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Show 12 THE SIGNPOST Wednesday, May 16, 1990 WSC offers gerontology By Robert Burrows Staff writer of The Signpost Ten years ago, gerontology was part of the social sciences, sociology, anthropology, and social work, but six years ago, sociology, anthropology and social work became a separate department, and gerontology became the center on aging. The gerontology program first came to Weber State College in 1972, and was funded by the Older American Act. Federal money was given to Utah State, Weber State, University of Utah, Brigham Young and Southern Utah to implement a certificate program. At that time, Dr. Roy Van Orman was working at the U of U to help set up the program throughout the state. "We had to establish a curriculum at the campuses; we needed faculty, and we needed to recruit students. In those days, we paid part of the student's tuition and fees," said Van Orman. In 1977, Van Orman became a full time faculty member at Weber State. Soon, the state Board of Regents made Weber State the only campus across the state to have gerontology in a state's only major, minor major and minor, while the U of U had it as a graduate program, said Van Orman. Dr. Jerry Borup has done much of the writing and development of grants for the gerontology department at WSC. He is also an excellent researcher, said Van Orman. Borup, along with other faculty members and students, did a research paper on moving nursing home patients. "For a long time the literature said that if you move patients from nursing home A to nursing home B, they'd die. Dr. Borup's research here at Weber State proved this was not the case. The patient would have died anyway," said Van Orman. The Supreme Court of the United States used these results to reverse a previous ruling. "We are very, very proud of it," said Van Orman. In the past three years, social work and gerontology have combined. Van Orman feels this was necessary to give students in both fields a better education and more opportunity to get a job. "There is a social work license in the state of Utah. Many of our gerontology students must take a social work exam to get a license that allows them to work," said Van Orman. Gerontology students are " Jet- 1 ; ' ' - 3 f .'' ' : - u .- -I i : yU;', L , - Jl ; - I Henry Kissinger L ........ .....i. ...... ..,,L- nT. id1 ,--. t -THl.tllfi rfhl i.mJ Gerald Ford Vladmir Poznor required to put in a minimum of 180 work hours in an agency thus giving them work experience and job opportunities. "This is a critical part of our program because it allows our students to gain working experience on the job. It allows the employer to look at our students." This has been a very helpful item in our students acquiring a job," said Van Orman. Convos Throughout the last 10 years WSC has been visited by the illustrious and the successful. Convocation has given those who have attended, a look into the lives of the rich, famous and influential of our country and, on occasion, of those abroad. Sui. M'l ' iuwipw.u i.i.niu.'mn w. gnn i.i. , n iwi.k.h Jesse Jackson i r ' rjr " r'f : Si um. if . .,- a .- i--. .. ----i-- - Peter Vidmar L BY G M A C Merrill Bean ChevroletGeo introduces the GMAC College Graduate Financing Plan. With it, we can make it easy for you to save $600 when you purchase or lease a new Chevrolet or Geo.Take advantage today of the savings designed for you, the college graduate. Save $600 off a new Geo Metro Guaranteed financing Low down payment requirement Three convenient purchase options As Low As $5995. MERRILL CHEVROLET Geo 3535 Wall Ave. 394-261 1 1 |