Archives for April 2025

Submitted by: Zach Smith, zsmith@uca.edu on 04/08/2025

Join us on April 25th at 3pm in the Hall of Fame Room at Estes Stadium to celebrate four (!) UCA History faculty who have published books during the 24-25 academic year. This event highlights the hard work and intellectual contributions of Dr. Michael Mwenda Kithinji, editor of The Historical Dictionary of Kenya; Dr. Kenneth Barnes, author of Mob Rule in the Ozarks; Dr. Vaughn Scribner, author of Under Alien Skies; and Dr. Buckley T Foster, author of So Great Was the Slaughter. The event will feature free food and is open to all students, faculty, staff, and history fans.

 

Submitted by: Donna Stephens, donnals@uca.edu on 04/08/2025

Rob Moritz, a Lecturer I in Journalism, has written a biography of his grandfather, who was a pioneer in forensic pathology, that was recently published by CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group). Dr. Alan R. Moritz and Forensic Pathology: Tales That Dead Men Tell, recounts the career of Dr. Moritz (1899-1986), using personal papers and correspondence, interviews, newspaper accounts and other sources, including archived materials from Harvard Medical School, the Rockefeller Foundation, Case Western Reserve and the University Hospitals of Cleveland.
The biography details many of his grandfather’s investigative techniques and research findings that are still used today. High-profile investigations Dr. Moritz worked on are also detailed, including the death of actor George Reeves, television’s first Superman; the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; the Sam Shepherd case, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire, the Attica prison riots and the Texas Tower fire, to name a few.
Moritz also details a number of his grandfather’s first-hand accounts of some history’s darkest moments, including a lynching during the “Red Summer” of 1919, the rise of Nazi Germany and the death of a black dissident during the Apartheid-era in South Africa.
The book is available on Amazon, Routledge, the UCA Bookstore and at various other bookstores.

 

Submitted by: Anthony Fillippino, anthonyf@uca.edu on 04/08/2025

Basketball Courts: Thursday – Saturday, April 10-12
Golf Simulator and Racquetball Courts: Saturday, April 12
Indoor Track: Saturday, April 12

 

Submitted by: Jessica Underwood, jessicau@uca.edu on 04/07/2025

The time has come to choose our next Learning Management System — the platform that will define how we teach, engage, and assess for years to come. The Teaching with Technology Advisory Committee (TTAC) urgently needs YOUR feedback in this critical decision-making process. Your insights are irreplaceable — no one understands the faculty experience better than you!

TTAC is asking you to test drive our three potential platforms, Blackboard Ultra by Anthology, Brightspace by D2L, and Canvas by Instructure. Explore at your own pace, evaluate features that matter to you, and imagine how each platform might enhance your teaching experience.

Consider:

▪️How intuitively can you build your course?
▪️Do the assessment tools meet your needs?
▪️How effectively could you engage students?
▪️Which features do you find most appealing?

After exploring, share your feedback through the link provided within each LMS. Your evaluation will directly influence this university-wide decision!

👉DEADLINE: We need your insights by April 25th to ensure they’re included in our final evaluation. If you have any questions about the process, feel free to reach out, or simply use the link below to get started.

Your voice in this process isn’t just welcome — it’s ESSENTIAL!

https://uca.edu/lmsreview/feedback/

Submitted by: Kristen Oitker, koitker1@uca.edu on 04/07/2025

The Beach Bears are home this weekend! Four matches across two days – there’s plenty to see out at the Beach Bear Sand Courts!
Friday, April 11th
12 PM vs Mary Hardin Baylor
4 PM vs TAMU Kingsville
Saturday, April 12th
8 AM vs UT- Martin
3 PM vs Hendrix

ucasports.com

Submitted by: Kristen Oitker, koitker1@uca.edu on 04/07/2025

The Bears take on the Little Rock Trojans in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday. First pitch at Bear Stadium will be at 3 PM!

ucasports.com

Submitted by: Debbie Brigham, dbrigham@uca.edu on 04/07/2025

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!

https://uca.edu/hr/protectedcontent/professional-administrative-support-staff-recognition-april-16-2025/

Submitted by: Michael Blanchard, mdblanchard719@gmail.com on 04/07/2025

The editors of SLANT and the Vortex have announced the winners in their 2024-2025 student poetry contest at the University of Central Arkansas.

The contest was open to all undergraduate students at UCA, regardless of major, and was judged by a panel consisting of three former UCA students who are now published poets and one student editor of Vortex. Molly Coleman, a graduate student in English and the 2024-2025 Graduate Assistant for SLANT, served as contest coordinator.

That panel awarded first place to Clover McEntarffer, a junior from Conway who is a triple major in English, Creative Writing, and French, in addition to serving as the founding president of the newly formed UCA Creative Writing Club.

Second place was claimed by Caroline Young, a freshman from Piedmont, Oklahoma who is majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Anthropology.

Rounding out the top three contest finishers is Teagon Gossett of Hot Springs, a freshman majoring in Biology with a minor in Criminology.

The trio of student poets will be officially recognized at the UCA School of Language & Literature’s Spring Awards Reception later this month, when they will receive cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50, respectively, and a framed certificate for their accomplishments.

SLANT is the UCA School of Language & Literature’s international journal of contemporary poetry. The Vortex is the University’s award-winning student literary and arts magazine.

 

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 04/05/2025

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!

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.

Facilitator: Dr. Nechele McClinton-Gates, Associate Director of Residence Life

April 8, 2025 (Tuesday)
9:00-10:00 am
ZOOM

Coaching Circle – Leadership

ZOOM Link : https://uca-edu.zoom.us/j/86019206652pwd=aWtyQ3pYOHdsT1Zrb2RjV3hFNGdIZz09

 

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 04/05/2025

Appreciate a faculty or staff member for Employee Appreciation Week on the UCA Employee Podcast!

• Do you have a colleague, faculty or staff mentor who has made a big impact on your life?
• Do you want to make someone you work with feel truly special and valued?
• Are you ready to show them just how important they are in your life?
• Imagine the joy you’ll feel when you uplift someone else and brighten their day!

Here’s a fantastic idea: “Tell Them!”
Seriously, when was the last time you shared your appreciation with someone you
work with?

It’s an incredible gift to hear those heartfelt words, and it can instantly make someone
feel like they truly matter. Plus, expressing your gratitude will boost your spirits even
more! When you take a moment to acknowledge someone’s impact on your life, you’re
not just enhancing their day; you’re enriching your own! Expect a more positive outlook,
stronger friendships, and even better physical health!

Mark your calendars and get ready to spread some love!
Join us at the Ronnie Williams Student Center Radio station on April 14th from 2:00 –3:00 p.m. for a powerful podcast sharing appreciation for faculty & staff at UCA. Come ready to deliver a one-minute statement or share even more! Let’s make this an unforgettable moment of joy and gratitude! Sign up now! Or drop in and share!

Questions? Contact LeighAnn DenHartog 450-5160, ldenhartog@uca.edu
Sign-up for a time slot: https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/2ee1f3dfeb2e-4b32-aa45-f70164eafa58/select