Bobby L. Coker was heavily involved with the regular IO-year NCATE re-eva luation of the undergraduate teacher educat ion program. During the spring of 1980, he organized commiltees to conduct the self-study by NCATE standards and sub-standards and to prepare preliminary reports. During the 1980 fall semester, he edited the various repo rts and combined them into the unified self-st udy report that was sent to the NCATE headquarters before Christmas. He then hosted the onsite visitat ion team March 22-25. Speaking about the NCATE self-st udy report which had been a major concern of hi s for two years, Coker said, " I think that we have a good report that presents well the strengths of our teacher education program. I appreciate so much the excellent work that was done by all the committees involved in the self- - Von Hulluml study." Upon the resignation of Dr. Fred Alexander to become a regional director for the American College Testing Program, Durward McGaha was appointed Director of Admissions, effective at the beginning of the 1980 fall semester. McGaha had been a member of Harding's very effective admissions staff for seven years and had served as Acting Director of Admissions for 1976-77 while Alexander was on a leave of absence to work on the doctorate. Soft-spoken but articulate, McGaha, a former high school coach, related well to high school Durward McGaha Virgil M. Beckett students. Completely sold on the objectives of Harding and backed up by the outstanding achievement s of Harding students in broad spectrum of activities, McGaha had the ability to communicate 10 high school students the Harding story and to increase their interest in Harding. "The studen ts of Harding are the best recruiters we have," McGaha commented. "We rely very heavily on students in identifying new st udent prospects. When _prospective students visit the campus, they quickly sense the happiness and satisfaction of Harding students. " " _ /),11/ 1/"11<1,,d The year was a very significant year in the life of Cat-hleeR M. Smith, Dean of the School of Nursing. In April, Dean Smith was informed by the National League of Nursing that the Nursing Program at Harding University, still in its fifth year of operation, had received full NLN accreditation for the maximum period of eight years. During the summer , Dean Smith attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and completed all course work and passed the comprehensive examinations for the Ed. D. degree. In October, she was installed as president of the Arkansas State Nurses Association. Speaking of her work at Harding, Dean Smith commented, "Harding is a special place with special people. I thank God for being able to be here to do His work. " 6S Administration
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==