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Annual Mixer Connects Students and Faculty

The annual Student & Faculty Mixer yesterday hosted approximately 72 Biz@Bear Residential College students and 24 College of Business (COB) faculty members for an evening of connection.  The event provided students the opportunity to meet faculty members and further explore each of the majors within the College of Business. See the photos!

“I really enjoyed visiting with so many Biz@Bear students. They are smart, engaging, and really personable,” said Tom Courtway, COB Professor of Business Law.

Students asked faculty questions about their respective fields and discussed skills businesses look for in new hires.

Biz@Bear student Emma Daughtery said, “I enjoyed this event because it allowed me to create a bond with my future professors. It also allowed me to learn more about many careers.”

Students networked with faculty, played Bingo and outdoor yard games, and enjoyed Bar-B-Que with all the fixins. The Mixer was also a good opportunity to announce Anna Turgaeva as the winner of a $200 book scholarship for the spring 2022 semester, sponsored by The UCA Bookstore.

The event was led by the Academic Director, Dr. Louisa Moseley, and the Biz@Bear Student Associate, Alyssa Theroux, who designed the event as a social outdoor BBQ ​​that adhered to COVID guidelines.

Posted in: COB News on October 6, 2021

COB Student Awarded Granger & Jan Davis Emerging Leaders Scholarship

More than 300 scholarship recipients gathered at the Farris Center for the annual scholarship reception at the University of Central Arkansas Sept. 30 hosted by the UCA Foundation.

The theme for the evening “Celebrating 40 Years” commemorated the Foundation’s successes since its 1981 inception under former UCA President Jeff Farris. The event provided an opportunity for students to connect with scholarship donors and share stories.

President Davis told donors their gifts provide an enormous impact on students like Savannah Conly, who is a junior marketing major in the College of Business. Conly received the Granger and Jan Davis Emerging Leaders Scholarship.

“When I received this scholarship, It meant the world to me because I felt seen,” Conly said. “I felt like all my behind-the-scenes work was seen. Receiving this recognition fueled my motivation to keep working hard and to push myself toward my dreams, even on hard days.”

Read more about the scholarship reception in UCA News.

Posted in: COB News on October 1, 2021 Tagged: ,

UCA Ranked #3 Best Online MBA in International Business Management

The University of Central Arkansas College of Business was recently ranked the #3 best online MBA in the nation for International Business Management. This online MBA allows students to earn the degree anywhere in the world even while working full-time. The program has also been ranked among the most affordable. Find out more about the UCA MBA program.

See the ranking from Best Value Schools  [Read more…]

Posted in: COB News on September 21, 2021 Tagged: , , ,

UCA Supply Chain Program Ranked #77 for Best Affordable Supply Chain Management Degree

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management has been ranked the #77 Best Affordable Supply Chain Management Degree by University HQ.

Well-trained supply chain managers solve organizations’ most impactful challenges: purchasing, manufacturing, storing, and transporting product. UCA’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM) program prepares students to tackle global supply chain challenges with a focus on the U.S. trucking industry. Our curriculum emphasizes trucking operations, safety, and regulatory compliance.  Graduates are prepared for management positions in trucking but also learn to optimize product flow and storage, collaborate with suppliers and customers, and meet delivery expectations through innovative solutions.

For more information about our LSCM BBA, visit www.uca.edu/marketingmanagement/lscm.

Posted in: COB News on September 10, 2021

Terri Hayes-Winstead Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Senior Business IRM Student Richard Casto

Richard Casto Receives Terri Hayes-Winstead Memorial Scholarship

Theresa Hayes, Dylan Dugger, Staci Shearon (PIA), Richard Casto (recipient), Cynthia Burleson (UCA) Hana McCown, Tammi Van Cleave

Conversation centered on hopes for the future on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, as UCA senior Richard Casto was awarded the Terri Hayes-Winstead Memorial Scholarship. Terri’s sister, Tammi Van Cleave, and Tammi’s employer, Scottish American of Arkansas, team up each year to award the scholarship to a College of Business student in the Insurance and Risk Management (IRM) program who demonstrates potential for the industry and financial need to fund continued education. [Read more…]

Posted in: COB News on August 20, 2021 Tagged: , , , , ,

Advice from Alumni: Nato Silue

With the start of fall semester, our College of Business (COB) alumni are sending their best advice. Recent alumna Tchetahan Natogoma (Nato) Silue, COB class of 2020, believes that the supportive environment fostered by the faculty and advisors is something students should embrace.

“Don’t be scared to approach your professors. They are there for you and want you to succeed,” said Silue. “Everyone was supportive which boosted my learning experience.”

Silue graduated from the UCA College of Business in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and a minor in Computer Science. Why students should take note of her prudent advice? One might say Silue was successful student with her accomplishments and awards including: [Read more…]

Posted in: COB News on August 19, 2021 Tagged: , , , ,

COB Advisory Board Member Karen Shaw Named a 2021 CFO of the Year Finalist by Arkansas Business

Karen ShawArkansas Business has announced the 2021 CFO of the Year finalists, and College of Business Advisory Board member Karen Shaw was named a Bank CFO Finalist.

Shaw serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Citizens Bank and is responsible for the financial management of the bank. She has over 25 years of banking experience and oversees the Bank’s Investment and Asset Liability Committee, Policy Committee, and development of financial planning and budgets to guide the Bank’s future business growth.

Among other public service activities, Shaw is a member of the board of directors of the University of Central Arkansas College of Business Advisory Board. She is also a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with the Highest Honors in Accounting.

Presented by Hogan Taylor, the 2021 CFO of the Year Awards will be broadcast live from the DoubleTree Little Rock on November 3. Finalists and winners in each category will be honored at the event, and their profiles will be published in a special supplement of Arkansas Business on Oct. 18. Nomination forms were submitted to an independent panel of judges who met in July to determine finalists and winners.

Posted in: COB News on August 18, 2021

UCA Expands Computer Information Systems & Analytics Degree Options to Address Changing Business Environment

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is offering new degree and certificate options through its Computer Information Systems and Analytics (CISA) department, expanding opportunities for CISA students and current business professionals to gain top in-demand business and technical skills.

Beginning this fall three new Applied Data Analytics programs will be available: a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a technical certificate. These new programs follow the successful addition of both an undergraduate minor and a graduate-level technical certificate in data analytics two years ago.

“I chose to get this graduate certificate because I believe data analytics is the future. As technology is evolving, businesses are using analytics to make informed decisions, solve problems, help reduce risks, and increase return on their investments,” said Joyti Lal who is working to earn a Master of Business Administration concurrent with a Data Analytics graduate certificate.

The Department of Computer Information Systems and Analytics (CISA), located within the UCA College of Business, combines highly desired technical skills with sound business principles. The department’s name was changed in July 2021 from “Management Information Systems” to better reflect what the department now offers. [Read more…]

Posted in: COB News on August 18, 2021 Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Tom J. Smith Memorial Scholarship Established for UCA College of Business Students

The family of Tom J. Smith has established a memorial scholarship in his honor at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), his alma mater, to support students pursuing undergraduate degrees in the College of Business. The inaugural award will be given to support a student for the fall 2021 semester.

Tom J. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UCA in 1971 through hard work and diligence, working multiple jobs to fund his education, and was the first in his family to earn a college degree. Higher education made a significant difference in his life, opening doors to many opportunities and eventually propelling him to the position of Administrator of Accounting for the State of Arkansas through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). [Read more…]

Posted in: Accounting, COB News, _Scholarships on August 6, 2021 Tagged: , , ,

UCA Beta Alpha Psi Joins Other State Chapters for Annual Conference

UCA Beta Alpha Psi joined 3 other state chapters this week to attend a virtual conference together and make some valuable connections.

While students might usually attend the conference in person, pandemic restrictions pushed the conference to a virtual setting. Instead the Arkansas chapters gathered as a smaller group, so they wouldn’t miss out on the annual learning opportunity and important industry connections.

Many thanks to Dr. Connie McKnight, Dr. Stephanie Watson, and Professor Ashley Phillips for their hard work to give our students learning experiences like this.

UCA’s Theta Lambda chapter traveled to the event hosted in Northwest Arkansas for a full schedule of events:

THURSDAY
– Lunch with Landmark CPAs
– Virtual BAP Conference and snacks with Arkansas Society of CPAs
– Dinner with BKD, LLP
FRIDAY
– Breakfast with Bell and Company PA
– Community service (bookmarks and backpacks) with Frost PLLC/Facta and Walmart
– Lunch with EY
– Virtual BAP Conference and snacks with ASCPA

See more photos from the Arkansas BAP conference.

Posted in: COB News on August 6, 2021