Features
Major Treads
While the rough economy is causing high school students to consider secondary education in record numbers, Arkansas’s colleges and universities feel they are up to the challenge.
For those who think a degree would cost too much, the state is there to help. Arkansas is realizing the critical need for an educated workforce, and now offers free monies through programs like the Academic Challenge. They even offer workshops, personal help and host websites designed to help with questions—from applications to free national, state and local scholarship searches.
And for those who feel they wouldn’t qualify for college money, don’t give up the search for extra funds until looking at the Arkansas Department of Higher Education’s Website.
The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
It’s clear at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville that the staff have big plans for the future.
“We’re in good shape,” says Tysen Kindig, the university’s Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations. Not only are enrollment numbers on the rise—currently the student body is nearly 20,000—but tuition rates are holding steady.
The university’s Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing John Baltz expects to see “more nontraditional students, because it’s a good time to reevaluate your life.”
As the number of veterans on campus rises, he says, “We are trying to make our campus more veteran friendly.”
Instead of competing with local and other community colleges, Suzanne McCray, the university’s vice provost for enrollment and the dean of admissions, says they have been busy forming partnerships, like the ones at Hope, Morrilton and Cossatot.
“It’s part of our plan. We have big dreams and hope to help more students in the future get a four-year degree,” McCray says.
While the downturn in the economy is causing some students to give college a second look, the university’s Media Relations Manager Steve Voorhies, believes the upturn in enrollment has more to do with changing student awareness.
There is more federal and state financial aid available and high schools are doing a better job of preparing students for college, whether its better grades or making students more aware of the options.
Baltz says the Fayetteville enrollment numbers have steadily increased—from 14,000 just a few years ago to 19,000 last year.
Getting students on campus isn’t enough. The university is making changes to its campus, as well as adding quality classes and programs to its lineup, says Scott Flanagin, director of communications and outreach.
Maple Hill, a new resident hall, offers suite-style living instead of a series of rooms off a long hall that was popular 20 years ago.
“It’s a different experience and nicely furnished,” Flanagin says.
In response to students, the university now offers healthy food options and has gone “tray-free” in many dining halls, and in order to keep up with students, the university is adding technology in the classroom.
And in response to impending state law, the campus is now tobacco-free. The reaction by staff and students has been mixed, he says.
There is increased emphasis on their honors programs and the university is building a nano materials institute, which is expected to be the country’s number one nano producer.
“It’s big,” he says of the cutting-edge work.
 | | Like other colleges and universities around Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Monticello is experiencing an enrollment boom. |
Like other colleges and universities around Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Monticello is experiencing an enrollment boom.
“We’re expecting more students but we won’t know the numbers until this fall.”
However, the university’s media specialist James Brewer is sure the struggling economy is only part of the picture. Enrollment numbers have continued to rise steadily for the last couple of years.
Nursing numbers are up and so are the number of “career-changers,” who are calling about the university’s Master of Arts program, says the university’s Dean of the School of Education Peggy Doss.
Basically, the program allows people who completed a bachelor degree at some point in the past, to shift gears and go into teaching.
Instead of returning to school for a couple of semesters, students start teaching while still enrolled in the program.
The program at Monticello attracts students from around the state, and Doss says, “we feel we have an excellent program for those who are looking for a career change.”
In order to keep up with the times, the university offers traditional and online classes, or ones that rely on compressed, interactive or streaming video.
“Our method of delivery has changed and we have to be on the cutting edge in order to prepare our students for the future, says the university’s Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs David Ray.
These diverse options are in response to students’ needs, as is an emphasis on technology.
“Students are looking for flexible options, Ray says.
While some students at the Monticello, Crossett and McGehee campuses are interested in technology programs, such as computer information systems or land survey technology, Ray says the university is seeing increased interest in general education, which offers more traditional subjects like history and English.
The university, Brewer explains, gears its programs around the needs of its students as well as the personal needs of local employers.
In addition to the everyday student life, the University of Arkansas at Monticello is celebrating a special birthday.
The university’s Chancellor H. Jack Lassiter says, “As we move toward our 100th birthday, we are constantly reminded that UAM (and Arkansas A&M before it) has always represented opportunity to generations of young people seeking a higher education and a better life. That message resonates as clearly today as it did in 1909.”
And that’s an awesome responsibility.
The University of Central Arkansas
How do you get 200 Chinese to come to Conway?
Roll out the red carpet, offer the potential students a stellar education and put Jim Brosam in charge of recruitment of international students.
While the Division of International Affairs program is about 20 years old, it wasn’t until the last two years that the numbers started to explode.
In 2004, there were about 190 students in the program, last academic year there were about 570 students.
Are people surprised UCA provides a temporary home for so many international students?
“Yes, but we have great programs and facilities,” which helps when it comes to recruiting students, which Brosam says is the hardest part of the job.
“The challenge is to get a student on the campus,” he admits. Once students arrive, Brosam says the university pulls out all the stops. People volunteer to pick students up at the airport, throw cookouts and hayrides or host Thanksgiving dinner—international students aren’t always able to just jet home between semesters.
“As a whole Conway and Arkansas are quite accepting, and everyone benefits from having international students, who Brosam describes as a highly motivated group.
He estimates that there are about 7,000 international alumni.
A lot is happening around campus. This spring the university welcomed Dr. Allen Meadors as its ninth president, and its athletes are now competing in the NCAA Division I.
Academic standards are higher, but that didn’t keep 831 students from being named UCA Presidential Scholars last spring.
“Qualifying as a UCA Presidential Scholar is a remarkable achievement, because it requires a perfect grade point average,” says UCA Provost Lance Grahn. “We are proud that so many UCA students are performing at such a high level, and that is a testament to their hard work and the supportive learning environment on campus.”
Around campus, a new state-of-the-art facility designed to house the College of Business is under construction. The 70,000-square-foot building will include a 160-seat auditorium, eight-tiered lecture halls, two flat classrooms, two computer labs, and 61 faculty offices. Additionally the new building will feature numerous conference rooms, a graduate lounge, and space for each of the college’s centers and institutes. The building is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010.
UCA is also home to the only digital filmmaking program in the region and Oxford American, one of the country’s premier literary magazines.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Also known as the “Flagship of the Delta,” the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff continues with a number of improvements—some are visible from the street while others are not.
From a recently opened welcome center, an inside and outside redo of the Harrold Complex, with a major renovation to the music wing that includes an extension of the band room, a music library and percussion lab, the campus is putting on a new face.
“It’s a wonderful time to be on campus,” says Planning, Institutional Research and Public Information officer Tisha Arnold.
In addition, there were updates to the L. A. Davis Student Union, making it over to look more like a modern café than yesterday’s cafeteria, and an art wing was added to the Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Building.
One of the university’s most recent notable achievements happened last year when UAPB’s marching band played at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
In celebration of Black History Month last year, the university opened the University Museum and Cultural Center with an exhibit called “Daisy Bates in Her Own Words,” and its main charge is to collect, preserve and celebrate the history of UAPB as well as the Arkansas Delta.
Its goal is to educate the general public through exhibits, forums and collections. The museum offers educational programs and according to museum Director Henri Linton, there is a direct link between the story of this educational institution and Southeast Arkansas’ historical and cultural experiences.
It’s with this in mind that the museum works to preserve the “Keepers of the Spirit”, a collection of documents donated by L. A. Davis Sr. covering more than 130 years of Pine Bluff history.
In addition to these, the museum has a large collection of photographs, catalogs, yearbooks, letters and other artifacts, documenting the lives of people who “helped to shape the history of the university and the Delta,” Linton says.
The museum also chronicles the history of UAPB (formerly the Branch Normal College and later renamed the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College).
In addition to its arts, business, education and sciences programs, UAPB’s nationally recognized fisheries department (part of the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences) is planning to add a doctorate to its program.
 | | The Princeton Review ranked Hendrix College among the top 15 percent of North American colleges and universities in 2009. |
With its vision for its students’ academic success, it’s no wonder The Princeton Review ranked Hendrix College among the top 15 percent of North American colleges and universities in its 2009 “The Best 368 Colleges.”
Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges are profiled in the book.
Robert Franek, of The Princeton Review, wrote in its 2010 issue, “We commend Hendrix for its outstanding academics, which is the primary criteria for our choice of schools for the book.”
The Princeton Review considers institutional data, feedback from students attending the college, and input from Princeton Review staff to make its rankings.
Hendrix appears on the ranking lists for “Easiest Campus to Get Around,” “Best Athletic Facilities” and was named Best Southeastern College.
Hendrix’s Odyssey Program has been a major focus of the college since its introduction in 2004. It requires students at the 132-year-old institution to complete three, hands-on liberal arts Odyssey experiences during their undergraduate career in areas selected from six categories, including artistic creativity, global awareness, professional and leadership development, service to the world, undergraduate research and special projects.
The program is based on the concept of “engaged learning,” and allows students to experience liberal arts and sciences “hands-on” through educational opportunities outside the classroom and emphasizes experimental learning in a demanding yet supportive environment.
Many students use their personal Odyssey journeys to complete projects around the world, from studying economics in China to emerging economies in Africa. Others choose to complete projects closer to home, such as performing at New York City’s Carnegie Hall or developing a summer hands-on science program for Conway’s public school children.
Also, Hendrix is breaking ground on a residential community next door to the college. It will offer its residents walkable and cozy streetscapes, and public space, including a village square.
Hendrix, together with Traditional Neighborhood Partners, is building this vibrant community-centered neighborhood based on a master plan by architects Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, headquartered in Miami, Fla.
Southern Arkansas University
Calling all Muleriders!
Southern Arkansas University is one of four Arkansas universities—Arkansas State University at Jonesboro, Arkansas Tech University at Russellville and University of Arkansas at Monticello—celebrating its centennial this year.
As part of their year-long celebration, SAU is calling all mules for the “Great Southern Arkansas Mule Ride,” scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19. The event will pay tribute to the university’s heritage and unique athletic mascot—the Mulerider.
“The Great Southern Arkansas Mule Ride will be really special,” says Dr. David Rankin, president of Southern Arkansas University. “We’re going to recreate a part of our history, and we’re going to have a good time.”
According to Dr. James Willis, university historian, poor roads and the lack of automobiles made travel to away ballgames difficult. As the story goes, athletes rode mules from the school’s farm to the train station in McNeil, Ark., five miles north of campus.
Thus, the muleriders (now one word) were born.
“We’re really excited about the event,” says Aaron Street, the university’s director of communication.
Tracy Lawrence, country music star and a Mulerider alum, helped kick off the year-long celebration last April.
However, this year isn’t all about country music and mule rides. There are several building projects to be finished as part of an ambitious 10-year master plan. About $65 million is being spent on various projects across campus—from flagpoles and running trails to baseball fields and residence halls. The Business and Industry Training Center, a new Science Center and student recreation center have recently opened.
While new buildings are great, Street says, academic programs are undergoing a revamp, too.
Instead of relying on a traditional subject delivery, he says they’re creating hybrid classes, which combine online with the classroom.
“We’re moving in that direction,” Street says.
They’ve also been developing programs to keep incoming freshmen on campus.
“We have residential interest groups, such as guitar or band groups that live in the same area of the campus,” he explains. There are more than 100 student organizations on campus and they want new students involved.
They also keep their teacher/student ratio low.
New on the academic lineup: the university now offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and their Broadcast Production degree has been replaced by Digital Media Production. The program teaches students the latest in video, audio, digital editing and still photography.
“Graduates can go to work immediately at a TV station or make commercials,” or to nearby Shreveport, La., where Hollywood has recently shot several movies, Street says.
“It’s a degree with great employment potential.”
Philander Smith College
Philander Smith College doesn’t shy away from opposing points of view. This is evident, when as part of its “Bless The Mic” series, the college invited right-wing writer and speaker Ann Coulter to address the Little Rock crowd a couple of years ago.
While she might have ruffled a few feathers, speakers like Rev. Al Sharpton have packed the house.
Through the series, the college provides a mix of speakers who have the ability to communicate with the hip-hop generation and stimulate intellectual discussion. It is free and open to the public.
In its fifth year, it is still under the close supervision of the college’s President, Walter Kimbrough, Ph.D.
“I love being involved, and continue to serve as advisor for incoming freshmen who work for the program,” he says.
During the first year, Kimbrough says they had about 3000 people attend at least one of the lectures, but attendance numbers continue to grow, and last year, he says they welcomed more than 4,500 people.
Last year, the program offered timely speakers, which included the outspoken political architect James Carville a few weeks before the November Presidential election, followed by CNN political commentator Roland Martin a week after the election. It gave students and the Little Rock community a unique look at the machinery behind last year’s historic election, he says.
Although Kimbrough didn’t have a crystal ball when he was booking speakers nearly two years ago, he did admit, “I try to look ahead and see what the hot button issues will be.”
His intuition proved spot-on.
This year’s speakers will include the Republican National Committee’s first black Chairman Michael Steele, Robert Franklin, President, Morehouse College president and author, Tim Wise, anti-racism activist and author, Dr. Tricia Rose, Africana Studies professor at Brown University and author, and more.
Kimbrough says the program was also designed as “an extension of the learning process of our students,” but he agrees it is also sparking conversations within the Little Rock community.
Philander Smith College is a private, residential, co-educational, four-year undergraduate liberal arts college located on approximately 25 acres in downtown Little Rock. The 132-year-old college is affiliated with the United Methodist church and a founding member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
The college currently offers four degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Social Work.
The college’s mission is to “graduate academically accomplished students who are grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to intentionally change the world for the better.”
Kimbrough says the mission was changed because the goal of the college isn’t simply “to graduate students,” but they want to raise their level of consciousness. “We need our best and brightest to not be so self-absorbed but ready to make a difference in the world.”
 | | UALR’s new George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology building. |
With eyes firmly on the future, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock continues to reinvent itself, adding to its class and course selection. But Little Rock’s public university isn’t moving forward without a nod to the past.
Forty years ago, thousands of Baby Boomers gathered at Max Yasgur’s farm in Woodstock, N.Y., in the rain and mud to hear some of the best musicians of the day. However, it was more than a music festival, giving birth to a far-reaching cultural revolution.
Starting this fall, UALR will offer three courses examining the 1960s.
“We’re far enough removed from the era to begin to look at it as history,” says Dr. James D. Ross, associate professor of history who will teach the “Understanding the United States in the 1960s: Right, Left, and Center.”
“The Sixties, broadly conceived as a period spanning from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s, continue to exhilarate and threaten many,” Ross said. “The changes that occurred (during) what some historians call the ‘long Sixties’ are still evident today from national politics and foreign policy to social norms and values to culture and fashion.”
However, UALR isn’t stuck in yesteryear. It’s looking to the future with the same optimism of previous generations.
“We’re experiencing a growth spurt,” says UALR Assistant Director of Communications Kim Ross Fox.
Currently, the university is putting the finishing touches on its new George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology building.
“It’s state-of-the-art,” she says.
In addition, UALR’s recently opened Nanotechnology Center is a futuristic, user-oriented facility focused on education, research, and economic development. The program is already establishing itself at the forefront of nanotechnology advances in the state and region, Fox says.
Recently, UALR scientists teamed up with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences scientists to develop a method of detecting, tracking, and killing cancer cells in real time with carbon nanotubes.
The discovery promises “a new, major front in the fight to eradicate cancer with promise for a new generation of cancer treatment beyond surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy,” Fox says.
UALR researchers are also working on a process involving nanostructure that shows great promise in boosting the efficiency of titania photoanodes used to convert solar energy into hydrogen in fuel cells.
UALR is seeing physical growth as well.
Additional residence halls are going up — the university now boosts of a population of about 12,000 students — and a $4 million Health, Recreation, and Sport Complex for both the campus and Little Rock community is under construction.
UALR is also planning to add two additional floors to the Donaghey Student Center (DSC). It will allow UALR to consolidate student services in one place, Fox says. The old administration offices will be refitted and renamed the Health and Wellness Building. It will house the university’s growing nursing program.
And for those who are looking for more than just an education, central Arkansas offers a blend of state government, city-life, nature, culture and more.
“It’s all here,” Fox says.
Speaking of culture, UALR is adding a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance — the only program of its kind in the state.
Jay Raphael, chair of the theater arts and dance department, says, “A statewide survey of graduates, potential students, and teachers in the large network of studios throughout Arkansas indicated strong support for the development of a dance BFA at UALR.”
The new degree will emphasize contemporary techniques, but students will learn techniques at every level of ballet, modern, jazz, and tap.
UALR, a conglomeration of six colleges and the Bowen School of Law, has been part of the University of Arkansas System since 1969, and offers more than 100 programs of study.
Arkansas Tech University
When students step onto campus this fall, they’ll notice a number of changes at Arkansas Tech University. One of the most obvious will be the newly constructed Centenary Hall, which university President Dr. Robert C. Brown says was “named in honor of the fact that it will be completed during the 100th year of Arkansas Tech University.”
Scheduled for completion in late 2009, the four-story, 60,000-square-foot facility will be the new home for the Arkansas Tech College of Business and the Arkansas Tech Academic Advising Center, says Sam Strasner, director of communications and university relations.
Over the summer, the university completed upgrades in five of its residence halls.
But these aren’t the only changes on campus.
Recently Gov. Mike Beebe announced the university was to receive $2.96 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds.
The money, along with $400,000 in local funds, will be used to renovate McEver Hall — home of the Department of Physical Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences.
Plans include upgrades to heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems, as well as lighting. The work is expected to save ATU about $199,000 annually in utility costs.
“When it’s done, it will provide a better learning environment. It’s also a great way for students to learn about environmental responsibility,” Strasner says.
This fall, ATU flipped the switch on the new Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE-ON), a new high-speed fiber optical communications network.
“Simply put, ARE-ON will allow Tech faculty and students to share more information, more quickly,” Brown says. The system will allow ATU to expand its web-based courses and play a significant role in the future of higher education in Arkansas.
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