University of Central Oklahoma - Bronze Book Yearbook (Edmond, OK)

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66 O klahoma should be very proud of the quality of higher educa- tion offered in the state, said Dr. Iames Perry, dean of the School of Business at Central State University. We might be more casual, more relaxed about the opportunities here because an education is so affor- dable. Perry, formerly of Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, explained: So many of our colleges in the Boston area are private schools. The dollar cost per year far outstrips the total tuition that a resident student at Central State pays for six years of full time. Our students on the average are older, serious-minded, self- supporting individuals, said Dr. Lucille Patton, dean of the School of Special Arts and Sciences. For most of our students, education is a rele- vant thing. The majority are com- muters, and Central State is respon sive to the needs of business and in- dustry as well as to the individual needs of the student. Both Dr. Perry and Dr. Patton are members of the Council of Academic Deans, an organization created to study, recommend and implement scholastic policy. The vice-president of academic affairs, the collegiate library director and the academic deans are appointed to this council. The dean's job is many-faceted, Perry explained. The primary responsibility is to provide leader- ship. That is, to merge the resources, both human and capital, that are assigned to your unit, so as to achieve Chan in World Changing Careers the objectives of the university. The duties of a dean include managing the assets of the institution by deploying departmental people and equipment in the daily opera- tions of the school. He must serve as a catalyst for action so the program meets student needs and still moves forward, and he must carry the needs of his school, faculty and students to higher administrative offices. One strong influence on CSU academic policy is Oklahoma City's rapid growth in industralization and commerce. We're in a good area, said Dr. David Hart, dean of the School of Math and Science. As industries grow, companies send their employees to CSU for further study. On the other side of the coin, we are heavily recruited. Part of this recruiting program is the large amount of funds given by industries for scholarships and faculty develop- ment programs, Another benefit of being close to a large, urban city is the surprisingly large number of CSU students who are older than the traditional college student. A beneficiary of this move- ment is the graduate program, which has tripled its enrollment in the last ten years. Dr. Bill Fisher, dean of the Graduate School, believes the age shift, which has produced an average age of twenty-seven, is a result of the changing job market. There is a great deal of emphasis on retraining. Sometimes, a student needs to pick up only one or two classes, he said, noting that many older students work during the day and take night classes. Nearly a fourth of CSU's fall '81 enrollment of 12,004 is in the graduate program. Since its beginning in 1955, the program has expanded to include twenty degrees with over eighty degree options. In 1971, we began to offer master's degrees outside of the education department, explained Fisher. In each case, the department has suggested and designed the degree, but Central State has chosen only those programs really needed by the students and the community. Nine degrees have been added in the last five years, and the State Regents for Higher Education are considering two additions to the graduate program - the master's degrees in Economics and Biology. In 1978, the North Central Associa- tion accredited Central State for five years instead of the usual ten, and called for a focused review in three years. Thus in the spring of 1982, CSU was requested to submit to the NCA a self-evaluation on the three focus questions. Dr. Patrick Cassens, vice-president of Academic Affairs, said: Central State is not on probation. In the fall of 1982 we will have two people from the NCA to look at faculty gover- nance, academic leadership and planning. Anne Lynch, professor of history and humanities, is president of the Faculty Senate. Though this group was created in 1970 at the NCA's suggestion for input into academic

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k,f'f X l' The high divorce rate in Oklahoma and around the country does affect many students. As one student stated, It makes me scared to get married. Some students feel that today two people need to co-habit before mar- riage so they can understand each other and find out if they can live together happily. Twenty-five years ago this was unheard of and something never done. Whether or not this change is better or worse, is a personal decision each person must make individually. In the 1960's and 1970's, the students reacted to the establish- ment b rebelling against the ex- isting ordler of things and challenging old, accepted ideas. Today, as a general rule, students have more respect for authority, said Dean Land. They are comfortable in asking how and why. Dr. Dudley Ryan, associate dean of men, agrees. Today's student has been reared to ask when they have questions. This may be why CSU has more open communication and more of the one-to-one relationship be- tween instructor and student. Inflation and the nation's economy have a direct effect on the attitudes of students. If a person chooses to go to CSU today, it costs him approximate- ly S3400 a year. Where does a person get this money? Some of the sources include jobs, scholarships, parents and grants. Many students are worried about what may happen if the Rea an ad- ministration cuts down on the fun- ding of colleges and universities. CSU's grant program ma be suf- fering now in comparison to llast year, but it is still better than five years ago, said Rhonda Freeman, director o CSU Student Financial Aid, As a general rule, most students are will- ing to work either on their own or in co lege work-study rogramsf' After making such a substantial in- vestment, the student expects to ob- tain an economic reward. Perhaps the increasing number of students majoring in business and computer science fields reflects this. For most students, s ending mone today for more knowlfedge and a college degree is a way to earn more money in the future. Economic advantage is definitely one reason many students pay the high price to attend colleges and universities. However, it is not the only one. At CSU, for example, a student has a great op ortunity to grow and work toward self-fulfillment. He is one in about 12,000 students here at CSU and has the wonderful chance to meet other students from 40 different countries with different backgrounds, customs, cultures, likes and ages. There are at least 75 clubs, organizations, sororities and frater- nities to become involved in. A stu- dent may see and participate in a large number of activities and s ecial events. Most of all, though, he learns to make decisions based on his ideas and views, how to cope with stress and to chantgle and adapt in order to survive in to ay's society.

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Today, Central State University is undergoing a greater change in educational direction than at anytime in its ninety year history. Editors - Tricia Uselton and Mae Minster Downtown Oklahoma City has contributed largely to CSU's growth, As the only four-year pu Jlic institution of higher education in Oklahoma County, the university has designed programs specifically with the urban and industrial communities in mind,