The Bear Ledger

The UCA Board of Trustees approved the budget for fiscal year 2011 during its May 7 meeting. The budget includes the implementation of phase 2 of the classified pay plan and pay raises for non-classified employees and faculty.

The conservative budget reflects the $2.3 million in state cuts that occurred during the 2009-10 budget year.

The rebuilding of the university’s reserves was also a priority in the fiscal year 2011 budget, said Diane Newton, vice president of finance and administration. The goal is to build up an eight to nine percent reserve, which will take some time.

The Phase 2 implementation of the classified pay plan will only affect 17 percent of the classified employees, Newton said. Others received their salary change in Phase 1 implemented for this fiscal year. The state currently has said no increases for classified employees.

The budget includes a proposed 2.75 percent pool for pay raises for non-classified and faculty, some of which will be across the board raises with the remainder for merit and equity, she said.

Tuition and fees make up 42.39 percent of the total revenue for the university. State appropriations represent about 35.64 percent, according to the budget.

The board also approved an increase in tuition and fees for the 2010-11 academic year. A $1 per credit hour tuition increase approved by the board will generate approximately $285,000. A $3 per credit hour increase in library fee, recommended by the students and faculty, will help support library resources and services as well as extend library hours of operation, Newton said.

Revenue from the $3 per credit hour increase in the athletic fee will pay salaries currently being funded from instruction and will free up funds for use in the academic areas. A portion of the athletic fee revenue will also cover additional costs of scholarship increases and fund across the board salary increases for non-classified employees and faculty.

The tuition and fee increase equates to a 3.1 percent increase for tuition and fees for undergraduate students and a 2.6 percent increase for graduate students. The percentage increase is near, if not, the lowest compared with other institutions within the state.

“It’s not what we want to do, but it is what we have to do,” Newton said. “We feel like we’re asking for the minimal.”

It is the university’s goal to sustain its strong academic programs; maintain the small student-to-faculty ratio; and enhance the services provided to students, said UCA President Allen C. Meadors.

“While we do not like raising our tuition and fees, we know the reduction of state appropriations and the rising cost of operation requires us to do so in order to maintain the quality academic programs to meet the diverse needs of our students,” Meadors said.

University of Central Arkansas officials are taking green efforts to a higher level — the roof top.

About 2,000 square-foot of sedum, a drought tolerant plant material, has been planted on the roof of Laney Hall. The test area will help officials determine green roof benefits and how it functions. Laney Hall was selected because its roof was structurally able to support the weight associated with the installation of a green roof.

A combination of various types of sedum plants have been planted in the test area, said Larry Lawrence, UCA physical plant director. Sedum plants are drought tolerant and it goes down similar to grass sod. It grows to an approximate height of six inches.

The existing roof was re-covered with a premium, white reflective therma plastic roof layer. Next, the area was leak tested with water to ensure all areas were sealed properly and then a water retention mat was placed on the therma plastic layer, Lawrence said. Finally, engineered soil was installed and then the sedum layer, which is like sod.

A green roof protects roof membrane resulting in longer material life span. Also, the soil material acts as an insulator resulting in energy savings. A green roof slows water runoff, which allows drainage systems to better handle rainwater and storm water.

Other benefits of a green roof are the potential for grants related to energy efficiencies and a green roof reduces re-roofing wastes in landfills, Lawrence said.

“We want to see how this roof performs and as we move forward into the future, green roofs will be a consideration with roof replacements and new construction,” he said.

Stocks and Mann Architects designed the project and Covington Roofing Company was the contractor.

The green roof is one of many energy and conservation projects at UCA. Other projects include water proofing 22 buildings; lighting retrofits; the purchase of exterior trash containers and recycles containers; additional roof coatings to extend roof life; LED lighting replacements at Mashburn Hall; new cooling towers at the library and health science; LED lighting in the Harding Fountain; and replacement of incandescent light bulbs in all University owned apartments with compact fluorescent bulbs.

UCA officials used money from the 2007 bond issue and stimulus funds to pay for the projects.

The College of Education at the University of Central Arkansas has recently received approval from the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to prepare educational professionals as instructional facilitators.

An individual will be eligible to hold an Arkansas Instructional Facilitator Licensure Endorsement for grades P-12 after completing the 15-hour graduate program.

“Increasingly k-12 schools and districts are working to increase their leadership capacities by employing teachers in non-administrative leadership positions,” said Diana Pounder, dean of the College of Education. “The Arkansas Department of Education is now requiring that teachers serving in these teacher leadership positions or instructional facilitator roles be credentialed by the state. UCA is one of the first three institutions in Arkansas to be authorized to offer this endorsement program.”

The endorsement curriculum meets the Arkansas Department of Education’s expectations to prepare facilitators to be skillful in collaboration, curriculum implementation, and evaluation.

The program is designed to provide practicing classroom teachers the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve as an instructional facilitator/coach. Teachers will be prepared to enhance classroom instruction by providing instructional support in the elements of research-based instruction and methods, in aligning instruction with curriculum standards, assessment tools, and individual needs of students, said Kathleen Atkins, chair of the Department of Early Childhood and Special Education.

“This program will allow the college to prepare professionals with a very unique and specialized set of collaborative and instructional skills necessary to effectively coach classroom teachers, which will ultimately equip Arkansas teachers to better meet the diverse needs of their students,” Atkins said.

An appealing characteristic of the program is the ability for teachers to apply the endorsement hours toward a graduate degree in either School Leadership with a license in Curriculum Administrator or Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership, Atkins said. The endorsement courses will be delivered electronically with a hybrid component of selected courses.

A valid Arkansas teaching license, identification as a highly qualified teacher, and admission into UCA graduate school are prerequisites to the program.

UCA journalism faculty members Donna Lampkin Stephens and Dr. Polly Walter and education faculty member Dr. Jeff Whittingham have produced a teacher’s guide to the film “The Crisis Mr. Faubus Made: The Role of the Arkansas Gazette in the Central High Crisis” (2010).

The 30-minute documentary film and teacher’s guide provide an important chapter in twentieth century Arkansas history for grades 6 through 12 that has not been fully told until now.

The project is funded by a grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

The full-length 2006 documentary film “The Old Gray Lady: Arkansas’s First Newspaper,” which tells the story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Gazette, is also included in the boxed set to provide a complete historical background of the oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi River until its demise in 1991.

The teacher’s guide provides key terms, concepts, people and players, discussion questions for social studies and journalism, extension activities, writing prompts and rubric, as well as a list of recommended readings and Internet resources. It is being distributed to Arkansas junior high and high schools.

Stephens, the producer of the acclaimed “The Old Gray Lady” as well as “Mr. Faubus”, was the poject coordinator for the teacher’s guide. Walter served as the designer and Whittingham as the education consultant. Dr. Joe Anderson (retired) was the executive producer and former student Kevin Clark the director of both films.

Staff Senate Conducts Spring Surveys

The Staff Senate is conducting its spring survey. The information from the surveys will be used to make UCA the best work environment possible, said Larry Burns, Staff Senate president. The survey only takes three to five minutes to complete. Surveys will be sent to employees’ email accounts.
“We are always listening to the staff, so please do not hesitate in contacting any staff senator,” he said. “We need to know what you think can make us better.”

Building Relationships for Student Success Workshop June 3

The workshop “Working with Parents in Poverty: Building Relationships for Student Success” is scheduled for June 3 in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center. The event begins at 8 a.m. Improving the educational environment throughout the state of Arkansas is a task that starts with developing good working relationships between parents and school personnel. Healthy communication between parents, teachers, students and the community is the key to developing a sturdy and stable bridge to student success. The cost of the conference is $50 per person by May 20, $60.00 after May 20. The conference is open to teachers, administrators and counselors. For more information, contact Academic Outreach-Professional Development Department at profdev@uca.edu or call (501) 852-2394.

ADD, ADHD and Autism Workshop June 3

An ADD, ADHD, and Autism workshop is scheduled for June 3 in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center. The workshop begins at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $50 before May 20 and $60.00 after May 20. This workshop will define Autism, ADD, and ADHD with concrete, real- life examples. After defining the disorders, specific coping strategies will be discussed for each type of disorder for the student and teacher. Modifications, adaptations, and scaffolding techniques specific to each disorder will be also discussed and practiced with a hands-on approach. Handouts will be provided to all participants for future reference.

UCA Athletics Hosts Annual Purple Circle Golf Tournament/Auction

The Athletics Department is hosting its annual fundraising Purple Circle Golf Tournament/Auction on June 14 at the Centennial Valley Country Club in Conway. The tournament, a 4-person scramble, will be coupled with live and silent auctions taking place between rounds. There is a morning shotgun start at 8 a.m. and an afternoon shotgun start at 2 p.m. Lunch will be available (included in entry fee) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Regular price is $600 per team or $150 per person. All UCA Faculty/Staff get a 33% discount, making their entry fee $100. This means that a full team of UCA Staff can enter for $400. However, any other member of their team not on staff at UCA pays the regular $150. Contact Carole Good for more information at caroleg@uca.edu

Tickets for Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre are Now on Sale

This summer’s festival will feature four shows to be presented from June 16-July 3: Henry V, The Comedy of Errors, Dracula, and the children’s classic Alice in Wonderland. All ticket prices have been lowered for 2010. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for seniors and UCA faculty/staff and $20 for everyone else. Tickets for Alice in Wonderland are $10 for everyone. Tickets are available online and at UCA Ticket Central. Additionally, all Sunday performances will be offered as “Pay What You Can” performances.

For the third annual Bard Ball, the audience will be able to meet and be entertained by a special one-night-only performance from favorite festival actors in a vampire-themed murder mystery. The Bard Ball will kick off this year’s festival on June 11 at 7 p.m. at Buffalo Alumni Hall at the corner of Bruce Street and Farris Road in Conway. Tickets are $25 per person and will include food, a live “Murder Mystery” performance, and auction. Tickets for this year’s Bard Ball can be purchased at the event itself.

Additionally, the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is proud to announce “The Bard and the Barrel”; our post-show club open after opening nights and for the close of the festival (June 16, 18, 24, and July 3 immediately following performances). “The Bard and Barrel” will feature food and “Karaoke with the Kast” and will be open to AST members and those purchasing one-night memberships, available at UCA Ticket Central or www.arkshakes.com.

For tickets and more information about these events, visit www.arkshakes.com or at UCA Ticket Central by calling 501-450-3265.

Leah Horton has been named the Resident Master of the new STEM Residential College at the University of Central Arkansas.

Horton is currently a faculty member in the Department of Biology at UCA. She will be teaching courses in the residential college as well as guiding the programs that are currently under development.

Horton is a 1997 graduate of UCA with a bachelor of science in chemistry. She earned a master of science in biochemistry, cell and developmental biology from Emory University in 1999. She has more than two years high school science teaching experience and six years post-secondary teaching experience. Horton is also involved in science education outreach.

The STEM Residential College is the first residential college in Arkansas with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The college is directly funded by and tied to the College of Natural Science and Mathematics. As a result, STEM students will have unique opportunities within the departments of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics, including early involvement in undergraduate research that can lead to student grants, presentations, and travel, Horton said. Taking advantage of these opportunities can give STEM students a competitive edge when applying to graduate school, professional school, or when entering the job market.

“The STEM Residential College is going to grow into a premier living/learning environment for students interested in science, technology, pre-engineering, and mathematics,” Horton said about the new residential college. “Our primary goal is the academic success and retention of our students. Toward that end, all STEM students will participate in various service learning projects, because we all learn by ‘doing.’ “

The residential college is slated to open fall 2010. It will house 210 freshmen in Arkansas Hall.

Horton hopes the STEM Residential College will help entice the brightest students to stay in the state.

“There are so many employment opportunities in the STEM disciplines and yet, many people are unaware of those opportunities,” she said.

On a national level, people talk about the “STEM Pipeline” for producing skilled workers for the emerging knowledge-based economy, said Steve Runge, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

“Our program, which will be centered around the STEM Residential College, will try to turn the pipeline into a cycle through which science and math students at UCA will work to assist in the improvement of K-12 education and thereby recruit and retain more students in these fields,” Runge said. “We predict that our retention in STEM disciplines at UCA will be higher as well.”

Shelley Mehl has been appointed the new vice president for institutional advancement. Mehl, who has served as interim vice president since January 2009, was officially named the new vice president May 10.

One of the missions of institutional advancement is to build support for the university among alumni, the community, and the state, as well as students, faculty and staff.

“I am delighted that Ms. Mehl has accepted the leadership of the University’s Advancement Office,” said UCA President Allen C. Meadors. “UCA is in an excellent position to reach out to tens of thousands of alums and friends of the university as well as the corporate community. I know Ms. Mehl will put together an outstanding team to move the University of Central Arkansas to exceptional levels of fundraising over the next few years.”

As interim vice president, Mehl secured more than $1.75 million in new commitments in 2009 and completed the first comprehensive campaign with $36.5 million in commitments.

Mehl served as assistant vice president for institutional advancement from December 2006 to December 2008. During her tenure as assistant vice president, Mehl directed the internal and external fund raising operations of UCA’s Advancement Office.

Mehl was associate vice president for advancement and director of development at Hendrix College before coming to UCA. She also has served as executive director of the United Way of Faulkner County, and was the executive director of the Community Foundation of Faulkner County. Mehl also served as the business manager of Faulkner County Senior Citizens Program.

Mehl holds a master of business administration and a bachelor of business administration from Ohio University.

“I am honored to be selected by President Meadors as UCA’s vice president for advancement and will continue my work with the talented and dedicated staff in our division and across campus,” Mehl said. “My hope is to continue the strong growth in fund raising and alumni engagement to help meet UCA’s increasing need for private support.”

Mehl has been a member of the Conway City Council since 2006, and is a past president of the Conway Rotary Club.

Several new employees were hired this spring. They are:

Jerry Compton, maintenance specialist, Building Maintenance, April 16.

Kenneth Redic, equipment operator, Grounds Maintenance, April 16.

Jonathan Jackson, assistant coach, Men’s Basketball, April 23.

Ellen Treadway, project director-teaching/learning, AR Public School Resource Center, April 23.

Cynthia Koster, institutional services assistant, Custodial Care, May 1.

Brandy Tackett, institutional service assistant, Custodial Care, May 1.

Audreka Peten, project/program specialist, Student Financial Aid, May 10.

Alexis Walter, project coordinator/attorney, AR Public School Resource Center, May 10.

Two individuals recently announced their retirement from UCA after many years of service. They are:

Renee Cullum, an administrative specialist III in the Physical Plant, will retire June 30 after 32 years.

Lou Neighbors, an administrative specialist III in the Torreyson Library, will retire June 30 after 10 years.