Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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Continuing Education Expands Program Colleges and universities have traditionally been thought of as four- year learning institutions primarily set up to meet the educational needs of persons in the 18-22 age bracket, once the majority age group on col- lege campuses. This year, however, there was a different majority of students on campuses across the nation — Memphis State University includ- ed—and these students, according to Dr. John A. Rhodes, were the part-time, 24-to 35-year-old per- sons taking one or two courses for creditor non-credit. These credit and non-credit courses in conjunction with con- ferences, institutes and other struc- tured programs, fell under the Di- vision of Public Service and Con- tinuing Education (PSCE) at MSU. Rhodes, who was vice president for PSCE, oversaw the four major divisions that made up PSCE at MSU: Extended Programs, directed by Dr. William A. Brotherton; Special Programs, directed by Dr. Thomas H. Collins; Nuclear Train- ing Center, directed by Dr. Wayne Jones and Administrative Services, directed by Terry Ford. Victor Robilio, wine tasting instructor, sniffs the boquet of this bottle of burgundy. The forerunner of PSCE was the evening division night school classes that began at Memphis State in 1955. In 1977, this was greatly en- larged to include a diversity of pro- grams that appealed to differing publics with subjects ranging from intermediate French courses to an advanced furniture upholstering class. Rhodes, who himself taught a credit course in the education de- partment, explained the need for a PSCE program at MSU. The knowl- edge explosion made it impossible to provide the individual with the information needed for a lifetime of work and living these days. Prior to about 1960, a person could, in four years, attend college and receive his degree and not be concerned with relearning and updating. That is no longer possible today. Rhodes said that the major thrust of PSCE was updating a person ' s knowledge level as well as re-cer- tifying classroom teachers. Rhodes stressed, however, that equally important were the non-credit short courses and the public service con- ferences and consulting programs offered by PSCE. Many of the short, non-credit courses were taken for fellowship and the simple enjoyment of learn- ing, Rhodes said. He sai d that the introduction to real estate had been particularly popular in recent years as were the recreational courses such as tennis, kayaking and swim- ming. Rhodes also said that PSCE was used by many businesses in the Mid- South as a consulting service, and seminars and institutes were organ- ized to meet the needs of certain businesses and industries that could benefit from the resources that MSU had. 22 Academics

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■M White exhaust trails a T-38 soaring cross-country. Once in a T-38 it is almost impossible to distinguish it from a real cockpit. US Air Force jet awaits the class of recruits on a UTP camp landing field. Ascent, maneuvers, landing and even crashes could be seen just as they would appear in actual flight. In real T-38 jets, recruits practiced standard flying procedures such as acrobatic, night and group flying. They flew short distances as well as cross-country treks in planes able to break the sound barrier. For the cadets who were called to participate in the UPT program each experienced something which men for ages have attempted: they mounted an engine and touched the sky. Academics 21

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Amy Montgomery learns basketry from instructor Fran Collier. House plants instructor Ronnie Webb inspects zebra plant. Kayaking instructor Joe Royer shoots through the gates in a kayaking competition. - Academics 23