UCA in the news

Posted on April 8, 2013

Just in case you missed these news items about UCA:

Federal teaching grant to cover more districts, subjects
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/apr/02/education-grant-expands-include-more-districts-and/

UCA professors lend expertise
http://thecabin.net/news/local/2013-04-03/uca-professors-lend-expertise

Saving life from oil
http://thecabin.net/news/local/2013-04-02/saving-life-oil

UCA professors helping with Mayflower oil spill cleanup
http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=650932

UCA professors called to help in oil spill
http://www.thv11.com/news/article/258202/428/UCA-professors-called-to-help-in-oil-spill

UCA students plan to search for oiled birds
http://www.thv11.com/news/article/258028/428/UCA-students-plan-to-search-for-oiled-birds

Oil in lake? Depends on who you ask
http://www.katv.com/story/21887106/oil-in-lake-depends-who-you-ask

 

UCA Honors College alumni to make presentation

Posted on April 8, 2013

rhett martinRhett P. Martin will make a presentation at UCA on the topic of “Law and the Politics of Voter Suppression.” His presentation is April 25, 7:00 pm, Farris Honors Hall Presentation Room in the continuation of Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Honors College.

Rhett P. Martin is currently an attorney at Perkins Coie LLP in Madison, Wisconsin, where he specializes in intellectual property and commercial litigation. He also practices in the area of election law, and led the Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights’ election monitoring program in the state of Wisconsin during last year’s elections. Prior to moving to Madison in 2012, Rhett was an attorney in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in advocacy before appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Rhett graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2008, and obtained a masters in Greek and Roman History from Oxford University in 2005. Rhett obtained his B.A. in Philosophy from UCA in 2001. A graduate from the Honors College, he is UCA’s first Rhodes Scholar.

 

Outstanding PR student award launched

Posted on April 8, 2013

The UCA Department of Communication introduced on Tuesday, April 2 the Alma O. Corley Outstanding PR Student Award, which recognizes outstanding public relations majors who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, and service to the university.

Rollin Potter, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, unveiled the yearly award during a reception honoring Alma Corley, who has taught a wide range of courses in the communication department over the past 12 years.

Potter said, “Dr. Alma Corley has built and developed the public relations program at UCA, and it is very appropriate that we recognize her talent and dedication by establishing this award.”

Corley, a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi doctoral program in communication, worked in corporate public relations, advertising, and marketing for more than 20 years.

She was the public relations director of the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta; an assistant vice president at the American National Bank and Trust Company in Mobile, Ala.; and assistant production manager in Hoefer, Dieterich & Brown, an advertising agency in San Francisco.

Corley began her teaching career at Eastern New Mexico University and came to UCA in 2001 to develop the curriculum of the public relations (PR) major. She introduced and taught core courses such as PR Techniques, PR Cases and Campaigns, and PR Management.

James Hikins, chair of the communication department, praised Corley for her knowledge, experience, integrity, and invaluable contributions both as an educator and a mentor of students.

“Dr. Corley’s ideas in sustaining the department’s activities and programs and her tireless dedication as a teacher set an example for all of us,” Hikins said. “We wish her all the very best.”

 

Professors research published

Posted on April 8, 2013

Dr. Nina Roofe and Dr. Renee Ryburn, both Assistant Professors in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences have published research on the use of interdisciplinary service learning for program recruitment in higher education.

Roofe, N. & Ryburn, R. (2013). Family and consumer sciences program recruitment: An interdisciplinary service-learning project. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 105(1), 50-54.

 

Professor awarded

Posted on April 8, 2013

nroofe-186x280Dr. Nina Roofe, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, received the Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award for the state of Arkansas on April 4 at the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting in Little Rock. She has also received the Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award for the Area 3 region of the national Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and will receive that recognition on April 19 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Professor’s fiction wins short story award

Posted on April 8, 2013

Associate Professor Garry Craig Powell’s linked sequence of stories, Stoning the Devil, has just been longlisted for the Frank OGarry Craig Powell‘ Connor Short Story Award, the biggest prize for a story collection in the world. Powell shares a place on the list with George Saunders, Junot Diaz, Joyce Carol Oates and other illustrious fiction writers.

He also will be giving readings from Stoning the Devil at the University of Central Missouri on April 10, and at the Arkansas Literary Festival, April 18-20. Powell has also been awarded a fellowship at the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences in Georgia, for a two-week residency beginning July 30.

 

 

 

Writing professor publishes short story

Posted on April 8, 2013
John Vanderslice

John Vanderslice

John Vanderslice, associate professor of writing, has had a short story accepted for publication in the Encyclopedia of Experimental Literature (EEEL) published by theNewerYork!. He has also had a collage essay on marathon running accepted for publication in 1966, a journal of narrative nonfiction. Professor Vanderslice recently participated in a panel discussion on teaching novel writing at the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) Conference in Boston.

UCA names chief of staff

Posted on April 2, 2013

ERSTINE_0013_3University of Central Arkansas President Tom Courtway announced today that Kelley Erstine will join the UCA executive staff, effective July 1, 2013 as Chief of Staff.

A native of Sheridan, Ark, Erstine is a 1979 graduate of UCA with a degree in journalism. Previously, he served UCA as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, and also served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. In his new position with UCA, his salary will be $170,000 per year.

“Kelley Erstine knows the University of Central Arkansas very well,” Courtway said. “He is well known throughout the State of Arkansas and this region of the country, and is a proven administrator. He is thoroughly committed to the University of Central Arkansas, and he and his wife, Leslie, are very excited to have the opportunity to return to Arkansas to live and work. He will be a valuable asset to UCA as we continue to move forward. I am very pleased he has agreed to return to UCA.”

Since July 2008, Erstine has served as the chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, a state trade association representing approximately 1,000 independent insurance agencies.

UCA recognized with three case awards

Posted on April 2, 2013

University of Central Arkansas was recognized by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District IV for three of its communication efforts. Honors were bestowed during the annual CASE conference earlier this month.

The office of web development received two awards. A silver award was given for UCA’s website in the “Best Homepage” category, while an honorable mention award was received for work on the recent admission’s website redesign.

Additionally, the division of university and government relations received a silver award in the “Institutional and Government Relations” category for work on the 2012 President’s Report.

“For each of these projects, we set out to create interactive, user-friendly applications that would appeal to students, alumni, faculty, staff, and other visitors to our website,” said Jeff Pitchford, vice president of the division of university and government relations. “We are very excited about these awards which honor that work.”

The three pieces were selected from a field of more than 1,300 entries.

Students earn grant for innovative solution

Posted on April 2, 2013
Vino Morrison, Charles Loung, Luke Pruett, Shaun Edwards, Brian Suyat, and Brenda Lindsey

Shaun Edwards, Charles Loung, Luke Pruett, Brenda Lindsey, Brian Suyat, and Venna Morrison.

A student group was awarded a Campus Case Study Grant from the Target Corporation.

The grants are awarded to student groups who design an innovative solution to a problem that Target has faced in the recent past. Students are presented the 3-4 page problem and have a meeting with a Target team member to have a question and answer session about Target and the case study.

The student teams then have about one month to develop their solution. They write a paper and prepare a 15 minute presentation which they give in class to faculty judges. The faculty judges pick the top four teams to move to the finals. Once the finalists are chosen, Target sends a team of executives to campus to watch the presentations and select the winning team.

The Target team met with UCA students on Tuesday, April 26, 2013.The winning team consisted of students Charles Loung, Luke Pruett, and Brian Suyat. This is UCA’s third year in a row to be awarded this grant.

Open forums scheduled

Posted on April 2, 2013

There are two Open Forums scheduled to get your feedback and answer questions about Arkansas Act 226 which allows trained and licensed staff and faculty to carry a concealed handgun on a university, college, or community college campus under certain circumstances.

Full link to the Act:

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2013/2013R/Acts/Act226.pdf

 

Open Forums dates/times:

Tuesday, April 2- X-period- Ida Waldran

Wednesday, April 3- 3:00 pm- East McCastlain

All faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend. If you are not able to come and would like to provide feedback on this issue to Staff Senate, please complete the following questionnaire:

https://orgsync.com/59129/forms/70703

 

If you would like to submit your questions/comments in advance, you may do so at:

https://uca.edu/staffsenate/contact/