The Reporter, April 1987

The Reporter is a publication produced by Western Carolina University featuring news, events, and campus community updates for faculty and staff. The publication began in August of 1970 and continues digitally today. Click on the link in the “Related Materials” field to access recent issues.I Reporter A Weekly Newsletter for the Faculty and Staff of Western Carolina University / April 3, 1987 Cullowhee, North Carolina COLLEGE TEACHING—WHAT WORKS? Warmth works. So does enthusiasm. And if you want the student's knowledge to carry past the final exam—especially if you are teaching more than facts—it helps to use small groups and discussions. Research on university teaching shows that excellent teaching is not simply presenting good information—it's enabling students to use their classroom knowledge as the basis for thinking, analyzing and reasoning later in life, according to Wilbert McKeachie, a nationally known scholar on effective teaching. McKeachie is the author of several books on teaching effectiveness and is associate director of the National Center for Research to Improve Post-Secondary Teaching and Learning at the University of Michigan. His presentations here were sponsored by the Visiting Scholars Program and the WCU Task Force on Teaching Effectiveness. He said that original research on large vs. small classes and on lecture vs. discussion used only the final exam as a measure of success and found few differences. When other criteria were used—such as retention of knowledge several months later and ability to apply the knowledge in a variety of contexts—the research does indicate the advantage of small discussion sections over large lecture halls, at least for knowledge beyond the factual, he said. He also said students learn well when they learn from each other, working together and reacting to each others' efforts. Excellent teaching involves learning in a broad sense, he said. "Then you capture the long-term retention and curiosity and joy in learning," he said. "It's not just one method but a repertoire of methods that involve building bridges between your mind and the students' minds." Soprano Karen Notare will sing Madame Butterfly next week in the Ramsey Center. See page 3. To build those bridges, he said, and ex­plain things clearly, a teacher must be sensitive to what the student already knows. Good teachers also show an interest and trust in their students, "a commitment to the students as well as to the subject matter." "Excellent teaching involves modeling the kind of thinking and learning you hope students will develop. It's understanding how to get through to them and providing the opportunity that will help them." The learning process, he said, is an inherent human activity, "like breathing." Over the last 60 years, research on university teaching has moved from matters such as class size to student evaluations of teachers, the effect of teacher warmth or "seductiveness" on learning, the amount of structure or organization in the course, and students' background knowledge. "Anxiety, prior knowledge of subject matter and ability ail interact with the teaching process," McKeachie said. Studies show that a teacher's warmth and friendliness helps students—especially women—learn the subject matter. Enthusiasm and ability to explain material with an understanding of "what's in the student's mind" also were important, McKeachie said. A teacher's task is not only to present facts, but approaches to learning that affect students after college. "Teachers probably would be more successful in long-term retention by not just presenting facts but encouraging students to think in terms of relationships and implications, and by helping students identify why a teacher uses a particular assignment, such as the term paper." Courses have been set up to improve think­ing and learning, which do help students, McKeachie said. At the University of Michigan, he teaches a course entitled "Learning to Learn," promoting "meaningful learning skills that go across disciplines. "A lot of students come to college with good learning strategies, but some don't ever think why they're doing it or how they're going about it. By learning theory and practicing methods, students develop better notetaking skills, learn to ask ques­tions, and learn from each other. They develop skills they can use in other courses. "Students are more responsible for their own learning than we give them credit for. You must be an effective student even when the teacher is not teaching like you want. The ideal would be that every student felt responsible for his or her learning." —Karen Anderson and Elizabeth Addison MICHAEL MILES (Music) presented a lec­ture on "Practice Techniques—The Never Addressed Necessity" at the first annual Southeast Trumpet Workshop in Auburn, Ala., March 27-29. JEFF NEFF (Geography) represented Western at the spring meeting of the Southern Atlantic States Association for Asian and African Studies, held at USC-Spartanburg March 13-14. He serves as a member of the governing board. Western will host the fall meeting of the association in late September-early October. JOE CREECH (director, Academic Services) has been elected as North Carolina's represen­tative to the College Board's Southern Regional Council, representing the state's public and private secondary schools, col­leges, and universities belonging to the College Board. He was elected by the member­ship of the Southern Regional Assembly, in which he represents WCU. He will meet with the Council for the first time in late April. CLARENCE DELFORGE (Elementary Education and Reading) presented "Middle Level Science Activities That Are Easily Integrated with Other Subjects—For Non-Science Teachers" at the annual conference of the N.C. League of Middle Level Schools in Winston-Salem March 4-6. JIM NICHOLL (head) and JIM ADDISON (English) attended the 38th Annual Conven­tion of the Conference on College Composi­tion and Communication in Atlanta March 19-21. Dr. Nicholl presented a paper entitled "Creating Critical Citizens: Our Responsibilities as Teachers of Argumen­tative Writing," and Dr. Addison chaired a session, "Toward Models of Advanced Com­position." KARL NICHOLAS (English) chaired a ses­sion on "Linguistics in the Teaching of Composition" at a meeting of the Philogical Association of the Carolinas March 12-14 in Greensboro. On March 26-28, he was at the Georgetown University campus in Washington, D.C., for a meeting of the Southeastern Conference on Linguistics, of which he is vice-president. FRANCIS M. WEBSTER, JR. (Management and Marketing) has been named editor-in-chief of Project Management Journal, the international magazine of Project Manage­ment Institute of Drexel Hill, Pa. He succeeds TERRY KINNEAR (Management and Marketing), who will continue as a consultant to the editor. The magazine is produced at the WCU School of Business five times a year and circulates among business, industrial, engineering, educational, and government specialists in the U.S. and 20 countries. In the March issue, Dr. Webster introduced a new format, announced a national eight-member advisory board for the journal, and said the June issue will examine the NASA space shuttle program, specifically the Challenger explosion. FACULTY PUBLICATIONS James Brasfield. "Waynesboro" (a poem), Quarterly West (Winter 1987), pp. 94-95. Heydar Pourian and Carroll D. Aby, Jr. "Event Study Methodologies in the Financial Literature: Event Conditions, the Data, and the Issue of Distribution," The Financial Review, 21, 3 (1986), 77. James W. Wallace. "Flavonoids of Phlebodium," Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 14, 4 (1986), 407-408. PUCCINI OPERA COMES TO RAMSEY The New York City Opera National Company will bring the romance and beauty of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly to the Ramsey Center Wednesday, April 8, for a single 8 p.m. performance. It is the only North Carolina appearance of the 65-member ensemble on its 1987 tour. The company is under the general direction of Beverly Sills. Since it premiered in 1904, Madama Butter­fly still transports its listeners on waves of lush melody and sends them from the theatre with a tear in the eye. It deals with the clash of opposing cultures and how they spell tragedy for a young girl when she becomes trapped between two worlds. One of the most unforgettable of operatic heroines, Cio-Cio San moves from a naive young geisha who runs terrified from her husband's first embraces to a world-weary woman who displays remarkable courage in face of desperate circumstances. Tickets at $12 for adults, $4 for students and children, and $9 for WCU employees may be reserved at the Ramsey Center, ext. 7722. ROLE AND MISSION APPROVED In March, Western's board of trustees approved a new statement of the univer­sity's role and mission indicating a strong commitment to scholarship. The statement replaces an earlier "statement of purpose" adopted in 1972. Chancellor Myron L. Coulter, who recom­mended the new statement, told the board it will guide institutional development for a number of years. The statement says that "the fundamental role of Western Carolina University is to develop a community of scholarship in which students, faculty members, administrators, and staff members learn and apply the products of learning. Teaching, service, and research missions are built on this foundation of scholarship. "The most important activity at Western Carolina University is student-teacher involvement in learning. Students with a wide range of academic abilities and apti­tudes may enter the university but those who are graduated are expected to be knowl­edgeable, competent in critical thinking and communication skills, aware of ethical and aesthetic values, and productive in employment and general life settings." The statement holds that "scholarly service and research are essential to the goals of the university." The university will encourage service that "extends the benefits of university scholar­ship to regional, state, national and inter­national constituencies" and will encourage research and creative activities "that pro­vide opportunities for faculty members and students to engage in the exploration and development of knowledge and that support student-teacher interaction," the statement says. The new declaration of role and mission was developed by a committee named by Dr. Coulter more than a year ago "to assess the purpose of the institution in light of existing programs and activities as well as the emerging development and directions of the university." Members were J.C. Alexander, Vivian Deitz, Bruce Henderson, Bill Kane, Cliff Lovin, Frank Prochaska, and Doug Reed, chairman. NEWS BRIEFS CI ML Survey - The Center for Improving Mountain Living is examining many aspects of its work in preparation for its 10th anniversary celebration this fall. Part of the effort includes a look at how CIML communicates with the university and with the region. Next week all faculty and staff should receive a survey form. We all can help CIML in its self-assessment by returning the survey the following week. Riverfest - The weekend of April 11 and 12 will see the third annual Tuckaseigee Riverfest, a river cleanup and 19-mile canoe race with barbecue and music Saturday night. Come help! Cleanup volunteers meet at the University Center Saturday at 11, then divide into teams to work the river on foot, in rafts, and in canoes. Rafts, materials, and beverages will be provided. The 6:30 p.m. barbecue is free to partici­pants. The race begins at East LaPorte Sunday at 9. Call ext. 7206 for details. Who's the Unsung Hero? Or Heroine? - If you act fast, you still can nominate someone for Outstanding WCU Support Staff Person for 1987. The nominee must be a current non-exempt SPA employee with five years of full-time service at Western as of Dec. 31, 1986. Cite specific examples and get your nominations to Rick Nicholson at the WCU Bookstore by 5 p.m. Monday. Theatre - The One-Act Festival sponsored by the department of speech and theatre arts continues April 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Niggli Theatre. "Death in Scarsdale" and "Snow Angel" will be presented April 9. "Makeup Artist" and "Cowboy Mouth" will be presented April 10. Computer Workshops - The Computer Center will offer two workshops next week. Get an introduction to BASIC for microcomputers on Tuesday or Wednesday, April 7 or 8. Learn basic concepts of making a micro "talk" to another computer in "Microcomputer Communi­cations" Thursday or Friday, April 9 or 10. Both workshops will be offered from 3 until 5 p.m. Register by calling ext. 7282. Rural Education Meeting - Western's Office of Rural Education was host March 17-21 for the annual conference of the American Council on Rural Special Education. Norman Howe of the U.S. Department of Education was keynote speaker and presented six national awards for exem­plary programs. Other speakers were Larry Campbell, director of the division of education and rehabilitation at Helen Keller Institute; Chancellor Myron Coulter; and Dean Gurney Chambers. Opera Orientation - Gain an appreciation and understanding of Madame Butterfly from opera expert Temple Smith before you attend Wednesday's performance. Dr. Smith will acquaint you with the historical setting, story, and music Monday, April 6, from 7 until 9 p.m. $9. Call Continuing Ed. to register (ext. 7397). WESTERN ON THE AIR The Office of Public Information has arranged several television appearances recently. In mid-March, Jan Davidson (Mountain Heritage Center) taped two interviews in Florida about the Center's current exhibit, "Coverlets: New Threads in Old Patterns." One interview appeared on "Good Day," a morning talk show on WOFL-TV in Orlando, Fla., and the other on "Info Four" on W J XT-TV, Jacksonville. Arlene Stewart (Special Services) appeared live March 27 on "Focus," a segment of the noon news on WYFF-TV in Greenville, S.C. She discussed choosing a college if you have a learning disability and the Learning Disabilities Training Project at Western, a grant-funded effort to share expertise with other area schools on working with the learning disabled. On April 10, Robert Godfrey (Art) will tape an interview for the opening of his solo exhibition "Recent Landscapes," which will be appearing at the Craven County Arts Council Gallery. The talk show is called "Focus" on WCTI-TV in New Bern. Jane Schulz (Human Services) and Billy Schulz (Hunter Library) will tape an interview April 10 for "Inside America This Week," a talk show on WSB-TV in Atlanta. Their topic will be "Growing Together with Down Syndrome." h Reporter A Weekly Newsletter for the Faculty and Staff of Western Carolina University / Cullowhee, North Carolina PUBLIC RADIO IN CULLOWHEE AT LAST! Bach, jazz, "All Things Considered"—in Cullowhee? Sylva? Webster? Yes, public radio comes to Jackson County next week with a ceremonial turning on of the translators during a reception at the Chancellor's Home from 6 until 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17. Hosts for the reception will be the Chancellor and Mrs. Myron L. Coulter and the board and staff of WCQS-FM (Western North Carolina Public Radio Inc.). Remarks will be made by Pat McGuire, chairman of the board of directors for WCQS-FM; Tim Warner, general manager of the station; and Dr. Coulter, a member of the board of directors. Other Jackson County members of the board are Doug Reed, director of public information at WCU, and Vickie Dowling, who works with the Southwestern Economic Development and Planning Commission. Jackson County is the third county to receive service from the Asheville-based station supported by its listeners. Service has been available in Haywood County in recent months and in May will be available in Henderson County. Eventually the station plans to provide service to all 11 westernmost counties of the state. The new translators here will provide ser­vice to the Sylva/Dillsboro area at 91.5 on the FM dial, and to the Cullowhee/Webster area at 89.7. The station airs classical, jazz and other types of music as well as national news and talk shows such as "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition." Some of these programs have been available to county listeners with antennas that pick up WUOT-FM from Knoxville, but for most it will be a new experience. Western is one of the station's institu­tional sponsors. Some formal invitations will be sent for the reception, but, with or without a written invitation, everyone is invited. HIVELY TO ADDRESS ACADEMIC MUSTS Evelyn Hively, vice-president for academic programs with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, will address the WCU faculty next week on "The Academic Imperatives at AASCU Institu­tions." AASCU—the larger association that encom­passes regional comprehensive universities like Western—in the last year has come out with two important documents. One is a paper, "The Core of Academe," and the other is the Terr el Bell study, "To Secure the Blessings of Liberty," which has been called a Marshall Plan for universities. The first addresses the need for balance among the faculty responsibilities of teaching, service, and research, and that will be the subject of Hively's address, scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in Killian 104. A reception will follow. All faculty are invited. AASCU has gone on record as affirming the value of research at its member institu­tions, including Western. At least on the surface, this affirmation runs counter to the recent Carnegie report on higher educa­tion, which urged a renewed emphasis on teaching at the prestigious research universities. The main purpose of Hively's visit is to explore, on behalf of AASCU, a proposal that Western continue and expand the outreach of its Revolving Institutional Exchange Team, part of the Teaching Effectiveness Task Force. In AASCU's R.I.E. program, Western's team made inter institutional visits with Georgia College and the University of North Florida to share ideas on faculty development and similar matters. As part of the larger task force here, however, it has been particularly effective, and Western's efforts have gone far beyond the usual. When members of the R.I.E. team made a presentation at a national conference in Florida last month, they received high praise from Howard Altman, a national expert on faculty development at the University of Louisville. Hively will spend Friday with the R.I.E. team, explor­ing funding possibilities to continue its work with other universities. She also will visit the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching to become familiar with its program. Among the ideas being considered is whether a similar concept could be applied in higher education. Hively worked on AASCU's Bell report, "To Secure the Blessings of Liberty," which addresses problems such as the shortage of teachers, the expense of college, black student dropout rates, and economic woes in other countries. Only a massive effort like the Marshall Plan can overcome these problems. Access to educational opportuni­ty is of particular concern in view of the massive amounts students have to borrow these days to pay for college. That they will be in debt most of their adult lives encourages them to think of the moneymaking career over social responsibility. Service to the community should be part of the undergraduate experience, the report says, as well as more foreign language and study abroad to promote an international under­standing in our present world. Among the report's recommendations is that AASCU institutions take the lead in studying pedagogy. This type of research is particularly appropriate to state universities like Western, the report said. We also must address the need for one mil­lion new teachers in the next 10 years. For the foreseeable future, AASCU insti­tutions must plan on doing remedial educa­tion, the report says. The report also calls for developing faculty reward systems to promote vitality in teaching, research, and service—the lifeblood of the regional university and subjects much under discussion at Western this year. According to Judith Stillion, "Hively's visit is an excellent summative experience for the faculty this year. It ends the year on a note of balance among teaching, research, and service." RENEE CORBIN (Institutional Studies and Planning) was chosen Young Career Woman of the Year by the Jack­son County Business and Professional Women's Club recently. She will compete at the district level later in April. In the local competition, she had to express why she chose her profession and her career goals. Her work involves reporting statistics and publishing the long-range plan and fact book. She has a degree in Computer Information Systems from Western and is working on an M.B.A. here. The daughter of Jane Perry of Sylva, she lives with her husband, Jim Corbin, in Tuckasegee. CATHERINE LENNOX (Dietary Services) was recently appointed food service manager for special and catered events at Western. She previously managed Brown Cafeteria. Ms. Lennox is coordinating the planning, prepa­ration, and service of food at the many receptions, luncheons, banquets, and other special events held on campus—from the cafeterias to the U.C. to the Ramsey Center. Services offered include coffee breaks, receptions, luncheons, seated and buffet dinners, banquets, and picnics. FACULTY PROMOTIONS APPROVED At their last meeting, the WCU board of trustees approved a number of appointments and promotions. Paul Haberland was approved as interim Associate dean of arts and sciences and Pat Umfress as acting head for the modern foreign languages department. Alan J. Stegmayer, William G. Perry, and Linda Jones were appointed to the faculty and Lewis R. Miller as map libra