The Bear Ledger

A Closer Look at Faculty WhoBroke the Color Barrier at UCA

From the first academic year at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) 1908-1909, through the 1968-1969 academic year, the faculty was made up of Caucasian men and women. Even though the UCA student body began desegregation in the summer of 1956, with the enrollment of Thomas Embry an African American from Conway, the desegregation of the faculty proceeded at a much slower rate. The first African American joined the UCA faculty in 1969.

In 1969, Dr. Mable Anderson, an African American, was one of several professors hired to teach in the newly created Southwest Center for Early Childhood Personnel Development. The creation of the Southwest Center for Early Childhood Personnel Development (known as The Center) was considered by UCA’s president, Dr. Silas Snow, to be grandiose, revolutionary and far reaching. The director of The Center was Dr. Walter L. Hodges who was a nationally recognized authority in childhood education and development.

According to an article in The Echo, Dr. Snow stated, “Our goal is a big one. It is nothing less than the development of an organization that will be of national significance in early childhood development. Our nation’s schools must have these strategies and techniques if they are to be successful in efforts to adjust their educational systems to better fit the needs of the pupils of today and tomorrow.”

The Center was funded by grants from the U.S. Office of Education that totaled $861,000, which was expected to fund the program for one full year. When The Center opened in 1969, the plans of operation included the hiring of 22 experienced consultants and 10 relatively young Ph.D. and Ed.D. holders. Dr. Mable Anderson had received her Ed.D. in 1965 from Penn State University.

In a telephone interview with this author Dr. Anderson provided valuable information about her work at UCA, race and society, and her experiences here and in other places.

The Center had four component programs and the program Dr. Anderson was involved in was known as the Behavioral Objective Prescribed Teaching Approach (BOPTA). Dr. Anderson worked with those teachers who had completed their first master’s degree in teacher education and who sought another master’s degree in that field of study. She also taught those who were seeking their first master’s degree.

Being the first faculty member of color at an institution of higher education was nothing new to Dr. Anderson. Before coming to UCA she had taught at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where she was the first to break the color barrier there as well.

Before Dr. Anderson arrived at UCA in 1969, she was told that she would be the first person of color to teach here. She elected to live in Little Rock and make the daily commute instead of living in Conway. She pointed out that she was not concerned with being the only minority member of the faculty. But, she wanted to avoid any possible problems and decided to live in Little Rock, upon the advice from a lawyer who had been assigned to assist her in acquiring living arrangements.

In Little Rock she rented an apartment at the Summit House. When she arrived, the apartment complex manager asked her who she was and she said, “I’m Dr. Anderson.” According to Dr. Anderson it was apparent from the expression on the apartment manager’s face (who was white) that he was completely surprised he had rented an apartment to a person of color. When Dr. Anderson attended church at the Episcopal Church in Little Rock, she again ran into the Summit House Apartment manager who was again somewhat surprised to see her at his church. She was the first person of color to live at Summit House.

Dr. Anderson said that she and her co-workers were very involved in their work and did not have a great deal of time for other things. She said that they all got along very well and it was a professional atmosphere.

Retirement is a word that is not in Dr. Anderson’s vocabulary. She continues to work each day and is the founder of Village Creek Human and Environmental Justice Society, Inc., and she works pro bono exclusively. To have funds on which to operate, her organization has fundraisers and also receives grants and contracts.

Now 81years of age, Dr. Anderson stays busy and said, “There are two ages, the chronological age and the activity age. If you focus on the chronological age you slow down. When you focus on the activity age, you keep going.”

Dr. Anderson’s tenure at UCA was short and she was here for only one academic year, 1969-1970. Even though Dr. Anderson was unquestionably UCA’s first African American faculty member, many UCA faculty and alumni were under the impression that Mrs. Marian Ross was UCA’s first African American faculty member. This can probably be explained by the fact that Dr. Anderson was at UCA for just one year and Mrs. Ross’ tenure at UCA lasted for more than two decades. Add to that the fact that institutional memory fades as students graduate and leave campus and faculty and staff retire.

In 1970, the year that Dr. Anderson left the UCA faculty, Mr. Clyde Penny and Mrs. Marian Ross, both African Americans, joined the UCA faculty. Mr. Penny was an instructor in The Center, and Mrs. Ross was the chairperson of the newly created Department of Occupational Therapy. Mr. Penny was at UCA for only a short period of time, but Mrs. Ross was at the helm of UCA’s Department of Occupational Therapy for 21 years.

Mrs. Ross attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock from 1945 to 1946 and received her Bachelor of Science in home economics from Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio in 1949. She received her Master of Arts in home economics in 1951 from the Teachers College of Columbia University of New York. In 1957 she received her Occupational Therapy Certification from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. During 1966 and 1967 she was engaged in doctoral study at Ohio State University and she continued her doctoral work at the University of Arkansas in 1980.

Professor Ross had an impressive resumeÿ and was Chief of Occupational Therapy at the Arkansas State Hospital from 1957 to 1958; Chief of Occupational Therapy, United Cerebral Palsy in Columbus, Ohio, 1958 to 1965; Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio from 1965 to 1969; Chief of Occupational Therapy, University Affiliated Mental Retardation Program, Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, 1969; Occupational Therapy Consultant, Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock and Arkansas Children’s Colony in Conway, 1971 to 1979; Acting Director of the School of Health Sciences, 1975 to 1977; Associate Professor and Chairperson of the UCA Department of Occupational Therapy from 1970 to 1991.

Even though Mrs. Ross was not the first African American faculty member at UCA, she was the first African American to serve as a department head at UCA. She became chairperson of the Department of Occupational Therapy in 1970 and served in that capacity until June 30, 1991. In addition, she was elected president of the UCA Faculty Council during the 1978-1979 academic year, making her the first African American to hold that office. The Faculty Council was the forerunner to the UCA Faculty Senate.

Dr. H.B. Hardy Jr., former Dean of the Graduate School and someone who knew and conversed often with Mrs. Ross, stated, “Mrs. Ross was liked by her faculty and was very well-liked across the campus. I never came across anyone who said one negative word about Mrs. Ross. My general perception was that she had the full cooperation of her faculty members and together they planned and executed a very fine curriculum for her students.”

When asked about Mrs. Ross and her role as being the founding chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, Dr. Neil Hattlestad, Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences stated, “She came to us from Ohio State University and was the perfect choice to mount this program, which continues as the only one of its type in the State of Arkansas. She was thoughtful, well-liked and excelled in organization.” After Mrs. Ross retired, a street that runs through UCA was named in her honor, Marian Ross Avenue. Mrs. Ross passed away in November 2001.

Another African American who joined the UCA faculty during the early 1970s was Dr. Willie Hardin, a native of Morrilton, Arkansas. Hardin received a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 1962 and a Master of Library Science from the University of Oklahoma in 1972. In 1976, he received his second masters degree from the University of Texas in Dallas in management and administration.

Hardin continued his education and received his Doctor of Arts in Library Administration from Simmons College in 1979. His dissertation was “Analysis of Growth Patterns in Select Black Land-Grant College and University Libraries: Five Case Studies.” In 1973, not long after receiving his Master of Library Science degree, he accepted the position of Head of Interlibrary Loan and Instructor at UCA’s Torreyson Library. He served in this capacity until 1980.

From 1980 to 1984, Dr. Hardin was the Torreyson Library Acquisitions Librarian and Associate Director. He served as Acting Director of Torreyson Library from January 1, 1985 to June 30, 1985 and was promoted to Director on July 1, 1985. His title was later changed from Director of Torreyson Library to Dean of Torreyson Library in late 1990, during the presidency of Winfred Thompson.

Dr. Hardin also taught in the Department of Educational Media and Library Science while he served as a librarian and later as the Dean of Torreyson Library. During his career at Torreyson Library UCA became the first fully automated library in the state. The card catalog system with which many readers of this article are familiar was done away with, and was replaced by a computerized system.

Dr. Hardin remained Dean of Torreyson Library until 2003 when he was made Associate Vice President of Academic Development. He remained in this position until he retired from UCA. After he moved into academic development, he actively began raising money for scholarships.

According to a December 2010 Front & Center article on Dr. Hardin in the River Valley & Ozark Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, UCA’s provost at that time, Dr. Lance Grahn, was quoted as saying, “Hardin is someone with a big heart, a love for UCA. In terms of fundraising, he was someone who was our direct contact into the African American community, especially in African American churches. He was very active in raising scholarship money for African American students.”

When this author interviewed Dr. Hardin and asked him about the atmosphere on campus and his relationship with colleagues and students, he stated, “I enjoyed a very pleasant working atmosphere and I felt comfortable speaking with those in the UCA administration as well as with faculty members.”

After 38 years of service to UCA, Dr. Hardin retired in December 2010. When asked what were some of his fondest memories of UCA, he stated, “I enjoyed supporting the African American student organizations and serving as an advisor. In addition, I also advised the Muslim students and worked with them. My overall fondest memory was overseeing the design and enlargement of Torreyson Library. I also took pride in building the library faculty at UCA and teaching in the Department of Educational Media and Library Science. Working with students and teaching future school media specialists is something that I absolutely loved to do.”

Merlin Augustine, an African American, came to UCA in 1967 as a student and majored in counseling and psychology. In a telephone interview with this author, Dr. Augustine said that when he was standing in line registering for his first classes at UCA, President Silas Snow introduced himself to young Augustine and stated, “We are happy to have you on our campus and if you have any difficulties please let me know.” Augustine graduated in 1970 and immediately entered graduate school at UCA and received a Master of Science degree in counseling and psychology in June 1971. He later received an Ed.D. in Higher Education and Management from the University of Arkansas.

When Dr. Augustine was attending his graduation ceremony for his Master of Science degree, President Snow handed him his diploma, shook his hand and said, “I will come and get you wherever you are, I want you to come back and work for me.” Dr. Augustine’s wife, Beverly Elaine Washington Augustine, also graduated from UCA.

After he received his Masters degree, he went to Lake Village, Arkansas, where he worked as a counselor. After one year at Lake Village, President Snow contacted him and asked if he remembered who he was and of course he said he did. He was not looking for a job but said President Snow made him an attractive offer and he accepted the position of Dean of Students and Instructor of Psychology.

Dr. Augustine said that he and Mrs. Ross were the only African American faulty members at that time. When asked about his relationship with the UCA Administration and faculty, he stated, “It would have been impossible to have a more supportive and professional and personal relationship than I did with Dr. Robert Morrow, Dean of the College of Psychology and Counseling. I visited in Dr. Morrow’s home and traveled together with him to various meetings.” Dr. Augustine also said that Dr. H.B. Hardy Jr. was influential in his life and was one of his mentors.

While at UCA, Dr. Augustine was the recipient of the President’s Achievement Award. This award is given to those who are deemed to have made the greatest contributions to UCA’s growth and programs. When he and Mrs. Augustine left Conway they were given the keys to the City of Conway by Mayor Jim Hoggard.

Dr. Augustine recently retired as Executive Assistant Chancellor at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville, where he served for 34 years. He is now in retirement but still serves his community. He founded and operates the M&N (Merlin & Nora) Augustine Foundation, which is the largest all-volunteer organization in the state with more than 4,000 active volunteers. The M&N Augustine Foundation is named for Dr. Augustine’s parents and works with people who experience catastrophic events which require resources beyond their own financial means. The M&N Augustine Foundation was established on November 16, 1992, in honor of the Augustine’s 62nd wedding anniversary.

Dr. Augustine always enjoyed a close relationship with President Snow and said it continues today with other members of the Snow family. Dr. Augustine delivered the eulogy at President Snow’s funeral at the request of the Snow family and remarked that they still have a close relationship.

Author’s Note: Sources for this article include The Echo, Log Cabin Democrat, River Valley and Ozark Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Official Records of the University of Central Arkansas M99-01 collection, Dr. Audie Lynch, Dr. H.B. Hardy, Jr., Dr. Mable Anderson, Dr. Neil Hattlestad, Dr. Willie Hardin, Dr. Merlin Augustine, UCA Bulletins, documents from the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and “The Centennial History of the University of Central Arkansas” by Jimmy Bryant. – Jimmy Bryant ,  director of  UCA Archives.

An independent economic impact study shows the University of Central Arkansas contributes $426.1 million to the university’s six-county service area.

The Economic Contribution of the University of Central Arkansas report was released Feb. 28. Researchers looked at income generated by UCA operations, visitor spending, non-local students spending, and student productivity. They applied a comprehensive model designed to quantify the economic benefits of UCA. Some of the highlights of the report are:

– For every dollar students invest in UCA, they receive a cumulative $5.30 in higher future income over the course of their working careers.

– State and local governments see a rate of return of 7.9 percent on their investment in UCA.

– For every dollar of state tax money invested in UCA, taxpayers will see a cumulative return of $2.40 in the form of higher tax revenues and avoided socials costs.

– Arkansas benefits from improved health and reduced welfare, unemployment, and crime, saving the public some $18.5 million per year.

– The accumulated credit hours achieved by former UCA students over the past 30 years translates to $329.5 million in added regional income each year due to the higher earnings of students and increased output of business.

“This report shows very clearly that UCA is a great value and the economic impact we have on our community and state,” said UCA President Tom Courtway. “The data shows a UCA education is well worth the investment by the students and the citizens of this state. We are pleased with EMSI’s findings and hope the citizens of Arkansas are pleased as well.”

The independent report was prepared by Idaho based company Economic Modeling Specialist Inc. (EMSI), a leading provider of socioeconomic impact and strategic planning tools to colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. The company used two major analyses to conduct the study – investment and economic growth. Sources for the study included industry and employment date from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, earnings and demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and a variety of studies and surveys relating education to social behavior, according to the report.

A copy of the report is available.

Dr. Lance Grahn has stepped down as provost and vice president of academic affairs at UCA. Grahn plans to concentrate his future efforts on the classroom and on scholarly research in the History Department.

Dr. Steve Runge, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,  has been named interim provost. Dr. Runge started the new post on Tuesday.

In a statement to the campus community, UCA President Tom Courtway stated that he and Grahn met on Feb. 27 to discuss the university’s future. Based upon the meeting, it was agreed that Grahn would no longer serve as provost.

“During his time as provost and in carrying out his duties, Dr. Grahn conducted himself professionally; worked tirelessly for the University, its faculty, staff and students; and adhered to very high standards,” Courtway stated.

 Runge, 48, joined UCA as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology in 1991, earning the rank of Associate Professor in 1995 and the rank of Professor 2004. In 2003, he was appointed Interim Chair of the Department of Biology, with a subsequent appointment to the Chair’s position in 2004. He served in this capacity until 2009 when he was appointed as Interim Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and he assumed the position of Dean of the College in July 2010.

Dr. Runge is a 1986 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where he majored in Biology, Chemistry and Human Adaptability (Humans in the Environment). He followed his undergraduate training with graduate work at The Ohio State University where he earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1991. Dr. Runge joined the faculty of UCA shortly after completing his Ph.D. studies.

Dr. Runge has developed and taught courses in molecular and cellular biology and he maintains an active research program studying cell death mechanisms in cultured breast cancer cells. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Arkansas STEM Coalition, as the UCA representative on the Arkansas INBRE Steering Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Life Long Learners, Inc.

 

The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees passed a resolution on Feb. 24 that would allow the issuance of $15.5 million in auxiliary bonds to finance an expansion project for the Health Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Center.

The project will add a swimming pool, additional exercise rooms, weight room space and lockers, racquetball courts, and student meeting space. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2014.

Trustees also approved a $1.62 per credit hour increase in the HPER fee to help pay for the project. This will bring the total HPER fee to $9.12 per hour and will generate an estimated $437,400, according to university officials. This means a student taking 14 hours will pay an additional $24.30. The fee increase was approved by the Student Government Association last year.

The board passed a resolution authorizing the administration to hire an architectural and engineering firm for the HPER Center expansion project.

Also Feb. 24, the board approved a campus master plan as a guide for future property acquisitions, buildings, open space, parking and transit. The plan calls for science, historic/academic, business and arts and student housing districts and creates a framework for the next 20 years and beyond.

Phase one of the plan calls for learning commons, a new science building, Student Center expansion, Greek Village, Physical Plant relocation and the creation of additional open space. The architectural firm of Witsell Evans Rasco presented a draft of the plan to trustees in December.

In other business, the board:

– Passed a resolution that establishes a formal President’s Residence Advisory Committee. The committee will review any proposed architectural, structural, or landscaping changes to the president’s home and surrounding grounds.

– Approved degree programs that have been reduced to 120-hours in compliance with state law.

– Approved an official university seal. In the past, the university has used the State of Arkansas’s seal with the institution’s name printed around it.

– Received notice of  a memorandum of understanding between UCA Department of Early Childhood and Special Education and the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton to facilitate a degree completion program in early childhood education.

Campus Talk Schedule

Please mark your calendar for the next “Campus Talk” events: Wednesday, March 14, 3 p.m. at the Student Center Ballroom and Thursday, April 12, 3 p.m. at Ida Waldran Auditorium. Please also note the change of venue for each of these events. These informal meetings are held once a month to give all faculty, staff and students the opportunity to ask questions and to provide the campus with information.

Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule

The UCA Board of Trustees will meet May 4, Sept. 7,  and Dec. 7  at 2  p.m. in the Board of Trustees Conference Room in Wingo Hall, unless otherwise announced. The board will hold a budget workshop on April 2 meeting.

Second Annual UCA  Out of the Darkness Campus Walk

The UCA Out of the Darkness Campus Walk is scheduled for March 3 at 9 a.m. at the UCA Alumni Pavilion. The event is sponsored by the Student Nurses’ Association at UCA.

UCA hosted the largest campus walk in AFSP history back in March 2011 raising over $18,000 with almost 500 registrants. The Out of the Darkness Campus Walks are 3-5 mile walks taking place in communities across the country, with the proceeds benefitting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

By walking in the Out of the Darkness Campus Walks, you will be walking with thousands of students nationwide to raise money for AFSP’s vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide and provide support for survivors of suicide loss. In deciding to walk you are taking us a step closer to making suicide prevention a national priority.

For more information, contact Kassi Lowry at kassilowry@gmail.com

Office of Disablity Support Services Seeks Team Leader for College Band Camp

The DSS is looking for successful college students with disablities to serve as a team leader for College Bound Camp. This camp provides high school students the opportunity to stay on a college campus and attend workshops to give them an idea of what college is like and if it is right for them. A team leader would supervise five to six high school students. Applications can be picked up in the DSS Office. Deadline for applications is April 6.

Noted Speaker Linda Martin Alcoff to Appear at UCA March 7

Linda Martin Alcoff, a profesor of philosophy at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center, will give a talk at UCA on Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in the College of Business Auditorium. This lecture, “Rape After Foucault: Rethinking Experience and Resistance” is free and open to the public. A catered reception will follow. Martin Alcoff is globally renowned as a public speaker and writer focusing on social identity and race, politics, sexual violence, epistemology and Latino issues in philosophy. The lecture is sponsored by a UCA Foundation Grant, the College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Philosophy and Religion at UCA.

UCA Career Services Spring Job Fair set for March 7

UCA Career Services will host the 2012 Spring Job Fair March 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Individuals participating in the job fair are encouraged to bring plenty of resumes. For more information, call (501) 450-3134.

Arkansas College Art History Symposium set for UCA

The University of Central Arkansas will host the 22nd Arkansas College Art History Symposium on March 8-9 in the Art Lecture Hall, McCastlain 143. This year’s symposium will feature guest scholar Kevin Concannon, professor of art history an director of the School of Visual Arts at Virginia Tech, and is an opportunity to “show off” student research and prepare undergraduates for graduate school and their professional careers. Concannon will deliver the keynote address, “War Is Over If You Want It: John and Yoko’s Year of Peace,” on Thursday, March 8, at 7:30 pm. The following afternoon at 4:30, he will discuss the student papers and present another lecture, “Yoko Ono’s Touch Piece: A Work in Multiple Media, 1960-2008.”

For more details and information about the symposium, contact Gayle Seymour, professor of art and associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at (501)450-3295 or gayles@uca.edu or Dito Morales, assistant professor of art history at (501)450-5779 or rmorales@uca.edu.

UCA Percussion Festival set for March 10

The UCA Percussion Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 10 in the Snow Fine Arts Center. The festival will begin at noon with clinics, master classes and presentation by the guest artists. The day will conclude with a finale concert featuring the UCA Percussion Ensemble and all of the guest artists.

Craig Robinson from “The Office” to Perform March 11

Comedian Craig Robinson from NBC’s “The Office” will perform on Sunday, March 11 at 8 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall. Tickets are $10 for UCA students and $20 for faculty, staff and the general public. Tickets can be  purchased online at www.uca.edu/tickets. The Reynolds Box office is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Call 450-3265 for more information.

Staff Senate Accepting Employee of the Year Nominations

The Employee of the Year Selection Committee is now accepting nominations for the Employee of the Year Awards. This year the Selection Committee will name two EOY winners – one classified staff member and one non-classified staff member. The nomination forms can be found online. Nominations must include one nomination form per nominee due March 9 and three reference forms per nominee due March 16. For more information, visit the Staff Senate website or contact Stephanie McBrayer at smcbrayer@uca.edu.

Travel Author Rick Steves to Speak March 16

Travel author Rick Steves will talk with residents of Conway during Bravo! at Reynolds Performance Hall on Friday, March 16, 2012. Tickets are $75 a person, and $100 for a VIP ticket, which includes an invitation to a pre-dinner cocktail party at the home of Madelyn and Jerry Adams.All of the donations accepted at the lecture will support the College of Fine Arts and Communication writing students that are planning to attend conferences to learn more about their chosen profession. To make reservations, visit uca.edu/Bravo, or call Lesley Allen at (501)-450-3293. Paper tickets will not be printed for the event, but registration confirmation will be received in the mail.

“Doubt”  to continue Broadway series at UCA

The Montana Repertory Theatre will present the off-Broadway and Tony award-winning classic, John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt: A Parable” in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall on March 1. The 7:30 p.m. production will continue UCA Public Appearances’ Broadway series. “Doubt” tells the dramatic story of five characters in a Catholic school in the Bronx during the 1960s and possible misconduct and falsities among the characters.  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 students. For tickets, call (501)450-3265 or toll free from anywhere in Arkansas at 1-866-810-0012, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or visit www.uca.edu/reynolds. For more information, contact Jerry Biebesheimer at (501)450-3682 or jerryb@uca.edu.

Holocaust Survivor to speak in Central Arkansas

Estelle Laughlin will share her heroic story of survival in Conway Senior High School’s James H. Clark Auditorium on Wednesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Laughlin was born in Warsaw, Poland, and her family was placed in a concentration camp in Majdanek in April of 1943. For more information, contact Phillip Spivey at (501)450-3690 or pspivey@uca.edu.

Professional Development

Sexual Harassment

Participants have the option of attending the Sexual Harassment on-site or online.

April 3                9 – 10  a.m.      Student Center #213

Diversity 

This year’s topic of discussion – Disabilities

March 9               2 – 3:30 p.m.         Student Center #215

March 12             10– 11:30 a.m.     Student Center #215

March 29             4:30 – 6 p.m.         Student Center #215

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

April 13      8 a.m. –  1 p.m.              Student Center #213-214

 Seminars

March 8        noon – 1:30 p.m.   Student Center # 215  – Weather Safety Lunch

Arch Jones, UCA University Police

This seminar will address preparing for possible tornados, earthquakes, floods and/or other natural disasters. Where do you go on campus, how do you respond in the midst of a class, how do you report damage or injury? These questions and more will be answered at the seminar.

March 27  1:40 -2:30 p.m.    Student Center #213   “Are You a Super Supervisor?” Afternoon Break

Doug Isanhart, Executive in Residence & Internship Recruiter, Management Dept – College of Business

What skills are necessary in order to be a good supervisor? This seminar will address those skills and provide helpful tips on consistently leading others well.

Denis Winter, a professor of music, retired Feb. 29 after 31 years of service.

Valerie Williams, assistant registrar, will retire April 6 after  23 years of service.

 Paul Krause, professor of chemistry, will retire May 15 after 35 years of service.

Damber Tomer, associate professor of math, will retire May 15 after 28 years of service.

Sally Roden, special assistant to the president, will retire March 31 after 42 years of service.

Gregory McKay, public safety officer, University Police, Jan. 23.

Jeremy Bishop, head coach, Athletics Department, Feb. 1.

Gary Cross, maintenance assistant, Grounds Maintenance, Feb.1.

James Larson, equipment technician, Grounds Maintenance, Feb. 1.

Derek Nichols, assistant coach, Athletics Department, Feb. 8.

The University of Central Arkansas is asking current students to submit a video that promotes the university in a positive way.  The video can range from a minimum of 30 seconds to a maximum of one minute.

First place will receive $500; second place, $300;  and third place,$200. The winning videos may also be placed on the university’s YouTube site. Entry packets may be picked up at the information desk in the Student Center. Entries are due Monday, March 12 at noon in Wingo Hall, Room 215. For more information, call 450-5114 or 450-3185.

The University Safety Committee is an advisory group charged with identifying and helping address safety conditions on the UCA campus. The committee will review any existing or potential hazards that could affect students, faculty, and staff and foster an environment free from unreasonable risk.

The committee members are volunteers from the areas of University Police, Student Health, Office of the President, Division of University and Government Relations, Environmental Health & Safety, Physical Plant, Human Resources, and the College of Natural Science and Mathematics as well as appointed representatives from the Student Government Association, Faculty Senate, and the Staff Senate.

Please know the University Safety Committee strives to be a campus-community driven committee and exists to hear and review your concerns in regard to environmental health and safety. With this being said, we need your input! If you have concerns or input in regard to environmental health and safety you can e-mail the committee at mysafety@uca.edu or contact one of the committee members directly. For a list of committee member please visit the University Safety Committee website at www.uca.edu/mysafety.

UCA is a safe campus and it takes all of us working together to keep it that way!  – Larry K. James, Chair, University Safety Committee and UCA Chief of Police.

 Ann Ballard Bryan, a clinical instructor of Interior Design in the Family and Consumer Science Department,  was recently awarded the Excellence in Preservation Education award by the  Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.

She honored for her role in developing and implementing curriculum in historic preservation in UCA’s Interior Design program.

Bryan wrote the current curriculum for Introduction to Historic Preservation for the Interior Design and Family and Consumer Science students. The Historic Preservation course is based on preservation in the United States. Bryan also developed the summer Interior Design Study Abroad program to study the aspects of history and preservation from a global perspective.

“I was very surprised and honored to be nominated. Historic Preservation is truly my passion,” Bryan said. “It combines general history, Arkansas history, architecture history, decorative arts history and most importantly, the personal histories of individuals.”

According to Bryan, knowing one’s history is important.

“Helping students understand and appreciate their history is the best job I could ever wish for,” Bryan said.

The students involved with the Historic Preservation course are involved in research of National Register eligible properties, go on several field trips each semester, conduct oral histories and volunteer with preservation organizations such as the Quapaw Quarter.

The study abroad students study history through museums, churches and galleries, in cities in Italy. – Lisa Burnett