UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 11, Page 7
November 14, 1991
Minority students to be featured at colloquium
By Sue Swyers Moncure

     A panel of minority students who have participated in
internships and research will be featured in a College of Human
Resources colloquium for black and Hispanic students in the college
from 4:30-5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20, on the second floor of Alison
Annex. Refreshments will follow the program.
     Chairing the event is Norma Gaines, assistant dean of the
college, and one of its purposes is to encourage other students to
apply for similar research opportunities.
     Another component of the program is acquaint students with
human resource student organizations and to invite them to become
members. Gaines said she believes that participating in
extracurricular activities related to a field of study increases
student knowledge and encourages interaction between those with
similar interests.
     An ambassador of goodwill for the college and the University,
Gaines participates in other activities for minority students.
     As an active recruiter for both the University and the
college, she has attended college fairs for high school students.
She also takes part in Delaware Preview Day for minority students.
It was held on a Saturday this year and was very successful with a
large turn-out, according to Gaines, with approximately 150
students and parents attending.
     A University alumna, Gaines also is active in the Black Alumni
Organization. Each spring a group of volunteers from the group
calls minority students who have been accepted at the University
but have not decided if they will attend.
     Prior to the call, the applicant receives a card saying when
the call will take place and suggesting that he or she think about
any questions they have. "Sometimes we are on the phone for half an
hour answering questions," she said, "but the response is good. And
we have heard that those phone calls help students to decide to
come to the University."
     Gaines' other recruiting activities involve students who are
on campus but are undeclared majors or wish to change majors.
"Students frequently aren't acquainted with what our college has to
offer, in the way of majors and opportunities for satisfying
careers," she said.
     The college-which houses the departments of Individual and
Family Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics and Textiles, Design and
Consumer Economics-currently offers 13 majors, including one in
interdisciplinary studies.
     The college also recruits graduate students from historically
black colleges, and Kate Conway-Turner, assistant professor of
individual and family studies, is active in this effort.
     Recruitment efforts have met with success: There are currently
27 black and three Hispanic undergraduate majors and four black and
one Hispanic graduate students. Gaines also has a file of
"wannnabes," students interested in transferring into the college.
     In addition, Gaines takes part in orientation activities for
incoming minority freshmen and transfer students. "This year, we
tried something new," she said. "Faculty members gave a lecture to
different groups, and students were asked to take notes. I took
notes, too, with one group, and then questioned the students about
the lecture. Some had taken excellent notes; others needed help. We
strongly suggested they take advantage of the Academic Studies
Assistance Program, because taking notes is an essential skill in
college. By testing themselves in an informal atmosphere, students
were able to see for themselves that they needed assistance."
     On an individual level, Gaines interacts closely with the
students. "I try to be accessible to students and encourage them to
come and see me, and they do," she said. She advises them,
encourages them, monitors their progress, congratulates them on
their successes. She said she helps them when they are having
problems, and even remembers some on their birthdays.
     "But," she said, "I expect students to do their best. The one
thing I don't support is mediocrity and not trying."
     The University community is invited to atend the Nov. 20
colloquium, but reservations are required by calling 451-2302.