Palomar College
Volume 38 No. 13
A Pu
lcatlon for the Associated Students
n Marcos,
Friday, March 15, 1985 .
Enrollment declines are statewide By Melanie J. Anderson
Less students are attending Palomar this semester as enrollment dropped 8.9 percent compared to Spring 1984. Although enrollment has decreased since last year, it has increased 1.5 percent compared to last fall. The total enrollment is up to 16,140 students from 15,899 students that attended classes last fall. Community colleges statewide have suffered a ten percent drop, says Palomar president/ superintendent Dr. Omar Scheidt. Scheidt cites the present condition of the economy and the $50 fee as factors for this decrease in enrollment. "People are getting jobs," he says, " (rather than attending school) and, therefore, less units are being taken." "Other students, the disadvantaged, or the poverty-stricken, cannot afford the $5 per unit or $50 fee." Herman Lee, Director of Admissions and Records points to other factors that are contributing to the decline of student enrollment. "We are seeing a shift toward evening, part-time students because more people have full-time jobs. Our daytimers are decreasing while we are seeing a greater head count for our nighttimers." For the past two years, Lee says, a
decline in high school graduates has allocation for the community college system. also affected enrollment at Palomar. Additional funding, Dr. Scheidt says, "High school graduates are in a trend towards full-time jobs or four- will mean more money per person, and year schools after graduation. We are 'will also help balance budgetary losing the traditional students (age problems. Low enrollment has caused prob18-20) and veterans and are gaining lems of reduced income, faculty and non-traditional students." Although Lee cites a decline in high class section cuts. school graduates attending Palomar In an effort to improve enrollment now, he anticipates an increase for numbers, Palomar has made a series this group in the coming year. of attempts to draw students to its Lee also believes that Palomar campus and inform the public of its enrollment will receive a boost in the services. 1990's as a result of the predicted One such attempt was to set up an babyboom. According to Lee, Palomar's ADA Outreach Task Force to encourage (Average Daily Attendance) is approx- and attract students to Palomar. This imately 9,000, an annual estimate committee is now in its process stage which is based on the numbers of and will be chaired by Public Information Officer George Cordry. hours a student attends classes. Other attempts made to reach The late 70's and the early 80's marked Palomar's highest enrollment potential students include mailers in its history, which peaked to 17,438 and an advertising campaign. enrolled students in the fall semester Palomar spent $8,000 on 150,000 of 1981. brochures that were sent to residents According to Dr. Scheidt, the State within the district. These mailers were Chancellor is in the process of con- sent out before fall and spring semesducting research on a statewide basis ters and included photos, profiles, goals and objectives of the college, and to survey the enrollment decline. a list of classes. Dr. Scheidt visited Sacramento in early March to join other administra$3,000 was also spent on extensive tors in asking for a $150 million radio and television advertising.
PREaTJGE
Scheidt accepts teaching position By Melanie Anderson Outgoing President/ Superintendent Dr. Omar Scheidt has accepted a teaching position offered to him by the Board of Trustees in a special meeting last November after Dr. Scheidt was informed of the board's decision not to renew his contract. According to board president Mary Burke-Trotta, the board's offer was in accordance with the California Education Code which specifies that, by law, the board must offer Dr. Scheidt a teaching position because he is under teachers tenure. Any certificated employee employed at Palomar for over three years is under tenure. Dr. Scheidt presided at Palomar for eight years. At this time it has not been decided in what department Dr. Scheidt will teach. However, Dr. Scheidt said his position will "probably be in math, chemistry, Cooperative Education, or supervision classes." Dr. Scheidt carries a general secondary credential which qualifies him to teach grades 7-14 in his subject field. According to Dr. Theodore Kilman, Assistant Superintendent/ Vice President oflnstruction, the board offered Dr. Scheidt an unspecified contract.
Various departments will review Dr. Scheidt's file and make recommendations. This procedure is unusual, Kilman said. "If there is an opening in a department which Dr. Scheidt is qualified to teach in, the department has the option of selecting Dr. Scheidt for that position". Former Math Department chairperson Robert Fullerton said he was informed at the end of last year that Dr. Scheidt would be placed in his department. "I was not happy with that decision," Fullerton said. "We were not consulted whether or not we wanted him. We need full-time day instructors. We try to get qualified people. We don't know if Dr. Scheidt is qualified or not. We never received any transcripts." Fullerton ended his chair position prematurely when he resigned from his post February 1. He had served six months of the usual three years a chairperson serves. Although Fullerton stated that he was unhappy administering, it was a combination of reasons "topped off" with Dr. Scheidt's offered teaching position which compelled him to resign. Fullerton presided as math chair ten years ago. He has been at Palomar
Clubs join in Awareness Day by Jim Molinar Crime doesn't pay, but here on campus, cleaning up after yourself soon will. Student Awareness Day will be kicking off an ongoing clean-up campaign with lucky students receiving "Caught'cha Bein' Neat" awards for cleaning up after themselves. Many other activities are scheduled for Student Awareness Day, Wednesday, March 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. These include: free rootbeer floats, a KSM remote live in the Student Union, a Trivial Pursuit tournament and other club activities. The main thrust of this event, other than the clean-up campaign, will be to make students aware of the benefits that they can receive from the service organizations and clubs on campus. There will be tables on the patio at which representatives of the organi-
zations and/ or student government officers will have information available to students. Groups invited to attend include: EOPS, Health Services, Financial Aid, Foundations Tutorial, and many others. Associated Student Government representatives will be giving out the root beer floats, while the marketing firm that handed out Butterfmgers during the first week of March will be ¡ back to give out more free samples. The Trivial Pursuit tournament~ be in its semi-finals stage during Student Awareness Day. It will have started March 19, and will fmish March 21. The entry fee for this event will be $1, and prizes will be awarded. "Entries will be limited to the first 108 persons, and are being taken in R-33, the Gaming Society's club room,"
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since 1963, and is now currently teaching trigonometry, college algebra, and beginning and intermediate algebra. Dr. Scheidt, who has never taught at Palomar, says it is possible that he will begin teaching either this summer session or next fall. Dr. Scheidt has taught life science, math and chemistry in Bakersfield and in the Los Angeles system.
ON MY HONOR -Alpha Gamma Sigma president Les Spellman and vice president Peter Gonzalez have brought enrollment in the honor society club from one of the lowest to the largest on campus. Spellman stands behind AGS mottos. ( Photo by Mike Goodman)
Honor club becomes the largest on campus By Cyndie Claypool With more than 300 members, the Alpha Gama Sigma honor society has climbed from one of the smallest clubs on campus to the largest in one year, according to president Les Spellman. "The club on the move," as Spellman refers to it, not only gives its members an opportunity for scholarships but also offers numerous social events. Last year the club averaged 50 members with unfilled executive positions and only a few activities, he explained. In June 1984, Les Spellman and Peter Gonzalez. were named president and vice president. "We worked the entire summer building the club," Spellman said. According to Spellman, the club now averages 1.5 activities per week This year's past events have included a Catalina cruise, a toga party and trips to Julian, Magic Mountain and Balboa Park They also helped with other organizations such as the Book Swap and Patrons of Palomar. Their latest fundraiser was a bake sell they had February 27-28. Numerous dinners and beach parties are always being planned throughout the year. Their next major activity will be a Disneyland overnighter sometime this month. A large fundraiser they are looking forward to is a projected casino night. "Las Vegas- a night on the town" will
feature a floor show, comedians, food, beverages and various casino games. This evening is tentatively planned for May 25 from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.in the Student Union. If everything follows through, Spellman speculates that they will raise $5,000. Any money raised at the various activities, plus the $8 per semester dues, go into a scholarship fund. At the termination of each school year, AGS has a banquet at which time they deplete that year's funds in the form of individual scholarships. The advisors, Daniel Arnsan and Stanley Levy decided who should be awarded and how much on the basis of the students' Grade Point Average and participation of activities, fund raisers and attendance at the meetings, according to Spellman. The amount of scholarships awarded depends on the funds collected. Last year AGS had $l100. They should have $7,000 by the end of this year, Spellman said. Because the club is chartered and is recognized as a state chapter, members are also eligible to apply for scholarships from four-year state colleges. "We offer the highest academic award in the State of California at the community college level," he emphasized. In order to be a chartered member of AGS, Spellman and Gonzales attended a regional conference in November. They will also be attending a state conference for three days in April. Spellman boasts that Palomar's AGS
is the largest chapter out of the more than 40 chapters in the state. To be considered for AGS, a student must have a 3.25 or better GPA. If the GPA is 3.0 to 3.25, they are eligible for probation. Probation means that they may. still receive scholarships and be involved in the club; however, one can only be on probation for a semester. Spellman is shooting for 500 members by the end of the year. He has been promoting the club by having a booth at registration and club days and speaking in classrooms. Every applicant for AGS is called by a current member, specifying if the applicant has been accepted or denied. "I spend over 40 hours a week working with the club," Spellman said. "It takes a lot of organization." Besides being president of AGS, Spellman is also an Associated Student Body senator and on the Speakers Bureau and Student Publication Committee. He also served as the Inter-Club Council chairman for three months earlier this year. Although Spellman may try to fill all open positions possible, he has left a few seats vacant in AGS. The positions of treasurer, corresponding secretary and recording secretary are open. Meetings are every other week in A74 at Monday noon and Thursday at 12:30. The student may attend which ever meeting is more convenient. For more information about AGS, visit R-17 or call 744-l150 Ext. 2606.