UTC Press, 1987-02-02

              nrQg 1 uli ricl m J ,qr'r-ir"T JJ Monday, February 2, 1987 Utah Technical College ProvoOrcm, Box 1609, Provo, Utah 84603 Volume 15 Number 14 Educational Focus by Tom Green Governor Norm Bangerter's proposed ALERT package has become an item of major importance at both UTC and other public higher educational facilities. Bangerter's package includes an increase of between 204 and 206 million dollars in taxes over a year's time. Of that 200 million dollars plus tax increase, approximately 165 million is proposed to go for public and higher education in the state of Utah. 91 of the 165 million dollars proposed to go for education will go to just get Utah schools out of the red. The other 65 million is to go to improve the educational programs through the state. Chris James Quartet Wows UTC Audience bv Dawn Seamons UTC students were treated to something exciting and artistic January 28 in the Student Center Ballroom. The Chris James Quartet were the featured performers at the ASUTC Stardust Club. For starters, while the audience sat at candlelit tables, pianist and composer Chris James entered the scene by pulling out a camera. He took the audience's picture, explaining that he "always takes the audience's pictures." With James at the piano, Scott Steed at the bass, Paul Van Wageningen on drums and Tommy Kesecker playing the xylophone and bells, the talented foursome continued by playing three original jazzrumba arrangements that James composed for their album "Dessert." The group originated in Northern California and has performed at jazz festivals and cruises, mainly on the West Coast. Some of the songs performed were "The Harp," "Just 7525 Vocational College Statute to bv Wilma Reed UTC currently has 82 percent of its students registered in the technical program, and 18 percent in the General Studies area. According to the 2575 Statute which is still on the books, those percentages should be 25 percent and 75 percent respectively. Utah Technical College has never attained this ratio in the forty odd years it has been in existence. UTC was originally started in the '40s as a co-op between school districts. The purpose was to fill in and train women in jobs related to the war effort. The original name was Central Utah Vocational School, (CUVS). It was not considered a college. A college should meet the needs of the community. According to Doug Warner, associate vice president of Academic Affairs and Vocational Director, UTC does not Warner went on to say that UTC has a good first-year program so that a student has no problem transferring to a four-year college. But for that same student tc attain a degree and meet many of the in-depth studies of his chosn JufTlCTrtma, UTC needs to improve and build Along with the increase of taxes, ALERT is also trying to change the roles of both major universities focus more on their specific programs, and to try and broaden and increase the roles and curriculum at Utah's two year colleges. With the majority of Utah's population living in both Utah and Salt Lake Valleys, the University of Utah and B YU are the most attractive colleges to college freshman, according to Dr. Dick Chappcll, vice president of Administrative Affairs and Planning. While Utah State University has excelled in engineering and agriculture, because of its location, it isn't as attractive as some of the other universities that are located near the centers of V f "If 4 '. ''1MB 1 on its already existing General Studies program. If a strudent's desire to acquire a degree in something such as English, mathematics, or life science, he population. The ALERT program would help Utah State University specialize more in its area of expertise according to Chappcll. ALERT would also give the U. of U. the help it needs to become more specialized in medical research, and help BYU more concentrated in perhaps its .Law, Business and Educational programs. ALERT'S effects would also be felt in the vocational schools as well as the junior colleges of Utah, according to Chappell. "The U. of U. is as big it wants to get," said Chappcll. "The ALERT program would help the U. of U. strengthen their graduate program." With this shift in specialization of programs at ' i ', ' 3 I ; 4fi will need to transfer to a four- year college to get the depth, to excel in his field. The name of UTC is changing in order to be more of a off Colleges Change Utah's major universities, Utah's two-year schools will flourish with freshmen going there to gain most of their General Education requirements. Afterwards, Chappell feels they will go on to the major universities to get specialized training in their chosen fields of endeavor. This shift of roles will relieve the major universities of spending money on general education, and putting more money in their specialized fields. This will also affect the enrollment of two-year schools considerably, according to Chappcll. UTC is already following this pattern. According to a report prepared by Chappell, General Education enrollment at UTC has increased over 152 I f 1 community service organization. Warner stated that Utah is far behind other states in preparing students for four -year schools. More people are attending percent in the last five years, while vocationaltechnical enrollment has only increased by 2.7 percent. "UTC is almost constantly 80 percent freshmen," said Chappell. Most of them are taking G.E. classes, then transferring to a major university. Chappell hopes to get a broader curriculum in the near future, and hopes that UTC will soon get programs that will keep students for a full two years. Chappell feels that the G. E. enrollment will continue to increase, while vocationaltechnical training will stay about the same. "We'll grow eight to ten percent each year from now on," said Chappell. Chappell feels that Bangerter's ALERT program is needed to keep up with the pace i. V. i " Si it f ' - f r h ' , Photo by Glen D. Nelson 9 Photo by Micheal Shinee schools with a four year program in the state of Utah than in other states. This is one of the reasons why two-year schools are of UTC's growing population, and to broaden UTC's curriculum and programs. According to an article in Thursday, January 22 edition of "The Daily Herald," James Moss, Utah's new school superintendant, feels that the proposed 200 million dollars plus tax increases will be severely cut down when the ALERT bill goes before the legislature. To help curtail this cut, many of Utah's school officials are lobbying for this ALERT program. UTC's student government has set up a booth to inform students of the ALERT program, and to encourage students to write a letter to the legislature advocating ALERT proposals. Paper, envelope, and stamps have been provided. One More Kiss," and "Children," which was a slow, mellow song that James composed for his daughter Paige. The popular "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles, catchy Duke Ellington numbers and the famous theme song from the "Flintstones" were all performed. A light buffet was served during intermission, while the technical director, ASUTC Vice President Renee Wilbert, informed students of upcoming events. The band continued the second part of the program by elaborating on each individual instrument in the quartet. Each solo portion was greeted by warm applause from the audience. The encore applause brought the group back out again to perform the last song on their album, "Dessert." A standing ovation was given by one gentleman, but no doubt the entire audience enjoyed the performance; appreciated the music and the great talent of the performers. Change currently updating their programs. UTC has had steady growth until 1984. In 1983 it reached its highest peak and has since dropped off. This is due to the current economic conditions. The 2575 rule has never been a problem. As long as the ratio is attained in accordance with the statute, and no more than 25 percent of the students are registered in General Education, UTC will still be technically a technical college, although its name will soon change. 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