Appalachian Today: Fall 2002
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CHANCELLOR’S COLUMN Diversity Plan Seeks Inclusion Following nearly a decade of resolute efforts to increase the While such numeric goals are certainly important measures number of minority students at Appalachian State University, of success, our overriding objective is to enhance the learning one might expect the university to be enrolling substantially environment for all Appalachian students. We also will be fulfilling more minority students this fall than in Appalachian’s traditional role of attracting more first-generation years past. college students in an era when demographic projections indi- Unfortunately, while enrollment of cate that minorities represent the fastest growing portion of the minority students has nearly doubled in college-bound population in North Carolina. recent years, Appalachian has remained a Harry L. Williams, who served several years as assistant predominately white campus with only director of admissions at Appalachian before a leave of about 5 percent of the student body com- absence to complete his doctoral degree, returned to campus prised of minorities. Furthermore, in July to head Appalachian’s new Office of Diversity. In this Appalachian has continued to rank at or near the bottom of capacity, Dr. Williams will be responsible for engaging the entire UNC system universities in terms of student diversity. And that, campus community in Appalachian’s diversity plan and fashion- in my mind, is not acceptable. ing initiatives that ultimately will lead the university to success in A student-driven initiative, approved by Appalachian’s achieving long-term diversity goals. Board of Trustees in March, may help change this situation We have yet to define exactly what we mean by diversity. through a campus-wide diversity plan that seeks to expand the But I like the words of Dr. Williams: “Diversity is about inclusion number of underrepresented students at Appalachian, while and ensuring that everyone who comes to Boone for an increasing minority representation on the university’s faculty Appalachian education is embraced by both the learning and and professional staff. social environments here. It also is about providing a rewarding This plan includes more than a dozen recommendations or educational experience for all students and a campus commu- “action items” that may be implemented in our efforts to nity that comfortably celebrates diverse cultures, backgrounds, increase the number of African-Americans, Asians, and and personal experiences.” Hispanics, as well as economically disadvantaged white stu- dents. For example, minority students will accompany admis- Francis T. Borkowski sions representatives, faculty, and parents of Appalachian stu- Chancellor dents on visits to high schools, churches, and community cen- ters in the Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh areas, as well as other urban areas. “I think Boone is one of the most culturally Minority students have already become involved in this effort by working with university staff to produce videos in which diverse places you could come—not racially or they discuss their experiences on campus as well as the advan- ethnically diverse, but culturally tages of an Appalachian education. diverse. …The education I’m We hope and expect these and many other actions will receiving at Appalachian is increase the number of minority students applying to first-class. I am not worried Appalachian by 10 percent before 2008, while increasing the percentage of minority students actually enrolling to a level about finding a job.” more comparable to the percentage of non-minority applicants – senior Ezell Williams, who enroll. Enlarging the number of minority faculty and admin- in “A Multicultural Perspective” istrative professionals by 10 percent and doubling the number of international students at the university to at least 200 are video for prospective students. other goals embodied in the plan. Appalachian Today Volume 10 Number 2 www.appalachiantoday.appstate.edu Appalachian Today is published by the Office of Public Affairs in the Division of Inside University Advancement twice annually for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of FEATURES Appalachian State University. It is funded through unrestricted gifts to The Appalachian Fund. Correspondence 10. ‘A Leader in Incorporating should be sent to Linda Coutant, Editor, Appalachian Today, Office of Public a Global Perspective’ Affairs, Appalachian State University, PO Appalachian will serve as an international Box 32100, Boone, NC 28608-2100, programs model for other schools (828) 262-2092. preparing students for the global era. CHANCELLOR Francis T. Borkowski 6. Reaching Out VICE CHANCELLOR FOR UNIVERSITY Fifty years ago, Appalachian faculty ADVANCEMENT began teaching off the mountain. Siegfried Herrmann Today’s economic and educational EDITOR needs make the half-century tradition Linda Coutant ’01 MA even more important. DESIGNER Roslyn Howard ’83 5. Office Assists Students PHOTOGRAPHER Mike Rominger ’76 Challenged by Disabilities Appalachian ensures all students make the EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE most of college. Barbara Burgin ’71 ’74 Jay Jackson ’76 ’81 Siegfried Herrmann Edelma Huntley DEPARTMENTS Doris Jenkins Rainer Goetz ’86 MA Pat Reighard ’72 MA 2 . On Campus Bob Shaffer Marsha Turner ’72 MA 16 . College of Arts and Appalachian State University: Sciences www.appstate.edu Alumni Affairs: 17 . College of Business www.alumni.appstate.edu Admissions Office: 18 . College of Education www.admissions.appstate.edu Office of Cultural Affairs: 19 . College of Fine and www.highsouth.com/oca Human Resource Services: Applied Arts www.hrs.appstate.edu Stay Connected with Appalachian: 20 . School of Music www.connect.appstate.edu 21 . Graduate School Appalachian State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, 22 . Alumni News and Class Notes disabling condition or sexual orientation. Appalachian also actively promotes diversity among students and employees. On the cover…. 49,000 copies of this public document were printed at a Ired Gulley ’02, center, with peers from Guilford College and Case cost of $24,605 or 50 cents per copy. Western Reserve University, in the Italian Alps during a 2001 geology ©2002 Appalachian State University summer field course. Photo courtesy of Laura Zimmerman On Campus Administrators Return sity of North Carolina system is bracing Shuler Named Women’s for additional cuts to state appropria- to Teaching tions. A Salisbury Post editorial praised Basketball Coach Appalachian’s cost-saving approach as State budget woes have forced Ap- Adrienne Shuler has been named head demonstrating a “can-do attitude—exact- palachian State University to be more women’s basketball coach, replacing ly what North Carolina needs to get creative in how it delivers instruction. Barbie Breedlove who through this revenue crisis.” Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski has resigned after the 2001-02 asked all administrators with the appro- season. priate academic credentials to consider Freshmen Stats Get “We are delighted to have teaching this fall to maintain the univer- Higher and Higher someone of Adrienne’s cal- sity’s number and variety of courses. iber joining our athletic More than two dozen have volunteered Appalachian continues to be a hot department,” said Director to teach at least one class, in addition to pick for high school seniors. A record of Athletics Roachel Laney. “With her their regular duties. 9,436 young people applied for admis- background — playing and coaching at sion to the university this year. About Among them, Borkowski will team- the NCAA Division I level, and playing 2,375 freshmen will be enrolled, accord- professionally in the WNBA— she brings a teach a section of Freshman Seminar, ing to the Office of Admissions. which helps ease new students’ transi- tremendous amount of basketball knowl- tion from high school; University In addition, this year’s freshman class edge to our program.” Controller Rick Presnell with teach a will be the most academically competi- Shuler spent seven seasons at Furman computer skills in business course, and tive class in Appalachian’s history, says University, as both assistant and later as College of Arts and Sciences Dean Linda Director of Admissions Paul Hiatt. The associate head coach. During her two-year Bennett will teach a course in American incoming students have an average GPA tenure as associate head coach, Shuler’s government. of 3.64 and an average SAT score of team posted a 24-12 record in the 1110. Twenty-two percent of the fresh- Southern Conference. Many of the administrators began man class will have a 4.0 grade point their careers in teaching. Refresher average or higher. The number of Commissioner’s Cup, courses this summer helped them pre- applicants and confirmed students from pare for the new challenge. underrepresented populations has 11 Years Running With North Carolina facing a $1.5 bil- increased from last year as well, Hiatt Appalachian claimed the Southern lion budget shortfall, the entire Univer- says. Conference Commissioner’s Cup for the eleventh consecutive year. The Commis- sioner’s Cup is awarded annually to the league member that is judged to have the best all-around men’s sports program. Furman University received the Ger- mann Cup, honoring the best all-around women’s sports program, for the tenth year. The Southern Conference awards points for both cups based