Submitted by: Amy Whitehead, amyw@uca.edu on 09/16/2025
Congratulations to Tim Ingram on being named a Blue Ribbon Workforce Awards honoree in the construction category! This award recognition has been granted by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce.
Archive
Love Languages & Lattes
Submitted by: Vergie Jackson, vjackson7@uca.edu on 09/16/2025
Mobilize Recovery
Submitted by: Stephanie Rose, srose3@uca.edu on 09/15/2025
CONWAY, Ark. (UCA) — Mobilize Recovery will bring the Campus Surge 2025 initiative to the University of Central Arkansas as part of a nationwide effort to address the challenges of substance use and mental health among college students.This free event will be held on International Recovery Day, Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 3-7 p.m. at the UCA Student Center Amphitheater.
According to Mobilize Recovery, over 23 million Americans are in recovery from addiction.
Mobilize Recovery Campus Surge is free and open to the public. This event aims to raise awareness, provide resources and empower students to become advocates for recovery within their communities. Tacos4Life and mocktails will be provided. Registration is requested at mobilizerecovery.org/uca_campus_surge.
“We are excited to welcome Mobilize Recovery to UCA as part of Campus Surge 2025,” UCA Addiction Studies Director Dr. Stephanie Rose said. “This initiative not only brings national attention to the importance of recovery, but also provides our students, faculty and community members with the tools and support to create lasting change.
“Hosting this event reflects UCA’s commitment to fostering a campus culture where recovery is visible, celebrated and accessible to all.”
Special guests for the event will include:
Noah Thompson, country music singer and 2022 American Idol Winner.
Tom Farley, New York Times bestselling author of “The Chris Farley Show” and brother to the late actor and comedian, recovery advocate, and community outreach director at Recovery.com.
Luke Niforatos, executive vice president, Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
The event will feature:
Interactive sessions on addiction, recovery, and mental health led by experts and advocates.
Leadership and advocacy training designed to equip students with tools to effect change.
Musical performances, giveaways, and interactive exhibits to foster community connection and dialogue.
Distribution of overdose reversal agents and fentanyl test strips to reduce fatalities.
Special representatives of the State of Arkansas, including State Drug Director Thomas Fisher, Rep. Tara Shephard, Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership Director Kirk Lane, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and others.
The Mobilize Recovery Campus Surge 2025 tour, in partnership with META and iHeart Media, will travel to 13 universities nationwide this fall, uniting students, advocates and allies to build momentum for recovery advocacy, prevention and the destigmatization of substance use disorders. All are welcome, including those in recovery and those who care about anyone in recovery.
Additional information and registration is available at mobilizerecovery.org/uca_campus_surge.
About Mobilize Recovery
Mobilize Recovery is dedicated to raising up the voices of people whose lives are affected by addiction. From direct outreach to civic & community engagement, we empower advocates to take direct action by providing digital tools, advocacy training, and education.
UCA Welcomes Artist in Residence Bernadette Speach
Submitted by: Sarah Brackett, sbrackett1@uca.edu on 09/15/2025
The University of Central Arkansas will host renowned composer, pianist and educator Bernadette Speach for a three-day residency Sept.16-18 highlighting her work on the opera “The Little Rock Nine.”
“I am so pleased to welcome Bernadette Speach to campus as we restart the momentum of ‘The Little Rock Nine’ opera,” Dr. Donna Lampkin Stephens, director of UCA’s School of Communication, said. “Our work on this interdisciplinary project started in 2012, and to think that, thanks to Bernadette and the librettist, Thulani Davis, we are finally near completion is very exciting.
“Important projects such as this one take time as well as the work and cooperation of many people. Our residency will include journalism and history as well as music and other disciplines, and I am happy that our current UCA students will have a chance to learn more about this important piece of our state and nation’s history during this visit.”
The residency will include a pair of student-focused conversations and a screening of the short documentary “The Crisis Mr. Faubus Made: The Role of the Arkansas Gazette in the Central High Crisis” (2010). On Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, the university will host a public conversation with Speach featuring clips from “The Little Rock Nine” opera.
All events will be held on the UCA campus, are open to the public and free of charge, with no tickets required for entry.
The full schedule for the residency is as follows:
Tuesday, Sept.16
12:15-1:30 p.m., Student Event: Conversation with Bernadette Speach about Interdisciplinary Projects, Stanley Russ Hall 103.
1:40-2:30 p.m., Film Screening: “The Crisis Mr. Faubus Made: The Role of the Arkansas Gazette in the Central High Crisis” (2010, Kevin Clark, director, 30 min.), with Q&A featuring composer Bernadette Speach and film co-writer Dr. Donna Lampkin Stephens, Stanley Russ Hall 103.
Wednesday, Sept. 17
12-12:50 p.m., Student Event: Round-Table Discussion for Interdisciplinary Students with Bernadette Speach, journalist Ernie Dumas, and civil rights activist Elizabeth Eckford, moderated by Dr. Donna Lampkin Stephens, Stanley Russ Hall 103.
Thursday, Sept. 18
7-8:30 p.m., Public Event: A Conversation with Bernadette Speach with Video Clips from “The Little Rock Nine” Opera, moderated by Dr. Donna Lampkin Stephens, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts Concert Hall.
The UCA Artists in Residence program is funded by the Fine and Performing Arts Fee paid by all students, with additional support from Engage Management and Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing. More information about the Artists in Residence program is available at uca.edu/go/artistsinresidence or by contacting Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at gayles@uca.edu.
https://uca.edu/cahss/artists-in-residence/
Admin Support Employee Resource Group – Kick Off Meeting, Sept. 17th
Submitted by: Debbie Brigham, dbrigham@uca.edu on 09/15/2025
The UCA Admin Support Employee Resource Group (ASERG) would like to invite all Admins to our September kick off meeting :
What: Admin Support Kick Off Meeting with Staff Senate President, Dr. Veneta Fricks
When: September 17, 2025
Where: Windgate Concert Hall
Time: 10:00-11:00 am
Event details:
* Welcome from Admin Support Employee Resource Group (ASERG) Team Leaders and Staff Senate President, Dr. Veneta Fricks
* Admin Support Updates – Upcoming events
* Tour of the Windgate facility
* Refreshments served after tour
See session schedule for upcoming professional development opportunities and fun events!
Q&A for Prospective Honors Capstone Mentors
Submitted by: Leah Horton, lhorton@uca.edu on 09/15/2025
If you have been asked to serve as a mentor for an Honors Capstone Project and would like more information, please consider attending the Q&A for Prospective Honors Capstone Mentors on September 30 during X-period. You can attend in person (Schichtl 115) or on Zoom. Please use this link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdewzPlbDxv_LBU-brhFwhQj8MtTZZqdcDqwZps0V0MczEVzw/viewform?usp=send_form
Coffee Meet Up at the Arkansas Coding Academy
Submitted by: Leslie Coger, lcoger1@uca.edu on 09/15/2025
This casual drop-in event is your chance to relax, chat about all things tech, and get to know the ArCA community. Whether you’re curious about learning to code, looking to connect with like-minded professionals, or already part of our extended network — you’re invited!
What to Expect:
Fresh coffee and light snacks to fuel your morning
Relaxed, open conversations about tech, learning, and careers
A chance to meet the ArCA team — instructors, admissions, and support staff
Info on current and upcoming programs for those curious about jumping into tech
A welcoming environment where you can drop in anytime during the event
RSVP Today
Let us know you’re coming! Stop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time — we’d love to see you there.
Register below!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coffee-at-the-arkansas-coding-academy-tickets-1438786110989
Want Successful Students? Participate in Faculty for Successful Students Weeks 4 & 5!
Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 09/14/2025
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership (CETAL), in collaboration with Student Success Services, is excited to continue the Faculty for Successful Students campaign. This initiative equips faculty with simple, practical strategies to support students in developing habits that foster their academic success–particularly among first-year students.
This week’s Faculty for Successful Students focus is: Clarify Performance Expectations.
This theme aligns with the student campaign emphasis: DO the Work (on Time)
Clarifying performance expectations helps students understand what is required for success, reducing confusion and anxiety. It provides clear guidelines for achieving high standards, leading to better performance and academic outcomes.
Faculty Tips to Reinforce Success
Here are a few simple ways you can encourage these habits in your classes:
- Talk openly with students about how consistent work habits impact both performance and stress levels.
- Set transparent policies on late work and explain the rationale behind them.
- Encourage students to seek support early—before deadlines hit—by highlighting campus resources like Peer Success Coaching.
- Review syllabus and LMS use (again). Reach out to students who have already missed an assignment submission to make a plan for getting back on track.
- Reveal any remaining hidden curriculum issues that you have noticed students are not aware of (e.g., taking notes during a lecture, preparing questions for discussion, etc.).
- Use rubrics (and explore using the rubric tool in Blackboard) to communicate to students what successful performance will look like on an assignment and what factors will contribute to their success. When possible, encourage students to use the rubric to self-assess their work and identify and address any shortcomings before submitting it for a grade.
Bear Bites Invitation:
We also invite you to join us for Bear Bites: Meaningful Student Feedback on Thursday, September 18, at 12:15 p.m. in Torreyson West 319. This lunch program will highlight practical ways to provide feedback that supports student success while keeping your workload manageable.
👉 Register for this Bear Bites event!
Resources for You:
Together, we can help students strengthen the skills and behaviors that make them successful at UCA. Thank you for supporting this important initiative!
https://uca.edu/cetal/faculty-for-successful-students/
Men’s Soccer at Home on Sunday
Submitted by: Kristen Oitker, koitker1@uca.edu on 09/13/2025
The first home Men’s Soccer match of the season is finally here! Join us Sunday at the Bill Stephens Complex at 7 PM for a matchup with Eastern Illinois! Admission is free!
Volleyball vs Oklahoma – Sunday
Submitted by: Kristen Oitker, koitker1@uca.edu on 09/13/2025
Join us in the FARRIS CENTER for a major match on campus! We welcome the Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday at 3:30 PM to take on the Sugar Bears! FREE ADMISSION! Help us bring the Prince Center energy over to the Farris Center!