- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Cultivating Student Success: How ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Resources Empower First-Generation Students

John Hill — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:44:55 +0000

November is First-Generation College Student Celebration Month. With more than 40 percent of its student population being first-generation students, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is especially committed to providing resources that help this special group of students reach their potential.�� “One of the biggest challenges first-generation students face in college is navigating a complex system such as a university,” said Heather Reed, director of Student Retention Initiatives. “There are so many processes that involve many offices. Luckily, Student Retention Initiatives can assist first-generation students in learning the university. It can be difficult to ask for help, and we make it easy through the Care Team, a support network for all students.” Members of the Care Team work closely with students to establish steps to reduce barriers to success. They take proactive action to support students in their pursuit of academic success, connect individuals to campus and community resources, create a supportive and caring culture for students, and establish best practices and standard protocols of response for academic referrals. Students who need assistance can contact the Care Team by filling out while faculty and staff who are concerned about a student can fill out . “We also offer peer mentors who are upper-class students who have successfully navigated various processes and have knowledge of the university,” Reed said. “First-generation students can request to be matched with a peer mentor to help them with a variety of issues, such as building locations, learning traditions, tips for academic success, and how to get involved on campus. Many of the staff in our office are first-generation college students so we understand first-hand the challenges students face and how to overcome those challenges.” The Office of Student Retention Initiatives also holds welcome events for new students and celebrates first-generation students every November during First-Generation College Student Celebration Month. “For me, being a first-generation student is a catch-22. I’m very excited that I decided late in age to go back to school,” said Veronica Tess Myers, a first-generation student studying applied communication who attended the Nov. 8 celebration. “I finally finished getting my bachelor’s and am looking forward to acquiring my master’s degree. However, it’s also a little bit of sadness. I’m considered to be a know-it-all because I went further. A lot of the reason why I went further is because of my autistic son and having to learn what I needed for him to succeed.” Since 1978, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s TRIO Student Support Services has provided resources to help increase the rates of academic achievement, retention, and graduation among historically disadvantaged students. “TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) provides services to a limited number of eligible ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students,” said Dr. Desarae Nelson, director of TRIO SSS. “Eligibility requirements include: first generations, and/or limited income, and/or disabled. SSS offers: a scholarship, weekly workshops, financial literacy, cultural events, textbook loans, tutoring, career readiness, and graduate school trips. SSS seeks to motivate students toward the successful completion of their post-secondary education. The goal of the program is to increase participants’ college persistence, support them through graduation, and facilitate the transition from one level of higher education to the next. The program is funded by the US Department of Education.” Dr. Mike Kirk, director of health services and counseling services, said that both units offer great resources to help first-generation students adapt to college life. “Health Services for certain can immediately impact first-generation students,” Kirk said. “To have a convenient family care clinic right here on campus is excellent for them. They can get in and take care of virtually any medical issue that you go to the doctor’s office. Also, the cost is going to be less here than when you go outside to your doctor’s office.

Dr. Mike Kirk

Counseling Services can help normalize the college experience. It’s not as easy to get students to come see us in Counseling Services. We know students can get anxious and concerned about succeeding in college. We can help normalize those feelings and give students strategies to help make them successful.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also supports students in several other ways. The office of Student Retention Initiatives coordinates peer mentoring, academic coaching, and tutoring to help all students thrive. Additionally, student researchers in the Signature Experience Program receive grant funding and are mentored by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty, helping prepare students for advanced study and improving persistence. The Multicultural Center provides several mentoring programs that help empower, support, and assist African American students, Hispanic/Latinix students, and students of color in achieving their goal of earning a college degree. Students in these programs meet with career and professional mentors for regular support. The university’s Learning Commons, which opened during the spring semester, provides a space where students have access to study space and tutoring assistance. The Learning Commons is the home of the Communication Skills Center, Math Assistance Center, University Writing Center, World Languages Center, and Trojan Tutoring. “The Learning Commons is a great free resource available to students,” said Brandon Sollars, Learning Commons coordinator. “In this space, we can help students be successful by providing them with direct access to resources that can help them in their courses. Collectively our centers cover a large variety of subjects, everything from intro-level courses, math, writing and communication. We also provide a comfortable space for students to study individually or to study in groups. Here in the Learning Commons we aim to equip our students with the necessary skills and strategies that they need to be successful.” Genesis Dominguez, a junior double major in Spanish and anthropology and first-generation student, helps many students in her work at the Communication Skill Center. “The Communication Skill Center is a great opportunity for the students,” Dominguez said. “This center helps students do presentations, organize slide presentations, prepare them for a speech or interview, rehearse, organize ideas, and manage anxiety while speaking. It has a great team that is willing to help you every step of the way and will celebrate with you every win that you make.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a number of student ambassador programs that create leadership opportunities for successful students who serve as tutors, mentors, and guides for their fellow students.

Learning Commons Coordinator Brandon Solllars and Michelle Malone and De’Ja Johnson, applied communication graduate students, give a presentation in the Communications Skills Center in Ottenheimer Library. Photo by Ben Krain.

“I intend to help create pathways for opportunities for other ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and specifically veterans, students of color, and nontraditional students to gain access to resources that hopefully will help generate more student success,” said Bryan Hernandez, a first-generation student and ambassador for the School of Business. “I hope to show that programs like the student ambassador program work! That they help to create a sense of community at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and build confidence in students that may deeply need it.” Additional campus resources that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students will find useful include:

Trojan Works is an institutional work study program that provides on-campus employment opportunities as well as a unique experience that prepares students for success beyond graduation.
Career Services provides opportunities for students to prepare for careers through internships, job postings, career fairs, and career coaching.
Trojan Career Closet offers a career closet to help ensure students are dressed for interviews and internships. Each semester, students can select outfits to wear for professional settings.
Trojan Food Pantry is open to assist students, faculty, and staff with food needs they may have throughout the year.
The Military Student Support Center offers support for the university’s more than 700 Active Duty, Reservists, National Guard Members, Veterans, and their families utilize the center each year.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Launches New Program to Provide Child Care Funding for Low-Income Students

John Hill — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:41:56 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has launched a new program to help university students find and afford quality child care so they can complete their college education. The Child Care Connections program is two-fold. First, it will provide child care funding for eligible students though a federal grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Second, the program helps connect student parents with the resources and support they need to finish college. Child care funding will be available to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who are eligible to receive Pell Grants. Students receiving these grants typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, though most Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, about 39 percent of undergraduate students are Pell Grant recipients. The Child Care Connections child care funding is provided by a (CCAMPIS) four-year grant of $581,128 from the U.S. Department of Education. The program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services. “With the Child Care Connections program, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will be able to provide a unique service for students by helping provide child care coverage,” said Shanna Parker, director of Child Care Connections. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is only the second university in Arkansas to receive a CCAMPIS grant, so students will receive something that other colleges won’t be able to provide. Eligible students will be able to focus more on their education knowing that their child is being cared for while they attend school.” The program also provides assistance for students who don’t qualify for the federal child care funding. Parker will provide consultations to help students navigate child care services in central Arkansas. They can also provide wrap-around services to help student parents get the support they need to be successful in school and in life. These include referrals to the Care Team, student support specialists, success coaching, tutoring, and other campus and community resources. “We want students to understand that we can provide many services to help them succeed in school,” Parker said. “We want to nurture the entire family by providing the resources they need. We can connect them with a student success coach to help them stay in school and connect them with other resources on campus. We won’t make the choices for students, but we will guide them and give them the tools necessary to do what is best for their families. We will exhaust all avenues to help them.” A priority for the child care funding will be given to single parents. Parents who are going to college face a tougher road than traditional college students and have lower student retention and graduation rates. Single mothers are particularly hard hit. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, there are nearly 2.1 million single mothers in college today, many of whom are women of color. Shamari Burnett, a junior psychology major, is applying for the program to help keep her 1-year-old son at the great daycare center he currently attends. “As a new single mom and full-time college student, it’s hard because I want to make sure he’s getting great care while I spend a lot of time studying,” Burnett said. “When I first heard about the program starting last semester, I was excited because it’s just what I needed! The cost started to get really expensive, and I was debating on taking him out of the daycare he currently attends, but I decided to wait and apply for Child Care Connections. I’m always looking for ways to save money while working towards my career and educational goals.” Johna Rocha, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student who plans to apply for the Child Care Connections program, said this program could help provide her with peace of mind while she is attending classes to complete her nursing degree. “Because of COVID, child care has become scarce, inconsistent, and it is also extremely expensive,” Rocha said. “I have two children who need care while I am in class, and I am scrambling every week to find someone to watch them. I want quality care for my children so that I can fully engage in class and create a better life for them by finishing my degree. Good child care is vital for me to do that.” Students may fill out an application for child care funding . State-licensed child care providers who maintain general liability insurance and agree to a Memorandum of Agreement can participate in the CCAMPIS program. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will host two virtual sessions for child care providers interested in being a part of the program from 7-7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 7. For more information, contact Shanna Parker at childcare@ualr.edu or 501-916-5648.

Reed Named to SREB Student Success Advisory Council

John Hill — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:04:31 +0000

Heather Reed, director of Student Retention Initiatives, has been selected to join the The SREB Student Success Advisory Council was established to identify challenges, shared interests, and recommend changes in policy and practice to support the successful retention, graduation, and workforce entry of underserved and low-income students. As Arkansas’s state representative, Reed will work toward achieving greater rates of postsecondary success for low-income, rural, and underrepresented backgrounds and support the council’s goal to fulfill critical industry workforce demands and build a stronger economy in SREB states. “I am honored to represent the state of Arkansas and excited to work with the best of the best in the region who support and study student success,” Reed said. “I am thrilled to highlight the work we are doing as an institution and within the state. I hope to glean new initiatives to implement for our students.” Reed is joining the ranks of presidents, provosts, state senators, directors of student success centers, and more across Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Reed’s new volunteer role fits in well with her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock position, where she works with staff and faculty to develop, implement, and assess data-driven retention initiatives that are informed by best practices and part of a comprehensive retention plan. She also heads the Care Team, who work closely with students to establish steps to reduce barriers to success. Reed is pursuing a Master of Public Administration from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and will graduate in December. She also earned a B.A. in English/linguistics from Truman State University, an M.S. in college student personnel from Western Illinois University, and an Ed.S. in higher education and student affairs from the University of Iowa.

Faller Earns National Awards in 2021 National Federation of Press Women Conference

John Hill — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 13:43:01 +0000

A ��Vlog��ý Little Rock communications professional was one of many Arkansas professionals who received national awards from the National Federation of Press Women’s 2021 communications contest.�� Angelita Faller, news director at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, earned second place in the Writing, Specialty Articles, Science and Technology category for a story detailing the COVID-19 research of Dr. Nitin Agarwal and his student researchers in COSMOS (Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies) who are working to inform the public of scams and misinformation related to the coronavirus pandemic through a public website and a partnership with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.�� The judges noted that, “The author has taken what might seem like a typical side topic of the global pandemic – misinformation about the virus – and turned it into a strong article that not only informs the reader, it might save lives.”�� She also earned an honorable mention in the Writing, Specialty Articles, Arts and Entertainment category for an article that describes Dr. Angela Hunter’s efforts to translate and publish the most complete edition of 18th-century French philosopher Louise Dupin’s unpublished treatise “Work on Women” and the $133,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities that will help complete the professor’s long-time research goal.�� A second honorable mention in the Writing, Speciality Articles, Religion category came for a story detailing fall 2020 graduate Jason Littleton’s research into the life of Arkansas missionary Pearle McCain. Arkansas journalists earned a total of 35 awards during the National Communications Contest sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women. The winners were among more than 2,000 entries in the 2021 national contest. State awards were presented June 10 during an awards ceremony hosted by the organization’s Arkansas affiliate, Arkansas Press Women, held at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center. These national award-winning entries had previously placed first in the Arkansas Press Women’s 2021 professional communications contest before advancing to the NFPW competition. More than 50 Arkansas first-place entries competed at the national level. Faller took top honors during the Arkansas Press Women’s statewide contest, earning the 2021 Sweepstakes Award.�� She also earned the following honors in the 2021 Arkansas Press Women contest:

First Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Science or Technology for “��Vlog��ý Little Rock Researchers Help Identify Covid-19 Misinformation and Myths in New Public Website”
First Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Arts and Entertainment for “��Vlog��ý Little Rock Professor Receives National Endowment for Humanities Grant to Publish Book on Unpublished Works of Louise Dupin”
First Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Religion for “��Vlog��ý Little Rock Grad Jason Littleton Details Heroic Life of Arkansas Missionary Pearle McCain”
First Place in Writing, Publications Regularly Written by Entrant Newsletter/other publication, non-profit, government, or educational for “��Vlog��ý Little Rock Now”
Second Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Hobby for “��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Costume Shop Manager Creates Unique Line of Face Masks”
Second Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, History for “Professor’s Research Leads to Historic Marker for Elaine 12 Member Frank Moore”
Second Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Social issues for “Care Team Makes Difference in Lives of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students in Need”
Second Place in Writing, Feature Story, Online publication for “Wilkerson Fulfills Dream of Earning College Degree 55 Years After Graduating High School”

Reed Recognized For Volunteer Work with Phi Kappa Phi

John Hill — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 19:34:38 +0000

Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is one of four�� across the nation who was highlighted in celebration of National Volunteer Week. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week was created as a way to celebrate service and the volunteers that transform our world.��Phi Kappa Phi acknowledged the efforts of its board members, committee members, and chapter officers that serve on more than 300 campuses across the U.S. and the Philippines. Phi Kappa Phi sought to “lift up our volunteers who keep us moving forward. Their commitment, service and hard work supports our mission of recognizing and promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education.” Reed serves as social media chair of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter. She was inducted in Phi Kappa Phi in 2004 while studying at Western Illinois University. She transferred her membership to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2016 when she arrived on campus. She has been involved as a chapter member in initiation ceremonies and helps maintain communication with the alumni base through social media.�� “I moved to the south to start a new job at a college campus and was feeling disconnected,” Reed said. “When I found Phi Kappa Phi on campus and started to get involved, I felt like I was finally home. The other faculty and staff involved with the Phi Kappa Phi chapter helped me navigate the university and welcomed me with open arms. The best thing I knew to do was to get more involved and volunteer!” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter has been recognized in recent years as a Circle of Excellence Gold Chapter, the second-highest commendation a chapter can receive from the organization. The distinction is given to chapters that exceed expectations in chapter operations and that demonstrate sustainability and vitality. In addition to her work student retention initiatives, Reed is also the leader of the CARE Team at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is a graduate student in the Master of Public Administration program, and was recently honored as the 2021 Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award winner.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Creates Special Fund to Help Graduating Students Purchase Cap and Gowns

John Hill — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:02:11 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has created a special fund for graduating students who need assistance to purchase a cap and gown.�� “With so much going on in the world right now, taking time to celebrate is essential,” said Samantha Wiley, director of annual giving. “For our students, that includes the ability to participate in commencement this spring. We want to help our students cover the cost of their cap, gown, and tassel this year so they can commemorate this milestone properly.” The cost of a cap and gown for an undergraduate student is $55.57 and $100.26 for a graduate student. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of Alumni and Development is putting $1,000 from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Annual Fund to aid in this effort. Anyone who would like to make a donation can visit the Cap and Gown Support webpage. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees can also make a donation through a one-time payroll deduction, which counts as a contribution to the All In Campus Campaign. Faculty and staff can for students who need cap and gown assistance to the CARE Team. The creation of the Cap and Gown Support Fund stemmed from an email from Janet Davis, finance director, who said she was disheartened after learning of students who could not afford to purchase a cap and gown for commencement.�� “When I learned of the plight of a student who was cancelling their commencement appointment solely for financial reasons, I realized that there had to be others in the same situation that, as a campus, we are unaware of their reason for not attending commencement,” Davis said. “This truly weighed on my mind, knowing that we are a campus mixed with traditional, non-traditional, and first generation college students.” Davis said she received many emails from faculty and staff who offered to buy a cap and gown for the students in need, and that the creation of the fund reinforces her belief that the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community loves its students from start to finish. “My hope is that the awareness of the fund continues to grow and extends well beyond one commencement season,” she said.

Care Team makes difference in lives of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students in need

John Hill — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 15:35:04 +0000

While college students across the country have faced unprecedented challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has created a new team of student advocates who have been making a difference for students in need. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock started the Care Team in January. Led by Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives, members of the Care Team work closely with students to establish steps to reduce barriers to success. Care Team members take proactive action to support students in their pursuit of academic success, connect individuals to campus and community resources, create a supportive and caring culture for students, and establish best practices and standard protocols of response for academic referrals. “One of the biggest benefits that we’ve seen through the Care Team is the ability to triage student issues, especially in the face of the pandemic,” Reed said. “We have a better insight into the challenges students face. We knew students were struggling to find technology in the transition to online classes. Working with university leadership, we were able to purchase laptops and cameras with CARES Act funding and distribute that to the students. We wouldn’t have been able to do that a year ago. We did all that with the university leadership and Ottenheimer Library. Now, we have an ability to address these needs.” The Care Team is unique in that it provides a centralized point of contact for those who develop a concern about the welfare of a student. The Care Team can refer students to multiple resources across campus that can provide support and assistance needed to stay safe and successful at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. One of the students the Care Team helped during the spring 2020 semester is Nina Scaife, who was facing a tough time after losing her job because of the pandemic while also completing the final semester of her Master of Social Work program. “I contacted the Care Team because I was stressed due to needing to supplement my income, and I was worried about how I was going to pay my household bills,” Scaife said. “I received a $250 grant from the Care Team. The funds assisted me because I was laid off from my current employer due to Covid-19, so I was able to use those funds to supplement my mortgage payment. If it had not been for those grant funds, it would have been very challenging to support myself during those uncertain times.” Members of the Care Team include Dr. Patti Light, director of campus living; Dr. Mike Kirk, director of counseling and health services; Aresh Assadi, assistant director of counseling services; Dr. Richard Harper, dean of students; Reed Claiborne, director of the Disability Resource Center; Kimberly Bright, director of testing services; Erin Flowers, director of student services in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; Jonathan Coleman, director of financial aid and scholarships; Dr. Mia Phillips, director of the Multicultural Center; Chicketta Jackson, director of student services for the College of Business, Health, and Human Services; Sarah Haughenbury, director of student services in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education; and Sam DeVilbiss, director of Trojan Academic Advising and Support Center. “I’m just so grateful the university has established the Care Team,” Flowers said. “I know we are helping our students in tangible ways. Plus, we’re creating a stronger network among the various support offices on campus and learning about all of the amazing work these offices do. Being part of the Care Team gets at the heart of why I work in higher education and I know that is true for the other Care Team members.” On April 1, Adrienne Gill, a senior criminal justice major, lost her job along with millions of other Americans facing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gill was taking two classes during the spring 2020 semester and paying for it herself since she’s reached the limit for financial aid. “I received an email from the Care Team about two weeks after the loss of my job,” Gill said. “In the email, they stated they had received some funding to help students in need during this time. I was on a payment plan as normal, but I wasn’t able to clear my balance after the semester because I just did not have the money.” With the assistance she received, Gill was able clear her school balance, pay household bills, and buy food for her children. “I wasn’t getting any assistance from the state or anything,” Gill said. “I only worked, so when I lost my job it was pretty devastating. This was pretty much the only help that I had received during that time except when we got the stimulus check from the U.S. government. I was so grateful when the Care Team accepted my application and cleared the reminder of my balance, so I could continue my efforts to graduate.” A majority of the students the Care Team assists are facing issues related to the pandemic. The Care Team resolved 443 unique student cases over the spring 2020 semester and anticipate even more during the fall semester. The Care Team had received nearly 700 referrals from students and employees by November. “More than 320 unique students requested some type of support in the first three weeks of the semester alone,” Reed said. “Dealing with the Covid has been the No. 1 issue we hear about,” Reed said. “Students need help if they or an immediate family member gets Covid-19 or if they have to quarantine. At the beginning of the pandemic, we had a lot of requests dealing with access to technology as all classes went online. Now, we are dealing with issues of study skills, classroom engagement, and mental health.” The Care Team also receives requests from students who need help after losing a family member. “I remember a student who experienced a death in the family,” Reed said. “Usually students who contact us have lost somebody in their immediate family. This young woman lost a sibling, and she became the sole provider for her parents. She wasn’t working, and now had to balance finding a job with school, grieving, and food insecurity. We worked with her, and she withdrew from one class to give herself more time to focus on her family. We were also able to award her some CARES Act money to help with food and her other expenses.” Care Team members have weekly meetings to discuss responsibilities, how to get in touch with students, success stories, and best practices. Students and employees who have submitted requests are asked to provide feedback so the team can continue to improve. After receiving assistance from the Care Team, Scaife graduated in May and now works with foster and adoptive children and their families as a LifeBASE teen coach at Immerse Arkansas. She’s hopeful that the Care Team can provide much-needed support for students who need aid. “My heart goes out to those students, especially those who were downtrodden and struggling before the pandemic,” Scaife said. “The funds should be available for each student so that they can establish themselves and not have to worry about meeting their basic needs. Each student has the right to have food security, adequate and stable shelter, and a peace of mind while pursuing a degree or continuing their educational goals.” Students who need assistance can contact the Care Team by filling out , while faculty and staff who are concerned about a student can fill out .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock community comes together to support students during COVID-19 pandemic

John Hill — Mon, 04 May 2020 13:30:54 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock community has come together to help students facing critical financial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.�� “In times like these, we witness the true heart of the American spirit,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “The COVID-19 pandemic gives us all a sense of togetherness and reminds us that while we continue to practice social distancing, we are not alone.” The newly established COVID-19 Student Support Fund will support students facing immediate needs, including reduced job hours and income, food and housing insecurity, technology needs, access to healthcare, and other unforeseen expenses. In honor of #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, a national day of global action for giving and unity in response to COVID-19, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is celebrating the contributions of donors with special content on and .�� “We are using this day as an opportunity to thank all the generous donors who have gone above and beyond to help our students by supporting the COVID-19 Student Support Fund,” said Samantha Wiley, assistant director of development. “Meeting the needs of our ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students would not be possible without the help of the Trojan community and companies like Seal Solar whose donations have made such an impact during this time.” Around 60 donors have raised nearly $27,000 to help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students in need. “The fund started off with an anonymous donor who wanted to help students and pledged to match $5,000 in donations,” Wiley said. “It’s amazing how many people want to help our students right now. It touches our alumni community in particular. They want to give students the same opportunity they had to complete their college education.” One of the fund’s donors, Julie Brown, a 1993 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate from De Queen, Arkansas, said she was moved to give $13,000 after realizing what a difference it can make for the students. “Ever since I graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I’ve wanted to help other students succeed,” Brown said. “I know how important a college education can be to a person’s future, and my heart breaks for all the students who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. I know a lot of students have suddenly lost their jobs and are facing basic need insecurities, such as the ability to purchase groceries or rent. When I saw ��Vlog��ý Little Rock had started a fund for these students, I wanted to help right away to ensure they get the support they need.”�� One student who can benefit from the fund is Mariam Bouzihay, a senior psychology major who is graduating this semester. Shortly after moving home to Jonesboro, Bouzihay’s family home was damaged in the tornado that struck the town on March 28.

Mariam Bouzihay

“Some people in the neighborhood lost their houses completely, so we were lucky,” Bouzihay said. “Huge parts of our roof were blown away. The carport is gone. We have a food truck in the back of our yard that just landed there, and we don’t know who it belongs to. The response from first responders and all the people who came from out of town to help the people of Jonesboro was really nice to see.” Fortunately, Bouzihay and her family were uninjured, but she now faces an unexpected financial difficulty, but is grateful for the support from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “It’s a very confusing time,” Bouzihay said. “So many people have lost their jobs, and we have all transitioned to classes online. A lot of students need support. I want our students to know that there are people here to help them. During this time, it’s about being there for people. We are a Trojan family, and look what our family, friends, and supporters have accomplished. When you have people who support and care for each other, it’s amazing what can be achieved.” Students who would like to apply for a micro-grant may fill out a, and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees may refer a student. Students will be contacted by a member of the CARE Team, who will provide them with a short application. A committee will review each submission and make an award recommendation to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. If you would like to help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students by making a donation, please visit the website or text ��Vlog��ýLR to 41444.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Cultivating Student Success: How ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Resources Empower First-Generation Students

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Launches New Program to Provide Child Care Funding for Low-Income Students