Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / Oct. 14, 1988, edition 1 / Page 7
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Caldwell sees ‘challenges/ not problems By Robin Sawyer In her own quiet way, Dr. Helen Cald- well has always been motivated by a dedication to excellence. “If you do small things well ” 5avc ni. Caldwell. -Then other W„g ’gX“y come to you.” Bi^uudxiy ECSU’s new Actine Vice Chancellor for Academic AfS ^ancellor Jimmy Jenkins appointed her to the position on September (’) fol- SL'”' »' «""y “I don’t consider teaching small things,” said Dr. Caldwell, who has served ECSU for 32 years as a professor of English and speech, and, most re cently, as Director of General Studies “That’s just the generic term, but I hope part of why I was chosen is that I had been doing what I had been assigned with dedication and enthusiasm. “I think that may have been part of it, and maybe just a stroke of luck some where , there are certainly many compe tent people on this campus. I feel really privileged to have been given the oppor tunity to assume this position.” Dr. Caldwell said her appointment as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs caught her by surprise. “I had to go home and think about it because of course I recognized the enor mous responsibility of this office. I thought, I ve always loved program ming and designing programs. I love people and working with them. I also re alized I had worked with all the chair persons before, in executing the pro grams of the Division of General Studies. “That was a serious consideration and an advantage, because much of the work of Academic Affairs goes through the was an absolute miracle that I grew up without preju dice. I grew up in a family where we learned to respect each other for what a person is, for his or her value as a human being.” Dr. Helen Caldwell Dr. Helen Caldwell and Chancellor Jenkins. Departmental chairpersons to the fac ulty and back in that direction.” When Dr. Caldwell discussed the new position with her husband, she recalled he said, ‘“Terrific, go for it. You deserve it, you’ll do it well.’” “That was really a plus,” she added. “He’s been just absolutely supportive. Obviously, I couldn’t swing it if he were not.” Caldwell’s husband. Dr. Thomas Cald well, teaches in ECSU’s Department of Health and Physical Education. The couple’s daughter, Patrice, is a geneticist for the State Department in Germany. She is married to Captain Robert H. Smith, Jr. Dr. Caldwell said her two biggest per sonal achievements are her daughter and “my years of successful marriage, with a very loving, supportive husband. He’s really my best friend, and I wouldn’t trade anything for that.” Dr. Caldwell, the first women to ever serve ECSU as Vice Chancellor for Aca demic Affairs, said that the University’s male administrators have been “very supportive,” but she adds, “I think my greatest joy has probably been the reac tion of the women who are sincerely happy to see me here.” “I hope that my interim period as Vice Chancellor will share the idea that women can very capably proceede with any responsibility given.” Her duties include working with the departments and faculty in planning for the General Administration Review, de signing programs, ironing out details in academic council and curriculum com mittee meetings. “A typical day begins about 6 a.m., I do a lot of drafting of memos and signing requisitions in my den at home. I arrive at work between 8:15 and 8:30, and then usually my day in the office is spent with appointments, back to back. And there are meetings to attend. Some days there is community involvement, and work with organizations.” Dr. Caldwell said she is dedicated to continuing the development of ECSU’s academic programs in the next year. “That to me will be my challenge and my happiness when it is accomplished. So I shall work very hard with depart mental chairpersons and faculty to do that.” High on her list of priorities is helping students sharpen their abilities to do critical thinking. “We must do more of this at the fresh man level. I think we all tend to do it by the time we’re teaching juniors and se niors, but we have to begin at the fresh man level, imparting the techniques of critical thinking as we give knowledge. I would like to be a part of the leadership, to join my colleagues in moving this process forward on our campus. Dr. Caldwell said she sees more chal lenges facing the University than prob lems. “We have found the means to meet the problems. We just have the chal lenge to use, promote and develop the potential of this University. “ECSU has always been an excellent university. Having been here for 32 years, I say that based on the results we have achieved with our students. Al though we see some press to the cont rary, those who have been here know that our graduates have always pro duced. All across the country, our stu dents are hired and promoted in schools systems^ they attend law schools, dental schools, graduate schools. “I know you’ve heard the Chancellor say “We are the rising star in the east. Well, we have the challenge of seeing that we move with that, and move with it well.” Dr. Caldwell admitted she will miss the contact with students, which has been a daily part of her job at ECSU. “I have had many student friends over the years. Now there is very little time, and those who come to visit often miss me because I am in a meeting.” Her advise to ECSU’s students? “Whatever task you have, it must be done well. And it would be well to re member that most people you deal with are good, if you expect them to be and if you trust them to be. Trust people w.ith good common sense until they prov0 they cannot be trusted.” Dr. Caldwell said she learned many of her values from her parents. “They have taught me values that have served hie well, that have allowed me to meet and understand people, and to love all peo ple. It was an absolute miracle that 1 grew up without prejudice. I grew up in a family where we learned we must re spect each other for what a person is, for his or her value as a human being. Many of the values I learned from them I try to carry over in my relationships with stu dents, which is a respect for them and arl understanding of where they are in life. ” A native of Farmville, Va., Dr. Cald well received an undergraduate in En glish and graduate degrees from New York University. She has a doctorate de gree in speech pathology from George Washington University. Time Out ’g. ECSU a ‘win-win’ situation Dr. Jenkins tells faculty ’88 freshmen show higher grades, SAT Photo courtesy of Holly-Fonvme Photography The Mighty Marching Vikings take a breather in the grandstand following their performance at ECSU’s home game against Virginia Union October 8. Nations’ colleges struggle with overcrowding problem This fall’s freshman class is the largest in the history of ECSU, Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Jenkins announced at the Octo ber 4 General Faculty Meeting. “We’re talkmg about solid, de pendable growth,” Jenkins said, adding that 28% of the Universi ty’s students are now Incentive Scholars. “That will continue to grow.” Jenkins said beginning next year ECSU is scheduled to re ceive an additional $600,000 for its Incentive Scholarship pro gram, and $1,200,0000 the year after that. “There’s a tremendous devel opment taking place in our aca demic programs,” said Jenkins. “And it’s beginning to show. People are talking about Eliza beth City State University. There is an excitement and an energy that you can feel.” Jenkins said Elizabeth City was not just getting bigger in terms of enrollment. “It’s also “People are talk ing about Elizabeth City State Univer sity. There is an ex citement and an en- ergy that you can feel. ” Dr. Jimmy Jenkins getting better, in terms of aca demic skills and the quality of education.” The average SAT score of this year’s freshman class is 34 points above the last year’s en rollment, said Jenkins. “And 70% of our new students are in the top 50% of their high school class. “We’re seeing the magnet ef fect. Quality students are bring ing with them other quality stu dents, who have decided ECSU is the institution of choice.” Jenkins said that the buildings on campus have been renovated, and that the grounds look good. “But you can’t often tell how good a book is by the cover. You pick up the book by the cover. If the contents meet your expecta tions, it’s a win-win situation.” ECSU’s new facilities and ex panded programs do not come “unattached,” said Jenkins. “ We are smart enough to know, we can’t expect business as usual. We must present docu mentation that our students are doing better. We are not just talking about moving to the point of average. We’re talking about excelling. We need to doc ument we are making progress in every year.” ECSU’s students will need to be challenged, said Jenkins, to perform well on national standa- ridized tests. “We must be sure we have been able to develop instru ments that say to the state and the nation, how well our students are doing.” by Michael O’Keeffe (CPS)-Classes at the University of North Texas are so over crowded this fall that campus workers, scrounging around in basements to find old stools and desks for students to use, put into classrooms furniture that features graffiti like “Nixon’s a Cool Dude,” and “Mike Was here 12/12/68.” It’s no better at the University of North Dakota, where the reg istrar for years has posted a list of closed classes for students to check. This fall, the registrar’s office decided the closed classes list was too long. It posted a far shorter list of open classes. In fact, students at many cam puses are reporting extraordi nary difficulties getting into classes this fall. When they do get courses, they find the classrooms them selves filled to overflowing. “We’re being stuffed into classes,” groused University of Illinois senior Micheal Mallon. Teachers hate it, too. “For the first time in my 17 years here, every seat in every section is filled,” reported Ron Pynn, chairman of North Dakota’s po litical science department. “Students,” added University of North Texas State English Prof. Robert Stevens, “have be come helpless victims of my lec tures. There’s no room for give- and-take classroom discussions. And at a time when we’re con cerned about writing skills, there’s no way I can give essay tests to 500 students.” Through reliable enrollment counts won’t be out for several weeks, campuses in general seem to have become much more crowded this fall. Schools as diverse as the Uni versity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Del Mar College in Dallas, Villa- nova University in Philadelphia and Northeastern Louisiana re port having more students than ever. As a result, in recent weeks at Boston, North Carolina State, Tulane and Loyla and New Or leans universities as well as at Grinnell College in Iowa and the Universities of Miami and Con necticut, among others, have nm out of dorm rooms. Now they’re running out of classrooms. “In a history class I’m tak ing,” Illinois Mallon said, “There are 75 seats, which are bolted into the floor, for 100 peo ple. We have 20-to-25 people standing through each class. The prof gave a ‘weeding out’ quiz so those that are not com mitted to the class will drop out.” At the University of Houston, Social Sciences Dean Harrell Rodgers had “no choice except to let classes get larger,” to of fer fewer sections...because we just don’t have as many faculty or the money to hire tempo raries. Those facts are just be yond our control.” Everyone blames state legis latures for their problems. Economically depressed states like Texas, North Dakota and Illinois “have not kept up funding,” reported Elaine El- Khawas of the American Coun cil on Education in Washington, D.C. “There’s a financial squeeze on the Rust Belt states and the oil states.” At North Dakota, many crowded classes are now taught by teaching assistants and tem porary lecturers instead of full time professors. HOLLEY-FONVILLE PHOTOGRAPHY • Commercial Photography • Passports • Ehgagement Pictures • Graduation Pictures Ms. StipkHli Bn4 High Quality Wedding and Portrait t Pliotograpiiy Let us capture your wedding memories from begin ning to end. From your portrait to your photo album to the video-taped ceremony, we’ll make your spe cial day special for years to come. MARLENE HOLLEY PEDRO HOLLEY - 74 1505 Herrington Road • Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909 (919) 338-1706
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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Oct. 14, 1988, edition 1
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