Thursday, October 19,1989
Page 5
Pholo by ftichard Mclnlire
A special report:
Assessment tests: who needs 'em?
'They are valuable,' says Caldwell
Eddie Hatch and Debbie Morgan, stars from ABC’s “All My Children" stopped by the ECSU campus last
month. The actors were here as part of a national tour promoting ‘soaps’on Black college campuses. Hatch
played John Remington on the show, lover to Morgan’s character Angela Hubbard. They’re seen here
laughing it up inthe WRVS studios, where they were interviewed by air-personality Becky Overton.
Students gain knowledge, skill
from SERI solar energy project
By Pamela Cribb
Elizabeth City State University is
one of six historically black colleges
and universities to have been selected
by the Solar Energy Research Insti
tute to participate in an important solar
radiation project.
The project, under the supervision
of Dr. Sultana Khan of the ECSU
Physics Department, monitors levels
of solar radiation in Elizabeth City.
Using a “radiometer,” a device
which measures the intensity of radi
ant energy, the students measure total
radiation levels, and diffuse or scat
tered radiation, and sends the recorded
data to SERI onceamonth, in Goldon,
Colorado.
SERI interprets the data with
graphs, and sends the information to
institutions, government offices and
businesses that specialize in solar
energy.
“liiis is crucial information any
place that solar energy is used,” said
Chris Dale, a local contractor, “espe
cially to people building solar houses.
The amount of energy available for
use in a solar home will vary directly
with the level of radiation in the par
ticular region.”
The data is also important because
it measures levels of diffuse radiation,
which signify a warming trend in the
earth’s atmosphere, enhancing the
“greenhouse effect”
“The University benefits from this
projects because it displays the Physi
cal Science Department’s interest in
participating in research,” said Dr. A.
Latif Choudhury, physical science
professor. ‘Through its involvement
with this project, the University will
provide Elizabeth City and surround
ing counties with important solar radia
tion information.”
Dr. Md. Alam, Chairman of the
Department of Physical Sciences, said
that the project will enable students to
gain advance knowledge about solar
technology, and that it will help them
develop research oriented projects.
“They will also be able to partici
pate in the summer student each year
at SERI and gain financial assistance,”
Alam said.
“The project has greatly enhanced
my interest in atmospheric radiation,”
said ECSU science major Eddie Vin
son, an amateur meteorologist.
“The project helped me realize the
importance of protecting myself
against the sun’s harmful rays,” said
Cynthia Ruiz. The research project
was first begun at ECSU in 1985 dis
continued a year later, then resumed
in 1989 to provide more data about
solar radiation.
The University was chosen again
in 1989 because of the accuracy and
promptness of the data in 1985, said
Tom Stoffel, expert in solar radiation
at SERI.
“It gives me great pleasure for our
station to be able to continue with this
project a second time because SERI
was so enthused with the accuracy of
the previous data. “Also, I am pleased
that due to the success of this project,
eastern North Carolina will have
important solar radiation data.”
By Uchenna Bulliner
and Pacquin McClain
Although the prevailing student
attitude toward Elizabeth City State
University’s placement and assess
ment tests is “Who needs them?” the
University’s top academic adminis
trator says the tests are not only bene
ficial to students, they also will have a
positive effect on academics.
“Assessment tests spotlight aca
demic weak points, and measure how
well departments are doing their jobs,”
said Dr. Helen Caldwell, ECSU’s Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
“They also help students learn to think.
“If you have weak points, you can
be tutored,” said Caldwell. “We’re
trying to set up mini-courses for stu
dents who want to improve in specific
areas.”
Caldwell said the tests were made
possible through the Academic De
velopment Program. ECSU is cur
rently the only school in UNC system
to require the assessment tests.
“It has always been our desire to do
these tests,” Caldwell said, “but we
needed the money. So this assessment
program gave us the funds. We are
definitely fortunate to have this. Oth
ers will eventually do it, too, but we
are the first.”
The assessment tests evaluate
knowledge and skills in four academic
subjects—^English, math, science and
social studies—and three competen
cies, interpretive, strategic and adap
tive reasoning.
“Most students will be in their last
semester sophomore year when they
take this test,” said Caldwell, “so they
would have had those courses. The
tests measure how much and how
well they obtained the information,
and how effectively it was taught.”
Caldwell stressed that the tests are
diagnostic, and that although students
are required to take them, there is no
way to “fail” the tests.
“We don’t have a cut off score,
that’s just rumor. Once the students
were told there was no cut off score,
there was a big sigh of relief. This
worried me because I wanted to know
how well they were going to do and
how seriously they were going to take
''These test scores are a part of the
students’ records. They will follow you for rest
of your life...We pray that the students take
these tests seriously.”
Dr. Hellen Caldwell
IL
Another rumor, circulated widely
on campus, was that students who did
not pass the test could not go into their
major.
“Students are only required to take
the test,” said Caldwell. “We had 99
sophomores who did not take the test
administered last spring. So they are
taking it in October.”
The Sophomore Assessment Test
was administered on April 6,1989 to
283 sophomores.
Although students cannot fail the
tests Caldwell said students should
still do their best on them. “These test
scores are a part of the students’ rec
ords. They will follow you for the rest
of your life.”
Test scores help present an overall
academic portrait of students,
Caldwell explained.
“The test is not the only way we
test for assessment The others are
your GPA, how well students scored
as opposed to their SAT scores. An
other is retention, whether we are able
to keep students here.”
The scores are reported on a scale
from 40 to 560 with 300 being av
erage, according to Vivian T. Arm
strong, Acting Director of General
College. Last year, ECSU’s honors
students had the highest scores, with
an average of 311, and incentive schol
ars had the next highest scores, with
an average of 253. Athletes scored
slightly higher (230) than the non
incentive scholars (229).
In math, ECSU’s athletes scored
significantly higher than non-incen
tive scholars, and slightly higher than
incentive scholars.
Caldwell admitted that “students
who don’t take good standardized tests
are at a disadvantage” but added, “We
have a counseling center on campus
with Dr. Olive Wilson. The counsel
ing sessions teaches the student proper
test taking methods so by the time the
student is a sophomore he or she should
be comfortable with taking the tests.
Students should know what to ex
pect”
Although many students oppose
the tests, some are in favor of them. “I
think it’s a good idea,” said junior
Cheryl White, “because it allows the
university to measure where the stu
dents are when they get out of their
general education courses. Otherwise,
how would they know the areas in
which the students are knowledgea
bly deficient?
“I’m for the test because it would
help the General Studies Department
discover the weaknesses and strengths
which will in turn help them better
prepare our students,” said Becky
Overton.
Tammy Taylor said, “I feel that it
would be a good idea for the new
students coming into the university. It
will better prepare them for the fu
ture.”
Craig Avondo seemed to sum up a
lot of students’ attitudes when he said,
“I am against the tests because I have
been taking tests such as these practi
cally since I’ve been in elementary
school, junior high, high school and I
am sick of these tests. They are an
affront to my intelligence.”
“We pray that the students take the
tests seriously,” Caldwell said “If your
records look good E.C.S.U.’s record
looks good. Testing will never go
away, so the further you go in life the
more tests you will have. Now is the
time to meet the challenge.”
NEWS NOTES
The General Administration for the University of North Carolina System
has approved a second major plan for Elizabeth City State University, Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Helen Caldwell has announced.
“The second major plan will be effective with the freshmen class of 1989,”
Dr. Caldwell said, adding that the second majors were developed by the
faculties of the disciplines.
The plan will allow special education and elementary education majors to
chose a second major in either art, English, music, psychology or social
sciences. Students who choose second majors will take from 24 to 27
additional hours of course work.
ECSU’s annual Career Day is scheduled for November 1,1989, Charles
Foster, Director of Career Planning and Placement has announced.
“All ECSU students are invited to attend,” said Foster. “We want you to
meet with representatives from state and federal agencies, major corporations
and local businesses.”
Foster has a list of many job opportunities for ECSU grads. He can be
reached at extension 287 or 318.
The ECSU Concert Choir will visit St John United Methodist Church in
Eden, Friday, October 20, at 8 p.m. On Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., the cho^ will
\'isit the Roanoke Chapel Bapdst Church in Jackson. On Sunday, the choir will
visit Roanoke Salem Baptist Church in Garysburg, N.C. and the First Baptist
Church in Roxboro.
Richard Satterfield has been appointed Marching Band Dir^tor at ECSU.
He replaces R.J. Johnson who resigned in June to accept a position at Winston
Salem State University. Satterfield’s teaching experience includes 16 ye^s
with the Chowan County School system. He has a B.A. from Saint Augustine
College in Raleigh, and a B.A. from Boston Conservatory of Music, Boston,
Massachusetts.
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Students of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science p^tici-
pated in co-op programs in a summer program at a graduate school. The stu
dents were: Paula Pruden and LaSalle Ruffin: Summer Internship Program at
Bell Communications Research (Bell-core) in Piscataway, New Jersey (a
research organization involved in communication information processing),
Terence Baker, summer internship with the housing officcr, United States
Coast Guard Support Center, Elizabeth City, N. C. as an assistant systems
manager/housing assistant; Eric Harris, summer internship with NASA, oy
Scott, UCLA, Summer Research Program for Minority Undergraduate Stu
dents; and Zebrena Blount and Raymond Hunter, summer research program at
UNC-Chapel Hill. ^ noci
The United States Department of Education has awarded a $44,023 grant
to the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science to fully support a
project on computer based instruction in calculus and precalculus (honors). Ur.
Sohindar S. Sachdev, Professor and Departmental Chairman will the Direc
tor of the project and Dr. George Edmonds, Associate Professor of Mathemat
ics will be the Co-Director. The project proposes to establish a computer labo-
ratory to support classroom teaching of precalculus (honors), c^cu us an
analytic geometry I (honors) and calculus and analytic geometry II (honors).
The instruction in these courses will take place through the use of computers.
The classroom will have computer stations and the students will use them
acquire instruction in these courses. The instructors will deliver instruction by
using computers as well. Special manuals will be prepared which will be used
by the students and the instructors. The project will be completely operauon^
within two years. This is a pilot project and if on the basis of evdimtion, it is
found to enhance the quality of instruction, then this strategy will be use to
teach other calculus and precalculus level courses as well.
This past summer, math and computer science students participated m a
summer internship at Bell Communications Resrarch (Bellcore) in Piscata
way, New Jersey. Students were provided housing at the local campus of
Rutgers State University, were entertained with picnics, tnps to points ot
interest in New York and New Jersey, and student-sponsored shows. LaSalle
Ruffin was responsible for porting an encryption program from the UNIX
operating system to IBM PCs and compatibles. Paula Pruden was given the
responsibility of creating graphics for a major software package developed by
Bellcore.
“The overall Bellcore experience was highly enjoyable,” said Ruffin. “We
were able to determine our strengths and weaknesses. We learned a vast
amount of information in 10 weeks. We made lots of wonderful friendships. As
a bottom line, we thoroughly enjoyed the compensation!”
Photo by Richard Mclr}tire
Two ECSU freshmen “passJhe flame” during the Fall Convocation Cere
mony, held September 17 in Moore Hall.
Dr. Johnny Houston has been selected as a member of the National Board
of Advisors for the Association of Computer Science and Engineenng Depart
ments at Minority Institutions. Houston was also awarded a Visiting Science
Appointment at the NASA Langley Research Center this past summer.
Houston attended weekly scientific seminars with top scienusts from all over
the nation.
Angela Hager a sophomore Biology is the recipient of a Yarbrough
Research Grant for $125. With this grant Angela hopes to detemine the best
possible conditions under which Malliar Spinach, a plant used for food in the
Sental population, can be produced. She will expose the plants to various
nutrients at varying amounts and concentrauons and determine what is most
^°*Angela will becompleting her research in the spring and hopes to present
it to North Carolina Academy of Science.
Department of Social Sciences
William D. Butts and James Winstead, assistant professors of Criminal
Justice, attended a workshop on “Cults and Ritualistic Crime” in Wilmington,
N.C. Sept 27. They earned a certificate in continuing education for complet
ing the 20 hour course. Subjects covered were satanism, witchcraft, pagan
ism, voodoo, and media influence on youth, including heavy metal music and
rap songs.
Dr. Gordon Charles, assistant professor, presented a paper enUUed ‘The
Race/Class Issue in Caribbean Scholarship, at the 74th meeting of the
Association of the Study of Afro-American Life and History, in Dayton,
Ohio. . o • • 1
Dr. James McClenon presented a paper, “Thirty-three Asian Spiritual
Healers: An Experience-Centered Approach” at the Southern Sociological
Society meeting In April.
Business and Economics Department
Dr. Ivory Lyons, Chairman of the Business and Economics Department has
a weekly program on WRVS Radio, “The Current Economic Scene . The
program covers current business and economic news, statistics on the economy
and economic issues of local, national, and international scoi».
Deborah Jacobs, sophomore Business Administration major and Juanita..
Moody, senior Accounting major, each received $5(X). schol^hips from the ’
Wachovia Bank fund for Excellence. Deborah Jacobs also received one of only
two merit-leadership scholarships of $1000 awarded by theNorth Carolina As
sociation of Minority Business ^CAMB). Deborah’s award was given jointly
by the NC AMB and Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company. Four other
awards of $500 each were given by NCAMB to college students throughout
North Carolina. . . '
Cadet Teressa Jackson, senior Business Administration major was awards
the Joe Barr Special Activities Award for achieving the highest female
physical training score at ROTC Advanced Camp - All American at Fort
Bragg, North Carolina. During the year Teressa also received The Depj^ent
of the Army Superior Cadet Awards and the ROTC Physical Fimess Award.
Twelve managers from American Corporations conducted semin^s in the
Business and Economics Department as a part of the Urban Leagj^’s Black,
Executives Exchange Program (BEEP) on October 17 and 18. Tne group
conducted a job preparedness seminar for all students in Moore Hall Audito
rium on October 17 at 2:00 p.m. Phi Beta Lambda and Students in Free
Enterprise hosted various events.
Four top accounting students participated in Accounting Recruiti^Day at
Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina on October 12. The four
students, Frances Lynn Benton, Laurie Garrison, Kimberly Mann and Ji^ita
Moody interviewed with the Big Eight accounting firms, the State Auditor s
Office, banks and other major businesses. j u xt • i
Six Accounting majors attended a job fair sponsored by the NaUonm
Association of Black Accountants (NAB A) in Greensboro on October 1^ ^d
13. The students were Debbie Hammon, Reginald Joe, Kim Halsey, Mira
Hunter, Tammy Benjamin, and Rosalyn Moore. The trip was coordinated by
junior Kim Halsey.
Fifteen seniors participated in an all-day GMAT review on October 12
conducted by Mr. Douglas Newsome of the ECSU Center for Instimuo^
Effectiveness and Evaluation. Mr. Newsome will conduct other GMAT
review sessions during the academic year.
Students in the Business and Economics Department will attend a MBA
Forum sponsored by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC)
please see Notes page 12