2 Chowan Today Spring 1993
Development & College Relations
>7 Jerry HiJjptth
ABOVE: During Dr.
Bateman's address, the
college's guests hung
on his every word as
some finished their
meal and others
kicked back to relax
and listen.
RIGHT: Dr. Durward
F. Bateman, dean of
the college of agricul
ture and life sciences
at N. C. State Univer
sity, addresses the
dinner on the impor
tance of new agricul
tural technology.
Bjjcn7 H«bp«th
From Gene Puckett’s "Perspectives" column
in the Biblical Recorder (Vol. 159, No. 13,
Aprils, 1993):
Chowan, ‘The Four-Year College’
MANY GOOD and exciting things are happening at
the colleges and universities affiliated with the Baptist
State Convention as the current academic year enters the
countdown toward graduation in May.
Not the least of the positive things taking place is the
progress being made at Chowan College in its four-year
program development Founded by the Chowan Baptist
Association in 1848 as a female college, the school in
Murfreesboro was a four-year institution until the late
1930s. It then became a two-year program and struggled
for survival.
The arrival of Bruce E. Whitaker as president in
1957 became the turning point From that date onward,
Chowan began to prosper, buildings were constructed,
the campus more fiilly developed and the school grew.
The arrival of Jerry Jackson to succeed President
Whitaker in 1989 was another turning point. In the late
1980s, the administration and trustees studied and dis
cussed the wisdom of returning to a four-year program.
Competition was keen with community colleges in the
area and there were no other four-year schools for ap
proximately 60 miles.
In his inaugural address. President Jackson staked
out the future of his administration—a four-year pro
gram. The trustees concurred and the process was soon
set in motion. Today, there are more than 70 juniors
on campus, the first time to have a third-year class in
nearly 60 years. The first graduating class with bacca
laureate degrees is scheduled for May 1994.
In the move to a four-year program, open
admissions was discontinued and selective admissions
was put into operation. That naturally produced some
drop in enrollment during the transition. The school is
targeting students in the 700-1100 SAT range and
President Jackson clearly states that the admission
rules will be flexible but that “we refuse to accept any
student whom we think doesn’t have a chance in
graduating. That really isn’t fair to the student.”
With the assistance of grants and scholarships, the
tuition at Chowan has remained highly competitive as a
small private school, even when compared with some
state-supported colleges.
The future looks good for Chowan as the college
enters a new era of service and ministry primarily to
Northeastern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia,
the target areas for most student recruitment.
However, the student enrollment now reflects 37
percent from Virginia, 40 percent from North Carolina
plus students from 26 states and 16 foreign countries in
all. Simultaneously, Chowan is focused locally, nation
ally and internationally. The signs are encouraging for
tomorrow.
Agricultural
Celebration
From Page 1
presented by William J. Griffin, county ex
tension director, Bertie County;
“Strategy for Dealing with Anticipated
Tax Changes” presented by C. Bradley
Collins, area specialized associate agent.
Farm Business Management, Tarboro, NC;
“Agriculture Credit” presented by Daisy
G. Perry, vice president and city executive,
Centura Bank, Windsor, NC;
“Weather Based Pest Management Sys
tems” presented by Dr. Jack Bailey, profes
sor of plant pathology. North Carolina State
University;
“Agribusiness Forecast” presented by
Charles L. Moore, extension specialist. North
Carolina State University; and
“Stress Management on the Farm” pre
sented by Lisa S. Newsome, director of
Hertford County AQUOLA.
Each topic was presented twice during
the afternoon. The eight topics and their
presenters were selected with assistance
from farm owners, farm producers, leaders
in agribusiness and the local directors of
the Cooperative Extension Centers.
Participants who wished to attend only
two presentations opted for a free tour of
Historic Murfreesboro. The following fa
cilities were open for their pleasure: the farm
exhibit, blacksmith shop, country store, Rea Museum and
gift shop.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
The appreciation dinner began at 6:30 p.m. in Thomas
Cafeteria. The keynote speaker was Dr. Durward F.
Bateman, dean of the college of agriculture and life sci
ences at North Carolina State University.
Dr. Bateman has been the dean of the college of agri
culture and life sciences at North Carolina State University
since February 1986. He leads one of our nation’s largest
and most comprehensive colleges of its type. The college’s
program encompasses the activities of the North Carolina
Agricultural Research Service, the North Carolina Agricul
tural Extension Service and the Division of Academic
Affairs with undergraduate and graduate programs in both
agriculture and biological sciences.
A native of North Carolina, Dr. Bateman received a B.S.
degree in botany with honors from North Carolina State
University in 1%5. Hereceived the M.S. andPh.D. degrees
in plant pathology from Cornell University in 1958 and
1960, respectively, where he joined the faculty in 1960. He
taught at Cornell until 1979, when he came to North
Carolina State University as associate dean of the college of
agriculture and life sciences.
He has served as
chairman of the Southern
Agricultural Experiment
Station Directors Association
(1985), chairman of the
Council of Administrative
Heads of Agriculture for the
Southern Region (1988) and
is currently president of the
Southern Association of Ag
ricultural Scientists.
Dr. Bateman has
authored more than 70 scien
tific papers, lectured in more
than 30 univereities through
out the world and participated
in numerous international
symposia dealing with host-
parasite relationships.
SPECIAL THANKS
“We could not have
planned the event without the
time, consultation and technical support given us by the
regional county extension directors and their staffs,” said
Clayton Lewis, Chowan College’s director of corporate and
foundation relations. “Bill Rogister from Northampton
County, Johnny Parker from Southampton, Billy Griffin
from Bertie, Zackie Harrell and Michael Hare from Gates
and Deborah Howard from Hertford County were especially
helpful in putting this event together.
“The consultation of Dell Cotton and Stephen Carroll
from the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Associa
tion was also very beneficial to this endeavor, as well as the
advice from local farmers and agribusinessmen J. Lewis
Storey, Charles Revelle Jr. and Percy Bunch.”
Chowan and the Cooperative Extension Agencies of the
Roanoke-Chowan would like to thank the following for
their strong support which has made this event possible:
Sponsors
Golden Peanut Co., Ahoskie, N.C., Graham R. O’Berry,
regional procurement manager; Hancock Peanut Co.,
Courtland, Va., J. Mathews Pope, president; Royster-Clarke
Inc., Tarboro, N.C., Raymond D. Meiggs, executive vice
president; Gillam Brothers Peanut Sheller Inc., Windsor,
N.C., Linda G. Cooper, secretary; Meherrin Agricultural
and Chemical Co., Severn, NC, William E. McKeowen,
chief financial officer; Monsanto Agricultural Company,
Williamston, N.C., Randy Alexander, sales specialist;
Birdsong Peanuts, Suffolk, Va., George Y. Birdsong,
executive vice president.
Supporters
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse E. Vaughan, Murfreesboro, N.C.;
Hobbs Implement Co., Edenton, N.C., Wesley M.
Chesson, president; Gay Implement Co., Seaboard, N.C.,
C. G. Perry, president; Farmer’s Peanut Market,
Seaboard, N.C., Robert Taylor, president.
Friends
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen W. Carroll, Gates, N.C.; Mr. and
Mrs. Charles L. Revelle Jr., Murfreesboro, N.C.; Hertford
County Farm Bureau, Ahoskie, N.C., Charles L. Callis,
president; Coastal Chemical Corp., Murfreesboro, N.C.,
J. C. Whitehurst, president; Murfreesboro Farms Inc.,
Murfreesboro, N.C., Percy Bunch, president; Gaston
Cooperative Inc., Garysburg, N.C., David Grant,
president; Dupont Agricultural Products, Wilson, N.C.,
Randy Prouty, sales representative.
Chowan Today
USPS 715-880 ISSN 1051-9580
Erk A. Surface
E. Vincent Tilson
Kevin L. Clary
Jack Goldberg
Editor and Director of College Relations
Vice President for Development
Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Services
Sports Information Director
Published by Chowan College, a four-year senior college controlled by the Baptist State
Convention of North Carolina and founded 1848. The college, located in Murfreesboro,
North Carolina, returned to four-year status after an unanimous vote by the college's Board
of Trustees on September 8, 1990.
Comments, suggestions and informational submissions from alumni, friends and parents are
welcome. Please send them to Director of College Relations, PO Box 1848, Murfreesboro,
N. C., 27855.
Published four times a year in March, June, September and December. Postmaster: Send
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