Good afternoon. I鈥檓 pleased to welcome all of our new faculty, staff, and students to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock this fall, and to offer my heartfelt gratitude to everyone in our Trojan family for all that you do each and every day.

At today鈥檚 assembly you鈥檙e going to hear some encouraging enrollment news from Cody Decker, you鈥檒l hear about our new faculty and other academic news from David Montague, and you鈥檒l hear about the spectacular success of our capital campaign from Christian O鈥橬eal. So, I won鈥檛 steal their thunder by talking about those topics in substantial detail. Rather, I鈥檇 like to focus my remarks on where I think we are at this moment in history and what the future may hold in store for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

As you know, over the last several years, this institution has made significant strides to improve its performance in all areas, to demonstrate its value proposition to all stakeholders, and to respond effectively to a legion of extraordinary environmental challenges. In that time, we have demonstrated that we have the capacity to problem-solve, to think innovatively, and to adapt and change to produce better outcomes.

Last fall, we were able to increase our freshman class by 29% reversing a downward trend of many years. With such a big increase in one year, we worried a bit that we might not be able to sustain the same size of freshmen class this year and would backslide. So, we doubled down and continued to innovate, and this fall I鈥檓 happy to say, we held steady on freshman enrollment bringing in the same size class as last year. This is critically important because as those larger freshmen classes move up each year, it should increase the overall size of our student body and help stabilize our enrollment. And this year, as you know by now, we finally halted a thirteen-year decline and posted a 1% increase in FTE enrollment. This is a big deal and we can be very proud of this accomplishment.

Nevertheless, we cannot rest. Sustaining this forward movement is going to be our challenge. The higher education landscape is highly volatile at this time and we must continue to analyze the trends and adjust our strategies accordingly. We must ask ourselves what will it take to push forward to a state of sustainable equilibrium? For instance, we鈥檝e done a lot of work on improving the affordability of education for our students through fundraising and partnerships. Our net price has gone from being the highest among public 4-year institutions in Arkansas to now being one of the lowest. We have also made great strides in providing more flexibility and points of entry in the types of credentials we offer and the modality of attaining them. Accessibility is a foundational value and goal of this institution. It is the first among our institutional priorities. But is it enough? I would argue that the answer to that question is no. It is certainly an essential ingredient, but insufficient by itself in the formula for sustainable success.

Another area we鈥檝e been working to enhance is the experience that people have when they engage with this campus. Experience is the theme of our second institutional goal, specifically to cultivate an engaging campus community. There are a lot of things that go into this鈥攖he physical space must be compelling, indoor and out, it has to facilitate engagement as well as being attractive and functional. As you know, we鈥檙e working on this in dozens of different ways such as the Trojan Way project, the Library Commons, the Grove, and upgraded labs and classrooms to name a few. Our campus looks better than ever and it鈥檚 improving every day.

Customer service and communication for all constituents, internal and external, has to be excellent in order to build and maintain positive relationships. We鈥檝e taken significant steps forward in several key areas, but this is the kind of work that is never completely done; there is always room for improvement and we will continue to identify and pursue those opportunities.

A critical part of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock experience is the cultural environment. The campus must not just tolerate, but celebrate the rich diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that our students and employees bring to the campus community. We don鈥檛 have to agree about all things, but as our guest speaker, Monica Guzman, said last spring, we should be fearlessly curious about each other and recognize that this is a valuable asset for ourselves, for our campus, and for our community. It improves our ability to be a collaborative, problem-solving organization, and facilitates better retention because everyone can feel a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. We鈥檝e been working on this goal as well, and I want to thank Melvin Beavers, the Diversity Council, and the newly renamed Committee on Racial Equity for Students for their help in promoting this initiative. It鈥檚 clear that we have more to do, but I think we can all agree that the way that people experience our campus, physically and interpersonally is another essential ingredient in the formula for sustainable success.

Still, are these two ingredients enough? I don鈥檛 think so. The last ingredient that I鈥檒l talk about today concerns our purpose for existing鈥攖he educational product we offer that results in our students鈥� educational attainment; our third institutional goal. We can have an affordable product in a cool environment, but if the product itself is not compelling, the first two things don鈥檛 matter. Once upon a time, universities based their curriculum on traditional, mostly medieval categories, and change was very slow. But that was OK because the needs of the elites who attended those universities didn鈥檛 change very fast either. Today, we have a different kind of student body, and not only has the pace of change increased exponentially, but the institution that does not have its ear to the ground for the approaching needs of society will be the institution that fades away.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 current value proposition is that our career path programs across the curriculum, and our experiential learning opportunities, enhanced by our research status, our industry partnerships, our community engagement mission, and our location in Arkansas鈥� capital city, give our students a significant advantage in building a future.

I believe we are making good on that proposition in a wide variety of programs. And new initiatives like the CyberLearN program, and the teacher education residency program are strengthening our proof of concept in critical need areas. I invite you to listen to the student and alumni testimonials we鈥檝e been recording over the last year if you have any doubt of that. They will blow you away.

And this is, I have no doubt, the key to our future. Much like we鈥檝e done with accessibility and the campus experience, we need to double down on our efforts to develop innovative and compelling educational opportunities that serve tomorrow鈥檚 needs and distinguish our institution as an educational leader. This is the last and perhaps the most challenging essential ingredient in the formula for sustainable success. It can be difficult to let go of familiar patterns and take risks. But we have clearly demonstrated that we are up to the task. We have the capacity and the talent, and the plan to grow again, to thrive, and continue to build a sustainable future.

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The dominant framework for workforce development in Arkansas traditionally has been focused on the trades and entry-level technical and manufacturing jobs. While these employment pathways are certainly important to the state鈥檚 economy and should be supported, this restricted view overlooks the equally important need for professional-level workforce development.
Continually, the business community is telling us they need professional workers. They are in dire need of more accountants to manage company finances, engineers to lead construction growth, and cybersecurity professionals to keep company data safe. We hear from legislators and community leaders that more nurses and teachers are needed to support the health and education needs of our citizens across the state. If we only invest in the narrower concept of workforce development, we are only growing half of our economy. We鈥檙e missing out on the part of the economy that depends on advanced professional skills.

It鈥檚 undeniable that Arkansas needs more graduates with professional degrees. Research by the Federal Reserve recently found that among the 50 states, Arkansas ranked 48th when it comes to the percentage of residents with bachelor鈥檚 degrees. A broadly educated workforce is fundamental to attracting new businesses and growing a diversified economy. The more students we can put on these pathways, the more capacity this state will have to create a promising future that will serve Arkansans for generations to come.

But it鈥檚 not just about the numbers. At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, we鈥檙e committed to smart, targeted workforce development that listens to industry partners when they talk about what they need from our graduates. By seeking feedback from those who will hire the students we graduate, our programs and curriculum are continually evolving to meet the changing demands of our economy.

However, we know that access to an affordable college education is one of the largest challenges that threaten the success of students in Arkansas. We are tackling that head-on at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with efforts designed to boost college affordability and support student success.

That includes the Half-Off Scholarship, which pays 50% of tuition and fees for most incoming freshmen for up to two full years, a robust on-campus work program, and a comprehensive suite of free student success initiatives.

Across the nation, regional public universities like 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock are the workhorses of higher education. Collectively, they are where the majority of students go to college, and they do the lion鈥檚 share of professional workforce preparation. Our efforts show the pivotal role that institutions like ours play in encouraging more students to seek advanced-level career pathways that meet the needs of our state. I believe the time has come to embrace a broader view of workforce development that nurtures all parts of our economy and improves our potential for growth.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, we鈥檙e committed to producing the workforce of the future that meets the needs of Arkansas鈥� current employers as well as the employers the state would like to attract. Supporting the broader view of workforce development helps us all contribute to an Arkansas future that is robust, innovative and resilient.

To view Chancellor Drale’s original commentary, which was included in Arkansas Business, please click the link below.

Lets Broaden the Concept of Workforce Development…Business News _ ArkansasBusiness.com

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I wanted to take a moment to officially welcome you to campus and share some of the exciting updates we鈥檝e been working on over the summer. Please enjoy this welcome video message.

Have a great semester and go Trojans!

Sincerely,
Christina S. Drale
Chancellor

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WHEREAS: We are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in nurturing environments that do not violate their safety, dignity, and humanity; and,

WHEREAS: Every individual possesses the opportunity to exhibit an act of kindness to make a simple change within themselves that can have a profound effect on an entire society; and,

WHEREAS: If we all dedicate ourselves to the principles of truth, racial healing, and transformation, then we can all bring about the necessary changes in our thinking and behavior. Our collective goal is to propel Arkansas and the nation forward as a unified force where systemic racism and racial biases will become a thing of the past; and,

WHEREAS: The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, in conjunction with others throughout the State of Arkansas and the United States of America, acknowledges January 18, 2022, as the 鈥淣ational Day of Racial Healing鈥� and urges all citizens to promote and engage in honest conversations about racism and racial healing. Transformation and change require us to commit to a vision that centers inclusion and equity; this means working together to ensure the best quality of life for everyone.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christina Drale, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on behalf of our campus community, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2022 on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus, as

NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING 2022

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the official seal of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to be affixed this 18th day of January 2022.

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We are excited to welcome you back to the campus with the start of the spring semester on January 18, 2022. This email provides important information concerning 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 coronavirus plans.

At this time, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is planning to start the spring semester as scheduled. Move-in to campus residences will begin on January 16, and classes will start on January 18. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has had relatively few on-campus coronavirus cases and will continue to follow health guidelines to mitigate coronavirus exposure on campus. Should it become necessary, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has contingency plans to pivot to virtual learning for a short period of time.

The following practices are currently in place:

• Vaccination remains the best way for you to safeguard against the coronavirus. To find out where you can be vaccinated, visit the COVID-19 Health Information website. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock encourages but does not require coronavirus vaccination.
• Face masks are required indoors where physical distancing can’t be assured and are required in all classroom/lab and advising spaces.
• Individuals should practice hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation rigorously.
• With limited exceptions, residents in residence halls are limited to one person per bedroom.
• Current CDC guidance for higher education institutions requires individuals infected with the coronavirus to isolate for ten days, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals who may have come into contact with the coronavirus may need to quarantine based on their symptoms and vaccination status.
• Individuals who test positive for the coronavirus or who are exposed can follow information on the Health Services site on what to do regarding isolation or quarantine.
• 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Health Services is available for coronavirus testing and vaccinations. An on-campus vaccination clinic is scheduled for February 3 in the Donaghey Student Center. More details about the vaccination clinic will be provided prior to February.
• 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock offices are open and available to serve students in-person and over email and phone.

Similar to prior semesters under the pandemic, the Coronavirus Emergency Response Team (CERT) will monitor guidance from health officials and advise the university leadership on needed changes. We expect to share another update with you by January 14.

We are excited and appreciative that you chose to continue your academic journey with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock this spring. Please continue to monitor your email and the university website for important information about the spring semester.

Warm regards,

Christina S. Drale
Chancellor

W. Cody Decker
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Chief Data Officer

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In the interest of providing a safer campus environment this fall under the current public health emergency, and consistent with the August 11, 2021 resolution of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Board of Trustees, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will reinstate its mask requirement in all indoor environments where physical distancing cannot be maintained (with limited exceptions), effective immediately. We will continue to monitor public health conditions and the legal developments concerning the mask mandate law to make adjustments as necessary.

Face covering policy

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock requires that students, faculty, staff, and guests, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor public settings where physical distance cannot be assured in accordance with CDC guidance, wear a face mask. Reasonable exceptions may be permitted for certain settings and activities that follow guidance established by public health agencies and/or by external governing bodies such as athletics conferences and the NCAA.

To ensure face masks remain on in classroom settings, no food or drinks may be consumed in classroom settings. A cloth face covering, disposable face mask, or similar face covering that covers the mouth and the nose as recommended by the CDC is required and may be used as a face mask. A face shield may also be worn, but will not serve as a substitute for a face mask.

We continue to strongly recommend that all individuals become fully vaccinated for maximum protection against the coronavirus. Increasing vaccination rates and the wearing of face masks indoors will help us mitigate the spread of the virus, making it possible for our campus community to return to regular activities of campus life, and a larger resumption of normal campus operations. Thank you for your assistance in keeping us Trojan Strong.

Sincerely,

Christy Drale
Chancellor

Coronavirus updates

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With the recent surge of delta variant COVID-19 infections in Arkansas, I know that many of you are wondering how this might affect our plans for this fall semester.

I have been meeting with the Cabinet on this subject and I want to take this opportunity to let you know where we are in our thinking. We have been monitoring developments closely and share the concern of many that the surge represents a health threat to all Arkansans, particularly to unvaccinated individuals. Given the public service nature of our institution, it is critical that we stay open for business and continue to serve our students to the highest standards possible. The question is how best to do that under current conditions.

We recognize that there will be vigorous disagreement on all sides. There are different opinions on the best course of action and we have considered and debated these within my leadership team. We also recognize that we are in a different place than we were last fall in that safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are now available. Many of you have chosen to become fully vaccinated.

We have heard from faculty and students that while many are successful in online courses, this modality doesn鈥檛 work for everyone. After fifteen months of learning primarily in a virtual environment, a significant cross-section of our students is eager to get back to in-person instruction for a more successful learning experience. It is also the case that for students who prefer online instruction, a majority of our classes and many of our major programs continue to have fully online options. Regardless of whether students take online or in-person classes, we believe that everyone benefits from a strong sense of campus community and that if we take reasonable precautions we can come back together this fall and reestablish a measured sense of normalcy.

Therefore, we will proceed with phase 4 of the campus plan with the following precautions and restrictions. We will continue to monitor conditions on campus and will be prepared to pivot back to a modified phase 3 if and when necessary. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our campus safe and mitigating the impacts of the pandemic at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

Vaccines

The current surge of COVID infections has been referred to as the pandemic of the unvaccinated. While it is true that there are 鈥渂reak-through鈥� infections of some vaccinated individuals, these represent a small percentage and symptoms tend to be mild. Unvaccinated individuals are much more likely to become infected and are much more likely to become seriously ill. Getting vaccinated remains your best option for protection against the virus. Therefore, I strongly recommend that unvaccinated individuals get fully vaccinated as soon as possible. You can receive a Johnson and Johnson vaccine at our campus Health Services facility or you may go to any number of local pharmacies and health centers to receive other brands of the COVID-19 vaccine. For more details, see section on Vaccination, Testing, and Contact Tracing below. For useful information about Covid vaccine facts and myths, visit the

Masks

Recent state law (Act 1002 of 2021) mandates that face coverings may not be required as a condition for entry, education, or services in public institutions (except for health facilities); therefore, as of July 28, 2021, masks will not be required on campus. However, since masks are effective in preventing direct exposure to airborne virus particles, I strongly recommend that all individuals continue to wear a mask when in close proximity to othersuntil the current surge subsides. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will continue to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) including face masks, face shields, and sanitizer to students and employees.

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing requirements are lifted as of August 2, 2021; however, discretion is advised for large-scale indoor events until the current surge subsides. Event organizers may wish to implement a registration or sign-in process to better facilitate contact tracing should it become necessary. We will continue to monitor on-campus coronavirus status to determine if policy changes are required.

Employee Schedules

All employees are expected to report to their regular on-campus work location during working hours as of August 2, 2021. We will continue to monitor on-campus coronavirus status to determine if policy changes are required.

Travel

Although no COVID-19-related travel restrictions are in place at this time, other travel restrictions may apply. Approval at the vice chancellor level is required for university travel until further notice.

Vaccination, Testing, and Contact Tracing:

In addition to partnering with local pharmacies to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock started administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Health Services on July 20, 2021. We continue to recommend to the campus community a full dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Please view the recent announcement from Health Services for more information about the vaccination.

Health Services will conduct surveillance testing to assess coronavirus potential cases on campus as well as rapid testing for those who are symptomatic or have recently been exposed to the coronavirus. Employees and students may contact Health Services at (501) 916-3188 to schedule a testing appointment.

The Arkansas Department of Health, in partnership with Health Services, will continue to perform contract tracing for employees and students who become infected with COVID-19 or are considered a close contact for someone who has had COVID-19. All positive cases should be reported immediately to help limit the contagion on campus.

Christy Drale
Chancellor

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To the members of our campus community who identify as transgender, I know that you are feeling very discouraged at this time. Please know that we are glad that you are here and that your well-being and success matter to us. Our purpose as an institution is to serve the needs of our state through education, research, and public service. It is vital that we not leave anyone behind in this important work. We are always stronger when we work together.

Sincerely,

Christina S. Drale | Chancellor

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WHEREAS: Everyone has the right to be provided every opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in
nurturing environments that do not violate their safety, dignity, and humanity; and,

WHEREAS: Every single person has the opportunity to exhibit an act of kindness to make a
simple change within their self that can have a profound effect on an entire society; and,

WHEREAS: If we all dedicate ourselves to the principles of truth, racial healing and
transformation, we can all bring about the necessary changes in thinking and behavior that will
propel Arkansas and the nation forward as a unified force where racial biases will become a
thing of the past; and,

WHEREAS: The University of Arkansas at Little Rock in conjunction with others throughout the
State of Arkansas, and the United States of America, acknowledges January 19, 2021, as the
鈥淣ational Day of Racial Healing鈥� and urges all citizens to promote truth, racial healing and
transformation in the ways that are best suited for them individually, as a means to working
together to ensure the best quality of life for everyone.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christina Drale, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
on behalf of our campus community, do hereby proclaim January 19, 2021 on the University of
Arkansas at Little Rock campus, as

NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING 2021

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the official seal of the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to be affixed this 19 th day of January 2021.

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Yesterday we witnessed a stunning assault on our nation鈥檚 Capitol and on the very essence of democracy itself鈥攖he peaceful transition of power through our election process. The condemnation of these violent acts has been nearly universal across the political spectrum and many have called for a renewed commitment to civil discourse, to respecting our Constitution, and to the peaceful resolution of conflict and disagreement. When the work of Congress resumed after yesterday鈥檚 violence, several members from both parties also called on their colleagues and the American people to commit to the hard work of telling the truth as a fundamental starting point for preserving our democracy.

Now, more than ever, as we face increasingly dangerous offensives against our democratic institutions, it is vital for institutions of higher education to restate our commitment to these values and to redouble our efforts to teach our students what is required of us as citizens and scholars. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, like all universities, is committed to discovering and disseminating what is true, and when the facts are in dispute, to reconciling those differences through established and respected practices of review and debate. We model these practices for our students and encourage broad application. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is also committed to community engagement and good citizenship. As our mission statement says, we must 鈥減romote humane sensitivities and understanding of interdependence鈥� and in doing so, we help each other recognize that we are stronger when we work together to create a sustainable future.

The storming of the U.S. Capitol building yesterday was frightening and disheartening, and should be condemned in the strongest terms, but we can choose to use this awful experience to strengthen our resolve to carry on the important work of educating our students and fortifying our democracy with truth and respect. As others have observed, democracy is a fragile thing; hard earned and easily lost. We can鈥檛 afford to take it for granted. We must continue to do our part.

Christy Drale
Chancellor

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