Page 65 - Phoenix1998-99

P!!oeni New class time schedule Class of 2001 sets adopted for fall '99 semester retention record abundance of empty classrooms there will be more continuity, such BY EMll.Y STAMATHlS during flex times, since "the tee- News EdjlOr as a 10:20 class every day of the so important because that is the ulty has the option of choosing how week. fly MICHAEL STOKES A new proposal has been agreed or if the flex period is used." Two new time codes will be SlajfWriler year when most students leave col- lege. upon that will slightly alter the "Sometimes flexes are just a added to Mondays, Wednesdays, The class of 200 I set the record The sudden increase of the per- school's current class schedule, al- pain," Eshleman said. However she and Fridays: an 8-9 am course and for the largest retention of first to centage of the class of 200 I does lowing for two more time codes for wanted to make it clear that her a 1:20 ~2:50pm spot, which is cur- second year students ever at West- please Sayre; however, he is not yet classes during the day. proposed schedule will not elimi- rently only used as a flex. ern Maryland College. satisfied. The new course schedule will nate flex periods, just help allevi- Eshleman thinks the new time The retention rate of the class take effect this fall. In addition to "One year does not make it a periods should be attractive to pro- is 87.8 percent, a seven percent in- routine," he said. "We would like creating more class times, it allows In addition to fessors since most do not want to crease from the class of 2000. Out to crack 90 percent next year." for more convenient flex periods, teach after 3 pm. The 8 am class of 427 students who entered WMC Barbara Horneff, the associate but will not abolish them altogether, creating more class may not be quite as desirable, bur in the fall of 1997, 375 students dean of the first-year program and according to Associate Professor of it will be "rarely used," she said. returned for the fall of 1998. a member of the retention commit- Mathematics and Computer Sci- times, [the new All of these new time codes, A recent study done by the Uni- tee, believes that the school has a ence Linda Eshleman, who pro- schedule] allows for when used in a combination which versity of Oklahoma concluded that good chance of reaching 90 percent posed the new schedule at the last can be chosen by the professor WMC's retention averages "are next year. faculty meeting. more convenient flex when submitting his or her courses, way above comparable colleges," The biggest problems with should accommodate classes that "Once we hit that, then the job WMC's current schedule are the periods, but will not need four meeting times per week, according to Dr. Philip Sayre, the is done," said Horneff. vice president of the college and the differences between class start abolish them "with minimal impact on availabil- chairman of the retention commit- Horneff and Sayre cite a num- reasons times on MWF and TffH classes, ity of other classes [because] they tee. The study found that the aver- ber of different in the retention for the im- rate, in- provement and scheduling conflicts that often altogether. overlap with no more than one age retention rate for comparable mean hour-long gaps between nor- cluding the recent renovations to other time code," Eshleman said. colleges, such as Messiah (PA), mal class times and flex periods, ate scheduling conflicts. Current There was an overwhelming the residence halls, the "generos- (NY), Casanovia Stonehill (Mass), Eshleman said. flex times are a reoccurring com- vote in favor of the new time codes Cabrini (PA) and Mt. St. Mary's ity" of the financial aid packages The new schedule will also plaint of students and professors. at the faculty meeting, Eshleman (MD) is 75.7 percent, 12 percent that are being offered to students, make better use of classroom space. The biggest difference in the said. "J don't see anything negative less than that of WMC. Eshleman said in her proposal that new schedule occurs on Tuesday about the schedule and the faculty According to Sayre, the reten- Once we hit 90%, it's not surprising that there are an and Thursday mornings, but now are supporting it." tion rate of second year students is then the job is done" WM C greets new multicultural director Barbara Horneff in wake of racial controversy the recent success of many of WMC's athletic teams and the fact that the national economy is doing Almandrez arrived on campus BY MICHAEL STOKES sowell. Staf/Wrjter on November II and began her Sayre also believes another rea- career here on November 16. She son is that the reputation of the Mary Grace Almandrez, the was surprised by the atmosphere of new director of multicultural affairs the area when she experienced it for school is growing, due to the con- struction of the new science build- at Western Maryland College, plans the first time .. ing and the new music building, to improve upon existing race re- "People are extremely friendly which in turn increases the amount lations on campus and include the around here. Members of the fac- of pride that people have for the faculty in multiculturalism. ulty, the students, and even the school. townspeople were very nice to me "Another reason is the fact that when I first got here," she said. we are getting to our maximum Inside University of San Diego California capacity of 1500 students, which from the graduated Almandrez more energy has given the campus with a Bachelors Degree in Soci- said we were smaller," (!.J"'"i§,'£'i: ology and a minor in Spanish in than when O'Connell, the dean of ad- Martha May of this year. Pro and Con: Ron Mojica and missions. She has been anticipating the Megan Martin argue for and start of her career here since she The biggest reason for the im- against smoking in the residence was first informed that she got the provement in the retention rate, hails .. according to Horneff, is the success ,Wii'ii ., job. "My mind set was that I was of the first year program. already I was ready in Maryland. to begin when I got off the phone According to a recent presenta- Horoscopes: Find out what with the college." tion given by Sayre and Homeffto strange events are in store for the the National Orientation Directors rest of your "Still Naughty No- According to Almandrez, she Association Conference '98 in Aus- vember," was made aware of the WMC's re- tin, Texas, entitled "Beyond 2oo0! cent racial controversy while at The New Frontier", five years ago "mr::.r::.!II•••••• IJC:J" home in San Diego but did not learn the college restructured administra- ;Ii the specifics of the incident until tive positions to build stronger links Scoreboard: Get the slats on all she arrived on campus. She plans your favorite Green Terror play- to deal with the situation by initi- between the academic and student of affairs divisions for the purpose Continued on page 4 At 22 years old, new Multicultural Director Mary Grace Almandrer TR"NO will be Continued on page 3 able to relate to college students on a unique level.