Wednesday, September 2, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Gerontology degrees available
KU student uses unique program to study aging
By Carolyn Mollett Kansan staff writer
Kristi Williams is a one-of-a-kind student at the University of Kansas this fall.
Williams, Lawrence graduate student, is the only student at the University seeking a Ph.D. in gerontology. She entered the doctoral program this semester, as the school became one of five institutions in the nation to offer Ph.D. studies in gerontology.
"I was interested in learning more about older people," Williams said.
Gerontology is the study of the social, behavioral and physical aspects of aging, said Mary Lee Hummert, gerontology graduate adviser and associate professor of communication studies.
"A gerontology Ph.D. is really targeted at those people who will be out there directing programs aimed at older individuals." Hummert said.
Until now, students could not earn a degree in gerontology at the University.
The program was not easy to establish because the review process was very extensive, Hummert said. The Board of Regents brought three outside reviewers from different universities to assess the proposal before approving it in June 1997.
She said she was pleased the gerontology program received such enthusiastic responses on its evaluation.
"The University and the regulatory system within the state of Kansas is very reluctant to approve new degree programs," Hummert said.
Williams was one of three students admitted to the program this fall. One other student deferred her acceptance until next year, and the other
accepted a fellowship to Boston University.
Hummert said the program was purposefully small this year, but the program is nationally advertised to attract more students next fall.
"Many curriculum details still needed to be worked out, and students need access to office space, advisers and other resources," said Susan Kemper, professor of psychology, who pushed to have the program started. "So we wanted to make sure everything was in place before we enrolled very many students."
The curriculum will be interdisciplinary. Core professors come from communications, psychology, sociology, human development and physical education backgrounds.
"In order to study aging, you really need to come at it from several different areas," Hummert said.
Hummert said students were likely to come from diverse
The University of Kansas is one of five institutions in the nation to offer a Ph D. in gerontology
GERONTOLOGY FACTS
Offer a KU student
■ Kristi Williams is the first KU student to seek a Ph.D. in neonatology
to seek a U.S. military service
■ The Board of Regents first established the Gerontology Center at the University in 1977. The master's and doctoral degrees in gerontology are administered through the center.
backgrounds. Williams holds undergraduate and master's degrees in nursing.
"I thought that was something to build on," Williams said. "I think it will be a good background for gerontology."
Williams said she was uncertain of what she would do after she earned her Ph.D., which will take at least three years.
She said she might return to KU Medical Center's nursing program, where she taught as a clinical assistant professor.
By Melody Ard
Kansan staff writer
Determining whether a student should be classified as a resident or a non-resident is not always as simple as looking at an address.
For that reason, the University of Kansas Registrar's office has developed a policy specifically designed for students who had been lifelong residents of Kansas but had moved away less than a year before to applying for admission and would otherwise be classified as non-residents.
The new policy was spurred by the special problem of two students that was brought to the attention of Richard Morrell, University Registrar.
"The daughters were classified as non-residents, but they had lived in Kansas their whole lives except for those nine months." Morrell said. "We thought that was an injustice and pointed it out at the Board of Regents meetings."
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OVER OF DRAWERS
As a result of the efforts, a grace period of 12 months was developed for students who are lifelong residents of Kansas, Morrell said. The new residency rule states that students still may be considered residents if they have lived out-of-state for less than 12 month-
Informational meeting
Morrell said he heard about a set
Thursday September 3
"I think this illustrates what this office tries to do," he said. "We find where the system doesn't work right, and then we try to fix it."
at 7:00 p.m. in the Schoolhouse
Although the University Registrar's office monitors enrollment and residency requirements, Morrell said the new policy was something extra that was done to benefit students, even a small number of them.
Registrar's office changes admission rule
Even though the policy does not
affect her, Libby Blackburn, Wichita freshman, said she supported the University's idea of giving resident status to the students who qualify for the new policy.
"I think the policy is fair. If it is out of their control to move, they should be able to pay the lower price, especially if they have lived here their whole lives," Blackburn said.
of twins whose father had been a lifelong resident of Kansas. The family moved to North Carolina to start a business but moved back to Kansas after nine months.
Some students get in-state status
unclaimed freight & damaged merchandise 936 Mass.
Under the old residency requirements, the twins would have been classified as out-of-state students because they had not lived in Kansas for one year prior to application for admission.
The old rule: Students must live in Kansas for one year prior to applying for admission to be eligible for resident status.
Morrell said that because the grace period policy wouldn't apply to many students, it probably made it more attractive to the Kansas Board of Regents
prior to applying for admission.
Open to anyone! For questions call James Lester at 749-5913
"The Board of Regents liked it and passed it at last year's legislative session." Morrell said. "It affects only four or five students here a year, so it doesn't make a great impact on the state budget, but it makes it a little more fair for some students."
NEW RESIDENCY RULE
The new rule: Students who have been lifelong residents of Kansas but move away from the state for less than 12 months prior to applying for admission, may still be considered residents if they live in Kansas at the time of application to the University.
Have you ever thought of becoming a Catholic?
Catholics are welcome as sponsors!
Tuesdays, 7-9 pm
Starts September 8
This is a great time to do it!
Contact Sister Karen for
information
St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center
1631 Crescent Road
(785) 843-0357 www.st-lawrence.org
Domestic
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& Foreign Complete
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842-5921 9th & Mississippi
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Got Questions?
So Do We.
Discussion without all the easy answers. First meeting Tuesday, September 8, 8:30 p.m.
Young Adult Bible Study Plymouth Congregational Church 925 Vermont Street
college credit—YOURWAY Earn University of Kansas undergraduate and graduate credit through Select from more than 140 course offerings. Independent Study Work in your own space and at your own pace.
New Main Office
1515 St. Andrews Drive WOODS VS 66047 1625
800/532-6772 or
800/532-6772 01
785/864-4440
785/864-4440
Temporary Satellite Office for Enrollments
Kansas Union Conference Office, Room 535 (fifth level, to the right of the stairs, across from the jahawk Room)
Catalogs and Enrollment Forms Available Online at
464-4440 Catalogs and Enrollment Forms Available Online at Free parking! http://www.kumc.edu/kucs/ice Or Call 785/864-7861
Come one, come all, to the
KU Ad Club Annual Picnic
Wednesday, September 2nd at Centennial Park
(9th & Iowa behind
Bucky's)
Pig out with your peers
The fun starts at 5pm
Kansan Correspondent Meeting
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kansan
No matter what kind of education or background you have, employers are looking for one crucial attribute ... Experience.
Get experienced with the University Daily Kansan.
If you are interested in writing for the Kansan come this Thursday, September 3 to 100 Stauffer-Flint at 4 p.m.
For more info. please call Sara Anderson at 864-4810