Archive

Submitted by: Jacob Christie, jchristie1@uca.edu on 01/14/2026

Dear UCA Faculty and Staff,

Good morning from the Tutoring and Academic Support Center (TASC)! The TASC is open for Spring 2026 and ready to assist students with course-based tutoring, study and testing skills, and student-facing technology. Our tutors are ready to work with your students in high-demand courses like Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computer Science, and more. This semester we are excited to add Philosophy tutoring and History tutoring to our services! We also have a quiet study hall with desks, a computer lab, and comfortable seating. These services are available to students at no additional cost!

Creating an appointment is super easy! Encourage students to visit us at https://uca.edu/studentsuccess/tutoring/, and click on the “Make an Appointment” link to get started. They are also welcome to visit us in Torreyson Library 223, email us at tutoring@uca.edu, or call us at 501-852-0720.

We look forward to working with you! Go Bears!!

https://uca.edu/studentsuccess/tutoring/

Submitted by: Leslie Coger, lcoger1@uca.edu on 01/14/2026

If you’re working with data or looking to build more technical skills, our SQL Bootcamp was built with you in mind—and registration is now open.
In just 4 weeks, you’ll gain the SQL skills you need to feel confident working with data and databases.

Here’s why students love this class:

– Build a strong foundation fast: Master core SQL commands, advanced joins, and real-world queries to support data analysis work.
– Learn from an expert: The instructor has over 25 years of experience in database architecture and business data solutions.
– 100% virtual, hands-on learning: Join us live online, three evenings a week, with practical exercises and no pressure from tests or grades.

Class Details:
March 3 – March 26, 2026
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
6:00 – 9:00 PM CST
100% virtual — join from anywhere

Apply now!

https://arkansascodingacademy.com/apply/

Submitted by: Leslie Coger, lcoger1@uca.edu on 01/13/2026

Join our team for an informal virtual Q&A session about our application process, new program offerings, and more!
Join us online on Tuesday, January 27th at Noon to chat with our admission team and get all your questions answered. Whether you’re a prospective student or just curious about our programs, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with us from the comfort of your own home. We’ll be discussing our application process, program details, and any other information you need to know. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn more about what we have to offer! Register Below!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-qa-session-with-the-admissions-team-tickets-1980415287436?aff=oddtdtcreator

Submitted by: Anthony Fillippino, anthonyf@uca.edu on 01/13/2026

The T-Rec (Thomas C. Courtway Student Recreation Center) will be CLOSED on Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18 in observance of the MLK Holiday.
Monday, January 19 will be 3 pm – 10 pm.

https://uca.edu/campusrecreation/hours/

Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 01/12/2026

What if you could see student learning as it happens—before the quiz, the paper, or the exam?

CETAL invites faculty to a Bear Bites Learning Lunch focused on Cultures of Thinking, a practical, research-based framework developed by Ron Ritchhart and colleagues at Harvard’s Project Zero. This workshop explores how small, intentional shifts in classroom culture can lead to:

• deeper learning,
• stronger reasoning, and
• more engaged students!

Rather than asking students to simply absorb content, Cultures of Thinking helps instructors design learning environments where students wrestle with ideas, explain their reasoning, and make their thinking visible—giving faculty clearer insight into how learning is unfolding in real time.

During this workshop, you will:

• Explore cultural forces that shape learning environments
• Experience easy-to-use, visible thinking routines you can plug into existing lessons
• Practice strategies that move teaching from content delivery to cultivating an intellectual community
• Leave with concrete tools you can use immediately—no course redesign required

All strategies are designed to be low-prep and sustainable. As students become familiar with them, they often begin to use them independently, creating a classroom culture where thinking is shared, valued, and visible.

Date: January 20
Time: 12:15 pm
Location: Executive Dining Room, Christian Cafeteria

🔗 Learn more about Cultures of Thinking on the CETAL Blog
(Did you know this?! Yes, we have a blog! So much good information.)

🔗 Register for this Bear Bites Learning Lunch
(The food’s pretty good, and there’s always the salad bar! 🥗)

If you’re looking for practical strategies that deepen learning and help you see what students are actually thinking, this session is for you. Join us and leave with ideas you’ll want to use right away.

See you there!

https://uca.edu/cetal/instructional-workshops/

Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 01/12/2026

CETAL’s Spring Programming Is Here!

Spring semester is officially in motion, and CETAL is rolling out a lineup of faculty learning experiences designed to fuel your teaching, spark new ideas, and build community across campus. Whether you want to explore new tools, strengthen your instructional practice, or connect with colleagues across disciplines, this spring lineup is built to meet you where you are—with strategies and conversations you can use right away.

Here’s what’s happening this spring:

• Coaching Circles – guided, small-group support
  • New Faculty Teaching Academy
  • Early Career Coaching Circle
  • Academic Leadership Learning Community: Strong Ground

• Faculty Learning Communities – collaborative, semester-long learning cohorts
  • Community Cafe: Teaching & Learning in STEM
  • Global Learning Research & Reading Group

• Book Groups – shared reading, thoughtful discussion, and community connection
  • Teaching with AI Book Group: More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI
  • Student Success Book Group: Mind Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge

• Bear Bites Learning Lunches – bite-sized professional development over lunch
  • Creating Cultures of Thinking in the Classroom
  • Expanding Worldviews Through Our Curricula: Experiences with and Ideas for Intercultural Instruction
  • Making the Core Rubric Work for You: Practical Strategies for Assessing Student Presentations
  • First-Day Scavenger Hunt: Kickstarting Engagement

• Bear Necessities – informative, faculty learning with a caffeine kick (We have snacks and coffee!)
  • Exploring Some Specs of Specification Grading

• NEW! AI Community of Practice – explore generative AI with curiosity, creativity, and practical classroom applications

🔗 Explore the CETAL website for more details about our spring programming!

If you’re a longtime CETAL participant—welcome back. You know we aim for programming that respects your time and delivers ideas that matter. If you’re new to CETAL programming (or just haven’t jumped in yet), consider this your invitation: CETAL programming isn’t a closed club—it’s the place to get strategies, community, and professional development that gives you tools.

🔗 Registration is open now!

Come for the tools. Stay for the people. Leave with ideas that strengthen your teaching. 💜🐻

https://airtable.com/appZpCaym6Uuqk8WG/shrOGI9an8Rrz7cpo

Submitted by: Scott Austin, saustin@uca.edu on 01/12/2026

Weather permitting, the UCA Observatory will be open to the public to view astronomical objects through the 14-inch aperture telescope anytime between 6pm and 8pm Wednesday Jan 14. Entrance to the observatory is located in the front lobby of Lewis Science Center.  If the doors of the connector between LSC and the Conway Corporation Center for Science are locked, check the doors on the west side of LSC.

https://uca.edu/physics/observatory/

Submitted by: Paula Myers, paulam@uca.edu on 01/12/2026

Keep your young reader moving and learning! CubsRead: Reading in Motion Part 2 kicks off this February with all-new activities and material, perfect for kids who loved Part 1 or are joining for the first time. Sign up now to keep the reading fun going!

Mondays, February 2nd – April 6th at 4:00 – 4:50 pm

https://uca.edu/outreach/cubsread/

Submitted by: Paula Myers, paulam@uca.edu on 01/12/2026

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/

Submitted by: Kylee Horn, kbeetch1@uca.edu on 01/12/2026

Encourage your students to apply!

Purple Society at UCA recognizes students each year who excel academically, socially, and philanthropically. Each year, the top 2% of upperclassmen will be recognized. Selections are based on academic achievement, student involvement, and contributions to the UCA community and beyond while enrolled as a student at UCA.

Applications close on 11:59 PM on January 23rd, 2026. Make sure they don’t miss out!

Applicants must have a 2.75 cumulative GPA, have completed at least 90 hours by December 2025, be enrolled in Spring 2026 classes, and have not previously been named to Purple Society or National Who’s Who Among Students award are eligible to apply. No late submissions will be accepted, and all GPA and enrollment information will be verified.

https://uca.campuslabs.com/engage/submitter/form/start/705403