Is Western getting more than its fair share?
WCG students benefit from GNCA
By Leigh Kelley
“We believe we are providing
more services to Western Carolina
University students here on campus
than we are getting compensation,
for,” says Dr. Eric lovacchini,
UNCA Vice Chancellor for Student
Affairs.
There is an agreement between
WCU and UNCA that WCU stu
dents pay WCU fees to take West
ern’s courses on the UNCA campus.
Western reimburses UNCA at a
much lower rate than the students
pay to WCU. lovacchini estimates
that UNCA loses about half a
million dollars in revenue.
The state appropriates funds to
WCU according to the number of
full time students WCU has at
UNCA, says Laurence Dorr, Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
“State money that should be sup
porting (WCU) students here is go
ing to Western and just sitting
there,” he says.
Harry. Ramsey, WCU chancellor
assistant for WCU programs at
UNCA, disagrees. “We feel that
what we pay to UNCA should be
based on the additional cost that
Western students would bring
UNCA. In my opinion, Western is
paying UNCA an appropriate
amount of compensation in relation
to the supporting services we use at
UNCA,” he says.
Ramsey cited several factors that
determine the amount WCU pays.
The economy, a decline in financial
aid, and a decline in enrollment all
have an effect, he says.
“Enrollment in CuUowhee is going
down, sure. But that shouldn’t be
our problem,” says William Pott,
Vice Chancellor of Finance.
Pott says WCU paid $145 for each
of the 438 full time WCU students
at UNCA last fall. WCU pays the
total amount in two payments,
about $31,000 each semester. “In
our opinion, it ought to be at least
double that,” according to Pott.
“We contend that the students
live in Asheville, not in CuUowhee,”
lovacchini says. “It’s Western’s
contention that they, (WCU
students) can have the same benefits
there as here.”
Dorr agrees, saying “two thirds of
Western’s entire graduate students
are here on this campus, using the
faciUties like everybody else. Don-
explained that because of WCU’s ex
tension program the state allocates
only a limited amount'of money to
UNCA.
Ramsey says he does not know ex
actly how much money the state ap
propriates to WCU.
“It’s their (WCU) students that are
losing out here, it seems to me,”
says Dorr. “If you’re going to have
a resident program, you ought to
support it.”
serving the students of the University of Nofth Carolina at Asheville,
I Volume 2, Number 3
Thursday, February 10, 1983
Computer science B.S.
might not compute
By Leigh Kelley
UNCA students interested in
earning a degree in computer science
may have to wait a little longer.
Many believe that the delay in ap
proval of the long-awaited major is
because of a decree in the UNC
•system. A Consent Decree in
stituted into the UNC system in
^981 requires that half of all degree
progranis go to black universities
and half go to white universities.
Some think this decree would make
it impossible for UNCA to get a
degree program in computer science
until a predominately black school
first offered the same major.
According to Chancellor William
Highsmith, UNCA does not have to
wait for a black university to in
stitute a computer science degree
program before UNCA can offer
such a degree.
“It’s a matter of balance,”
Highsmith said. “The Board of
Governors will look at all the re
quirements for a degree program,
and we can implement the program
as soon as it is approved.”
The computer science department
at UNCA is ready to go ahead with
the degree program in computer
science, according to department
head. Dr. Wayne Lang.
“We have the money and we’re
buying the equipment, so we’re just
waiting for approval, ” he said.
Highsmith said if the board ap
proves the program this year, the
earliest a student could get a com
puter science degree will be in the
spring of 1984.
Several UNCA computer science
students said they will have to
transfer if a computer science degree
is not offered soon.
Veronica Freeman, a junior com
puter student, said, “I’ll just
transfer if I have to. If they don’t
get it next year, I will take my
credits somewhere else. But I hope
they do,” she added.
“Right now. I’m just hanging in
hmbo,” said Greg Wright, also a
junior computer science student.
Wright said he hopes the degree will
be here by the time he is ready for
graduation. However, the question
is, what will he do if it isn’t?
“I’d probably go somewhere else
or lay out and get a job until they
did get it. Then I would come back
for the degree. Those are your two
best options,” he said.
Min Wang, a sophomore computer
science student, said she will also
think about transferring if the pro
gram isn’t instituted soon.
“If they do get a computer degree
I’ll probably stay, but if they don’t
I’ll definitely transfer,” she said.
A computer science degree pro
gram will attract more students to
UNCA, but more importantly, says
Highsmith, the degree will benefit
students already here. He said, “We
need to provide better programs and
more relevant programs for the
students we have.”
‘.■SK
The prospect of a computer science degree program is
Shown, is the main computer located in Rhodes Science
Staff photo by Carol Whitener
still questionable,
building.