E D U C A T I O N
Students in manufacturing-related fields learn in a 'factory of the future': Welding with a robot
teaching can be a special challenge. "Some
teachers have an idea of standards below
which they will not go. Others are very
talented in teaching to a wide range of
abilities," says Hanke at SFCC. Since they
don't have to conduct scholarly research or
publish, the Spokane teachers insist that
they can concentrate their energies on
teaching. A group from the faculty, for ex-
ample, is seeking funding for an experi-
mental program to teach critical thinking
in the liberal-arts classes at SFCC.
Spokane funnels every student through
an assessment program. Those who have
any thought of moving on to a four-year
college deal with a counselor and a detailed
work sheet each semester to be sure they
are earning credits that fit transfer re-
quirements. Students also take advantage
of a variety of remedial and skill-develop-
ment programs, including preadmission
literacy clinics for those who cannot read or
write but want to earn a high-school diplo-
ma by taking the GED examination.
Commuter schools: Since the Spokane col-
leges are commuter schools, campus life is
hard to maintain. "Nobody lives on cam-
pus, so if we get 100 people at a dance we'd
be really happy," says Eric Russell, presi-
dent of the student government at SFCC,
which has a nationally recognized jazz
band. The biggest issue on campus may be
the state's decision to cap enrollment in
all of Washington's community colleges,
which has meant a decrease in the number
of class offerings and cutbacks in services
such as library hours. But with so much
turnover in the student body, students
complain that there isn't enough continu-
ity of leadership to get much accomplished.
The two colleges even look different. On
the west side of town, SFCC's campus has
modern, one- or two-story buildings. SCC is
located in the center of town, where the
cavernous hangarlike buildings easily ac-
commodate automotive equipment, robots
and other large machinery. By noon most
students on both campuses have finished
their classes and have left for work-leav-
ing the campuses nearly empty until the
evening students arrive.
Partly to convince taxpayers that they
should support more funding for communi-
ty colleges, the Spokane system maintains
a strong connection to local industry. At
SCC, for instance, where about 70 percent
of the students pursue vocational train-
ing, school officials opened an innovative
computer-integrated manufacturing cen-
ter-a "factory of the future"-in 1986.
Students in manufacturing-related studies
from electronics and robotics to data proc-
essing and business learn their fields by
working with a product from the time it is
designed or refined on a computer to the
time it reaches the customer.
Aside from the teaching, it is the nurtur-
ing environment in the classrooms that
students say they like most about commu-
nity colleges. Sue Pemberton, 52, decided to
attend SCC after her marriage of 20 years
failed. "At the time of my divorce I thought
I could make it. Then I got out there in the
working world and discovered that I was
about 15 years behind," says Pemberton.
At first she just wanted to attend a techni-
cal program that would give her some
skills. But the supportive atmosphere gave
her the confidence to go for an A.A. and
then try to transfer to Eastern Washing-
ton. "The classes are so much smaller at a
two-year school, and you have the opportu-
nity to be a person rather than a number. I
decided that I don't care if I am 52," says
Pemberton, "I have a future ahead of me."
CONNIE LESLIE in Spokane
Value Received
College Costs
espite soaring fees, most students
think they get good educational val-
ue for their money. They also have
clear feelings about how colleges
should and should not cut costs.
How would you compare the edu-
cation you are getting with that in
your parents' generation?
62% Better 7% Worse
25% About the same
How reasonable is your tuition
compared with the education you
are receiving?
48% Reasonable
32% Not as reasonable as it should be
14% A bargain
5% A rip-off
Should the federal government
provide more scholarship money
for students who show need? Even
if it meant increasing
federal taxes?
70% More even if higher taxes
22% More only if no higher taxes
5% Should not provide more money
Should the federal government
make available more money to back
student loans?
65% More even if higher taxes
21 % More only if no higher taxes
11 % Should not provide more money
If colleges had to cut costs to lower
tuition, what area would you most
favor cutting back? Which would
you least favor?
MOST LEAST
FAVOR FAVOR
Eliminate intercolle-
giate sports such as
football and basketball 33% 7%
Cut down on campus
food service 25% 1 %
Reduce books and
software purchases
forlibraries 10% 12%
Cut down on repairs
and maintenance 9% 7%
Give professors little
or no salary increases 5% 25%
Reduce the number of
faculty and increase
class size 5% 42%
(MULTIPLE ANSWERS ACCEPTED.)
For this NEWSWEEK ON CMPUS Poll, The Gallup Organi-
zation conducted 542 face-to-face interviews with college
students on 100 campuses nationwide during the period
Nov. 2-13,1987. Themargin oferroris plusorminus6 points.
"Don't know" responses are eliminated. The NEwswEEx
ON CAMPUS Poll © 1988 by NEWeWEEK, Inc.
d
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22 NEWSWEEKONCAMPUS
MAY 1988