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Show B4- - The Thursday, Nov. 28, 1991 Tlmes-lndepende- Admission standards, better use of funds targeted by president The University of Utah should shift from "open access" to "prepared access," thereby helping Utah provide "more and better education for, the taxpayer dollars," says President Arthur K. Smith. Smith, who became the U.s president in June, outlined his aspirations for undergraduate education Oct 28 in a campus address. His speech was part of Undergraduate Education Month at the U. Since his appointment. Smith has emphasized undergraduate education as the U's top priority. He says he wants the U to offer an undergraduate program that is "second to none." In Smith's Oct. 28 speech, his most detailed pronouncement on un- dergraduate education, he said professors should not be retained or promoted unless they are excellent teachers. The U must "heighten its sensitivity" to student needs, he said, adding that sometimes two classes required for the same program are scheduled at the same time quarter after quarter, making it difficult for students to complete both classes. Smith discussed national rankings of undergraduate programs, such as U.S. News and the much-quote- d World Report rankings. U.S. News does not rank the U in its list of 51 top institutions. But the U is the only Utah institution, public or private, listed among the top 102 schools. "Our undergraduate program is already good by national standards," said Smith. The Honors Program "is unquestionably of Ivy League quality." And the growth of the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center shows U students are as attuned to community service as any in the nation. But, said Smith, the U has potential to be even better. While rankings aren't the definitive evidence of quality, they arc based on statistics that may be indicators of quality. Among those are the admissions rate (percent of applicants accepted, with a very high rate regarded as negative), retention rate (percent of freshmen who stay in school and become sophomores) and graduation rate (percent of admittees terrupting studies for LDS Church missions. But the figures also reflect the fact that while the U has nationally regarded professors and research its instate role "is still that of an open admission community college, par- - ticularly for students in Salt Lake County," Smith said. However, with recent maturation of Utah's community colleges, the U can shift to being a "prepared access" institution, he said. That means higher admissions standards and a lower admissions rate. But retention and graduation rates should increase. And, he noted, a higher rate of student success means better utilization of state funds. Higher admission standards "will stimulate more of the state's high school students to take a rigorous college preparatory curriculum," he said. Currendy, "many students feel so assured they'll get into college that they don't prepare and thus fail" once they get there. Meanwhile, U professors can work with community college faculty on a discipline-by-discipli- basis to ne make sure students who begin col- lege at those institutions take courses to prepare them for direct transfer into upper-divisio- n work. Smith said he even favors "simultaneous admission" where students who enter community col- who graduate within five years). The U ranks fairly low by these measures, in part, because of unique circumstances, such as students in Dr. Arthur K. Smith leges are guaranteed later admission to the U if they satisfactorily com- plete prescribed courses and pro- grams. In other comments. Smith said the U should "insist on compelling evidence of teaching" if a is remain the faculty. on to professor high-quali- ty Besides student evaluations, there should be "rigorous and substantive evaluation" by faculty peers, he said. He also said the U's goal should be "to make this big place feel like a small and friendly place for all our students. We're doing that now for a small percentage, but not for the great mass. In addition, the U should recruit and retain more African American, shopping this year on a holiday weekend in Grand Junction Its a treat for you - and everyone on your Christmas list! Shop the Western Slopes largest regional mall Or our downtown shopping park. Youll find umque gifts in over 300 stores throughout Grand Juncuon These special lodging packages include a shoppers coupon book for extra savings, welcome dnnk on amval and overnight accommodanons Make your reservanons today at any of these participating properties, then relax Your holiday shoppings in the bag GRAND JUNCTION Surprising Choices. Per Light a better fire in ... Moab 259-713- 7 It takes just 60 seconds to read about gas logs and fireplaces room, per mgfu, valid thru 123091 Space available basis Tax not included You dont have to give up the comfort, warmth and beauty of a fire with a natural gas fire but rin havft un tn nive vmi" W ' the physical labor of cutting, hauling and the stacking of wood. Say goodbye to the wadding of paper, the constant need of matches and kindling to keep a fire going when you need only the touch of a button to have a beautiful, cleaner natural gas fire. ... I the excesses characterized by the political correctness move- ment." Wrap it up early. Sleep in late. 800-962-25- 47 Hispanic, Native American and Asian students, said Smith. "Diversity. . .must flourish without ATTENDED MEETING Green River Beta Zeta members Carol Ekker and Judy Ann Scott traveled to Midvale on the 16th to attend the November Council meeting of the Utah State Council of Epsilon Sigma Alpha. The meeting was hosted by Kappa Chi Chapter of Salt Lake City. The meeting was conducted by State President, Dianne Gamer of Ogden and was attended by forty some members from throughout the state. Workshop Chairman, Denise Ward of Salt Lake City, presented a workshop on Christmas Preparedness and Stress. The group will meet in Moab for their January meeting. Before you make a mistake of cutting or purchasing expensive wood logs, why not use the money to invest in a natural gas log or fireplace. Utah Gas Service Company wants to show you the coziness, convenience and low operating cost of natural gas logs or fireplaces. Receives national award . . . Mary Plumb, Public Affairs Officer for the Moab District, Bureau of Land Management, received a national award as a 'Toint of Light" from Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award is part of President Bush's "Thousand Points of Light" campaign which recognizes contributions to fellow citizens through exemplary civic volunteer work. Plumb was commended for her work as President and Public Relations Director of the League of Women Voters of Grand County, "a nonpartisan organization committed to active citizen involvement in government." Activities the League of Women Voters is known for on the national level include sponsorship of nonpartisan Presidential debates, registration of voters, and comprehensive studies of public issues, many of which are emulated at the local level by groups such as Plumb's. Ms. Plumb represented BLM at the ceremony and was joined by Thousand Point of Light award recipients from other Department of Interior agencies. LDS museum to present "Pioneer Profiles" Christmas special The Museum of Church History and Art will present "A Pioneer Profiles Chnstmas" to the public on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 16 and 17, 1991. Museum director Glen Leonard says the presentation will be at 7 p.m. and 8 p m. each night in the museum theater. Fifteen Mormon pioneer characters, portrayed by museum docents dressed in authentically recreated period clolhing, will relate the joys and sorrows of the early Christmases spent in the Salt Lake Valley. They'll also participate in a typical Christmas party of the pioneer era. The imaginary gathering at a social hall allows characters to recount past festivities and conduct a celebration of their own, Leonard said. The program is based on newspaper accounts, diaries, and reminis- cences to recreate the spirit and activities of these early yuletide celebrations, he said. The characters portrayed in the program were original pioneers who lived in the valley following their arrival in Utah between 1847 and 1855. The performances are free to the public, but seats must be reserved in 9. advance by phoning The Museum of Church History and Art is located at 45 N. West Temple, and is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will be closed on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day. 240-229- Money donated to purchase ranchrefuge The Utah Wildlife Federation Foundation (UWFF) this week donated $30,000 toward the purchase of the Graham Ranch in northeastern Utah, part of the multi-agenc- y sponsored Book Cliffs Conservation Initiative fBCCI) to purchase thousands of acres of prime habitat for wildlife and wildlife recreation in that part of the state. Merrill Miller, UWFF chairman and a member of the Utah Board of Big Game Control, presented the check to Division of Wildlife Resources Director Tim Provan. The money was left over from the Emergency Big Game Feeding Fund, established during the severe winter of 1983 to accept donations and buy feed for starving deer and elk in northern Utah. Miller said the money represented donations from across the United Suites. Money poured into the fund in '83 after national news programs aired stories about the desperate plight of deer and elk trapped by record early o snowfalls and temperatures sub-zer- in northern Utah. "we told evciyunc who donated that any money left over after the emergency feeding program would be used to rehabilitate or purchase habitat for big game animals. We've waited for the right opportunity and this is it. The BCCI is one of the biggest and most important projects to come along in decades. We feel that the money will be put to good use by helping purchase this land for all wildlife." Accepting the check. Director Provan expressed his deep appreciation to Miller and all contributors to the fund. Dont Miss Out!!! y Wi &(&m(g(S UTAH GAS SERVICE COMPANY Light a better fire in Moab. See a complete working fireplace at your local office of Utah Gas Service Company or call to arrange for an information packet to be mailed to you . or stop by your local Utah Gas Service CompanHffice to see a complete working fireplace. November 30 Yellow Front Building 8 p.m. $6 per person $10 per couple |