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Use Ally to Increase the Accessibility of Blackboard Content

Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 03/22/2023

What is Ally?
Ally is a tool that works with Bb Learn to help instructors ensure course content is accessible to all users. It scans pages, documents, images, and more providing each item with an accessibility score and options for how to fix accessibility issues if needed.

Why do I need to use Ally?
Ally is extremely useful for checking that content is accessible. You’ll be able to see the accessibility indicators throughout the course content and make changes right in Blackboard to make that content accessible for all students. Accessibility Indicators next to each content item show how accessible the content is (0% – 100%) and how you can fix those accessibility issues. In addition, Ally will create alternative formats that students can use to download the version that works best for them to learn and study.

Why does my course content need to be accessible?
Accessibility ensures that ALL students are able to access your course content and materials. We recommend adopting the practice of universal design, which means proactively creating materials that are accessible to everyone.

How do I enable Ally in my courses?
Ally has been automatically enabled for all courses since the fall of 2021.

Important Reminders
– Students view only the alternative formats created for content. They do not see the accessibility scores for items or courses.
– Bb Ally does not process student content or submissions.

Use this checklist to make sure your Blackboard content is accessible to all students.

Additional information can be found on the Ally page of the IT Knowledge Base and the
Blackboard Ally website.

If you have questions or need assistance, please email DESupport@uca.edu.

https://uca.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1923/Portal/KB/?CategoryID=21600

DOE’s Office of Science Is Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2023 Undergraduate Intern and Visiting Faculty Placements

Submitted by: Sara Bailey, sbailey7@uca.edu on 03/17/2023

Per a DOE email:

Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2023 term of three programs offered by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC): the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program (https://science.osti.gov/wdts/suli), the Community College Internships (CCI) program (https://science.osti.gov/wdts/cci), and the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP; https://science.osti.gov/wdts/vfp). The application deadline is May 25, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

A total of three informational workshops will be held for SULI and CCI. One application workshop will be held for each program and will provide an overview of the program’s unique requirements and application process. The third and final workshop will highlight SULI and CCI opportunities at the DOE National Labs and feature breakout rooms with lab representatives.

CCI application workshop: March 29, 2023 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT (register here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItc-6oqjgoGxqbEwDdE7NXi5hzYFvIX88?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery)

SULI application workshop: April 12, 2023 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT (register here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsduuqrz0vE6x9h1jM7MjBu7AEFWCQS4Y?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery)

SULI and CCI opportunities workshop: April 24, 2023 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm EDT (register here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcOugrDMpHGdh6LLrnt67C0Cj5QWNol4?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery)

One informational workshop will be held for VFP. The first part of the workshop will introduce the program and application process; the second part of the workshop will feature a panel of VFP alumni.

VFP workshop: April 26, 2023 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT (register here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcu-vpjgvHYSa9YEbYGWfjSClCtSMQ1M?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery)

Through SULI and CCI, undergraduate students discover science and technology careers at the DOE national laboratories and gain the experience needed to transition from intern to employment. Interns work directly with national laboratory scientists and engineers, assisting them on research or technology projects that support the DOE mission. SULI is open to full-time students attending 4-year institutions and community colleges or recent graduates within two years of receiving their bachelor’s degree, while CCI is exclusively for community college students. Both programs are stipend-based and offered three times annually in Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.

VFP seeks to increase the research competitiveness of faculty members and their students at institutions historically underrepresented in STEM to expand the workforce vital to DOE mission areas. As such, VFP especially attracts faculty members from MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Typically, about 50% of the participants are from MSIs, one-third of which are HBCUs. Selected college and university faculty members collaborate with DOE laboratory scientific research staff on research projects of mutual interest.

SULI, CCI, and VFP are managed by WDTS in the DOE Office of Science. More information can be found at https://science.osti.gov/wdts.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Submitted by: Joshua Gibby, gibbyj@uca.edu on 03/16/2023

UCA Theatre presents The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

April 6th, 7th, 13th & 14th at 7:30 PM
April 8th at 2:00

Grand opening of the James M Bridges Black Box Theatre in the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts. UCA Students, Faculty, & Staff can receive 2 FREE tickets at the door or at the Reynold’s Box Office.

uca.edu/theatre

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre Summer LAB

Submitted by: Katie Aschbrenner, klittle7@uca.edu on 03/16/2023

AST is excited to be expanding our LAB into the summer! Elementary, Middle, and High School students can enroll in an immersive theatre arts experience this summer with teaching artists and professional theatre practitioners from around the state with our new Summer LAB!

Elementary & Middle School:
9am-12pm

High School:
1pm-4pm

Tuition, scholarship, and registration information is available at arkshakes.com
We offer huge discounts to the UCA Community!

https://www.arkshakes.com/education

Arts Endowment Panel Service

Submitted by: Sara Bailey, sbailey7@uca.edu on 03/16/2023

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) panelists play a central role in reviewing applications for funding. NEA relies on panels composed of individuals who represent a broad range of arts research expertise, cultural viewpoints, as well as wide geographic and ethnic diversity, to provide advice about the artistic excellence and artistic merit of proposals in a variety of funding categories.

Review panels are composed of both arts researchers and knowledgeable laypersons. Serving as a grant review panelist offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the NEA’s application review process. It can also provide an informative overview on current trends and priorities throughout the field of arts research.

If you are interested in being considered for panel service, please visit the link below to learn more.

https://www.arts.gov/form/volunteer-to-be-a-national-endowment-for-the-arts-panelist

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants

Submitted by: Sara Bailey, sbailey7@uca.edu on 03/14/2023

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund aims to stimulate growth of new connections between scholars working in largely disconnected fields who might together change the course of climate change’s impact on human health. Over the next two years, the foundation will dedicate $1M to supporting small, earlystage grants of $2,500 – $50,000 toward achieving this goal.

They are particularly but not exclusively interested in activities that build connections between basic/early biomedical scientific approaches and ecological, environmental, geological, geographic, and planetary-scale thinking, as well as with population-focused fields including epidemiology and public health, demography, economics, and urban planning. Also of interest is work piloting new approaches or new interactions toward reducing the impact of health-centered activities, for example, developing more sustainable systems for health care, care delivery, and biomedical research systems. Another area of interest is preparation for the impacts of extreme weather and other crises that can drive large scale disruptions that will immediately impact human health and delivery of health care. Public outreach, climate communication, and education efforts focused on the intersection of climate and health are also appropriate for this call.

Proposals will be reviewed quarterly from September 1, 2021 through July 12, 2023. After each quarterly review, they will support, decline, or send proposals back to applicants for revision, but may hold some proposals over for a future review. Recommended revisions may include suggestions that separate groups of applicants submitting similar proposals work together to develop a single proposal or that applicants consider becoming involved in efforts aligned with work funded in earlier quarters.

For more information, please visit the link below.

https://www.bwfund.org/funding-opportunities/climate-change-and-human-health/climate-change-and-human-health-seed-grants/

UCA Department of Health Sciences Student Case Study Team Places 2nd in the Nation

Submitted by: Anita Sego, asego@uca.edu on 03/14/2023

The Department of Health Sciences is happy to announce that their team of undergraduate students placed second in the nation in the National Case Study Competition for Health Education (NCSCHE). This year’s team was comprised of Anna Weisenbach, Stella Radke, and Mystic Clements.

(Picture Table inserted here in PDF attachment)

Anna Weisenbach is a Health Services Administration major from Pocahontas, Arkansas. She is the daughter of Sheri and the late Ricky Weisenbach. Anna plans to graduate with her undergraduate degree in December 2023 and attend the UCA Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Stella Radke is Psychology and Addiction Studies major from Ozark, Arkansas. She is the daughter of Torsten and Corrie Radke. Stella plans to graduate in May and go on to complete a master’s degree in social work. Mystic Clements is a biology major from Conway, Arkansas who is also completing a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience and Health Education with a concentration of Pre-Medicine. After graduation from UCA, Mystic plans to attend medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to become a pediatric neurosurgeon.

This year’s faculty mentors were Dr. Anita Sego and Dr. Stephanie Rose from the UCA Department of Health Sciences. Dr. Sego also served as a judge for the annual virtual competition that took place from March 1-3, 2023.

Every year, NCSCHE® brings together up to 50 teams (30 undergrad and 20 grad) from leading universities to compete in solving a real-life challenge. Three weeks prior to the competition, students and their advisor will be emailed a community-based public health case. Students work independently to develop a resolution to the issue and a presentation for a panel of judges. Teams have free reign to address the issue as they see fit, but generally they will have to show competence in the NCHEC Core Competencies for a Health Education Specialist. Students present to a panel of judges, given approximately 15 minutes to present, and then 10 minutes for questions from the panel. Eta Sigma Gamma serves as a national sponsor and partner with the National Case Study Competition in Health Education® (NCSCHE®) each year for the fall regional competitions and the spring national competitions.

Students are given the opportunity to apply CHES competencies to the case and demonstrate the program planning and community organizing skills they have learned in their professional development programs and majors. They further practice highly useful skills such as becoming good at team work, problem solving and applying theory to real life cases. The case study prepares our students to become people with problem solving skills to combat the challenges that they might face in their careers and participating in case competitions helps build their professional resumes since the competition is highly regards nationwide. Judges for the competition are leaders in health professions from around the nation so by taking part in the competition our students are given personal encounters with health leaders from all over the United States.

I have the PDF if you want to email me. It would not attached below.