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Archives for September 2025

Volleyball Tournament at Home This Weekend

Submitted by: Kristen Oitker, koitker1@uca.edu on 09/01/2025

There’s 3 chances to catch the Sugar Bears at home this weekend! The Central Arkansas Invitational kicks off with the Sugar Bears against the Little Rock Trojans on Friday at 6 PM in the Prince Center. Saturday it’s UCA vs Southeastern Louisiana at noon. Sunday we see the Sugar Bears take on Boston College at 4 PM. Admission is free!

https://ucasports.com/calendar

Pantry’s Fall Open Hours Start Today, 9/2/25

Submitted by: Tracy McGarrity, tracym@uca.edu on 08/29/2025

The Bear Essentials Food Pantry Fall Open hours will be 11 – 5, Monday through Thursday, beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
We are closed on Fridays, on holidays and during UCA breaks.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucabearessentials

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearessentialsfoodpantry/

Email: bearessentials@uca.edu

https://uca.edu/foodpantry/home/news/

NEW! Trauma-Informed Pedagogy Learning Community

Submitted by: Evan Faidley, efaidley@uca.edu on 08/29/2025

Trauma—including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), identity-based stress, and economic hardship—can significantly affect students’ ability to focus, stay motivated, retain information, and succeed academically. In this year-long learning community, we will come together to explore the latest research in trauma-informed pedagogy and its application to teaching and learning in our respective courses. Faculty are welcome to attend to discuss challenges we encounter in our classrooms, develop discipline-specific, trauma-informed approaches, and support each other in our efforts to reduce compassion fatigue and stabilize holistic well-being.

Dates: Mondays (9/8, 9/22 & 10/6, 10/20, & 11/3, 11/17)
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Torreyson West 319
Facilitators: Jennie Case (Creating Writing), Evan Faidley (College Student Personnel Administration), and Odunola Oyeniyi (School Counseling)

REGISTER TODAY!

https://uca.edu/cetal/faculty-learning-communities/

First-Generation Students and Professionals Program

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 08/29/2025

First-generation Students and Professionals: The Ins and Outs of Being a First and Only

First-generation students make up approximately 54% of undergraduate students in the United States. Many of these first-generation students enter academia and become first-generation higher education professionals. We will discuss characteristics of first-generation students and professionals as well as how to best support their success. Attendees will also learn how UCA provides resources and opportunities for its first-generation students.

September 25, 2025 (Thursday)
1:30-3:00 pm
Ronnie Williams Student Center 214
Presenter: Dr. Robin Williamson, Vice President of Student Affairs

Please register at the link provided.

https://uca.edu/hr/protectedcontent/first-generation-september-25-2025/

OARS: Document Accessibility Training

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 08/29/2025

Please note: We encourage you to complete the Digital Accessibility Training via the Vector Solutions platform prior to attending any of these seminars, as it will give you a general foundation of knowledge for what will be discussed during these seminars. Thank you.

Description: Per the Digital Accessibility training you attended through Vector Solutions, this training session will provide more insight on how to create accessible documents and remediate any current documents.

September 16, 2025 (Tuesday) or September 30, 2025 (Tuesday)
1:40-2:30 pm (X-Period)
Student Health Center 307
Presenter: CETAL and OARS Staff
*All seminars have the option of either ZOOM attendance or in-person attendance. Please register at the link provided for the format you prefer.

https://uca.edu/hr/protectedcontent/seminar-information/

UCA Public Appearances

Submitted by: Teresa Burton, tlb90003@uca.edu on 08/29/2025

The UCA Public Appearance Committee is still in need of 6 part-time volunteers and 3 full-time volunteers for Gin Blossoms and the Spin Doctors on Tuesday, September 9th.
As well as in need of 7 part-time volunteers and 7 full-time volunteers for UPTOWN: A Celebration of Motown and Soul on Thursday, September 25th.

Volunteers who sign up should arrive at the Reynolds Performance Hall Lobby by 5:30 p.m. on the night of the performance. If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up on the GivePulse page.

Staff members who volunteer for Staff Senate GivePulse events can now earn up to 16 hours of leave time each calendar year that can be used anytime during the year, subject to supervisor approval.

If you have any questions about volunteering for the UCA Public Appearance Committee events, please reach out to the committee co-chairs, Kendra Erickson (kerickson@uca.edu) or Hannah Hanshaw (hhanshaw1@uca.edu).

https://uca.givepulse.com/event/471347-UCA-Public-Appearances-Volunteer-Opportunities

Fall 2025 Employee Book Club

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 08/29/2025

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.
By Jonathan Haidt

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A Wall Street Journal Top 10 Book of 2024

In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. With tenacity and candor, Haidt lays out the consequences that have come with allowing kids to drift further into the virtual world and issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the “collective action problems” that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood.

NOTE: The UCA Bookstore has kindly donated several books as door prizes for the employees. Thank you, TJ McDonald and team! Your registration will place you in the drawing. Notification will be made to winners via email by September 12. If you do not receive an email notification, you will need to purchase the book via the UCA Bookstore or business of your choice.

There are two options for participation – zoom or onsite.

September 25, October 2, 9, 23, 30, and November 6, 2025 (Thursdays)
3:00-4:00 pm
Ronnie Williams Student Center 226

September 26, October 3, 10, 24, 31 and November 7, 2025 (Fridays)
9:00-10:00 am
ZOOM

Facilitator: Charlotte Strickland, HR-Employee Engagement and Enrichment

https://uca.edu/hr/protectedcontent/seminar-information/