po — ee yo |\We Need Follow-up on Graduates “Articles in the national magazines are saying ‘look at all those unemployed college graduates. Why go to college?’ ”’ said Dr. T.H. Bell, commissioner condescension at WSC and thinks the lack of it stems from Weber’s problem has_ been highly magnified.”’ Dr. Bell pointed out it is true everyone,’ said Dr. Bell. a demand graduates that for college graduation was almost a guarantee of a job. Inthe past it has been accepted a } graduate would have plenty of opportunity for upward mobility. ‘‘We want to find out what the placement record is for college } graduates getting jobs. There is a need to dig for what the facts show,”’ he said. Dr. Bell feels it is the responsibility of his office to be an advocate of the institutions before the legislature. “We have to put together the story of how aa student both choices,” he said. Dr. Bell said he did not feel any early traditions which make it a great degree granting institution at this time. } such well the citizens of ‘Utah are being served by the institutions of higher education. In that regard it is important that institutions follow up on graduates to see where they’ve gone and where they’re going. t means, but we need more. institutions like WSC which offer the of higher education for Utah. “Actually the batting average for college graduates finding jobs is so good that I believe the there is more competition for jobs : where previously there has been ‘There is something at WSC for Responding to the critical question, why go to college, Dr. Bell said, ‘‘I think there are two main reasons. First, college prepares people for work. Some people their think life we shouldn’t give so much emphasis to work, but rich or‘poor, people need work. It is vital even for the independently wealthy, for with- out work we cannot be happy. College is preparation for that. Although I have been told that’s the wrong. emphasis, I am unapologetic about it. ‘‘A close second reason for college is to enrich the lives of in- dividuals. It prepares everyone for the office of citizen. Many are copping out on that role. Look at the number of people who didn’t vote. We learn to appreciate a few of the deeper things in life, great literature, music and art, and through studies students learn to understand themselves and gain DR. T.H. BELL expresses confidence in higher education and cites need for placement record of college graduates. ; ee —_" “It is necessary to obtain hard insight into others. Education is evidence to show that significant - human betterment and generates percentages of graduates are serthe appetite for the higher road in ving society and a productive, life.” , dynamic economy.”’ Dr. Bell is convinced that the Dr. Bell believes this kind of inbest thing we could do in Utah is to formation will assist him in persuade every student to get helping the institutions. When he some kind of post high school is before the legislature pleading education appropriate to their for the WSC budget, he needs facneeds and talents. ts to make a good case. “Tt’s a great tragedy when a With reference to Weber State student says ‘no more schooling College, Dr. Bell said that studenfor me’ when he gets a high school j} ts here can have it both ways, diploma.” vocational or liberal arts. “WSC is a comprehensive state | college -in the full sense of the word and it needs to be to serve the entire state and the greater -— PP Weber State College Alumni Association, October 1976 Ogden area,” he said. ‘‘It is one of the few institutions that offers a degree in industrial technology and other similar areas. This is possible because of the strength of the school of technology. “One thing that bothers me in higher education is snobbery and open ee ee ee COMMENT intellectual prudishness directed towards persons not academically inclined but who seek technical Beeids. This is also higher education. We don’t need to sell it in lieu of liberal arts by any Quoting Plato, Dr. Bell said, “The greatest joy is the joy of understanding.”’ The federal government is spending $214 billion a year to provide equal access to college through ean) loans and work-study, he said. Any deserving young man or woman can attend an institution of higher education and not be stopped by a lack of money, he pointed out. Equal opportunities are available. ‘It is one of the federal programs I believe is very helpful and useful.”’ As the seventh child in a family of nine, whose mother was widowed while the children were very young, Dr. Bell was aided by various programs such as the GI Bill and the Ford Foundation and feels these given him back!” opportunities a chance to have “pay Dr. Bell foresees some enor- mous changes in higher education in the next few years, citing greater. challenges to budgets, declining numbers of high school graduates, students increase and more students. ‘Our office is an advocate of the institutions before the legislature. ”’ in age of part-time