows Dr. Garth Faile, Chairman of the Science Department; Dr. and Mrs.
liruce Whitaker, and Dean B. Franklin Lowe, Jr. The lower photo shows a
p>rtion of the receiving line which was made up of the chairman of the various
departments. Left to right are. Warren Sexton, Social Science; Herman
(latewood. Graphic Arts; Mrs. Almira Ockerman, Nursing; Carl Simmons.
Mathematics; and Dr. Garth Faile, Science. Being greeted by Mrs Ockerman is
Jimmy Moore, a descendant of Chowan’s founder.
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The Chowanian