1972-1977

By Sue Savell, Staff Writer ECJC Student Newspaper Having been organized in Qptember of 1928, East Central :ontinues in its striving to grow uith education, the years laving brought changes and ?ew ideas until today the zollege offers 22 night classes in six different locations and numerous vocational courses. In the spring of 1975, a group ,f interested individuals rganized the first off-campus light classes, for academic :redit, at Forest, Mississippi, with an enrollment of 30. lbday, 22 classes are offered in ;ix different locations with over !00 enrolled for anywhere from 1-4 classes, four nights a week. Locations of the night classes are a s follows: Louisville Elementary School, Carthage High School, Philadelphia High School, Forest Community Service Center, Choctaw Central J r . High School, and the Voc Tech Center at East Central. Eleven of the 22 classes are taught by instructois on ECJC's regular staff, while the other eleven classes are taught by teachers, mostly high school, who are not on staff at East Central but who have a Master's. Degree or better in Business and/or Industry. The average enrollment of the classes is 20, while the minimum for establishing a class is 15. However, the desired number is $0, due to the fact that classroom capacity is that many. Some classes have attracted as many a s 50 students. For example, in Carthage, where 62 individuals registered for a course, two sections were made. Tho

student attitudes have changed. . vocational courses, including Under the GI Bill, a veteran masonry and trade, carpentrj with remaining credit may a n d c a b i n e t rrnaking receive as much a s $400, auto-mechanics, auto body anc depending on the number of f e n d e r . e 1 e c t r i c i t y dependents and on the number cosmetology, radlo and TI of courses taken. At first it repair, refrigeration and ail seemed that many were taking conditioning, machine shop, an( classes just to get the money welding. Welding classes arc but since these individuals have also held during the day a been "weeded" out, the general Carthage and Louisville. Eas attitude is that most of them Central additionally offer: are "seeking an education." mini-courses in mechanics In Choctaw Central the cake decorating, tailoring ant situation is entirely different. indust'rial sewing machint Harris teaches 17 Indians, most mechanics. of whom have jobs connected Although probably not as well with the Indian Agency and are known, East Central also offers training for advancement in cou r s e s t hrough ETV employment. Harris noted that (Educational Television. ) Ax the government is paying for ETV Co~u~cil composed of a half of their education through representative from each grants, with the students paying college in the state. and : the other half. five-man Committee on Course D e a n B r a d T u c k e r Selection,. which preview. commented that most of those material and selects courses in the evening classes are well heads the program. motivated and that several According to Tucker. whc have been invited to Phi Theta serves on both the council anc Kappa due to their high the flve-man cornmlttee, threc scholastic achievement. He also new courses, CornrnunneaSions stated that more than half of and 11, Introduction tc those who enrolled in the first Business, and Eiortiuulture, classes in 1975 are more than have been tenatively suggestec half of the way through, and for recommendation. that there were five students in Under the ETV courses, the May, 1976, graduation who thirty 30-minute programs are were able to complete their aired two nights each week at course of study in night school 10 p.m. with the full hour - Although a number of courses repeated on the weekend. . are offered through the night Students are issued a study classes, an AA degree cannot guide and/or a textbqok and are . be obtained off-campus. required to meet at least t h e e Science, English composition 11, times d u r i ~ gthe semester at which requires library the college, once for . facilities, and skill courses that registration and twice for require typewriters and other testing. There IS an instructor equipment must be taken at on campus responsible for each East Centgal. course offered mder the -,sides niqht classes. East Droerarn.