for
HEP chance
success
in academics
by Jane Owens
"I'm learning more here than I did in 12 years of
school."
"HEP gives you a second chance, even if you
goofed the first time."
"Everybody treats you like a real person here.
They don't put you down."
These are just three student reactions to the High
School Equivalency Program (HEP). Directed by Gale
Muller, HEP is a federally-financed program to help
young migrant workers receive the equivalent to a
high school diploma.
At UNL, HEP is handled through the Nebraska
Human Resources Foundation, located in the 501
Building.
Students range from 1 7 to 24 years old. They have
dropped out of high schools all over the country.
"HEP's main purpose is to provide students with
an opportunity to be successful in an academic
setting," Muller said. He emphasized that success is
important not only in the classroom but also in
athletics, special interests and social activities. During
the week, students attend classes in literature, social
science, math, grammar and science.
"In one classroom we might have students with
third grade to twelfth grade reading abilities. Our
instruction is largely individualized, and every student
operates at his own rate," Muller said.
Students must also enroll in "Phase I "-a
vocational training course. "We believe that when a
student comes into the program, he ought to start
thinking about what he's going to do when he
leaves," Muller said.
After classes, students can participate in several
activities including drama club, intramural sports, and
the school newspaper.
Before graduating from the program, students take
a series of General Educational Development (GED)
tests in math, social science, literature, science and
grammar.
Muller said that students stay in the HEP program
an average of eight months. The Lincoln program has
about 75 per cent of its students complete the
program. The national HEP completion rate is 70 per
cent, according to Muller.
Muller said that the average HEP student increases
his reading level by about 25 years in one year's
time. The increase in math skills is almost the same,
but there's not a great increase in factual kinds of
information, he said.
What makes students stay in the HEP program
after dropping out of public school?
"Students are free from any kinds of financial and
family commitments here," Muller said. He added
that migrant workers often have had to drop out of
public school from March to October the season for
farm work.
"We also have a pretty good student-to-teacher
ratio," he said. Each teacher has eight to 14 students
in a class. "Teachers aren't just interested in a
student's academic ability. It helps (a student) to
know that someone really cares.
"In public schools they assume that everyone has
to do things at the same rate at the same time.
"If there was some way you could test for a
motivational factor, ours would probably be well
ahead of the average high school student's," Muller
said.
After graduation from the program, about 25 per
cent of the HEP students try to get into college.
Others receive vocational training, work, join the
military or marry. In addition to the 10 professionals
on the staff, the HEP program employs student
counselors. Each HEP student is assigned to a UNL
student.
"Our vision of counseling is quite a bit different,"
Muller said. "We try to set up a number of positive
kinds of relationships. The more you build these
relationships, the more your potential as a person
begins to emerge. It' not proHem-oriented
counselling; instead, it's viewing people as friends."
One HEP student said, "It's like a family
atmosphere and the personal counsellors are here to
help you."
Because 70 percent of the HEP students are
Chicano, three of the five teachers are bilingual.
HEP's placement officer is also Chicano.
Home ec features
adult education
Students receiving their teaching certificates
through the College of Home Economics now are
being trained to teach adult education, according to
Leora Horning, associate professor of education and
family resources.
In addition to regular classwork focused on adult
education, students spend time working with county
extension agents while student teaching. Students
help prepare training meetings, help develop materials
for use in extension courses and sometimes teach in
an extension class, she said.
Horning said students are encouraged to attend
any adult education classes during the semester in
addition to their extension work.
"This helps students to become familiar with the
techniques and psychology of teaching adults."
Adult education is coming to the forefront in
education, Horning said. "More adults are seeking
formal education than ever before," she said.
National legislation is encouraging the
development of more adult classes, she said. She
added that the College of Home Economics has
encouraged adult education since its beginning.
rr ;
stuff j
Students with winning
numbers in the Nebraska
Colorado football lottery
(1-606) can pick up tickets
Thursday and Friday at the
Coliseum. Tickets not claimed
by 4 p.m. Friday will be
cancelled. Ticket price is $6.
The Arts and Sciences
Advisory Board will hold
interviews for associate
members, Thursday, from 7-8
p.m. in the Nebraska Union.
UNL Gay Action Group will
hold a Gay Open House every
Thursday, from 8-10 p.m. at
United Ministries in Higher
Education at 333 North 14th.
(calendar)
Thursday
9:30 a.m. -Slavic Club
tutorinq-Nebraika Union
11:50 a.m. Emeriti Association
luncheon Union
12:30 p.m. Counseling Cantar
career planning
12:30 p.m. -Inter Varsity
Christian Fellowship-Union
3:30 p.m. -Builders-Tours-Union
3:30 p.m. Union Program
Council Style Show
Committee-Union
4 p.m. Transcendental
Meditation preparatory
lecture-Union
4 p.m. Student Affairs staff
development Union
5:30 p.m.-Councll of American
Indian Students Union
5:30 p.m.-Phi Mu Alpha
Sinfonia Union
6 p.m.-Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
pledges-Union
6:30 p.m.-RHA meeting-Piper
Hall
7 p.m. Council on Student
Life-Union
7 p.m. Hillel meeting Sandoz
lounge
7 p.m. Parking Appeals
Board-Union
7 p.m. Free University "Occult
Science"-Union
7 p.m. Free University "Opera
Appreciation"-Unior
7 p.m. Mexican American
Student Association-Union
7:30 p.m. Student
Activitles-Northwood Terrace
Project-Union
7:30 p.m. Institute of Latin
American Studies film "Brazil"
7:30 p.m. -Math
counselor j-Union
8 p.m.-ASUN Library
Committee-Union
8 p . m . T r a n sc e n d ent al
Meditation Preparatory
Lerture U nion
lj i j h sy xmm xj xj 11 iyv.. j jv
ttaw
Try a cheeseburger
Chubbyville style. A broiled,
I l x . i . i
pure, lean ueei pauy wnn meiiea
cheese on a toasted bun. Just one of 14
delicious items on the menu,
bargain at 19.
Quite a
Coming Soon:
36th and Harrison
1309 Harlan Drive
(Bellevue)
"JUST MINUTES AWAY'
LINCOLN:
27th Street
Just North of Vine
OMAHA:
Farnam at 42nd
72nd at Lake
90th Just North of Maple
daily nebraskan
thursday, October 19, 1972
.': - m
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page 8