Archives for September 2011

The University of Central Arkansas continues to rank among the best institutions in the South, according to the 2012 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

UCA ranks 23^rd in the category of “Top Public Schools” among regional universities in the South. The university remains the highest ranked Arkansas public university in the region.

“The University of Central Arkansas is delighted to learn of its recognition by U.S. News & World Report.This year’s rankings once again confirm our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience founded upon a vast array of superior academic programs,” said Dr. Robert Parrent, vice president for enrollment management.

“UCA has transformed its mission of simply teaching students to one that engages students in research, service and global learning,” he continued. “We use teaching as a means to a greater end – improving economic opportunity and quality of life for the communities we serve. It is this commitment to scholarship, student success and service that sets UCA apart as a leader in American higher education.”

Overall, UCA is 54^th out of 89 private and public institutions that ranked in the category of “Best Regional Universities” in the South. A regional university is defined as an institution that provides a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, according to the U.S. News & World Report. Universities in the “Best Regional Universities” category were ranked against their peer groups in one of four geographic regions.

The U.S. News & World Report 2012 Best Colleges guidebook includes rankings of 1,600 institutions nationwide. The rankings are based on peer assessment; retention and graduation rate of UCA’s student body; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; and alumni giving.

G.I. Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has awarded the University of Central Arkansas the designation of Military Friendly School. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students, according to G.I. Jobs.

“Being designated as a military-friendly school is a true honor. It tells us that people recognize our respect for and commitment to the men and women of our armed forces and their families,” said Brooks Walthall, UCA’s coordinator of veteran services. “We feel it is essential that we help lead the way in recognizing the sacrifices made by and for these individuals, and we consider it a privilege to count them as our students.”

UCA’s Office of Veteran Services helps soldiers and their families receive GI Bill benefits as well as help them with other sources of potential assistance and campus/community resources.

“Our mission is to make sure that every soldier and family member have access to the benefits they have earned, have all the information they need to make informed decisions about their benefits, and that they have the appropriate support and encouragement needed to help them attain their educational goal,” Walthall said. “We are proud to be able to give something back to those who have already given us so much.”

Institutions designated as “Military Friendly Schools” are those making the grade by offering scholarships and discounts, veterans’ clubs, full-time staff, military credit and other services to those who served, according to G.I. Jobs. The 2012 list of “Military Friendly Schools” was compiled through extensive research and a data driven survey of more than 8,000 schools nationwide. G.I. Jobs incorporated a survey of student veterans for the first time. This feedback provides prospective military students with insight into the student veteran experience at a particular institution based on peer reviews from current students.

The UCA Police Department recently reorganized its department to ensure the most effective and efficient delivery of services to the campus community.

“In order to successfully meet the expanding mission of the police department on campus, it is necessary that we continually assess our departmental effectiveness, the extent and quality of services we provide to the campus and the best methods of delivering police and safety services to all constituents,” said UCA Police Chief Larry James.

The position of deputy chief has been eliminated. Capt. John Merguie was promoted to the rank of major. He will supervise the criminal investigations and patrol divisions.  Lt. Jeremy Crabb was promoted to the rank of captain and will supervise the records and communications, parking and traffic services, and emergency management divisions.

Capt. Chris Bentley will continue to be responsible for administrative services and will take on the additional role of executive officer responsible for work flow coordination among all divisions and staff assignments.  Capt. Justin Tapley, formerly criminal investigations division commander, will serve as the professional standards and accreditation commander and will guide the department to national accreditation as well as oversee training and standards.

Sgt. Brad Moore was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant and will be responsible for special events coordination, community policing, housing and residence life liaison, and special projects. Sgt. Jamie Booth was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and will be responsible for the patrol services division.  Lt. Preston Grumbles was promoted to criminal investigations commander. Sgt. Chris Turner was promoted to rank of staff sergeant and will be assigned to the criminal investigations division.

Arch Jones, who serves as the director of organizational and community services, will continue to report directly to the chief of police in a staff position.

“We have an outstanding staff of professionals in the department who are ready for the challenge of taking on greater responsibility and new assignments,” James said. “The organizational changes that I have recently announced leverage the strengths of my individual command staff members in accomplishing their assignments with their commitments to a team approach to achieving fully the mission of the police department on campus.”

Colleges and universities are required by federal law to combat illegal downloading of copyrighted material and provide alternatives to distribute intellectual property.

On July 1, 2010, a provision of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 went into effect that calls for colleges and universities to implement plans “to effectively combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material by users of the institution’s network.”

UCA officials developed and implemented written plans to meet the requirement. Colleges and universities that do not comply with the law could risk losing eligibility for federal student aid. Further information about the provision and UCA’s plans are available at http://www.uca.edu/legal/heoa_copyright.php.

UCA Board of Trustees adopted its Computer Use Policy in 1999. The policy prohibits the use of university owned computers to engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials. Violation of the policy could lead to suspension or expulsion of students or the termination of employment of faculty and staff.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties.

Interim President, Executive Staff to Host “CampusTalk”

Join Interim President Tom Courtway and members of the executive staff for coffee and conversation during “Campus Talk” on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. in Student Center 205. President Courtway will host the informal meetings once a month to give faculty, staff and students the opportunity to ask questions and to provide the campus with information.

Panel Discussion on Gender and Delinquency

The Gender Studies minor program will host a panel discussion on Gender and Delinquency on Thursday, Sept. 29, during at 1:40 p.m. in the Student Center Room 223/224. Guest speakers include Judge Rhonda Wood, Circuit Judge for the 20th District. Faye Shepherd, Community Resource Coordinator and a Juvenile Probation Officer for Faulkner County Juvenile Court. Scott Tanner, coordinator of the Juvenile Ombudsman Division and Luke Ferguson, deputy prosecuting attorney.

Judge Wood will discuss the structure of Juvenile Court, the path from arrest to adjunction and what alternatives are available to a juvenile judge. She will also talk about Families in Need of Services cases. Mr. Ferguson will focus on the basic differences between the types of offences committed by male juveniles and those committed by female juveniles. Mr. Tanner will discuss the route the girls come into the system. Ms. Shepherd will discuss her gender-specific programs to intervene and attempt to change risky behaviors in both genders including a boxing program for boys and a book club for girls. These and other programs are designed to rehabilitate court-involved youth and reduce the chances of their reoffending. She will also discuss what girls’ needs are once they are in the system compared to boys. The UCA Department of Sociology is sponsoring the program.

Torreyson Library Launches New Interlibrary Loan Service

On Aug. 1, Torreyson Library launched “ILLiad,” a new and enhanced Interlibrary Loan service. This service will allow the UCA community to track the progress of requests, receive email notifications of delivery, receive desktop service for e-format articles, and receive more material in pdf format. For more information about this service, please go to the library website at www.uca.edu/libraryor contact the Interlibrary Loan office at 450-5205 or ill@uca.edu.

Homecoming Packets Now Available at Concierge Desk

Homecoming packets are now available at the Concierge Student Services desk or the Student Life office, Room 207 in the Student Center. This year’s theme is “Forever the Royal Purple and Gray.” Along with the traditional Homecoming queen nominees, there will be five Homecoming activities to participate in: Banner Competition, Fight Song Competition, Bear Spirit March, Chant Competition at the Great Bear Spirit Bonfire and the Parade Float. Contact the Student Life office at 450-3137 for further information.

UCA Foundation Accepting Grant Proposals

The UCA Foundation is currently requesting grant proposals from members of the faculty for Foundation funding. The Fall 2011 deadline for applications is Friday, Oct. 21. Please submit the orginal application and six copies to the Foundation Office. Information and grant application forms are available at https://uca.edu/foundation/faculty-grants/

Staff Senate Accepting Employee of the Quarter Nominations

The UCA Staff Senate is accepting nominations for the Employee of the Quarter Award. One recipient will be recognized for each quarter for outstanding job performance, going above and beyond, during that quarter. Any staff member with at least one year of service on July 1, 2010 is eligible to be nominated by faculty, staff, students, or alumni.

This program is sponsored by the Staff Senate and aims to recognize more staff for their contributions to UCA. Nominate someone today that deserves recognition and some great prizes including $150 BearBucks, two tickets to the 2nd annual Night of Distinction, and a reserved parking spot for the following quarter. Nominations must be submitted by Sept. 30, at 4:30 p.m. The nomination form is available at https://www.uca.edu/web/forms/view.php?id=205. For more information, contact Stephanie Hailey McBrayer at smcbrayer@uca.edu.

Faculty Research Proposals Due Oct. 3

Faculty research proposals for funding by the University Research Council are due to department chairs by Oct. 3. Guidelines and application forms are available at https://uca.edu/urc/files/2011/07/URC_Guidelines.pdf. For more information, contact the chair of your college research committee or Patti Hornor (phornor@uca.edu, 450-5064).

Applications for Sabbatical Leave for Summer, Fall 2012 Deadline Oct. 3

Applications for sabbatical leave for summer and fall 2012 are due to department chairs on Oct. 3. Information regarding guidelines for proposals and time line for review can be found at: https://uca.edu/sabbatical/files/2011/07/Sabbatical-Leave-Guide.pdf. Questions may be directed to Elaine McNiece at elainem@uca.edu or Patti Hornor at Phornor@uca.edu.

14th Annual Majors Fair Scheduled for Oct. 6

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 14^thannual Majors Fair on Thursday, Oct. 6 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. This gala event is designed to encourage students to get excited about choosing their major/minor as well as network with UCA faculty in an informal atmosphere. Please encourage students to attend.

UCA to Host Second Annual Amigo Cup Soccer Challenge

The University of Central Arkansas will host the UCA Amigo Cup Soccer Challenge on Oct. 8-9 at the Bill Stephens track and soccer complex. The Amigo Cup is a state-wide soccer tournament for Latino teams from across the state.  The goals of the tournament are to provide a festive state-wide event for Latinos and to showcase the City of Conway and the UCA campus in an effort to recruit Latino students to the university. The tournament begins at 10 a.m., Oct 8 and at 8 a.m. Oct. 9.  The event is free. Please bring lawn chairs and blankets. Seating is limited.

Staff Senate Seek Volunteers for Football and Basketball Games

The Staff Senate requests volunteers each year for football and basketball games in an effort to raise funds that provide scholarships for UCA staff members and their immediate families. There are four vacant volunteer positions that need filled for UCA’s next home game of the season on Oct. 1. If you cannot volunteer for this upcoming game, there are at least three other home football games for which you may volunteer: Oct. 15 – McNeese State, Oct. 29 – Southeastern Louisiana (HC) and Nov. 12 – Texas State. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Andy Faulkner at 450-5067 or afaulkner@uca.edu.

UCA Observatory Nights, Planetarium Shows Schedule Announced

The UCA Planetarium has announced its upcoming observatory nights and planetarium shows. Admission is free. Stairs to the observatory are located in the front lobby of Lewis Science Center. The planetarium is located in Lewis Science Center Room 10.

OBSERVATORY NIGHTS

Oct. 19, 7 – 9 p.m.

Nov.16, 6 – 8 p.m.

PLANETARIUM SHOWS

Oct. 5, 7 p.m.

Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

Dec. 7, 7 p.m.

ArtsFest Kicks Off Fifth Year

This year’s ArtsFest will run through Oct. 2. The Scrap Exchange, from Durham, N.C., will headline the Art in the Park activities on Saturday, Oct. 1. The festival will include a wide variety of events. The Faulkner County Library featuring information on banned books. Also featured during the festival will be a speech debate, outdoor drawing lessons, Conway League of Artists exhibit and Arkansas Art Center’s mobile art unit. For more details and information about Conway’s ArtsFest, visit www.artsfestconway.com/schedule/or contact Judi Moore, ArtsFest chair, at (501) 548-5224 or judimmore@gmail.com.

Cross Town Trio To Perform Sept. 28

The Cross Town Trio will perform at Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28. The performance is free and open to the public. The chamber music trio is made up of three Conway music professors who have been playing together for 11 years. Dr. Jackie Lamar, professor of saxophone at UCA, plays saxophone for the trio. Karen Griebling and John Krebs, both of Hendrix, play viola and piano, respectively. For more information, contact Lamar (501) 450-5763 or jackiel@uca.edu.

101 Years of Broadway will Open the Broadway Series on Sept. 29

101 Years of Broadway will open UCA’s Broadway Series with a 7:30 p.m. performance on Thursday, Sept. 29 in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall. 101 Years of Broadway recreates the biggest moments from the finest shows of the century. Tickets, available at the UCA Ticket Central Box Office, are $30-$40 for adults, $27-$37 for senior citizens, $25-35 for UCA alumni, $28-$33 for UCA faculty and staff, and $10 for all students. For tickets, call (501) 450-3265, Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. or visit www.uca.edu/reynolds.

Fall Season, 15^th Anniversary Set for Baum Gallery

The Baum Gallery of Fine Art’s fall season of exhibitions will be open through Oct. 27. An Artists’ Reception and 15th Anniversary Celebration is set for Oct. 7 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The exhibitions include Connections: The Fifteenth Year; More Than a Mold: Contemporary Slip Cast Ceramics; and Cloud Control: the devastation of an anchor.

Photographer Keith Melton’s Work Feature for Annual Alumni Exhibition

UCA’s annual Alumni Exhibition will feature work by photographer Keith Melton. For the past year, Melton has been using an iPhone drawing application to create mini-portraits with a drawing-by-subtraction technique, which he explains as being similar to scratching a lottery ticket. The alumni exhibit will be on view in the Fireplace Room adjoining the Baum Gallery from Oct. 7-27. All gallery exhibits and events are free and open to the public and are made possible by the UCA Arts Fee.

UCA Writing Faculty Members to Read from Posthumous Novel Oct. 6

Terry Wright, Mark Spitzer and Tim Thornes, professors with the Department of Writing, will read from Surreal Killerat the Faulkner County Library on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. The book by the late Roy Trask, aka David Arnott, was published by the new local small press Shakespeare & Company, Toad Suck, under the direction of Spitzer. It features cover art by Wright and includes an afterword by Thornes, who described Surreal Killer as “Little Miss Sunshine meets Schindler’s List.” The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. The reading is co-sponsored by the 2011 Arkansas Philological Association Conference. A question and answer session and book signing will follow the reading, and copies of Surreal Killer will be available for purchase. The Faulkner County Library is located at 1900 Tyler Street in Conway. For more information, contact Jeanetta Darley at (501) 327-7482 or jeanetta@fcl.org.

Staff Senate Accepting Applications for Professional Development

The Staff Senate is now accepting applications for fall professional development funding. Applications will be accepted online until Friday, Oct. 7. The link to the application is https://uca.edu/staffsenate/profdevfunding.php

The Staff Senate Professional Development fund was established to assist a staff employee in pursuing opportunities for professional development. Specifically, these funds can be used by a staff member seeking support for a book scholarship-if taking classes outside of UCA, or travel funds for conference attendance. The senate seeks to advance opportunities of continuing education, advanced or higher education, certification programs, or conference participation. All full-time classified or non-classified staff are eligible to apply. The value of the funding depends on the available funds and the number of applicants. For more information, contact Amanda Legate, chair of the Staff Senate Professional Development Committee at AmandaG@uca.edu or staffsenate@uca.edu.

Free Tobacco Cessation Classes this Fall

Free tobacco cessation classes will be offered to UCA students, faculty, and staff this fall. Each class will focus on creating a personalized quit plan. Find out how to get free patches and gum. Classes are scheduled for Oct. 11 at 1:40 p.m. and Nov. 9 at noon in the Student Health Center Room 307. ·For more information or to participate, send an email to jdavidson@uca.eduwith your name, phone number, and class date you plan to attend.

Lecture on Understanding China Set for Oct. 11

Dr. Jeff Allender and Dr. Roger Pauly will lead this free lecture and discussion on Understanding China: Beyond the Economic Miracle of the past 20 years on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The lecture begins at 6 p.m. in the College of Business Room 105. Workshop topics include understanding the disastrous history of Western / Chinese relations throughout the past centuries and why that haunts US-Chinese relations to this day; analyzing the major differences between Chinese and Western cultures and how this produces different global perspectives; and discussing China’s future relations with the US. To register, visit Understanding China.

Free Workshop on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents Set for Oct. 14

Outreach and Community Engagement has partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Children’s Hospital to offer a free workshop on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents on Friday, Oct. 14. The workshop will be held in Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Dr. Tracie Pasold, an assistant professor at UAMS and director of clinical services at Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders Specialty Clinics, and Dr. Maria Portilla, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and medical director of the Child and Adolescent Eating Disorder Clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, are the presenters. Registration is recommended; however, walk-ups are welcome. Register online at https://uca.edu/outreach/pdcourses/

History Symposium Explores Popular Culture in History

This year’s History Symposium will provide examples of how to use popular culture as a way to teach history. Topics range from America during WWII, Superman as a metaphor, Victorian England and America in the 1950s. The conference is scheduled for Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Brewer- Hegeman Conference Center. The keynote speaker is Dr. Randy Roberts, professor of history at Purdue University. He has authored, co-authored, or edited 16 books in the area of American cultural and social history, on subjects ranging from film to football. He has made more than 50 appearances on television documentaries and films for the History Channel, ESPN, HBO, PBS, and on the ABC, NBC, and CBS networks. Cost for the symposium is $25. For more information, visit 2011 History Symposium website.

Education Seminar Opportunities

Specific questions regarding educational seminars may be directed to the Office of University Training at 450-3135 or Charlotte Strickland, Education Seminar Coordinator at 450-5470 or training@uca.edu.

Sexual Harassment

New staff members are required to attend the sexual harassment and diversity seminars. New faculty receives sexual harassment and diversity seminars through the new faculty orientation program sponsored by the Instructional Development Center. Contact the IDC (idc@uca.edu) or 450-5240 for the designated sexual harassment and diversity seminar dates.

If one cannot attend the designated date, she/he is welcome to select from any of the campus-wide dates. Returning faculty, staff, student workers and graduate assistants are asked to attend the sexual harassment and diversity seminars on an annual basis. All other seminars are available for your professional development on a voluntary basis. To register for training and seminars, visit training@uca.edu. Participants have the option of attending the sexual harassment seminar on-site or online at http://training.newmedialearning.com/psh/ucentralarkansas/choice.htm.

Oct. 4, 9-10 a.m., Student Center #213

Oct.12, 3 – 4 p.m., Student Center #215

Oct.12, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Student Center #215

Oct. 25,1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Student Center #215

Diversity

This year’s topic of discussion is disabilities.

Sept. 27, 9 – 10:30 a.m., Student Center #215

Oct. 3, 2 – 3:30 p.m., Student Center #215

Oct. 11, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Student Center #215

Oct. 17, 1:30 – 3 p.m., Student Center #215

Oct. 28, 9 – 10:30 a.m., Student Center #215

New Staff Orientation
(For non-faculty hired as of May, 2011)

Oct. 5, 8 a.m. – 1p.m., Student Center #213/214

Customer Service C.A.R.E.
Voluntary seminar offered to all employees. This seminar looks at the importance of communication, attitude, respect and enthusiasm in the workplace.

Sept. 28, 9 -10 a.m., Student Center # 223/224

Customer Service C.A.R.E. Part II

Oct. 14, 2 – 3 p.m., Student Center # 214

Professional Development Workshops

Oct. 7, 12-1:30 p.m., Student Center #214
Topic: Self-Evaluation
Marilyn Cullum, LPC, Coordinator of Clinical Services, UCA Counseling Center

Ever wonder where self-doubts and insecurities come from? Why you second-guess yourself at every turn, silently berate yourself at every opportunity, or live in constant fear of failure? Why you feed yourself dreams in bite size pieces, fearing you’ll choke if you bite off too much at one time? We’ve all been there at one time or another. Learn cognitive behavioral skills to help recognize, reassess and reframe negative emotional messages that sabotage your sense of self.

The University of Central Arkansas Theatre has announced its line-up of productions for the 2011-2012 season. The season opens with Mr. Marmalade by Noah Haidle. This 2005 Off-Broadway hit follows Lucy, a 4 year-old who is left alone far too many times by her promiscuous mother. Lucy only wants to have tea with her imaginary friend, Mr. Marmalade, but he’s too busy at the office. This savage, dark comedy explores the way children absorb adult issues and what it takes for them to grow up in these troubled times. The play is recommended for mature audiences only and is under the direction of Dr. Kevin Thomas Browne. Production dates are Nov. 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center, 201 Donaghey in Conway. Tickets are $10 for the general public and two free with a current UCA I.D.

The Festival of One Act Plays will take place Dec. 6-8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center. Two to three different one acts will be performed each evening, directed by the 2011 Directing Class and involving over 50 actors and crew. Play titles and subject matter will be available online at www.uca.edu/theatre beginning in mid-November. Admission is free and tickets are not required. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain.

UCA Theatre’s own traveling troupe of players, The Cadron Company, will present The King of the Ice Cream Mountain by J.J. Mundis and R. E. Leonard. The Kingdom of Frozenburr is where all the world’s ice cream is mined and is ruled by the long-suffering King Bumpygruff, who can’t seem to find a remedy for his sore feet. When he offers half his kingdom for a cure, the wicked Zeno plans to take over the realm, but Muffles the Penguin and Princess Happy have other ideas. This captivating children’s play will delight audiences of all ages, but is especially fun for children age 4 through 10 and is under the direction of Liz Parker. The play will be presented on Feb. 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 4, 2012 at 10 a.m. in the Reynolds Performance Hall. Admission is free. Tickets are not required and seats are not reserved. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. After the two campus performances, the play will begin touring elementary schools in the central Arkansas area.

Our Town by Thornton Wilder will run Feb. 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center. Change comes slowly to the people of Grover’s Corners, as life’s fundamental meaning and significance are contemplated in this Pulitzer Prize winning drama. We follow the Gibbs and Webb families as they come to grips with life’s joys and sorrows in this American classic directed by Dr. Greg Blakey. Tickets are $10 each for the general public and two free with a current UCA I.D.

One of Shakespeare’s funniest plays, The Taming of the Shrew, takes the stage on April 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 2012 at 7:30 pm in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center and is directed by Chris Fritzges. In this enduring classic, we find that the beautful Bianca cannot be married until her elder sister, Katharina, is betrothed. But getting someone to tolerate Katharina’s shrewish behavior is a major obstacle. Enter Petruchio, a fortune-seeker, who takes on the challenge…for a price, of course. Tickets are $10 each and two free with a current UCA I.D.

Tickets to all UCA Theatre performances are handled through UCA Ticket Central regardless of the performance venue. Ticket Central is located in the Reynolds Performance Hall, 201 Donaghey in Conway. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Reservations can be made by calling 501-450-3265. The general public may also purchase tickets online at . www.uca.edu/tickets Further information regarding UCA Theatre can be obtained online at https://uca.edu/theatre/ or by calling 501-450-5092.

The UCA chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) has achieved the NSSLHA Silver Chapter Recognition from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a national professional association. The NSSLHA Chapter Recognition Program awards local chapters for their fundraising, community service, advocacy, career awareness, and recruitment efforts.

UCA NSSLHA is the only chapter from Arkansas to receive this distinction. Of the 300 chapters nationwide, only 13 received gold, silver, or bronze status.  The gold, silver, and bronze levels reflect varying levels of involvement.

“As the advisor for this UCA registered student organization, I am extremely proud of the UCA NSSLHA members and their contributions to raising the awareness of communication sciences and disorders on the UCA campus and beyond,”  said Jeff Adams, a clinical instructor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology. “Earning distinction at the national level helps those beyond our state realize what we in Arkansas already know — UCA has a top-notch program in speech-language pathology.  This honor also helps reflect the strong service mindset that UCA speech-language pathology students develop throughout their studies in this rewarding career field.”

UCA chapter members took part in “NSSLHA Loves,” an annual community service activity which promotes fundraising among NSSLHA members in support of national organizations that work with people living with communication disorders. This year, campaign donations went to the Stuttering Foundation of America.  In order to raise money for the Stuttering Foundation of America, the UCA NSSLHA sponsored a Parents Night Out and accepted donations for childcare. 

Samantha Carter, the UCA NSSLHA past president, received National NSSLHA member honors for her scholastic achievement, service to the academic unit, professional conduct, and service to NSSLHA. She will be recognized at the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in San Diego in November. 

In addition to these honors, the UCA NSSLHA received the Nancy McKinley Regional Project grant, valued at $1,000, to support the 28th annual Betty Fusilier Conference on Communication Sciences and Disorders held at UCA.  This conference is a UCA NSSLHA sponsored event that brings UCA alumni, speech-language pathologists and audiologists to our campus for continuing education opportunities and networking.  The UCA NSSLHA also participated in career awareness activities to raise campus and community awareness about speech pathology and our contributions to society.

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UCA and Acxiom hosted 40 students  representing 15 high schools during  the annual Information Technology Careers Camp held this summer on the UCA campus.  Although this year marked the camp’s fifth-year anniversary, and brought some seasoned players to the event, such as Summer Bartczak and Jim Downey, UCA MIS department faculty, and Allison Nicholas, Acxiom Recruiting, it also saw its share of changes.

“We had a larger number of students participating this year,” Bartczak said, “and they gained combined exposure to both our MIS and our Computer Science departments for the first time.”

That exposure also included time with Michael Nooner, a CS faculty member. Downey describes Nooner as a “hard-core techie,” finding that a number of the students tend to gravitate to him because of their love for technology.

“Every year, we see a very distinct separation in the students based on their passion for technology,” he said.  “There are those who are very hard-core, like Michael, and you tend to see them around him a lot.  Others are interested because that’s what they want to do with their career.  We’ve seen this division in most camps,” he noted.

While the camp, like technology, continues to evolve each year to stay engaging, one thing has not changed – the goals.  The goals of the camp are two-fold and were developed with both a short- and long-term perspective in mind.  They include:

• Generating and maintaining student interest in the technology field
• Drawing technology majors to UCA and, ultimately, to careers at Acxiom

During the four-day event, students spend the majority of their time on the UCA campus working with one another and with faculty.  Their packed itinerary includes: a programming contest, website development, networking, and attending a campus Shakespeare play.  The students also tour the Acxiom campuses in Conway and Little Rock to get a feel for how corporations function and to get a better understanding of real-world technology.

This camp also marks an important opportunity for their parents, who are invited to attend the first day, to better understand the technology field and where it can lead.

“We like to speak with parents and expose them to the many opportunities the technical field offers,” Bartczak said.  “We believe if we support the parents that we are also supporting the kids.”

The faculty realizes that once the camp is over, it would be easy for the students to disengage.  But Nicholas points out that is not the case.

“We have students who continue to make post-event connections through social media,” she said.  “Many of these friendships continue on, and we are now starting to see some of our first attendees enrolling at UCA, which means they may continue those connections in college.”

“We are very appreciative that Acxiom sponsors this camp,” Downey said, “and provides this opportunity for students who love technology.  It shows the company’s commitment to the community and to this career field.”

Acxiom returns the sentiment to UCA and believes it is a partnership that is making a big difference to all involved.

“We believe when we can give these students a sense of direction, and connection, and help them cultivate what they love, we all win,” Nicholas said.   – Tanya Depner, human resources communications, Conway, Ark.

Carl Bailey has been named Employee of the Quarter for the fourth quarter. Carl is the systems administrator for Housing & Residence Life and the BearCard Office.   He has worked at the UCA since 2007.  His service and dedication during the fourth quarter (April- June) are greatly appreciated.

The individual who nominated Carl stated: “I feel that Carl has done an exemplary job during the transition to Blackboard. He has worked diligently with the representatives of Blackboard to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. Carl has been working 70-80 hours a week during this transition time, and has been available to everyone when we have issues. He is the only technical administrator for Blackboard and Adirondack. His knowledge of the new system and helping us get through the first few weeks has been invaluable. Carl has a great attitude and is always positive and upbeat. He works hard to ensure that everyone on campus and our off campus partners are taken care of.”

Others nominated for Employee of the Quarter were Laura Garner, Faith Hopkins, Donna Lawrence, Debra Leppin, Lisa Strom, Beryline Temples and Georgia Younker.

Each EOQ recipient will receive a reserved parking space for the following quarter, $150 in BearBucks, and a UCA gift. The EOQ recipients will be recognized at the annual Awards Reception in April and be invited to attend the EOY luncheon. For more information, visit the Employee of the Quarter webpage.