Faculty frolics:
Professors surf, run, sing outside
the classroom/See page 5
Season finale:
Women end year with home
victory/See page 10
7.2002
Volume LIV, Numbek 10
Serving UNC Wilmington since 1948
Registration equals
frustration for some
Photographer/ Th» Seahawk
Contributions from the Upperman African American Cultural Center will help increase the
minority presence on campus. Minorities account for just 8 percent of the student body.
UNCW lacking in diversity
Study outlines
problems,
recommends
solutions
Billy Arnette
Staff Writer
A recent study determined that
UNCW does not have a diverse
community and outlined steps that
need to be taken to correct this.
Based on the findings of a blue-
ribbon panel’s recommendations.
Chancellor James Leutze has
appointed a committee to improve
UNCW’s lack of diversity.
The panel, consisting of four
former chancellors from campuses
of the University of North
Carolina system, submitted its
findings in a 43-page preliminary
report.
report were recruiting and retain
ing more minority faculty, attract
ing and graduating more African-
American students and enriching
the ethnic diversity climate on
campus. Based on the recommen
dations of the panel, in addition to
ongoing surveys and meetings,
the Chancellor’s Committee will
develop specific strategies for
improving diversity among stu
dents, faculty and staff.
Michelle Howard-Vital, vice
chancellor for pubUc service and
continuing studies, and Melton
McLaurin, associate provost, will
co-chair the Chancellor’s
Committee on campus diversity.
The 18-member committee is
comprised of faculty from a vari
ety of academic departments, as
well as representatives from SGA.
There will also be periodic open
forums for student feedback.
“This is an opportunity for the
entire campus to respond to the
report,” Howard-Vital said. We
group.”
Minority students make up
approximately eight percent of
the UNCW student body. Of the
eight percent, 4.4 percent are
black, 1.6 percent are Hispanic,
1.6 percent are Asian, 0.6 percent
are Native American and 1 per
cent are international students.
The overwhelming ratio of white
students to minorities has caused
some students to view the univer
sity as culturally deficient and
isolated from the rest of the com
munity.
Students say that a more con
certed effort is needed in attract
ing minority high-school students
and that far too little is being
done to provide social activities,
such as concerts, that would
appeal to people of different
backgrounds.
“We don’t send enough black
representatives to state and local
high schools,” said Sherrita
See diversity, page 2
Alisha Gore
Staff Writir
Spring 2003 pre-registration
started Nov 1. But registering for
classes can be difficult for those
who don’t get the classes they
need.
UNCW student are given a
registration time and can register
any time afterward.
Junior Kim Fern said she does
n’t like the fact that the registra
tion times can fall during an hour
that the student has class.
Seniority plays a big role in
who gets into classes that fill up
quickly.
Upperclassmen and athletes
are allowed to register for classes
first. Students enrolled in special
programs also have the opportuni
ty of early registration.
“I am in the Honors program
so I get to register early,” said
Cori Cauble, a UNCW sopho
more.
Underclassmen often find that
the popular classes that meet at
desirable times are full when it is
time for them to register.
Freshmen who sign up for classes
during summer orientations often
have less variety of classes to
choose from.
“Especially that sixth group
that came in,” said Larry
Honeycutt, a physical education
lecturer, referring to the last orien
tation group that came late in the
summer.
Class availability is a major
issue during registration.
More underclassman level
courses are being taught to accom
modate for the larger number of
students being accepted into
UNCW each year. More course
sections are also being taught at
these levels.
Professors, who in the past may
have taught more upperclassman
level courses, have to teach more
basic courses to balance the ratio
of students needing to take these
courses. This often leaves less
time for professors to teach upper
classmen level courses, which
leads to another problem. Many
upperclassmen find it hard to get
the upper level courses they need
to fill the graduation requirements
for their degrees.
“Students are having to go an
extra semester in order to get the
classes that they need to graduate,”
said Kevin Knight, an English lec
turer.
The current budget problems at
UNCW are contributing to the
lack of new professors, which
would help alleviate some sched
uling problems. With less money
to hire new professors to accom
modate the needs of a growing stu
dent population, compromises
have been made by both students
and professors.
Attending summer sessions,
extending length of college tenure,
and delaying retirement are some
of the actions being taken by
UNCW students and faculty in
order to adjust to rising enrollment
and professor shortages.
Sports
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