The Vista September 7, 1989

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THE September 7, 1989

Vol. 88, No. 4

,ATISTA

Thursday Edition

Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma

CUFS computer eases accounting By Kamal Mazlan Staff Writer

Laying flagstone for the patio area outside the radio station in the communications • ui ding is Wait. The project, when completed, will include two redbud trees. (Photo by Daniel Smith)

CSU teaching programs House plan could expand By Kamal Mazlan Staff Writer

Central State University may need to offer more specialty courses and increase faculty size in its early childhood education program if a 10-point plan for improving education by House Speaker Steve Lewis, D-Shawnee, passes the Oklahoma Legislature in November, the program's coodinator Dr. Janice Johnson said. On Aug. 29, Gov. Henry Bellmon and legislative leaders appointed a 37-member task force to look into Lewis's proposal, to recommend education reforms and to develop a way of paying for those reforms. The deadline for the panel's recommendations is Nov. 6, when the legislature reconvenes in special session after a 10-week recess. "The plan, among other things, intends to provide an all-day kindergarten and to have programs for 4-yearolds," Johnson said. "CSU may add more specialty courses, offer more sections of courses and increase the program's faculty size, assuming the plan is approved." The CSU program currently has two full-time faculty, Dr. Mari Scott and Johnson. Dr. Kaye Sears, a member of the home economics department faculty, teaches part time in the program. Scott and Johnson

teach 150 to 200 students in 10 classes this fall. "We can't increase section sizes now because of a shortage of teaching staff. That's also why, some courses (in the program) are offered once every third semester, some once a year and some every semester," Johnson said. "We would need at least two more full-time, qualified instructors and offer the courses twice a year because the state would need twice the number of kindergarten teachers it has now," Scott said of the plan's early childhood component. Johnson said the bachelor's degree in early childhood education was instituted at CSU as a result of a federal grant in June of 1972, and the master's degree of the same program was implemented in 1981. The program is designed to prepare students to meet the needs of children during the first eight years of life, which are the most critical period in a child's development, Johnson said. "CSU is the only institution in the state which offers teachinglevel bachelor's and master's degrees of this program in it's College of Education," Johnson said.

Similar programs, under different names, are being offered by two o ther hollheges in the sstate, t e, b o t offwhich c grant nonteaching certificates, Johnson said. The University of Oklahoma offers an undergraduate program called human development, while Oklahoma State University's program is oriented toward family relations and child development, Johnson said. According to the 1986 program review, 28 CSU students were awarded the bachelor's degree and 50 students graduated with the master's degree from 1981 to 1985. Johnson said the review is updated once every five years by CSU's College of Education to determine student enrollment year by year, to indicate the number of CSU graduates from the program, and to reevaluate the program's goals and objectives. "I'm proud of the program's strength and success," Scott said. "Most of our graduates have found job opportunities because of their practicality. We emphasize issues that teachers run into daily in classroom situations, such as, having to accommodate poor, sick and hungry children."

Central State University's administration has installed a new on-line, integrated, real-time accounting and purchasing system costing $209,000, Purchasing Director Ron Mattingly said. "The new system, called CUFS (College and University Financial System), was actually installed in October of last year. It went on-line in the business affairs office and the budget office in CSU's computer center about two months ago. We hope to extend the system to the entire campus by July 1 of 1990," Mattingly said. Mattingly said the computerized batched accounting system previously used by the administration was developed about 20 years ago and incorporated various individual programs, Mattingly said. "The old system meant that everything was first done manually on paper and then was batched (put into computer) on a monthly basis. "Under the CUFS system, however, everything would be put directly into the computer by way of the terminals in each department on campus. "So, rather than having to

wait until the end of the month to check the status of something, as it always was in the old system, the information in CUFS would always be immediate and current," Mattingly said. The new accounting system was approved in September of last year by the Oklahoma State Regents for Oklahoma Colleges, he said. "Actually, discussions to install a new system were held three years ago among various departments at CSU. Two options were available at the time-either the computer center will design the new system or CSU will purchase a software package off campus. "Finally," Mattingly said, "a nine-member CSU task force set up early last year decided to purchase the system off campus, rather than having to wait two years and hire additional staff for the computer center to design a new package." The task force consisted of Philip Arnold, administration assistant vice president; Sharon Martin, budget director; Steve Schutten, internal auditor; Nick Widener, comptroller; David Koehn, assistant comPlease see CUFS on page 12.

CSU defensive back faces drug charge By Bill Kramer Staff Writer

The bail for Central State University starting linebacker Mike Bennett was set at $500 Aug. 31 following his arrest on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Special Judge Charles Humble's aide. The football standout was arrested Aug. 23 by CSU campus police after a smoking pipe with drug residue was found in his dorm room in East Hall on the CSU campus, police said. Bennett was then tranported to Oklahoma County Jail where he was released on bail until his arraignment. The 5-foot 9-inch, 230-pound junior, has been the leading tackler for the Bronchos the past two seasons. Bennett earned

first-team All-District honors last season and second-team honors in 1987. Mike Kirk, CSU sports information director, said Bennett will be able to remain on the Broncho football team for the entire season. "The matter has been settled to our satisfaction and he will be able to play this season," Kirk said. "Unlike the case with Jerry Johnson, who was suspended and removed from the team after pleading guilty to a felony this summer, Bennett was charged with a misdemeanor and will not have to sit out any games this season," Kirk said. It is team policy, Kirk said,

Please see BENNETT on page 12.


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