volume vii, no, 4
JOliSKAL
September 27, 1971
Students disagree on re-structuring
Controversy over plans to
restructure higher education in
North Carolina has caused some
disagreement among UNCC
students about the effects of such
proposals. But many agree on the
motives behind the plans.
“It’s a political move by the
governor,” one student said. “He
is trying to do something before
he leaves office.”
“Governor Scott is playing
politics,” another said “The
present system stinks, but his
proposal is not much better.”
The governor is trying to put
a star in his crown. He takes first
one position, then another.
Apparently his ideas are now
somewhere between the Warren
Commission plan and the plan of
the UNC trustees,” another
student said.
Many students fear that
Separation of the schools in the
Consolidated University will harm
all the schools in it, especially the
Charlotte campus.
Some student comments:
“Last year they began taking
power from the Consolidated
University and spreading it over
the other schools. When they take
away power, they take away the
rnoney, too. That is probably why
^ere are no new buildings going
up on campus.”
“Deconsolidation will mean a
loss of potential that the small
colleges can use. Charlotte in
particular has been helped by
being in the Consolidated
University. Deconsolidation will
J^ean that Charlotte will have a
lugh price to pay.”
“There is not much difference
in what they propose and what we
~ by sharon deck
have now. I don’t think we should
deconsolidate, but my reasons are
mostly sentimental.”
Some students seem to feel
that a powerful Board of Higher
Education would wield too much
influence over the activities of the
various schools.
One student, who recently
moved to North Carloina from
Florida, where a board of regents
controls all state schools, had this
to say;
“We have a good educational
system here - one of the best in
the South. I don’t like the idea of
a board of regents. They exercise
too much power.”
Another student said, “We
should not have a single governing
board. They would have too much
power. Each school should be able
to present its own programs to the
Legislature.”
Some students believe that the
educational goals of the state are
too ambitious.
“The first mistake the
Legislature made was to turn the
small colleges into regional
universities. To call Pembroke
State a university is ridiculous,”
one student said.
The second mistake, the
student continued, was assuming
that the state can “afford
graduate schools at all the state
colleges.”
Student opinions range from
“the system is good” to “change
is long overdue.” In this respect,
at least, they reflect the same
diverisity of views among
legislators and educators that is
making the solution of the higher
education problem so difficult.
Journal photo/alsop
THE VIEW FROM DALTON TOWER. . . UNCC student Ronnie Phillips surveys the campus
from a vantage point on the new library’s 10th floor study-room. The accreditation team
used facilities on the same floor for their work -not a bad P-R idea at all. See storv
below. ^
SACS visit
A favorable report
million purchase
Computer expansion
UNCC is expanding its
®niputer capability with the
of new equipment
more than $1 million,
to a September 20 news
j^^DC has issued a purchase
ber for a Burroughs B5500
Wputer system. Purchase of the
siiK was made possible by a
educational discount
by the company,
Recording to Dr. David E. Nixon,
^^ente^*^ of the UNCC Computer
Burroughs company won
over UNIVAC, RCA, Control
enm’ Honeywell in
cq P®^Bive bidding to replace the
system presently
360 at UNCC, an IBM System
or,» ^o^tel 30, which has been in
WhT^‘°" February, 1967,
on.o'' the institution began
ampus digital computing,
first to Dr. Nixon, the
tau L'^Bal computing course was
Deno } the Mathematics
u^^Partment in 1964 through the
Carr.1- ^ computer at North
that National Bank. He said
noyy .than 200 students are
cours an introductory
® computing. Although
these students come from all
disciplines, many are minoring in
Computer Science, a program
consisting of 10 courses.
Dr. Nixon said that outside of
the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and the Triangle
Universities Computing Center,
UNCC will have ,5ie most
sophisticated system in a
state-supported university in
North Carolina.
Already UNCC has been doing
some administrative computing
for Belmont Abbey and Sacred
Heart Colleges and Dr. Nixon said
that the new system will enable
the University to significantly
expand its service to institutions
in the Charlotte Area Educational
Consortium.
In addition to the teaching
program, the Computer Center
provides services to almost every
administrative office on the
campus. The desire to expand
administrative applications and, at
the same time, to provide
enhanced service to faculty and
students prompted UNCC’s
request for bids. Dr. Nixon
indicated.
UNCC will probably be given a
favorable report by a committee
studying the school for the
Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools.
“On balance, I am impressed
by the school,” Dr. Archie Dykes,
chairman of the visiting
committee, said in an unofficial
statement. Dykes is Chancellor of
the University of Tennessee at
Knoxville.
Dykes cited the “impressive”
physical plant, excellent faculty,
good administration, and good
student body as favorable factors
in the recommendation.
The committee studied all
facets of the University and talked
to students, faculty, and
administration during their
three-day visit last week.
Areas of investigation were the
purpose of the institution,
organization and administration,
educational program, financial
resources, faculty, library
resources, student services,
physical plant, special activities,
graduate programs, and research
projects.
A self-study conducted by
UNCC last year provided the
background for the committee’s
examination of the school’s
programs. Their purpose was to
determine whether l^CC meets
the standards of the Association,
which determines accrediation.
Student opinion played an
important part in ^e study.
Committee members attended a
meeting of the Student
Legislature and talked with
students in determining the degree
of student participation in the
working of the University.
by sharon deck
The committee met with
faculty members in various
departments and studied the
program of each. According to
Dykes, they may make general
recommendations about
student-teacher ratio, number of
required courses, or level of
faculty training, but will not make
specific recommendations.
There are no firm criteria by
which a school is judged. An
institution is rated on the basis of
what its stated purposes are and
how well it is accomplishing those
purposes
At UNCC, for example, they
looked especially at the Institute
for Urban Studies and
Community Service. They will
determine wherher the Institute is
fulfilling its stated role as research
center, clearinghouse, and
consultant.
Dykes rated the new library
plant as excellent. Adequacy of
library resources will be
determined on the basis of what a
school of this type needs, not
^(continued on p. 8)
House bill 1525
The Journal has learned of a
last-minute bill passed by the
North Carolina Legislature that
may have a surprising effect on
UNCC students.
The bill. House bill 1525, was
intended to provide funds for the
establishment of an Educational
Opportunities Information
Center, to operate under the
Board of Higher Education.
A money-raising addition to
the bill to produce funds will
directly affect all UNCC students.
Each student accepted by the
University (which applies to all
public senior institutions) will be
required to remit, in advance, a
deposit of $100.00 which is
applied against his tuition and
fees.
The money must be paid
within three (3) weeks of the
mailing by the University of the
notice of acceptance; the money
is refundable if the student
notifies the University of his
by michael mcculley
decision not to attend by one
month before the opening of the
appropriate semester.
The bill also levies a
requirement on continuint
students; a $50.00 deposit is
required from all students in
UNCC who intend to return for
the succeeding academic year. The
fee must be paid before the end of
the academic year.
The Admissions Office at
UNCC has already revised its
forms and letters to include the
new deposits in advance and have
begun advising students of the
new requirements.
Both deposit amounts may be
forfeited by the student if he
decides in less than one month
before classes begin to change
schools, etc. The bill provides that
these forfeited funds be added to
appropriations for scholarships.
The bill becomes effective
October 1, 1971. It was passed by
the General Assembly July 21,
1971.