Submitted by: Tracy McGarrity, tracym@uca.edu on 09/30/2026
Please mark your calendars to celebrate Reesa’s retirement. It will be Tuesday, November 3, 2026 from 2 – 4 pm in the Fireplace Room, McCastlain Hall.
Archives for October 2026
UCA’s Coil Program Sees Continued Growth
Submitted by: Michelle Wynn, mwynn@uca.edu on 09/30/2026
The Center for Global Learning is celebrating the tenth semester of our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in Fall 2026 with eight faculty offering nine courses with an embedded COIL unit for 159 students. UCA’s COIL program started in spring 2022 and has seen steady growth in participation to the point that it is now the largest COIL program in Arkansas.
Coined in 2006 by Jon Rubin, COIL connects two or more classrooms of collaborating students and instructors from different countries over the internet to solve problems, gain new perspectives on academic disciplines, and build global competencies.
UCA students working in COIL units in our “Global Classrooms” build their problem-solving, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication skills while completing a group project that requires them to collaborate and compromise with students in another country. Faculty are encouraged to align their COIL units with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
COIL by the numbers
UCA Collaborative Online International Learning Program: Spring 2022 – Fall 2026
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- Total COIL Classes Offered: 43 classes across 10 semesters
- Total Student Impact: 937 students enrolled
- Overall Unique Professors: 26 different professors have taught a COIL
- UCA faculty receiving COIL training: 58 professors have completed the UCA summer
Global Learning Institute
Resources & Opportunities for Faculty
- 7th Annual Global Learning Institute: May 24-25, 2027
GLI participants will learn about the COIL pedagogy and strategies for designing
collaborative projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(#GlobalGoals). Participants also will hear from students and international partners and explore intended and unintended learning outcomes, assessment practices, and research opportunities. GLI participants will receive a $100 stipend and two catered lunches. Participants are expected to work with an international partner during the 2027-28 academic year to implement a COIL project.
Submit your application online today 2027 Global Learning Institute application
For more information visit www.uca.edu/global-learning. Contact Dr. Phillip Bailey at
phillipb@uca.edu
Call for Nominations-2026-2027 Faculty Excellence Awards
Submitted by: April Gunn, agunn@uca.edu on 09/30/2026
Please take a moment to nominate a deserving faculty member for one of UCA’s Faculty Excellence Awards.
The three award categories are:
– Public Service
– Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
– Teaching Excellence
Please complete the nomination form and forward it to the appropriate committee chair listed on the form. Additional information can be found under “Faculty Excellence Awards” on the UCA Academic Affairs website.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, October 23, 2026.
The finalists will be awarded during the Faculty & Staff Recognition Program on April 13, 2027.
https://uca.edu/academicaffairs/files/2026/09/2026-27-Faculty-Excellence-Award-Nomination-Form.pdf
CLUE | LIVE ON STAGE!
Submitted by: Sarah Henry, shenry10@uca.edu on 09/29/2026
Friday, October 23, 2026 @ 7:00 pm
A mansion. A murder. A mystery.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved.
* Recommended for ages 12+. Use of smoke, haze and gunshot sound effects.
https://uca.edu/publicappearances/broadway/clue/
The Main Stage Education Series Season Opener | Velveteen
Submitted by: Sarah Henry, shenry10@uca.edu on 09/29/2026
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 @ 10:00 am and 12:00 pm | Reynolds Performance Hall
This magical new musical introduces audiences to Lulu, her Gran, her beloved toys and a nest of legendary rabbits. Lulu confronts big change, having just moved in with her Gran. To make things a little more comfortable, Gran gives her a velveteen rabbit – just like the one her mom had. Velveteen and Lulu form a special bond, making some of the other toys jealous and leaving Velveteen wishing he could live outside with the “real” rabbits he meets through the window. Ultimately, Velveteen discovers the transformative power of loving relationships and what it means to be Real. Velveteen – at times thoughtful, playful at others – is an uplifting story about the importance of being your authentic self.
https://uca.edu/publicappearances/featured/velveteen-a-new-musical/
What the Wealth of Nations Can Still Teach Us
Submitted by: Jeremy Horpedahl, jhorpedahl@uca.edu on 09/29/2026
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith’s famous book, “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.” Even after so long, Smith’s almost 1000-page long book continues to provide insight that feels contemporary. Some lessons from this book are so well-established that economists take them for granted. Others are less well-known but remain important. Join Janet Bufton, who spent eight years working to make Adam Smith’s work accessible, to consider what 250 years of inquiry into the “Wealth of Nations” has taught us.
The event will take place at 1:40pm on October 8, 2026, in the College of Business Auditorium.
Janet Bufton is a writer, editor, and speaker based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
https://uca.edu/acre/speakers-series/
UCA’s Next Generation Service Corps (NGSC) is now accepting applications for the first NGSC program in Arkansas!
Submitted by: Kim Hoffman, khoffman@uca.edu on 09/29/2026
UCA’s Next Generation Service Corps (NGSC) is now accepting applications for the first NGSC program in Arkansas!
The NGSC offers students a unique academic and experiential opportunity. NGSC is open to first semester UCA students, regardless of major, who express an interest in public service, community engagement, and solving policy problems.
NGSC students complete academic courses to increase their civic knowledge and engage in activities that help build leadership and policy skills to become the next generation of public service leaders.
Students participate in internships and community service, network with public service professionals, attend site visits to government agencies and non-profit organizations, and meet students from across the country who are dedicated to public service. In short, the UCA NSGC prepares students to be leaders in all fields, across all sectors, working collaboratively to better their communities.
NGSC encourages first semester UCA students from ALL MAJORS to apply to the program. We are particularly interested in students who:
* Have demonstrated a commitment to public service through volunteer activities and/or community service.
* Are passionate about solving public policy problems and implementing solutions for policy change.
* Are interested in working collaboratively across all sectors (government, non-profit, and private industry) to learn about and solve public policy problems.
* Are interested in public service careers in government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Students should apply by November 1, 2026, at this link:
For more information, contact Dr. Kim Hoffman, NGSC Director, at khoffman@uca.edu or visit:
https://uca.edu/politicalscience/uca-next-generation-service-corps/