Arizona Western College - El Matador Yearbook (Yuma, AZ)

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Division Chairmen discuss changes in student and curricula. . QI. Generally Speaking, de you See any major difference in students today and those of P055 years YOU halfe me' Wh,-le at AWC.? How do these students compare with the students that attended college with you? Q2. What is your division doing to compensate for these djferences among students? PROF. ANDERSON Al. Yes, students are different today from the students of my college days. They would have to be different because of the change in society. I think the main difference in students today is their priorities and needs. What was most impor- tant to the students in my day aren,t nearly as important to the student of today. The students of my day were not nearly as concerned about ecology and pollution as the stu- dents are today. I am not saying that they shouldn't have been but our priorities were different. These differences in priorities can be found in many areas. The other area of change in stu- dents today is this area of need What were A merely desires of many students in my day are essen- tial needs of the student today. This area could be explored and books could be written detailing this great change. But let's face it, CHANGE is the very heart of our society, and provides great opportunities for those who are tuned in with change. If you ask me, would you like to go back to the old days'? , I would say definitely not. These are the greatest days of our coun- try's history, except for our foreign relations program. A2 The division of Business has a great responsibility to the stu- I8 dents today as it had in my college days. Primarily the division MUST continue and strive more than ever to update the concepts and values of the ever changing business world. It is most important today for the business teacher to have work ex- perience in the business world so that the discipline they are teach- ing can be relevant to today's so- ciety. The work experience for the business teacher is a prerequisite for AWC. The business teacher must be more aware today of the individual student and his needs and objectives and maintain the flexibility to help the student a- chieve his own individual objectives. DR. CARRUTH Al. Very little difference. Ac- ademically, most of them seem weaker than the average in reading ability and in some performance skills in their major fields of in- terest. There is less motivation and self-discipline, on the wholeg but there are notable exceptions to this. The basic aptitudes, however, are generally about the same, cover- ing a wide variety of abilities. AZ. We give considerable em- phasis to the basic courses that help the students acquire a broad foundation of knowledge and de- velop the skills that are essential to their professions, such as speak- mg, Slngmgs playing musical in- struments, painting, drawing, etc. We offer opportunities - for U them to display their works and demon- strate.their abilities in art exhib- its, forensincs festivals, plays and other dramatic productions, and musical recitals and concerts. They are also given opportunities to become familiar with representa- tive works of.-some of the great artists in concerts and exhibits and to associate with professionals to become aware of current activities and trends and to receive inspira- tion and motivation to higher levels of personal development. DR. CAVANAUGH HAI. It is true, of course, that fads, fashions, and certain interests on college campuses change from year to year to one degree or an- other, and it is true that individuals, hopefully, experience significant and lasting changes on OCCHSIOHQ but'the human being, as such, changes imperceptibly, if at -all over' the years. A perusal of the world's literature encompassing several centuries readily indicates that human desires, drives, fears, and frustrations remain essentially unchanged: the accounterments are altered from time to time, but the essence of the human being remains the same. , A2. Students at AWC, being human, have changed little over the

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' s as ,J ,ff Z? ' it? ATSON Direcwf i Head residents of campus dormitories MRS. LUCILLE WAGGONER Garces House L., Kino House ARNOLD AND JOY RAMIREZ DeAnza Hall 5 l ,' , N! rw px

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and 'ICB 'tel the ESE awing, ere, 1 e for E them and demon- art exhib- plays and ptions, and rcerts. They 'tunities to representa- ' the great :xhibits and :ssionals to it activities ive inspira- igher levels GH Jurse, that in interests ange from gree QI an' ,ndivrduillsr Significant q OCCHSIOHQ if 'at Fil' ,sal Of the I indicates ives, fiars' untefmegs 3 time, . nan being being fpver the l N 1luQg., - .z. i eight years the school has been in operation-and students have not changed essentially since I was an undergraduate student in the midwest. As is the case everywhere else, AWC students are young, old, bright, dull, tall, short, short, fat, skinny, motivated, and lazy. In spite of the fact that the exter- nals change this year they have long hair and walk around barefootedg where as few years ago their hair was close-cropped and they were exceedingly possessive about tennis shoes in a magnificent state of disrepair -oh, excuse me, time for a coffee break. DR. COTHRUN Al. We in technology find that students today are no different than in years past, percentage- wise, we find that 7006 of students enrolled have a purposeg that IGP? have the desire, but are not mental- ly capable of performing satisfact- orily in our areasg the remaining 205 are not motivated, have no purpose or goals at this time, or perhaps, are still undecided on a career. We feel that adequate coun- selling and advising at the elemen- tary or jr. high level would over- come some of this. We feel that high school is too late to prepare some students adequately for col- lege or occupational careersg they need it earlier in life. We have had to lower teaching standardsg methods of instruction have been altered to fill the needs of the studentsg and, have advised many students to work toward entry-level skills rather than techni- cal-level or para-professional occu- pations. Those with the motivation, capabilities and interest have been counselled and advised to continue their training and education after leaving AWCg we have attempted to single out those students who have the abilities required for advance- ment in their fields of choice and have pointed out the advantages of furthering their education, in order to stimulate further the student who has the ability but perhaps doesn't realize it himself. A2. We have been rather success- ful in placing students in jobs after leaving AWC, by placing the stu- dent in a job we feel he can perform at successfullyg and by discussing the student with the employer, so that he is fully aware of the stu- dent's capabilities. PROF. LOPEZ Al. Yes, today's student is more removed from any idea of actual physical hardship and deprivation than in my day--more likely to be open about comments affecting his immediate enviornment, less interested in the world as a whole, more relaxed about sexual matters, much more matter-of-fact, more apathetic towards student affairs and college social life--every bit as good a studentg but less likely to swallow crap from a prof. My generation also knew it to be crap, but anything to get through college and get that degree. Today's stu- dents are perhaps more likeable as humans, on the whole. A2. Primarily the area of self- paced and individualized instruc- tion in areas such as math and geo- logy. Considerable attention is paid to student feedback. More empha- sis upon teaching tools, as A-V equipment and materials. Less emphasis upon compulsory attendence--more toward grading A, B, C, W a growing idea that simply not getting credit for the course is punishment enough with- out an F or D or a Q for quit, which carries F gradepoint. An effort by many to de-empha- size grades in favor of learning. 19