Boost in graduate-student enrollment levels off By Kathryn Borman Staff Reporter___ A gradual increase in graduate stu dent enrollment at UNL over the past few years appears to be leveling off, a university official said. Merlin Lawson, dean of graduate studies, said 4,390 graduate students were enrolled at the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln this semester — a 2 percent increase over last fall. Last fall, graduate student cnroll mentat UNL increased by 9.4 percent and last spring, the number of gradu ate students jumped 17 percent. “I think the increment is starting to level out because we . . . have had some budgetary reductions,” Lawson said. Lawson said the increase in gradu ate students was in part because of the Nebraska Research Initiative, a five year plan that matches federal fund ing with state grants. The initiative has provided more than $8 million for research at the University of Ncbraska Lincoln for each of the last four years. Graduate research assistantships have increased by 26 percent since 1988, when the initiative started, he said. Despite the leveling off of earlier increases in the number of graduate students, Lawson said he was pleased with the growth the graduate studies program had experienced. However, funding for the initia tive decreased 2 percent last year and another 1 percent this year from its peak funding two years ago of $8.4 million for UNL, said Bill Splinter, vice chancellor for research. Splinter said the initiative could suffer more cuts this year. The initiative divides its S12 mil lion in funding among UNL, the Uni versity of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Cen ter, he said. Splinter said the initiative prob ably would be reviewed early next semester. “Wecertainly expect that (the ini tiative) will be continued,” he said, adding that there were “no thoughts about it not continuing.” Admissions Continued from Page 1 lievcd most small high schools could meet the added requirements. Rust, who graduated from Class D-2 Rising City Public School, said he could have met the added require Odohday Special 10 sessions for $20 (tax included) Plus 1oz. tanning accelerator FREE Offer good only with this ad. Expires 1-1-93 ■ . • ■ 70th & A 489-6998 ments without a problem. “The standards could make people more prepared when they come to college,” he said. Kaclcc Brown, a freshman theater major from Schuyler, said the tougher standards would improve the overall quality of students attending UNL. Brown said all the schools in the Schuyler area offered all the neces sary courses that would be required Ben Kroeze,a freshman undeclared major from Omaha, said he hoped to see UNL adopt the proposed stan dards. “I see a lot of immature people who aren’t prepared for the univer sity,” he said. ,__,,, Graduate student enrollment levels off Increases in graduate student enrollment, partly attributed to the Nebraska Research Initiative, a five-year plan that matches federal funds with state grants, shows signs of leveling off this fall. Pow Wow Continued from Page 1 in a “give-away,” in which a dancer gives away blankets, jewelry or other possessions to honor a member of their family. The Pow Wow, sponsored by the University Program Council’s Native American Special Events and American Special Events committees, UNL Inter-Tribal Exchange, and private donations, awarded $925 in cash prizes to first , second- and third-place winners in the adult, junior and liny-tots dancing divisions. In addition to age categories, the dancing was divided into six divisions: for men, fancy, tradi tional and grass, and jingle, traditional and fancy for women. The main purpose of events such as the pow wow is to make other nationalities aware of Native American culture, Holdcncr said. Peer Continued from Page 1 from the commission’s list because NU officials have decided to use a separate process to determine the best peer group for each campus. Joe Rowson, director of public af fairs at UNL, said ,NU officials al ready had decided to use their own process before they were contacted by the commission last summer. An advisory group comprised of three presidents emeriti was chosen to select NU ’ s peer groups, Rowson said. The advisoi^ group is comprised of Edward Boling, president emeritus of the University of Tennessee in n Knoxville: Brvee Iordan nresident emeritus of Pennsylvania Slate Uni versity in Middletown; and Robert Marston, president emeritus of the University of Florida in Gainesville. “We think the process is totally objective, and it will work well for us,” Rowson said. The panel will re lease its listof NU system peer groups by Jan. 7, he said. • Stahl said the coordinating, commission’s peer group selection process relied on data from a com pany based in Boulder, Colo. The process involves entering in formation about particular colleges or universities into computer banks to find comparable institutions, he said. Stahl said he and NU President Martin Massengale had discussed the disagreement about the processes in a “very civil” manner. “It’s not like we sit across from each other at a table with our arms crossed, just staring at each other,” Stahl said. “We just disagree. We would prefer that the university coop erate, but if not, we just move on. “What the university docs is the university’s business, not mine.” Rowson said he, loo, thought too much had been made of the disagree ment between NU officials and the coordinating commission. “It’s not an issue of uncoopcrativcncss,” Rowson said. “It’s a question of us having a sincere belief of our peer group selection process being a worthwhile one.” It took Galileo 16 years to master the universe. You have one night. It seems unfair. The genius had all that time. While you have a few short hours to learn your sun spots from your satellites before the dreaded astronomy exam. On the other hand, Vivarin gives you the definite advantage. It helps keep you awake and mentally alert for hours. Safely and conveniently. So even when the subject matter’s dull, your mind will stay razor sharp. If Galileo had used Vivarin, maybe he could have mastered the solar system faster, too. 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