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ACT Prep Registration for Spring Open – Starts January 19th!

Submitted by: Paula Myers, paulam@uca.edu on 01/06/2026

This interactive course via Zoom is designed for high school students (10th grade and above) who have previously scored between 17-25 on the ACT or for high schoolers who have yet to take the test. Current and former UCA faculty/staff members will review subject material and offer test-taking tips to help students progress through the exam in a more reasonable and timely manner. Choose one subject to focus on or choose all four at a reduced total rate. Class sizes are limited to 12 per section to maximize learning.

English: Mondays – January 19, January 26, & February 2, 2026
Reading: Tuesdays – January 20, January 27 & February 3, 2026
Science: Wednesdays – January 21, January 28 & February 4, 2026
Math: Thursdays – January 22, January 29 & February 5, 2026

Section A: 5:00 pm – 6:20 pm
Section B: 6:30 pm – 7:50 pm

https://uca.edu/outreach/testprep/

Post Award Grants & Contract Accounting Training – Next Wednesday

Submitted by: Lyn Gayfield, egayfield@uca.edu on 01/06/2026

Co-hosted by the Admin Support Employee Resource Group (ASERG)

Wednesday, January 14, 2026
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Lewis 174 Computer Lab & Zoom (link below)

Agenda
*Post-Awards Grants and Contracts department overview
*Grant lifecycle details
*Q&A

Email employeeadminsupport@uca.edu with any questions.

https://uca-edu.zoom.us/j/83456105453?pwd=lSrN6vvZbUY2h74ZLaQybdby7m99xP.1

⚡Support Our Students! Attend the Virtual Book Event with Author Dr. Sarah Cavanagh

Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 01/05/2026

UCA faculty and staff—get ready for a session that actually gets it.

CETAL is excited to invite you to a virtual book talk with Dr. Sarah Rose Cavanagh—psychologist, educator, and author of Mind Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge on:

  • Wednesday, January 28
  • 2:00–3:00 pm
  • Zoom

Dr. Cavanagh’s work explores how emotion, motivation, learning, and resilience shape student success—with an emphasis on strategies that are meaningful, evidence-based, and sustainable for faculty.

If you’ve been part of the Faculty for Successful Students initiative, think of this as a power-up hour full of the insight-filled moments that connect the dots between student challenges and real classroom support.

And if you haven’t been part of the Faculty for Successful Students series, this is still a can’t-miss hour. Why? Because supporting student mental health isn’t a niche teaching topic—it’s part of every classroom, advising conversation, email exchange, and moment when a student is trying to succeed while carrying invisible challenges. You’ll walk away with research-backed strategies that help students thrive without draining your own bandwidth, plus language for talking about motivation, emotions, and resilience in ways that feel natural—not scripted.

This session is designed to:

  • Deliver practical, research-grounded ideas you can use right away
  • Offer perspective from someone who understands teaching from the inside
  • Give you a well-earned intellectual breather from grading, inbox triage, and the eternal “just one more thing…”

And because great conversations deserve to continue: CETAL will also host a spring semester book group centered on Mind Over Monsters for those who want to keep the momentum going with colleagues across campus.

🔗 Register for the virtual book event

🔗 Register for the spring book group

All faculty welcome! Join us on January 28. Bring your curiosity. Leave with ideas worth sharing.

See you there, UCA!

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership (CETAL)
University of Central Arkansas

 

Celebrating Leadership Growth: Vicki Parish Promoted to Assistant Director of CETAL

Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 01/05/2026

Banner image in purple and gold with text Celebrating Leadership Growth Vicki Parish Promoted to Assistant Director of CETAL.

The University of Central Arkansas’ Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership (CETAL) is thrilled to announce the promotion of Vicki Parish to Assistant Director of CETAL.

In this expanded leadership role, Vicki will continue advancing CETAL’s mission to support teaching excellence, foster innovative academic leadership, and champion faculty success across all course modalities. Her dedication to faculty development, collaborative partnerships, and student-centered learning initiatives has made a lasting impact on our campus community.

Vicki brings experience, leadership, and a passion for empowering instructors at every stage of their teaching journey. This promotion reflects not only her outstanding contributions, but also CETAL’s continued commitment to strengthening faculty support, academic innovation, and institutional belonging.

Please join up in congratulating Vicki on this well-deserved achievement. We are excited for the vision, leadership, and momentum she will bring to CETAL’s next chapter.

Headshot image of Vicki Parish on a background of purple and gold with text Congratulations Vicki

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership (CETAL)
University of Central Arkansas

 

Upcoming Web Accessibility Walk-In Session from OARS

Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 01/02/2026

Description: Receive direct one-on-one assistance on how to check for correct headings, alt text, captioning and meaningful information on your UCA webpage. Please have your SiteImprove report available either by email or in print.

January 22, 2026 (Thursday)
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Burdick 313

Session Assistants: Mark Heffington, Executive Director, University Marketing and Communications (UMAC), Doris Pierce, OARS Director, John Ortigo, OARS Assistive Technology Specialist

 

Food Pantry Holiday Hours

Submitted by: Tracy McGarrity, tracym@uca.edu on 12/17/2025

During UCA’s hybrid operations and Winter Break, the Bear Essentials Food Pantry will be closed 12/15/25 – 1/9/26. Before the Spring Semester begins, the Food Pantry will undergo cleaning and restocking the week of 1/5 – 1/9/26.

We will reopen with Spring Semester hours of Monday thru Thursday 11 am – 5 pm on January 12, 2026.

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