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

Decker Chosen for Leadership Arkansas Class XVII

John Hill — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 13:05:55 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock leader Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer, has been selected for the . “I’m honored to represent ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in Leadership Arkansas Class XVII,” Decker said. “The professional development is invaluable, and networking with business leaders will allow me to bring awareness to the opportunities available at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” Decker is one of 54 community and business leaders in the state who has been chosen for the exclusive leadership program, which is operated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas. All of the class members are leaders within their respective communities and professions and are interested in expanding that involvement. Over the course of nine months, these individuals will work together to become better acquainted with the issues facing Arkansas, experience the best that the regions and communities offer, network with some of the best and brightest in the state, and hone their already-demonstrated leadership capacities. This year’s Leadership Arkansas program begins with an orientation weekend Sept. 18-20 and concludes with a leadership, planning, and graduation May 18-19, 2023. In between, the members will learn about topics involving economic development, agriculture, education, government, manufacturing, tourism, workforce development, and more. Decker is especially looking forward to learning more about economic development, workforce development, and education topics that will enhance his leadership skills and help him build partnerships and opportunities for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and its partners. “I look forward to meeting with peers and growing the relationships between the university and our many business partners,” he said. “I look forward to improving my leadership and communication skills and learning from colleagues in and outside higher education. Participation in Leadership Arkansas will also expand my knowledge of industry needs in Arkansas and enable me to apply these fresh perspectives to continuous improvement efforts at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” Decker joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2015 as the director of institutional research and analytics. He was named associate provost and chief data officer in 2018 and vice chancellor in 2020. Prior to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he served as the assistant commissioner and chief information officer for the Arkansas Department of Education. He is a three-time graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in information science, a master’s degree in information quality, and a Ph.D. in integrated computing.

Brown Named New Student Affairs Leader at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 12:39:36 +0000

Kara Brown has been named the new assistant vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “I am humbly excited about this new position and the new initiatives that I have been challenged to oversee,” Brown said. “I am looking forward to making a positive impact for our students and helping them grow during their educational journey as well as their life after college.” In her new role, Brown will lead the Student Experience Center and the Multicultural Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The initiatives in these centers also include Fraternity and Sorority Life, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Summer Bridge Academy, Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy, Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, and Student Affairs Diversity Initiatives. In collaboration with the campus community, she will also lead the development of a student experience plan. “Student experiences are essential to student life and student success at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Kara’s experience, leadership, and skill set are critical as she leads the execution of the student experience portfolio and develops the university’s next student engagement plan.” Brown joins ��Vlog��ý Little Rock from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where she served as dean of student life and associate dean of students for activities. Her nearly 15 years of experience in higher education include previously serving as the diversity programs coordinator at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, student activities coordinator at Boise State University, and a career coach at the University of Arkansas. “I am truly excited to return to the university that invested so much into me,” Brown said. “Seeing some of the faces of my old friends here has made my heart smile. Together, we will continue to go far and contribute to the educational growth of our students.” Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master of Education in workforce development education degree from the University of Arkansas. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University and was a 2022 fellow for the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University. She is a member of Delta Theta Sigma Sorority, Inc. and the National Association of Student Personnel Administration. A native of Pine Bluff, Brown and her husband Dr. Glen Brown, a chiropractor and 2nd Ward alderman, are the proud parents of two children, Kaitlyn and Trey.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Expecting Growth in First-Time Freshmen and Transfer Students This Fall��

John Hill — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 13:39:33 +0000

With just over two weeks until classes begin at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, preliminary enrollment data for fall 2022 indicates that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is poised to see growth in its first-time freshmen and transfer students for the upcoming academic year. Currently, first-time freshmen are anticipated to increase by about 20%, while transfer students are on-target to see an increase of about 10%. “We have focused on making sure prospective students are aware of all the opportunities available at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs. “For example, one option for our incoming freshmen is a half-off tuition scholarship for eligible students. That scholarship supports our mission of making college accessible to Arkansans.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has also worked to ensure prospective students know about the benefits of living on campus. “Students who live on campus are more involved and are more likely to achieve their education goals,” said Decker. “Additionally, prospective students are very impressed by our campus housing. We have multiple options for students to select from including private rooms, suites, apartments and pod-style accommodations.” As a result of that effort, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is seeing increases in the number of students choosing to live on-campus. Currently, applications and room assignments for housing are up more than 10%. While ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is expecting growth, there is still room to join the incoming class, and there are still scholarship opportunities available for new students. Those interested in attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, should apply soon by visiting .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Offers Half-Off Scholarships for Two Years

John Hill — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:00:56 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced a major new student success initiative that offers half-off course tuition and fees for freshmen who enroll at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for the fall 2022 semester. In this first-of-its-kind initiative, first-time freshmen as well as freshmen with 11 or fewer transfer credit hours will receive up to 50 percent off tuition and fees for not only their freshmen year for the 2022-23 academic year but their 2023-24 sophomore year as well. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to making the college experience attainable for all,” said Dr. Christina Drale, chancellor of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “This scholarship initiative represents one of several significant actions we are taking to expand opportunity and improve student success.” The initiative is aimed at strengthening ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s promise to provide an affordable education to more students while making more Arkansans aware of the world-class educational opportunities provided at the state’s only metropolitan university. Located in the heart of the capital city, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is steps away from the state’s best career, cultural, and entertainment opportunities. “The half-off freshmen scholarship is intended to ensure an affordable and quality higher education credential remains obtainable for students who enroll at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Students on campus celebrate the first day of classes for the Fall 2021 semester. Photo by Ben Krain.

The scholarship, valued at up to $10,000 over two years, is funded through a combination of private and institutional funds. All freshmen who are unconditionally admitted to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and enroll in at least 12 credit hours for the fall 2022 semester are eligible for the scholarships. No additional application is needed for students to receive the scholarship. “This initiative is our commitment to keeping college affordable for students and their families,” said Dr. Kindle Holderby, assistant vice chancellor of enrollment management. “We know that cost is a barrier to college attainability. We are committed to removing barriers and providing access to all students.” Students who earn a 2.25 GPA or higher during the fall 2022 semester may renew the scholarship for the spring semester. Recipients of the scholarship will also participate in student success initiatives recommended by their academic advisor. The topics include academic success, financial literacy, and life skills. For more information, students may visit the scholarship website or contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at financialaid@ualr.edu or 501-916-3035.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Provides Half-off Tuition Scholarships

John Hill — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 19:21:53 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is implementing several new student aid initiatives to help make college more affordable for students as they and their families are facing unprecedented challenges from the continuing effects of the covid-19 pandemic.�� The new student aid initiatives include new scholarships for freshmen that cover 50 percent of course tuition and fees, debt relief for students with balances from previous semesters, distribution of federal covid-19 relief funds to students, and the implementation of a new scholarship program. For the first initiative, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is offering first-time freshmen as well as new freshmen with 11 or fewer transfer credit hours a scholarship that covers half of their tuition and fees for the 2021-22 academic year. The scholarship is available to the first 1,000 students and is valued up to $5,000. It is funded through a combination of private and institutional funds. “Combined with the recent 11 percent decrease in our institutional net price, the Trojan Strong scholarship provides exceptional opportunity for new freshmen students,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “We hope that students and their parents recognize this incredible value and take advantage of this unique opportunity to get a head start on an accessible and world-class education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The scholarship is available to freshmen who are unconditionally admitted to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and enroll in at least 12 credit hours for the fall semester. No additional application is needed. Students who earn a 2.25 GPA or higher during the fall semester may renew the scholarship for the spring semester. Recipients of the Trojan Strong scholarship will participate in student success initiatives that cover academic success, life skills, and financial literacy. Student Debt Relief In the second initiative, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is offering need-based scholarships to provide debt relief for current students with past balances of up to $5,000 so they can continue their education. These scholarships are funded as part of a $25 million donation from an anonymous donor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock received in 2020. This need-based scholarship is available to part-time and full-time undergraduate students who were enrolled in the spring or summer 2021 semesters. Students eligible for this scholarship were directly contacted by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and asked to complete the scholarship application by Aug. 13. Students who receive a scholarship to pay for a prior balance will meet satisfactory academic progress, participate in a newly developed online financial aid literacy program with information about financial resources and student aid opportunities, and enroll for the fall semester. Distribution of Federal Covid-19 Funds ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has received approximately $10 million in federal covid-19 relief for students through the American Rescue Plan. The funds will be available at the start of the fall term and will be distributed through two ways. The first will provide direct relief for students, while the second will provide emergency grants for students in need. Undergraduate students will receive direct aid through a formula-based approach. Full-time students are expected to receive between $420 and $720 through the direct aid formula. Undergraduate and graduate students who need emergency aid may fill out an application for a grant. Full-time students can expect to receive between $250 and $750 through the application-based aid. New Scholarship System ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has also launched a new scholarship system that automatically matches students with available scholarships inside and outside of the university. ScholarshipUniverse is a one-stop shop for scholarships, including external, institutional, and private scholarships. ScholarshipUniverse is web-based, mobile-friendly, and uses both emails and text messages to communicate with students. “This system enables a personalized approach to scholarships,” said Jonathan Coleman, director of financial aid and scholarships at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Improving the ability to match students to scholarships will help students move away from the application mindset and ease the burden of submitting multiple scholarship applications.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is the first university in Arkansas to implement ScholarshipUniverse, making it one of the first to automatically match students with available outside scholarships. Instead of searching for eligible scholarships, students will answer a series of online questions and complete a scholarship profile. The answers will be used to match students with institutional and external scholarships using a number of criteria, which can include academic merit, program, desired career, and extracurricular interests. Students may contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at financialaid@ualr.edu or 501-916-3035 for more information.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to keep tuition and fees flat for 2021-22 school year

John Hill — Fri, 28 May 2021 00:53:41 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received approval by the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas to hold tuition and fees flat for the second year in a row.�� “We understand that many students and their families are still getting back on their feet as the pandemic begins to wind down,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “We remain committed to providing affordable access to high quality education.” This decision comes as the university is focused on greater access to education, increased student success initiatives, and more scholarship and student aid opportunities. Changes underway include the establishment of a learning commons in Ottenheimer Library designed to maximize access to tutoring and academic support.�� The university is providing a new Trojan Strong Scholarship as a part of its enhanced scholarship portfolio. Most new freshmen attending the university in the fall qualify for merit scholarships with an ACT superscore of 20 and a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0. These scholarships are available on a rolling deadline leading up to the start of the fall semester. In addition to the latest freshmen scholarships, new scholarship opportunities are available for undergraduate transfer students and new graduate students. “Graduate education is truly transformative for our students,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “We are committed to keeping it affordable.”�� Additionally, through the American Rescue Plan, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock expects to provide approximately 10 million dollars in federal student aid grants over the next year. “We are committing resources to help all students pay for college,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “Many students struggle to make ends meet. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to the success of our students and will use available federal, state, institutional, and private funds to help ensure a college degree remains in reach.”

Chancellor Drale delivers priorities for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in State of the University Address

John Hill — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 20:07:03 +0000

Chancellor Christina Drale provided her vision and priorities for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock during the University Assembly on Oct. 9.�� “The state of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2020 is good and getting better. We have a clear course ahead of us, and I look forward to making that journey with you. I would submit to you that the singular lasting value that we must hold dear is the transformational value of education,” Drale said. “As an institution, we are called upon to find a path to sustainability so that value is not lost to our community and the students we serve.” After looking back on a year of “great struggle and upheaval,” Drale outlined four key priorities that will help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock move forward to the future. The first priority is enhancing access to higher education and enhancing student success. “We enhance access through financial assistance, better outreach across different populations, and by creating a more welcoming and inclusive learning environment where our employment profile reflects the diversity of our community,” Drale said. “We enhance student success by ensuring the high quality of our instruction, and by building a sustainable student support infrastructure that is timely, responsive, and effective.”�� The second priority is to develop, maintain, and strengthen the right mix of liberal arts and pre-professional undergraduate and graduate programs that will prepare ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students for viable career paths or career enhancements. “We do this by maintaining a solid liberal arts core as the basis of our general education and by making sure that our academic programs have demand, both from prospective students and prospective employers,” Drale said. “Whether it is a liberal arts program or a pre-professional program, we must be able to demonstrate the value of the credentials we offer.” Based on the university’s role as an urban research institution, Drale’s third priority is to develop, maintain, and strengthen a research and creative work portfolio appropriate to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Carnegie research classification. “We do this by supporting grants and contracts through our sponsored research office, but also by providing opportunities for professional development, incentives for pilot projects, and alternative funding sources for unsponsored research,” Drale said. The fourth and final priority is to promote community engagement through educational programs, research and public service projects and programs, and Trojan Athletics. “By maintaining focus on this aspect of our role and scope, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock ensures that we maintain a strong connection to our community and that the value of having an institution like ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in Central Arkansas is readily apparent to all,” Drale said. Budget, Resources, and Enrollment Increasing enrollment is a vital institutional objective. It represents increased educational opportunity, attainment, and resources that allow ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to fulfill its mission and purpose as an institution of higher education. The challenges facing the university include a global pandemic, a national demographic decline in college-age students, and lower funding for higher education due to COVID-19. “This puts greater emphasis on increasing revenue from other sources and a continuing emphasis on lowering costs,” Drale said. “We are still seeing the effects of a cultural shift on the value of higher education. This year, 51% of our applicants chose to go nowhere for college. While some of that is undoubtedly COVID-related, we were seeing that trend already emerging last year. The emergence, this year, of a global pandemic, has made life harder for all of us, but in a real sense, it mainly exacerbates conditions we were already dealing with, and will continue to face.”�� In order to lower costs and balance the budget, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has applied structural reorganization in both academic and non-academic units to reduce administrative costs and used academic planning retrenchment. In the last year, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has developed a comprehensive enrollment management plan and transformed the recruitment, admissions, and financial aid operations. “Vice Chancellor Cody Decker and his team have increased their effectiveness and reduced time to admission and scholarship from several months to just about 24 hours,” Drale said. “We had record increases in new student applications, admissions, and scholarship applications.”�� At the start of fiscal year 2020, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock had a net position loss of around $11 million. With COVID-19 related losses and costs and planning for a decline in enrollment for fiscal year 2021, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock could have faced a net position loss of $23 million for this year. Through budget cuts, restructuring, retrenchment, the university’s best year in fundraising, and beating SSCH projections by around 5 percent, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is looking at a potential net position loss of $6.5 million. “As you all know, the internal condition that was most pressing when I became chancellor last September was the rapidly growing loss in net position,” Drale said. “I am pleased to report that we are making good progress on rectifying this problem.”�� Next Steps Drale outlined several next steps to improve ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. These include using funds from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation to build infrastructure for student success through an endowed student retention office with an intervention team, coaches, and mentors. Additional funds from the Donaghey Foundation have been reinvested in Student Affairs success initiatives, the Multicultural Center, and the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps. Donaghey Foundation Funds will also initiate a new Career Center that will open in January 2021. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is launching several new diversity initiatives with the intention of improving the campus’s learning and working environment. This includes the formation of two new committees: the Racial Barriers Committee and the Chancellor’s Race and Ethnicity Advisory Committee. “These committees are designed to uncover unintended barriers to access and inclusion and to help us find ways to improve our environment for all people of color,” Drale said. “We have also launched a campus read project for faculty, staff, and students to participate in book discussion groups and to keep the conversation about racial equity front and center.” Drale will also hold more race and ethnicity forums with students, faculty, and staff this year to keep the conversation alive and relevant on campus. “I’m pleased to report that Chief (Regina) Carter and our Public Safety office have enthusiastically embraced my recommendation to start meeting with students informally in a positive setting to talk through any issues they may have and to collaborate on campus-wide initiatives. They have already met with the SGA Executive Council and will next meet with students in an open forum this fall. I will hold my next open forums on race and ethnicity on November 11 and 12.” In community outreach projects, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is partnering with Fifty for the Future, the Chamber of Commerce, and area school districts to support the Ford Next Generation Learning model to help students better prepare for post-secondary success. Additionally, the university is partnering with Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott to reimagine the Asher Avenue corridor and revitalize University Plaza. The university had its most successful fundraising year to date, bringing in nearly $48 million. University officials are emphasizing endowed scholarships, endowed professorships, program support, research support, and sustainable capital improvements. “For the first time this year, you are going to see a Holiday Wish List Campaign that allows academic departments to identify specific items for donor support,” Drale said. “This will bring in a lot of new donors and help departments connect with them in a more intimate way. In marketing, you will see more emphasis on supporting specific programs rather than generic institutional branding. We want the community to connect with individuals and their experiences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, so our strategy there now reflects that.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will continue the process of rigorous program assessment and accountability to ensure that the university is not resting on outdated assumptions. As university officials begin the budget process for fiscal year 2022 in November, Drale will move ��Vlog��ý Little Rock toward a zero-based budget model. “We cannot expect students and community members to invest in us if we cannot verify our effectiveness and relevance,” Drale said. “Moving forward it will be important for us to continue turning the ship towards a more intentional planning and budgeting process that is transparent and participatory. I look forward to working with the IEC and the campus community to re-evaluate our historical allocations and move towards a zero-based budget model where alignment to institutional priorities are clear.” Additionally, university personnel will rewrite the institutional strategic plan next year to more clearly delineate means and ends and identify measurable gains. “The ultimate measure of our success will be that we have programs that students want to enroll in, and that we have graduates who contribute to their communities and that employers want to hire,” Drale said. “The measure of our success will be a reputation for excellence and vital relevance to the community.” You can read Chancellor Drale’s full University Assembly speech here.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold University Assembly Oct. 9

John Hill — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 21:27:29 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold the University Assembly meeting virtually at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The assembly will include a state of the university address by Chancellor Christina Drale as well as addresses by University Assembly and Faculty Senate President Amanda Nolen, Provost Ann Bain, Staff Senate President Cody Henslee, Student Government Association President Landon DeKay, and Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor of student affairs and chair of the COVID Emergency Response Team. In new business, the University Assembly will vote on a motion to make the Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC) a standing University Assembly committee. The original IEC was formed in 2018 to assist with the university’s reaccreditation process. The reconfigured committee will promote continuous improvement at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock through the review of cost units for effectiveness, efficiency, and mission centrality, as well as serve in an advisory capacity to the chancellor and cabinet of the university. The IEC will also determine a schedule for university-wide review, with all units being reviewed at least once every five years. In old business, the University Assembly will take a second vote on an amendment to the constitution that allows the Faculty Senate to be reapportioned every two years by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. The modification up for vote is to give the Faculty Senate Executive Committee the authority to conduct such an extraordinary census in the event of a reorganization of existing colleges. A link to the virtual meeting, the agenda for University Assembly, and the minutes from the April 10 meeting can be found on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Faculty Senate website. The link to join the meeting will go live at around 12:40 p.m.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Increases Transformational Scholarship Opportunities for Students for Fall Semester

John Hill — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 14:59:12 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has set an Aug. 1 deadline for new and continuing students to access new need-based scholarship funds made possible by the May 21 announcement of an unprecedented gift of $25 million from an anonymous donor, the largest single gift in the 93-year history of the institution.�� The new funds will be available for new and continuing students who apply by Aug. 1, 2020. Potential students that meet eligibility requirements and who apply for admission between now and Aug. 1 will automatically be matched with the new available funds to be applied to their cost of attendance for the coming academic year. Current students can apply for the scholarships simply via the scholarship application form and by completing a FAFSA form for the academic year they are entering. Learn more on the Scholarships website. “There is no better time to take control of your future at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “Whether you’re a new high school graduate or wanting to pursue a new career, we have taken strategic measures to transform the institution with focus on in-demand programs and pathways for student success.” Ten million of the $25 million gift is designated for a Student Success Endowment Fund that will expand and permanently support the university’s student retention and success initiatives. Among the first programs of its kind in the nation, students will be able to access specialized personnel serving as success coaches and care team members who will be available when students need help acclimating to the college environment or when challenging personal or academic issues arise. The availability of these resources for students on an as-needed or ongoing basis has been proven to increase student confidence and persistence and, ultimately, improve graduation success rates. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has also transformed its Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and drastically improved the process of applying for aid, making it easier for students to access financial assistance. “About 70 percent of the new students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock have unmet financial need, with the average amount of unmet financial need being about $8,200,” said Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Chief Data Officer Cody Decker. “This generous gift to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will provide a transformative opportunity for both current and future students for years to come.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock makes plans to open fall semester with a flexible approach

John Hill — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:33:43 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is planning to reopen its campus and residence halls and resume face-to-face classes in a flexible hybrid format for the fall 2020 semester. To ensure the safety of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community, a number of safety protocols will be in place. These include moving as many classes as possible to larger classrooms and meeting rooms to allow for social distancing, wearing masks in all common spaces on campus when social distancing cannot be maintained, and equipping all classroom and common areas with sanitization resources. While ��Vlog��ý Little Rock officials hope that students can remain on campus throughout the semester, the university is prepared to convert to online learning immediately if needed. A majority of fall classes have been converted to a hybrid learning format, allowing faculty the flexibility of offering in-person class sessions or online meetings depending on student health needs. “We are excited about welcoming our Trojan family back to campus this fall,” Chancellor Christina Drale said. “However, the health and safety of our campus community remains our top priority. We are working diligently on contingency plans to prepare for continuing public health developments.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has created two teams to advise university leaders and guide campus planning this fall. The Coronavirus Emergency Response Team (CERT) coordinates the COVID-19 emergency response efforts and reopening protocols for student services and business offices. Meanwhile, the Provost’s Academic COVID-19 Taskforce (PACT) oversees academic and student support issues related to the pandemic. The taskforce is developing contingency plans involving course scheduling, classroom space, and additional support for students and faculty to ensure continuous learning during the pandemic. “We are carefully following guidance from the ��Vlog��ý System, the Arkansas Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold,” said Chancellor Drale. “As new information and guidelines evolve, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s plans will change as appropriate.” To provide support for those in the Trojan community who have increased caretaking needs due to the pandemic, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will promote a culture of flexibility by providing, to the extent possible, remote work options. Faculty are encouraged to provide flexible class attendance policies, deadlines, and course structures to accommodate students who may need to stay home or miss synchronous class sessions due to technology issues, illness, caretaking, increased work (for first responders), or self-isolation. Students can find out more about requesting immunosuppressed-related accommodations at , and faculty and staff can go to . ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will also welcome students back to its residence halls for the fall semester. In most cases, residence hall capacities will be reduced to accommodate one student per bedroom. The university is developing a plan to provide engaging campus life while ensuring safety protocols. Activities, events, and student programming will resume in the fall, but with limited seating to ensure social distancing and virtual attendance options if possible. “In addition to contingency planning, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is taking additional steps to provide financial assistance to students impacted by COVID-19,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs. “This includes providing up to $11 million in institutional and private scholarships, disbursing $3 million to students from the federal CARES Act, waiving application fees for fall 2020 by using the code TROJAN2020 for undergraduate students and GRAD2020 for graduate students, and extending the deadline for most merit scholarships to Aug. 1, 2020.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been preparing multiple resources to assist faculty members to continue to deliver excellent online courses. The Scholarly Technology and Resources office has developed a Fast Track to Teaching Online course, a virtual alternative to the Summer Academy for Online Learning Excellence that provides professional development geared toward creating engaging instructional content and meaningful learning experiences for traditional, hybrid, and online courses. “We want faculty members to be aware that social distancing guidelines will be in place during the fall semester, and we are taking precautions to be ready to resume online learning as we continue protecting the health of our students,” said Dr. David Montague, director of online learning and faculty mentoring. “The Fast Track to Teaching Online course is just one of the things we are doing to help our faculty provide strong instruction in the online learning environment.” The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of Communications and Marketing is creating a new website with information and resources for students, faculty, staff, parents, and community members. A bi-weekly COVID-19 newsletter will provide information to prepare the Trojan community for the reopening of campus.

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

Decker Chosen for Leadership Arkansas Class XVII

Brown Named New Student Affairs Leader at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Expecting Growth in First-Time Freshmen and Transfer Students This Fall��

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Offers Half-Off Scholarships for Two Years

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Provides Half-off Tuition Scholarships

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to keep tuition and fees flat for 2021-22 school year

Chancellor Drale delivers priorities for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock in State of the University Address

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold University Assembly Oct. 9

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Increases Transformational Scholarship Opportunities for Students for Fall Semester

����Vlog��ý Little Rock makes plans to open fall semester with a flexible approach