156 Providing students-with a multitude of services (continued from page 153) The realization of the need to give new and in-service teachers more adequate preparation for their professions prompted Dr. Wyatt Jones, Director of Graduate Studies, to strengthen and intensify the graduate program of the University. ~ , , • Wyatt Jones Director Graduate Studies An alumnus of Harding, Dr. Jones bolstered the graduate program significantly with 26 graduating with Master of Education degrees during the 1978-79 commencement ceremonies. The professor, a Tennessean who has taught at both the high school and college levels since 1951, attended the Southern Graduate Deans meeting, the convention of the Arkansas Education Association, the Arkansas Association for Colleges of Teacher Education and the Arkansas Graduate Deans meeting during the year. Dr. Jones and his wife, Iris, participated in a program of the College church of Christ hosting a weekly Life Session for students. Also, throughout the year he preached on Sundays at Poughkeepsie. ~ Administration Dr. Harry Dlree filled a multifaceted role as Professor of Physical Education, Athletic Director and Director of Research while serving as chairman of the 17-member Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. A proponent of physical fitness, the professor, who reached his fiftieth birthday during the year, found time to challenge colleagues regularly in spirited games of his favorite sport, handball. With the conclusion of research Harding was doing for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Dr. Olree said his time was becoming more evenly divided among teaching and administering the athletic departmental programs. Saying that "I enjoy athletic administration," Dr. Olree related his thoughts concerning his position. As chairman of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation department he thought he should "do some teaching to stay Harry Olree Athletic Director in touch with the students," However, "If I didn't have anything else to do," he commented, "I expect that I would enjoy teaching more." The chairman of District 17 of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Dr. Olree was active in professional organizations of his field. In Kansas City he had a part in the national meeting of the NAlA and was a delegate to the American College of Sport Medicine in Honolulu. He also served as an elder of the College church of Christ. t!!l Planning for the future Maribeth Downing Dean of Women With the completion of a new Educational Specialist degree in counseling, Dean of Women Maribeth Downing made plans for a follow-up study concerning her thesis "An Environmental Study of Harding As Perceived by Students and Faculty." The original study asked a series of true-false questions to a random sample of Harding students and faculty members. The results were compared to a common standard, the College and University Environment Scales, Second Edition. Of her study Miss Downing said, "Basically, we found that the students as well as the faculty pretty much viewed the school's environment as the same." Commenting further she said, "What I'm anxious to find out in the follow-up study is to find out how our size has influenced the way people feel about the environment here." Using her counseling education and her concern for the individual, Miss Downing spent many hours in general counseling with female students. On the professional side, the dean attended the Christian Counselors Workshop in Abilene, Texas and the Christian Deans Conference at Alabama Christian College in Montgomery. In the summer she will go to Richmond, Virginia for the meeting of the American College Personnel Association. I? \ trw.
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