Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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Mastering new missions The football game hits a slow spot and fans be- come restless. Students from other universities might take this opportu- nity to chant the school's initials, cheer about the school mascot or yell ob- scenities at the other team. Students at northeast do all the same things — except for one cheer oth- er schools will never catch on to. Value-added, value-ad- ded, value-added. This concept had such an in- fluence on students that no one thought twice about yelling the words just like it was a cheer for the school mascot. Value-added, the as- sessment program (freshman, sophomore and senior tests in addi- tion to postgraduate tracking) designed to en- hance academic quality, provided a key phrase for students to identify with the University's larger mission. The liberal arts and sci- ences mission came into focus in January 1986. Designation as The Lib- eral Arts and Sciences University of the state of Missouri meant a con- tinuously increasing em- phasis on academics. Plans to achieve institu- tional goals culminated in the Five-Year Planning Document. The first year report of the progress toward achieving the goals set forth in the Five-Year Planning Document was published in November and presented to the Board of Governors for approval. One of the most imme- diate results of imple- mentation became obvi- ous to students whose academic majors were discontinued or were be- ing phased out. As a re- sult, even programs that remained identical in ti- tle under both the old program and new mis- sion embodied a new lib- eral arts and sciences emphasis. The Education Division changed to a five-year Master's program in- stead of continuing the basic four-year degree. According to junior Kris- tine M. Schneider, the positive side of the pro- gram included receiving both an undergraduate and graduate degree at the same institution. However, the negative aspect came into view when the graduate went out into the working world. With only one year of teaching experience, students feared they may not have enough practi- cal experience and would be looked down upon by future employ- ers. “It seemed like a good idea at the time I chose it,'' Schneider said. “You get your Master s right away which means more money when you look for a job, but you only have one year of practical ex- perience.'' The junior class of 1989 (class of 1990) had a choice between the old program and the new program with its in- creased emphasis on lib- eral arts and sciences. Juniors had a choice of which education degree to pursue, but like other majors, the courses for the old program were not always available and substitutions had to be made. For fiscal year 1988, 436 students were still pursuing degrees in phased out programs. Several of the goals for the Five Year Planning Document were running ahead of schedule. Tar- geted percentage out- comes exceeded the numbers proposed for 1988 in ACT scores, high school rank and the Graduating Student Questionnaire. In other words, the statistics showed a successful First year and were encourag- ing signs for the next four years. Despite increasing me- dia hype and administra- tive enthusiasm, not all students were sold on the ideas of the new mis- sion. Junior Becke Cook stayed with the old pro- gram for practical rea- sons. “I felt that in the four- year plan I would get more practical exper- ience,'' Cooke said. “You need at least a 3.0 to even qualify so you could end up, after four years, not being able to complete the program. I'm going to graduate and start teaching and then go back and get my Master's.'' Whether or not stu- dents supported the changes, the impact and awareness of the new mission could be seen across campus, even at football games where the chant, “Value Added, Value Added'' echoed through the stands.l As the blade cuts through the board. Chad Taylor, sr., guides it to make push sticks to use during open lab for cutting in class. Photography, drafting and other industrial classes were phased out to help the University meet its liberal arts goals. In Pro-lab. Amy Soos, Jr., and Susan Masselbrlng, sr., cut off excess lamination, education degrees could only be received through a five-year Master's program. 28 Academic

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An apparatus obtained through research grants al- lows Dr. Gary Sells, Professor of Physiology, to study Mito- chondria. The University awarded JO research grants to faculty for traveling overseas during the summer. Professor assists Chinese musicians Roger Cody, professor of music, spent August 1988 trav- eling through rural China learning about the native mu- sic and dress. Cody flew to Chi- na with other music educators at the invitation of the Chinese government and returned with a new view of the Tar East. While in China, Cody assist- ed the Chinese efforts to pre- serve the music of the coun- try's 55 minority groups. The Chinese folk music we heard was nothing like what we hear on television, Cody said. I was unprepared for it.” The trip had an effect on Cody and changed the way he taught and related to people at the University, especially for- eign exchange students. Cody also became more open-mind- ed about styles of music since he has been exposed to those of the Chinese culture. Definitely one of the most memorable times was our arri- val into Beijing, Cody said. “Upon landing, our first en- counter was with a man dressed in a uniform carrying a machine gun and yelling at us. We looked at each other and wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. The more he traveled, the more Cody realized that the government's invitation was a cry for help to preserve the au- thentic folk music that re- vealed much of the culture's qualities. The Chinese use their voices as well as their instruments to produce various constructions of the musical scales. Cody said his trip changed his outlook and helped him see another culture. “I would go back tomorrow if I had the chance, he said. A parallel perspective

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A parallel perspective ACT scores ACTUAL FALL 1983 (nr a ) average - 20 PROJECTED FALL 1987 (nr as) 17-22 average - ?yi ACTUAL FALL 1987 (nr 88) AVERAGE - 2 The above graphs reflect ACT score distribution data for 1.373 of the 1,496 fall 1907 first-time freshmen. The riMSU mean ACT score of 23.7 com- pares with the national mean of 19.2 (ACT Class Profile Re- port, American College Testing Program, Iowa City, Iowa). Source: The Institutional Re- view of the Five-Year Flan First Year Report 1987-83.