Appalachian State University - Rhododendron Yearbook (Boone, NC)

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Department of Home Economics The Home Economics Depart- ment has long had the reputation of training housewives. If this ever was true, it certainly is no more. This year, an armed forces retiree is taking a course in Meal Manage- ment to better prepare his family ' s meals and to become a more efficient shopper — something everyone can use. Part of the reason for this revolution in the approach to teaching home economics is our changing world. Department Chairperson Josephine Foster says they have come a long way in tempering the programs offered to students ' needs. Today, four options are offered students majoring in the department. These are Home Economics Education, Institutional Education, Food and Equipment and Clothing and Textiles. Speakers from fields related to those students will be employed in, frequent the campus and the classes often visit locations similar to the ones they will someday work at. The quality of education in the department is shown by the fact that it is one of only three in the state accredited by the American Home Economics Association. The department ' s enrollment figures are astonishing, also. This year, 108 students entered the program —an increase of 100 per cent. Student involvement is stressed as evidenced by the fact that students are represented on every board and committee in the department except the faculty appointing board. From this beginning, Foster hopes to get the students more interested in the college as well as on local, state and national levels. This is one of the major goals of the department - to train students to be successful citizens when they graduate. An interesting, and somewhat unique, facet of the education program is the Home Management Residence. This is the large white house located across from Sanford and between the Faculty Apart- ments and the women ' s dorms. Home Economics Education and Foods and Equipment majors are required to spend half a semester in the house to gain practical experience. The participants share rooms and take care of the house as if it were their own. Grants are constantly awarded to the department for research. One of their projects, which will be published upon its completion, is a study of microwave ovens versus conventional ones. The study will compare the average costs for operation, benefits of each method, preparation times and utensil costs, as well as the less practical aspects of taste and appearance of each. The many varied opportunities open to the Home Economics major and the constantly growing number of available jobs (Figures call for an additional 70,000-80,000 dieticians by 1980) have made this one of the most universally-appealing and increasingly-beneficial programs available at ASU. rj 54 ACADEMICS TODAY, May 1976

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Dr. Vaughn Christian directs the Laboratory for Human Development. With the change to the semester system requiring a revision in curriculum from the departments, programs were restructured to allow for more efficient use of the facility. Physical Education majors now have several opFwrtunities to be involved in the actual demonstrations and testing of the laboratory. The new program for Emergency Medical Technicians was funded through a grant from the state. They purchased and developed vans to transport students in the program to remote areas of the state to allow a more individualized instructional format. Results during the first six months of the system ' s implementation show that the individuals enrolled are completing their requirements in less time than with previous methods. Traditional courses are taught in the more heavily-populated urban areas, and the students from those programs are not scoring as high on the state examinations as are the students in the new program. The grant has recently been extended to adapt the program for use in community colleges and to allow furthur improvements in the newly-implemented procedure. Wendy Behrendt was hired this year to originate the dance minor and the concentration in dance and awaiting approval from the Board of Governors, a major in the same field. She is currently teaching dance and is the first teacher employed for this, aside form artists-in-residence. The Lady Apps volleyball team hosted an invitational met including 16 teams from around the state. The ASU Invitational Volleyball Tournament was somewhat of a disappointment, since the Apps didn ' t win Duke did. In the semi-finals, the Blue Devils out-playeo the Apps and went on to narrowly defeat Wake Forest for the championship. In early October, eight P.E. majors from ASU attended the North Carolina Student Major Convention, this year at Gardner-Webb. The students put on a display of team handball and one on water basketball, as well as attending several other similar demonstrations from other schools. AND EDUCATION

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There is a department on cam- pus that trains students for jobs in all walks of life. These students develop qualities like self disci- pline, physical stamina, and moti- vation which give them leadership abilities. The learning experience to be acquired in this department is good for any background, but particularly that of management. I am speaking of the Military Science Department, or the ROTC program which trains students to be officers In the army, or to be part of the civilian army. If I didn ' t attract your attention earlier, you may be interested to know that being a member of the civilian army, brings in two or three thousand dollars a year. Some of you may change your opinions of the students in uniform! There are 163 ' students in uniform ' at Appalachian this year, 42 of whom are females. The fact that one-fourth of the ROTC stu- dents are females demonstrates the growing interest in careers for women. The cadets here get experience in teaching activities like rappeling. In a reversal of situation, they taught a company from the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg rappeling at Hound Ears. Students are used as assis- tant instructors teaching ROTC at Lees McCrae. Cadets have the opportunity to get fit through two new organizations: Run-for-your- life, and Swim-for-your-life. The military science department has reason to be proud of their rifle team. In September they were named the number one ROTC rifle team in the nation, against 292 other teams. Keep your eyes open for the ROTC students. With their leadership capabilities and self discipline, they ' ll be going places. ACADEMICS TODAY, May 1976 55