Campus News
The Center for Communications'Julie Sellers (left) works with Chowan College's Phyllis Dewar during
a network training session at MCNC in Research Trian^e Park. (PHOTO BY Jay Mangum
Photography.)
Connection Opens
Electronic Pathway
to tlie World at
Chowan Colte
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK-You
could call it “an electronic pathway to the
world.” That is one way to describe a
recently installed computer network connec
tion that now links Chowan College with
global communications networks called
“superhighways of information.”
Using their new link to these networks,
students and teachers at Chowan will use
computers to look for vast amounts of
information that is available only electroni
cally. Linked to these networks, they can
work with their colleagues at other universi
ties across the state and around the world
without ever leaving Murfreesboro.
Chowan’s Phyllis Dewar, a chemistry
teacher, says a co-worker has already begun
exchanging electronic mail with a colleague
in Norway. She adds, “We’re really happy
to be on (the network) We’re so isolated
geographically, this is tremendous for us.”
A teacher from Elon college says, “It opens
the students’ eyes to a world beyond a
textbook.”
The network connection was estab
lished at Chowan and eight other North
Carolina Universities by the Center for
Communications, (a division of MCNC in
Research Triangle Park) under a $134,793
grant from the National Science Foundation
(NSF). Second year funding for the project
could add another $43,000 for a total grant
of $177,793, according to Alan Blatecky,
vice president for communications at
MCNC.
The CONCERT data network, which
now includes Chowan, provides data
connections for thousands of computers at
colleges and universities across the state.
Business computers are connected at cost
through a CONCERT-connect program.
The CONCERT interactive audio/video
network currently links eight universities
and four medical schools with a microwave
television network that enables faculty and
students to exchange information during
teleclasses and videoconferences as if they
were working in the same room together.
Blatecky says, “We are pleased to be
adding these nine additional colleges to our
CONCERT data network. The new connec
tions will permit faculty and students at
each institution immediate access to infor
mation that is available only through
national and global computer networks.”
The Center for Communications’ Joe
Ragland, who helped connect the nine
campuses, says, academic institutions in the
1990s must have computer connections to
global networks. “Any college without
that,” he says, “is isolated.”
In addition to hardware and software
required for data connections, the Center for
Communications staff is providing on-site
training and technical workshops to help
each campus get the most out of its link
with the world of computer networks.
Along with Chowan and Elon, the NSF
grant funded connections at the following
campuses: Campbell University, Catawba
College, Lees-McRae College, Meredith
College, Mt. Olive College, Queens College
and Shaw University.
Teacher Cerffication RDgram Attracts An Qder, More Serious Student
This semester Chowan began offering teacher certification
programs in seven areas. These include elementary education (K-
6); art, music, and physical educa
tion (K-12); and math, English, and
science (9-12).
According to Dr. Charles
Bentley, chairman of the Depart
ment of Education, this type of
program is very much needed in
this part of the state. “With its
return to four-year status and the
implementation of a teacher
education program, Chowan will
fill a void that has existed in
northeastern North Carolina for
over 50 years,” he says. “Since
there is no teacher training institu
tion within a 60-mile radius of
Chowan, students who have
wanted to become teachers have
had to travel considerable distances
in order to receive their training.
The response to the teacher education program has been very
positive. Twenty-six juniors are already enrolled in the program
Bentley
and many incoming freshmen have indicated a desire to become
teachers. “Several of this year’s junior class are older students who
already have four-year degrees, but are now seeking teacher
certification.” Bentley says.
Because of changes by the State Board of Ekiucation, it is
more difficult to be admitted to the teacher education program
than it was a decade ago. Students now must have a 2.5 grade
point average in their college work before they can be admitted
to the teacher education program, and they must have passed the
first of two parts of the National Teacher Exam.
Bentley is seeing older and more serious students enrolling
in the program. ‘The teacher education program will be an
alternative to f>eople in the surrounding areas. So far we are very
pleased with the numbers this year,” he says. “Out of the group,
there are 12 commuting students and 10 older students. Those
who want to be teachers are more mature students and more
serious. Some are mothers and have children of their own. They
plan to get a lot out of their education. They are not the tradi
tional dormitory student. They have to juggle their outside life
with getting an education.”
Some of the students are returning students as juniors. “We
have a nice group of folks to work with,” says Bendey. ‘Three of
them are from the same family and they are all juniors. One lady is
a nurse with the Red Cross in Ahoskie.”
“With Us return
to four-year status
and the implementa
tion of a teacher
education program,
Chowan will fill a
void that has existed
in northeastern
North Carolina for
over SO years.”—
Bentley
Winter 1992-Chowan Today-PAGE 3