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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1983)
Oregon daily - - emerald Thursday, January 13, 1983 Eugene, Oregon Volume 84, Number 78 Plan details higher education goals By Sandy Johnstone Of the Emerald The Chancellor's office has released a "realistic'' Strategic Plan, detailing the goals and objectives of the State System of Higher Education for the next four years. The plan outlines 69 specific recommendations that would benefit higher education and "are capable of being implemented in the next four years," says the report. "In order to get anything done, you must start with goals," says Larry Pierce, special assistant to fhe chancellor for strategic planning State board members will hold a public hearing on the plan Jan. 20 at 7:30 p m in Room 110 Fenton Hall Those wishing to testify may sign up before the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m or may submit written testimony to Pierce if unable to attend Provost Dick Hill said it would be inappropriate tor anyone in the University's central admin istration to comment on the report's specifics Free copies of the plan are available at the information desk at Oregon Hall, the cir culation desk at the library, the ASUO office in Suite 4 EMU. the Eugene Public Library and in the Johnson Hall offices of the president and chancellor According to Pierce, the SBHE will discuss public reaction to the plan at its Jan 28 meeting and make revision suggestions After final revi sions. the plan will be adopted partially or fully at the board's February meeting, Pierce says Many recommendations depend on increased revenue from the state Legislature, he says “This covers a four year period," Pierce says, and while the budget for the next two years may look bad. we may look at 1985-87 as the years there will be an opportunity to make these changes He also points out re-organ ization at the institutional level, not necessarily additional fund ing, can achieve some of the objectives For example, smaller classes are not unrealistic if the institu tions change their organization slightly. Pierce says Almost half of all students entering univer sities drop out by the end of their sophomore year, partly because of the impersonal nature of the lower division classes they have taken, he says, adding that a move to smaller class sizes or lower division seminars would more than offset the extra cost of providing smaller clases Pierce says two key recommendations call for a faculty salaries' increase and a tuition freeze The governor's proposed budget includes a tuition freeze for the year, but the strategic plan proposes tuition remain frozen until it is comparable with those in other Western states or based on a lower proportion of the instruction cost Pierce says faculty salaries may not increase as much as the plan specifies during this biennium, but if the economy improves, the goals may be met for the 1985-87 biennium More funding also is needed for replacing equipment, new computers and revitalizing the libraries, according to the plan "Libraries have deteriorated badly," Pierce says. "The Legislature will have to realize that and provide some sup port." 19*3 p. Emerald Photo Copies of the Strategic Plan, which outlines higher education goals for the next four years, are available from Johnson Hall and various other campus locations. The plan also calls for a re examination of each institu tion's programs to identify outstanding programs and to concentrate resources in these key areas, according to the report "We are trying to re-examine general education,’ Pierce says "We'd like to see a math and/or foreign language requirement. “There used to be fairly set basic courses that people took, but now it is more a smorgas board approach. It may be time to go back (to more structured requirements.)" The plan also addresses educational needs from the view of future teachers. The proposal extends the training period for elementary and secondary education teachers to a minimum of five years for basic certification and raises entrance requirements tor teacher education programs Pierce says the deans of the colleges involved developed the recommendation after the chancellor challenged them to strengthen their programs Several recommendations reflect discussions with com munity college representatives and suggest ways the state system could work more effectively with them. “It was worth raising (the recommendations) publicly to increase the level of discussion on those proposals," Pierce says The plan includes new entrance requirements, which have been previously discussed by the board, for college-bound high schools students. The proposal requires four years of English, three years of math, two years of science, three years of social science and two years of “other college prep ' These requirements would apply to students seeking admission in fall 1985. The University Assembly dis cussed these requirements in December, and faculty members voiced overwhelming support for the requirements in a unanimous straw vote The plan also makes formal the presidential scholarship proposal, which asks each in stitution's president to seek private funding for 50 merit scholarships to deserving high school seniors who would be able to renew them throughout their undergraduate years. "The scholarships would do a lot to attract good kids from high school to the universities,” Pierce says 1 Campus group teaches responsible drinking By Richard Burr Of th« Emerald The alcohol education committee hopes to silence past criticisms that it does nothing by setting goals to be achieved before year’s end, says com mittee member Jim Richards, acting ASUO director of University events The committee, consisting of faculty, students and administrators, has eight goals to accomplish with a $322 budget The money was collected through a 50-cent coverage charge at a beer garden last term Frank Geltner, committee chairer, and Bob Bowlin, former dean of students, applied in September to the Metropolitan Life Foundation for a $22,623 student health grant to sub sidize a University alcohol education program, but they were turned down. An objective that would absorb most of the committee s budget is an alcohol brochure Many brochures are available for targeted groups, but none ideally suits the University, Geltner says. “We want something to be streamlined for the University,” he says The pamphlet would have informa tion on state laws and procedures as well as University codes concerning alcohol Another goal is to establish sanctions for alcohol-related violations of the Student Code of Conduct The com mittee is considering recommending violators complete some specific com munity service and/or attend an alcohol education program, says Vernon Barkhurst, committee member and associate dean of students and conduct coordination. Such sanctions would force students to atone for their acts while learning what influenced their conduct, he says. A popular program that has been started already is having a breathalizer at beer gardens. Many students asked how to “beat the system” when the device was introduced at a beer garden last term, according to a report by Cynthia Kane of the Student Health Center Voluntary breathilizer tests at beer gardens are intended to show students the correlation between their condition and the alcohol-blood level meas urements, Richards says. “They might not necessarily cut down on drinking, but it may make them think about it, which is the start of responsible drinking," Richards says. An Alcohol Awareness Day is being planned as well. No date has been set yet, Geltner says. An awareness day could be the catalyst for forming a student-run program called BACCHUS (Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students), Richards says. Organizational meetings last term failed to generate interest, he says. General training in alcohol education is a committee goal that the Interfrater nity Council started The council spon sored an alcohol awareness seminar fall term. Fraternities are active in the alcohol program because they have been associated with heavy drinking, says Richards, a fraternity member. Although the image is incorrect, the fraternities are using the resulting vi sibility to promote educational forums, he says. The fraternities are adopting alcohol awareness guidelines, such as provid ing non-alcoholic beverages at social events, says IFC chairer Alan Scearce. Fraternities are trying to break the “Animal House" mold that has haunted them since the movie's popularity, he says. "We don’t feel we’re that way," Scearce says. The two remaining goals are starting support groups for students with alcoholic friends and a program on how to intervene when someone drinks excessively. The intent of the eight goals is to promote responsible drink ing but not "preach from the pulpit," Geltner says. Students interested in working with the committee should contact Richards at 686-3724, he adds
