UNIVERSITY BROADCASTS

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 44, 10 May 1935, Page 2

UNIVERSITY BROADCASTS

American Colleges Transmit 2 Actual Lectures From. Classrooms As Well As Lighter Entertainment — — —

‘ITH all radio .station officials, the National Association of Broadcasters, educational and charitable groups called by the Federal Communications Commission into a national conference at Washington, D.C., on May 15, to. consider the subject of providing greater educational opportunities over the radio, it is revenled by a recent survey that radio programmes without any advertising are now being offered from 88 college and university radio stations over the United States, says a recent issue of the "Christian Science Monitor," What goes over the air from these non-commercial stations? Just about anything ‘a person could ask for except Ed Wynn and Joe Penner, it seems; college economics courses, broadcasts from a State Legislature, instruction on the technique of home building, music, farming, French, drama. The microphone has become an accessory of the professor’s desk in some college classrooms. In one State university course, the recitations of the students as well.as the professor’s lecture is broadcast. If a student stumbles in that course, the whole State knows it. Obviously not much stumbling is done. Programmes being offered by four leading Mid-West college stations give an idea of the extent to which the non- commercial radio has been developed. In Wisconsin, a "College of the Air,’ conducted by WHA, the university station, has enrolled 14,474 students in the 10 courses it offers, according to a recent tabulation. They are studying "Everyday Economics," "Literature of Other Lands," "Farm Life and Living." "The Girl of To-day’ and other subjects. A still larger enrolment is recorded from the elementary courses offered as "he School of the Air," and many teachers are registered fcr the ‘Teachers’ Round-Table." Ex-° aminations ure given, but not required, for the college courses , This enterprising station has gone so far as to put State legislators on the air, broadcasting occasionally from the capitol So that people in the more distant parts of the’ State may share the programmes, these legislative talks’ are sometimes broadcast from a State-owned station at Stevens Point. . Ohio Stute University is another pioneer. It has lately branched out with the Hmergency Radio Junior College, in co-operiution with the FERA. About 150 students are enrolled, County radio teachers have been provided in many eounties, and through them, radio students are brought together in groups to enjoy contacts with their fellowstudents. While rniversity credit is not granted for the courses, radio students may take proficiency examinations should they later enter the university, and with the approval of the department be given a certain number of eredit hours toward a degree for work done in this way.

People of Kansas are offered a varied programme by the Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, from its station KSAC. Farmers and farm homemakers are given special attention in programmes arranged by college experts. World news, Washington news, sports eyents and developments in the universities are reported. A: late afternoon feature is the Young People’s Opportunity Hour. This includes a talk by a student and another by a-faculty member on the opportunities offered through education. Iowans receive. well-balanced programme rations from their university station, WSUI, which is on the air from 9 a.m. until after 9 p.m. It spices its academic educational programmes with music from a college tea dance, with "Rhythm Rambles," a noon-day feature, or a- basketball game. Club women of the State have a. regular period on the station. Some of the regular courses include the. speech Clinic of the Air; Magic Casements; a course in poetry appreciation ; Science News of the Week, and French and German. A series called "Within the Classroom" enables Iowans to tune in for lectures on a variety of subjects. " . Many other college stations are doing excellent work in this newer educational field. Some have given their attention to other subjects, such as State-wide musical education. "Radio is an economical means of reaching the people of the state,’ comments Harold A. Engel,. of WHA, the University of Wisconsin station. The cost of operating his college station, if divided among all people within its service area, is a bit less than 1 cent a person for a whole year’s service, he said.