Enrollment drops at BSC Another reason that some may be passing up college right now is the lack of housing for students. Not only are the BSC dorms full, but living quarters in the community are becoming increasingly hard to find. “Housing in the community is tight and what is available is more expensive than it has been in the past,” Clark said.
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Clark also observed that the graduating classes from the area high schools were smaller than usual, leading to an inevitable drop in enrollment. Also, a higher percentage of students went to bigger universities this fall instead of staying in town to attend BSC. Clark recognizes that many of these students end up transferring back to BSC for the spring semester.
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Along with a decrease in students on campus, the actual number of credit hours is 8.75 percent lower than this time last year. Though this is a large drop in credit hours, that number has not fallen as far as the number of students enrolling. “That means our average student is taking a heavier load than those at this time last year,” Clark said. One factor has counteracted the school’s losses. Online classes seem to have not been affected by the enrollment drop and
stand about where they were this time last year. Because online classes cost significantly more than on campus classes, the school is not in as much trouble as Clark suspected originally. “Originally I was thinking we were down about 1 million, but now it is looking more like 750,000,” Clark said about the school’s financial losses. “We are going to be down for sure.” To help make up for the profit loss, the school is taking several actions. Budgets will be examined and possibly cut if excess has been periodically present at the end of the year. Although Clark does not foresee any layoffs, some positions that haven’t been filled yet will be evaluated. If they are not deemed entirely necessary, the school will not be hiring anyone for that position. This, plus reserve funds, will help keep BSC out of a dangerous situation. “They expect us to manage situations like this on our own,” Clark said. “We can’t just run to the state and ask for more money.”
PHOTO [ALYSSA MEIER]
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alyssa meier [editor-in-chief]
Clark, a BSC employee of 23 years, has only see a drop in enrollment such as this twice before, the most recent being in 2005. Enrollment has slowly been rising as school begins, but the exact number of students and BSC’s financial situation will not be confirmed until the fourth week of the semester.
Campus buildings aid BSC katie marthaller [writer]
Nestled between Jack Science Center and Schafer Hall on the Bismarck State College campus is the Tom and Frances Leach Music Center. If students are hurrying to their classes, they might just miss this musical village. On many occasions piano music or singing may be heard through the hallway, calling people to stop and listen.
Walking through Schafer Hall students may think it is just filled with classrooms, but they would be wrong. Schafer Hall has alot more to offer than that meets the eye.
The Leach Music Center consists of many interesting and exciting classes. This center has a variety of rooms that include concert choir, chamber choir, wind, jazz, guitar, percussion and string ensembles, class piano and music technology. A student can even broaden his or her knowledge by taking private lessons. These lessons help students in the areas of voice, guitar, piano, strings, wind and percussion. Room 177 is an important space in the center. This area is the Rehearsal Room which lets many students express their talents. “ [An] enjoyable music experience” Dr. John Darling, the Associate Professor of Instrumental Music said he hoped students take with them when they leave BSC. He also remarked that the first music event would be the faculty recital on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. This exciting musical performance by the faculty will be held in the Sidney J. Lee auditorium. Mary Wagner, a BSC student, said that her life would be incomplete without music. Many people feel this way, even if it is just listening to the radio, singing in the shower or going into music major. “Everybody’s life needs music.” Darling said.
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PHOTO [TRISHA GREVSON]
sarah morris [writer]
The Jack Science Center is home to many of the math and science classrooms and offices. It was finished in 1997.
indy castellanos [writer] Walking through the front doors of the Jack Science Center, the first thing one would notice is the plaque by the information center. Engraved into the plaque is the year 1997 showing the year the building was finished. It also shows the names of the Board of Higher Education, Building Committee, consultants, and contractors. Walking each floor in the three-story building, one notices that the majority of classrooms are not like the other classrooms on campus. This is because the Jack Science Center is composed of many different labs, including labs for: computer science, engineering, and math. Students studying degrees in these areas may find the labs useful. If students are not taking any classes in these areas, JSC does have different resources available including: a study center and computer lab. The study center features nice lightning, and includes an aquarium for scenery. This is a room students can go in between their daily classes to finish their assignments or have a peaceful study session. The computer lab in JSC is a convenient area for both students and faculty because of its opening and closing hours. The hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Friday. A resourceful building for students taking math or science courses, JSC is convenient for other students and faculty as well. Its study room and computer lab allow for everyone to accomplish his or her academic needs here at Bismarck State College.
Conjoining with the Jack Science Center, Schafer Hall holds the music department and in the basement are the theater classrooms. Students can find on the first floor of Schafer Hall Academic Records, Admissions, the Help Desk, Financial aid and Student Finance offices. Each of these offices off help to the new and returning students. Also on the first floor students will find the Sidney J Lee auditorium which holds concerts, plays and guest speakers. The Elsa Forde Gallery is on first and features work from students at Bismarck State College. Second floor is where the classrooms begin. There is a study area where students are free to work on homework in a quiet environment. There is also a testing center. The testing center helps students with test anxiety and give placement tests. Walking up the steps to third floor students will find the Mystician office where the school’s student newspaper is created. Also on third many classes are offered from psychology to foreign language. When walking down the halls on every floor students will find bulletin boards and are bound to find a club to join, a new job or even a new roommate! The bulletin boards down every hallway that offer a little bit of something for everyone, just as Schafer Hall does.
Mystician | September 2012
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