Archives for March 2025

Submitted by: Jessica Underwood, jessicau@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

There’s a new LMS on the horizon! Whether you’re eagerly awaiting Blackboard Learn’s replacement, feeling a bit anxious about change, or somewhere in between—there are plenty of opportunities for you to try out each LMS in consideration. In doing so, the Teaching with Technology Advisory Committee (TTAC) has scheduled regular online office hours for Blackboard Ultra, Canvas, and Brightspace so you can explore these potential replacements at your own pace, with expert guidance just a click away.

OFFICE HOURS SCHEDULE

Blackboard Ultra (NEW!!)
Weekly on Tuesdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Beginning March 18, 2025

Brightspace
Weekly on Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Canvas (NEW!!)
This Tuesday (March 18) only: Office hours will be held in-person in Torreyson West 319.

Remaining office hours will be held online:
Tuesdays, 2:00-2:45 p.m.
Fridays, 9:00-9:45 a.m.

OFFICE HOURS ARE FOR EVERYONE!
> First-timers: Never clicked around in Blackboard Ultra, Canvas or Brightspace? They’ll help you get your bearings.
> Technical support: Stuck on something? That’s what office hours are for!
> No stupid questions: Whether you’re wondering how to post an announcement or trying to figure out complex grading options, they’re here to help.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
TTAC needs your input to make sure we choose the right LMS platform. These office hours are your opportunity to ask questions during your test-drive and let us know what you think. Even if you’re hesitant about new technology, we encourage you to drop in. Sometimes the most important feedback comes from those who find technology challenging!

ATTENDING OFFICE HOURS
These office hours will be held virtually. You’ll find the links listed on the lms review website. No appointment needed, no preparation required. Just bring your questions, concerns, and honest opinions.

We appreciate your willingness to participate in this important evaluation process. Visit the LMS review website for more details regarding the review process.

https://uca.edu/lmsreview/

Submitted by: Stacy O’Brien, sobrien4@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

Research shows a significant number of students are experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties that impact their academic performance. As educators, we recognize the importance of supporting student well-being—61% of faculty believe all instructors should receive basic training to assist students in distress.

That’s why we’re excited to announce GUIDE (Guiding Universities in Demonstrating Empathy) training! This three-hour session equips faculty and staff with practical, compassionate communication skills to support students while maintaining professional boundaries.

What You’ll Learn:
– Identify and contextualize student needs
– Develop empathic communication skills
– Navigate student support conversations
– Recognize when to engage campus services

Two GUIDE sessions will be offered and held in Student Health Clinic (SHC) 307.

📅 April 9th
Session 1: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Session 2: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

GUIDE training is designed to empower you to support student well-being while maintaining healthy professional boundaries. You don’t need to be a mental health expert to make a positive impact. Register for a GUIDE session today!

https://uca.edu/cetal/guide-training/

Submitted by: Madeline Kimbrell, mkimbrell@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

Join UCA Aramark Registered Dietitian Ethan Baldridge as he discusses healthy eating options available on campus, how to build a nutritious plate, tips for preparing healthy meals for work, and strategies for weight loss in the workplace. This presentation will be available both in person and via Zoom. In-person attendees will enjoy a cooking demonstration led by Dietetics graduate students, showcasing a healthy meal recipe. This will be on Thursday, March 20th, from 1:45 pm – 2:30 pm via Zoom and in the Integrated Health Science Building- Community Classroom. Click the link to reserve your spot—limited spots are available! Zoom link and information can be found on the BeWell Calendar or our BeWell website.

This presentation is worth 5 lifestyle reward points.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfODsxEnaK0S0otAUNv91Iwg_x70TjwpN2ZN0azg2EaHkHoxQ/viewform

Submitted by: Michael Blanchard, mblanchard@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

The 2024-2025 UCA Visiting Poet Series will conclude April 22 with a public reading and book signing by current Louisiana Poet Laureate Alison Pelegrin at 7 p.m. in the McCastlain Art Lecture Hall on the UCA campus. The series is jointly sponsored by the School of Language & Literature and SLANT, the School’s international journal of contemporary poetry.

Alison Pelegrin was appointed Poet Laureate of Louisiana in 2023. She is also Writer-in-Residence at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, where she has taught for more than twenty years. A native of Gretna, located just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, Pelegrin has lived in Louisiana her entire life, except for a period of three years in Fayetteville while working towards an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arkansas.

She is the author of six books of poetry, including her most recent collection, Our Lady of Bewilderment (Louisiana State University Press, 2022), and her poems have also appeared in notable literary journals such as Poetry, Ploughshares, The Southern Review, The Missouri Review, and The Bennington Review. In addition, she has received multiple notable fellowships and grants, including a fellowship from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, an ATLAS Grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents, and in 2024 an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship.

The reading is open to the public and is free of charge. For more information, contact SLANT editor Michael Blanchard at mblanchard@uca.edu.

 

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

UCA FULL-TIME FACULTY AND STAFF

IMPROVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
-HEAR FROM KNOWLEDGEABLE GUEST SPEAKERS
-COLLABORATE WITH THE UCA COMMUNITY
-DISCOVER HIGHER EDUCATION TRENDS
-NAVIGATE AND RESPOND TO CHANGE
-ATTEND SEVEN MONTHLY SESSIONS
-RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CHARLOTTE STRICKLAND CHARS@UCA.EDU

https://uca.edu/hr/protectedcontent/lead/

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

Join us for the 72nd annual program!!

April 15, 2025
Student Center Ballroom
Doors open at 1:00 pm
Ceremony begins at 1:40 pm

 

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP
AAPI faculty & staff led by JingJing Li jli@uca.edu
– April 10, 1:40-2:30, Fireplace Room

BROTHER’S KEEPER
African American male faculty & staff led by Myron Kuykendall & Travis Johnson mkuykendall2@uca.edu tjohnson56@uca.edu
– April 16, 2:00-3:00, Main 027

SISTER’S KEEPER
African American female faculty & staff led by a committee apeten@uca.edu denichak@uca.edu egayfield@uca.edu
mgoins@uca.edu cdr02003@uca.edu
– March 20, 3:00-4:00, McCastlain Fireplace Room
– April 24, 3:00-4:00, BHCC 103
Committee members: Audreka Peten, Crystal Harris, Denicha Kemp, Lyn Gayfield, Millie Goins

INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP
International faculty & staff led by Dr. Brigid Otoo bappiahotoo@uca.edu
– April 1, 1:40-2:30, BHCC 103

LGBTQ+ EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP
LGBTQ+ faculty & staff led by Dr. Taine Duncan & Dr. Paige Rose tduncan@uca.edu prose@uca.edu
– April 8, 1:40-2:30, Fireplace Room

ADMIN SUPPORT COACHING CIRCLE
Do you serve in an administrative assistant position or as an office manager? Are you aware of the multiple resources available to you? Participate in this group to receive helpful information, network, and share valuable tips to make your job easier! No registration required.

April 2, 2025 (Wednesday) 9:00-10:00 AM Cancelled
April 11, 2025 (Friday) 11:30-12:30 pm Executive Dining Room, Christian Cafeteria
April 16, 2025 (Wednesday) 3:00-4:00 pm McCastlain Hall

Professional Administrative Support Staff Recognition Reception (Please register at the link provided: https://uca.edu/hr/protectedcontent/professional-administrative-support-staff-recognition-april-16-2025/

Facilitator: Debbie Brigham, Human Resources and Risk Management Fiscal Support Specialist dbrigham@uca.edu
ZOOM LINK: https://uca-edu.zoom.us/j/86476576435?pwd=ZUxjcHVHbzNiVUJPcXNBcmhFMVBnQT09

LEADERSHIP COACHING CIRCLE
Do you currently lead others? Do you aspire to be a leader or a better one? What are the essentials of leadership? Participation in this group includes interesting articles, rich discussion, and opportunities to network. No registration required.

Tuesdays, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Nechele McClinton-Gates, Associate Director of Residence Life nrm05002@uca.edu
ZOOM LINK: https://uca-edu.zoom.us/j/86019206652?pwd=aWtyQ3pYOHdsT1Zrb2RjV3hFNGdIZz09

April 8. 2025

EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE
Have you been employed less than six (6) years in Higher Education as a faculty or staff member? Are you looking to network with other Higher Education employees? Are you interested in gathering new insight to Higher Education issues, workplace norms, and career paths? The group will meet in the Executive Dining Room Christian Cafeteria, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by the College Student Personnel Administration program (CSPA), it will provide socialization and professional development for early career employees. Meal provided courtesy of the Office of Employee Engagement & Enrichment. No registration required.

Facilitators: Thomas Bruick, tbruick@uca.edu; Evan Faidley, efaidley@uca.edu

April 17, 2025
Assessment 101: Planning for Next Academic Year
Presenter: Dr. Thomas Bruick, Assistant Professor Leadership Studies

 

Submitted by: Haydyn Hudnall, hhudnall@uca.edu on 03/17/2025

The National Student Exchange (NSE) Program has become an integral part of higher education, with member campuses reporting domestic study away as a high-impact practice that supports student satisfaction, persistence, and personal growth. By offering unique opportunities for students to explore different regions of North America, NSE fosters academic enrichment and personal exploration, and it aligns closely with university initiatives for global engagement.

As stated in the mission of NSE, “National Student Exchange inspires academic enrichment, personal exploration, and student development by facilitating collegiate study away among our member campuses.” This statement is particularly evident in light of a recent UCA student, Alex Smith, who graduated with his B.S. in Environmental Science and recently completed the Alaska Aquaculture Semester in Fall 2024.
Through the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), the Alaska Aquaculture Semester is a distinctive study away program that combines fieldwork and classroom learning in Sitka, Alaska. The small cohort size of approximately 12 students per semester fosters a collaborative and interactive learning environment that includes undergraduate students, master’s students, and professionals in the tourism industry in order to create a diverse mix of experiences and perspectives. During the duration of the program, students gain a deeper understanding of Alaska’s aquaculture industry while working directly with UAS faculty and local industry partners. Students gain insights into the history and policies surrounding Alaskan aquaculture, while also acquiring practical skills such as skiff handling and small engine maintenance.

During Alex’s semester, he completed the “Introduction to Aquaculture” course that explored Alaska’s fishing industries, including daily field trips to local hatcheries and other experiential learning environments.

Additionally, he completed 240 internship hours—far exceeding the program’s requirement of 100 hours. One particularly memorable internship opportunity included working at a remote hatchery at Deer Lake. During this time, UAS covered travel expenses for Alex and connected him with industry professionals that ultimately offered him a full-time position after graduation.

The program also placed emphasis on practical skills, such as the “Outboard Motor Course,” which required students to build and test outboard motors as part of a hands-on project. To further enhance his professional credentials, Alex graduated with two certifications: an Alaska boating safety certification and an Alaska aquaculture occupational endorsement certification.

Alex’s time in Sitka led to several professional connections that have already influenced his career trajectory. By the end of the program, Alex had secured a job at the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA), an accomplishment that underscores the effectiveness of the program in facilitating career development. In fact, Alex noted that by the end of the semester, every student had an employment opportunity lined up.

In reflecting on his time in Alaska, Alex Smith expressed how the experience has inspired a newfound passion for aquaculture and saltwater studies. Although his academic background was focused on freshwater studies, the professors at UAS helped him bridge the gap and gain a solid foundation in marine aquaculture. The diversity within the cohort, including students from across the U.S. and those studying different fields like tourism, contributed to a rich learning environment where everyone had something to offer.

Overall, the National Student Exchange (NSE) program, particularly through programs like the Alaska Aquaculture Semester, plays a significant role in shaping students’ futures. By offering immersive, hands-on learning experiences and fostering a strong sense of personal and academic growth, NSE supports students in discovering new academic passions, expanding their professional networks, and preparing them for careers after college. Alex Smith’s experience serves as a testament to the transformative potential of the NSE program.

UCA is incredibly proud of Alex’s accomplishments and the continued growth of the National Student Exchange program. Currently, eight students are on exchange in Hawaii, Alaska, North Dakota, and California, with five more students placed at host universities for the 2025-2026 academic year. UCA’s commitment to supporting its students’ personal and academic journeys through opportunities like NSE ensures that more students will be able to have life-changing experiences that enhance their education.

https://nse.org/exchange/special-programs/727/

Submitted by: Debbie Brigham, dbrigham@uca.edu on 03/14/2025

CALLING ALL ADMINS!

EVENT: Professional Administrative Support Staff Recognition Reception
DATE: April 16, 2025
TIME: 3:00 – 4:00 PM
WHERE: McCastlain Ballroom

We would like to celebrate ALL ADMINS by inviting you to our Professional Administrative Support Staff Recognition Reception – Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 3:00-4:00 pm. Refreshments, a guest speaker, and prizes among other things are planned for this fun event.

Please register by clicking on this link: https://uca.edu/hr/protectedcontent/professional-administrative-support-staff-recognition-april-16-2025/

This event is provided by Employee Engagement & Enrichment and hosted by the Admin Staff Coaching Circle Team.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Your Admin Staff Coaching Circle Team!

 

Submitted by: Angela Adams, aadams38@uca.edu on 03/13/2025

Saturday April 5th UCA will host over 330 6th-12th graders for the State competition for National History Day in Arkansas. We need judges in 5 categories: Websites, Documentary, Exhibits, Performance, and Papers.

We need kind people who like students. There will be training on the day of the competitions from 8-9am then judge teams will interview students until about 11:30. Then you will deliberate to pick the top projects. You will receive a voucher for lunch. 90% of the students have already been eliminated and the choices made Saturday will determine who will represent our state at Nationals in June.

Email aadams38@uca.edu with questions

https://ar.nhd.org/App?f=d288105c-9f75-481a-a7a0-1e74b6393afc