TgE ■111ESITIS. September 15, 1983
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Vol. 82, No. 6
Enrollment for fall sets all-time mark CSU's fall enrollment broke the university's all-time record, topping the 13,000 mark. The final figures, released by CSU President Bill Lillard Wednesday, revealed a total of 13,086, surpassing the 1982 enrollment of 12,309 by 777 students. The previous high was 12,846 set in 1977. "I think there is something enthusiastic in growth," said Lillard. "We have crossed the magic number (13,000) and I think it reflects the quality of the programs at Central State." Lillard pointed out that the new record includes an increase from last year in all classes, freshman through the graduate level. The largest increase was among sophomores, showing an increase of 220 for a 11.3 percent jump. Lillard said the increase was caused by a number of factors. "I think some students went away to school for their first year and came back to CSU because our general cost is a bit lower than the state's comprehensive universities (Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State)," said Lillard. The largest number increase was at the graduate level, with 268 more students enrolling than a year ago, meaning a 7.7 percent increase. Four of the five academic schools also reflected an increase in number of credit hours enrollment. Only the school of special arts and sciences reflecting a slight downturn of 2.5 percent. The school of education led in percentage increase, up 12.9 percent from the previous year. "The education school hasn't gone down because of the new graduate degrees and programs being offered," said Lillard. "Also the state legislature raised the standards for teachers so these students are staying in school longer and taking more classes to meet theses standards." The school of math and science was up 9.7 percent, liberal arts 2.3 percent and the school of business recorded a 3 percent gain from last year. "The overall increase in enrollment reflects the growth in number of programs being offered at Central State University as well as the quality of the programs and faculty," Lillard said. He attributed some of the growth to the economy. "Some students who were attending colleges and universities in other areas have returned home and are taking advantage of program offerings at Central State University," he said. The additional graduate degrees and the growth in graduate enrollment also contributes to the record breaking enrollment, Lillard said. Enrollment figures indicate about one of every four students at CSU is pursuing the masters degree. Total enrollment includes 54 percent women, down one percent from last year. A fourth of the enrollment is under 21 years of age, Lillard said, with 45 percent above age 25 for an average age of 27. Over two thirds of the enrollment comes from Oklahoma County, with 91.6 percent from within the state. International students comprise 6.1 percent. The total includes 1,133 black students, or 8.6 percent. Lillard said 43 states are represented in the all-time high figure with 45 countries included. Topping the international figures is Nigeria with 282 students, folllowed by Iran with 118 and Taiwan with 111. "We now have a little over 100 Irdnian students, but before the crisis more than 400 attended CSU. I think its fairly evident why there has been a decline," Lillard said. "They can't get out of the country to go to school in the U.S. anymore." A break-down of the international student enrollment also revealed that there are three students from the People's Republic of China attending CSU. "I find it amazing that someone from the mainland would have every heard of the state of Oklahoma, OU or Oklahoma State, much less Central State University," said Lillard. The 1977 high was followed by a two-year decline in 1978 and 1979 before the upturn began in 1980. However, last year's total was still below the previous record. University officials began to be optimistic about setting the new record when day to day comparisons on enrollment indicated figures were running 650 to 700 ahead of the time a year ago. That trend was maintained until the official tabulation was made.
In this issue. . . Troy to speak on press freedom...page 3 ROTC cadets honored...page 5 New journalism degree offered...page 6 CWSP available for students...page 7 Tunesmiths: 'Goodwill ambassadors'...page 8 Defense lives up to clippings...page 10
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Vista photo by Pat Berglund
The Life Science building, which will include a solar panel, will be the new home of the nursing and funeral science departments.
More classroom space
Building will cause 'domino effect' Editor
CSU President Bill Lillard says the opening of the Life Science building next semester will have a "domino effect" on the campus classroom situation. "This domino effect deals with the creation of more classroom space for the schools in need of it," said Lillard. "The Life Science Building will free up space all over campus." The Life Science building, currently under construction south of Howell Hall, is 55-60 percent cornpleted, according to Lillard. When it is finished, the nursing and funeral science department will move into the building gradually. Lillard said he expected some classes to be taught in the building some time during the spring semester, then by the fall the building will be in full use. Lillard said that other health science-related courses—such as pre-medical and pre-denistry classes—would also move into the new building. The funeral science department currently shares the basement of Evans Hall with the CSU museum. The museum will be expanded upon the opening of the Life Science building, said Lillard. The old President's Home, which houses the nursing department, has yet to be assigned to another department. The funeral science portion of the new building will be equipped with a laboratory for restorative arts and dissection, a model casket selection room and a model funeral planning room. The nursing education facility will feature a six bed nursing skills lab plus two patient rooms, set up as an examination room and a critical care room. The Life Science building will provide the university with approximately 18 additional classrooms, according to Lillard, and will ease the problems other
departments are experiencing due to lack of space.
Lillard said Howell Hall and the Business building have been operating at levels above capacity, despite recent additions to both. A annex was added to Howell Hall in 1981 and the Buisness building has expanded into the old Math building. This followed the move of the math department to the MathComputer Science building which opened last spring. "Once the new building opens, we will determine which departments need the space most and move them around," said Lillard. Lillard added that the art department would recieve consideration for a move due to the lack of classroom space. The new structure will feature a partial solar energy heating system. Lillard indicated that this will be the first facility on campus to utilize solar energy. "Although it will only be a partial solar energy system," said Lillard, "the architects tell me it will cut the university's natural gas bill in half. We will monitor it carefully to determine its costeffectiveness." Lillard said the solar panel will be used primarily for heating water. Canam Construction of Edmond was contracted to begin work on March 17. Lillard estimated the cost of the building at approximately $912,000. Lillard said the university has not planned any additional buildings, but renovation would continue on some of the older buildings on campus after the Life Science building is completed. "We haven't planned anything else because we will have to examine our budget situation at midterm," said Lillard, "but I hope it never get to the point where we aren't building." Lillard said he would like to see a new entertaining arts complex built in the near future.
(Thomas Kemper contributed to the story.)