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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $1.215 Million Grant for McNair Scholars Program

John Hill — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:15:41 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $1.215 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help disadvantaged college students gain opportunities for success in their future doctoral studies. The five-year grant will provide $243,041 a year for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. The McNair program is one of eight federal TRIO programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock McNair Scholars Program provides research and student success opportunities for juniors and seniors who plan to advance their education and skills through competitive graduate programs. “When we look at U.S. students studying to become our future physicians, professors, scientists, and other crucial professionals requiring graduate degrees, many demographic groups are underrepresented, including first-generation college students and those from low-income families,” said Nasser Paydar, assistant secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education. “McNair grants fund projects at universities and colleges that help underrepresented students to access doctoral programs.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock supports 26 McNair Scholars every year to participate in the university’s enriching Research Internship Program. In their first year, McNair Scholars participate in the Summer Research Internship. Afterwards, students complete a McNair required-research experience where they work with a faculty mentor to conduct an independent research project and write a paper on the results. “In this undergraduate research program, we offer research opportunities for students to prepare them for graduate school,” said Ashia Muhammad, director of the McNair Scholars Program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “We have workshops on getting ready for graduate school and presenting research at a conference as well as attending graduate school fairs and cultural events. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor to complete independent research projects that will prepare them for research requirements of graduate school. The ultimate goal is for our scholars to receive a Ph.D. 10 years after they have graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. This funding will help us increase our graduation rates and post-baccalaureate success among first-generation, low-income students, and students from underrepresented populations in graduate school.” The program also provides intensive support for scholars who apply for external research opportunities and for graduate school programs. These services include Graduate Record Examination (GRE) preparation and advising, tutoring, academic counseling, financial aid counseling, assistance with securing financial support for graduate school, and advising on how to apply for and successfully complete graduate school. “Our university has a strong track record of McNair Scholars not only successfully moving on to doctoral programs, but also thriving in their careers with a commitment to inspire others,” said Dr. David Montague, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs–student success. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is one of three Arkansas universities, including Harding University and Henderson State University, that hosts the McNair Scholars Program, which started in 1991 at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Largest NSF Grant Awarded to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Will Support Ongoing Undergraduate STEM Education Efforts

John Hill — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:05:40 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been awarded a nearly $2 million grant from the (NSF) to enhance teaching and learning and to promote student success in undergraduate STEM education. This is the largest grant ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has ever received from the National Science Foundation.�� The $1,999,986 five-year grant from the NSF will be used to provide support for faculty and students in the Donaghey College of STEM with a specific focus on supporting students from historically underserved groups. The researchers will use the grant, “NSF IUSE Institutional and Community Transformation Level II: Upholding Active Learning Reform in STEM,” to grow the use of evidence-based teaching practices to increase student engagement and retention in undergraduate STEM education. “A strong STEM workforce is critical for our country,” said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of STEM. “To build and sustain a strong STEM workforce, we must educate students for next-generation careers. To properly educate these students, we must transform our education. I am beyond pleased to see that this funding will continue the excellent work of our faculty. We are grateful to the National Science Foundation and their support of this transformational project.” The interdisciplinary team led by Dr. Mark Baillie, assistant professor of chemistry, is a collaboration with faculty from the STEM Education Center (Dr. Michael Moore, director of undergraduate research and mentoring), the School of Education (Dr. Lundon Pinneo, assistant professor) and the Office of the Provost (Dr. David Montague, associate vice chancellor for student success). Ronia Kattoum, an advanced instructor of chemistry and Ph.D. student in applied sciences-chemistry, is working as the project’s graduate assistant. “Our main focus is to increase the number of underserved students who successfully complete STEM courses,” Pinneo said. “We want to identify current barriers for faculty and improve support systems so campus-wide we can close the equity gap.” Students from historically underserved populations, first-generation students, and Pell Grant recipients are likely to encounter barriers to their success in their lecture-based STEM courses. Baillie says that traditional teaching methods are often a barrier to students reaching their potential. “People’s journeys through education are very different,” Baillie said. “If you can create a classroom environment that gives everyone the opportunity to engage, then everyone will learn and progress.” To support faculty members as they learn about and adopt more student-centered and inclusive teaching strategies, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will utilize successful NSF-funded interventions including the expansion of the Mobile Institute on Scientific Teaching (MoSI) and the Learning Assistant Program in the Donaghey College of STEM. Currently, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is the only higher education institution in Arkansas with these two highly successful programs that focus on faculty and student success. The grant builds upon the previous success of these programs by allowing many more faculty and students within the Donaghey College of STEM to participate in these initiatives.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock teaching assistants and professors participate in the Mobile Institute on Scientific Teaching workshop. Photos by Ben Krain.

“��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a rich history in the STEM area, with innovative programming for faculty as well as major initiatives focused on student success,” Montague said. “This funding will certainly help promote the future of STEM education in Arkansas.” MoSI workshops focus on active learning and other evidence-based teaching practices. Research on teaching and learning shows that students are 1 ½ times more likely to pass classes in active learning classrooms than in traditional lectures. Prior to receiving this grant, about 20 percent of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty completed the weeklong workshop on their own time. The grant will reward future faculty to participate in the workshop by providing a $500 stipend for 75 STEM faculty members to complete the workshop over the next five years. Starting in the spring 2023 semester, faculty will be recruited to join the first cohort of participants. The grant also provides a $975 stipend for 605 students to participate in the Learning Assistant Program. The assistants will provide peer learning support for more than 9,000 of their classmates over the five years of the grant. The stipends will allow greater access for many students who previously couldn’t afford to volunteer for this leadership role. By the end of the project, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock plans to support approximately 250 learning assistants per year. Further opportunities will be provided for faculty who have successfully completed the MoSI workshop to improve their teaching skills. The researchers will form Communities of Practice – small groups of up to five faculty members who will meet bi-weekly to offer peer support and build out their expertise. Faculty who participate will each receive stipends of $1,000. The grant will also fund one graduate student and one postdoctoral researcher for five years, as well as a series of speakers that will focus on implementing student-centered practices. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will also create a Community of Transformation annually for faculty members who have participated in the Communities of Practice. This group of 10 change agents will discuss and plan efforts to enact policy changes focusing on student success and closing the student equity gap. The grant also provides up to $5,000 a year for five years for faculty and administrators in the Donaghey College of STEM to implement ideas that emerge from the Community of Transformation. “We want to emphasize how the departments and programs are encouraging their own teachers,” Moore said. “This is a multi-prong approach by the whole university on how to support a successful culture of teaching. It speaks to the credibility of the support we have across the university and from our partners. This is a win for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” Caption: ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors, from left, Mark Baillie, Ronia Kattoum, Michael Moore, David Montague, and Lundon Pinneo are working on a National Science Foundation project to improve undergraduate education in the Donaghey College of STEM. Photo by Ben Krain.��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Participates in Institute on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Centers

John Hill — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 17:20:34 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is one of 75 higher education institutions across the country that has been chosen by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) to participate in the . A team of employees from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the City of Little Rock attended a virtual training June 21-24 to learn the TRHT framework and create an action plan to create a new TRHT Campus Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is the only Arkansas university that participated in this year’s training. In addition to the University of Arkansas, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will be the second Arkansas university to create a TRHT Campus Center. The team consisted of Dr. David Montague, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, Amber Jackson, equity program manager for the City of Little Rock, Rebecca Feldmann, assistant professor of clinical education at William H. Bowen School of Law, Dr. Richard Harper, dean of students, and Michael Johnson, director of development and external relations. The TRHT Campus Center Initiative Training prepares the next generation of leaders and thinkers to break down racial hierarchies and to dismantle the belief in a hierarchy of human value. The program is based on five pillars – narrative change, racial healing and relationship building, separation, law, and economy. Each center implements its own visionary action plan, based on the TRHT framework, to promote racial healing through campus-community engagement. “The growing importance of, and the need for, truth-telling, narrative change, and racial healing is evident by the number of institutions that elected to attend the institute,” said Tia Brown McNair, AAC&U vice president for diversity, equity, and student success and executive director for the TRHT Campus Centers. “We remain humbled that our colleagues continue to partner with us on this effort to build more just and equitable institutions and communities.” In preparation of applying to be accepted for TRHT training by AAC&U, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock team members consulted with TRHT Campus Center employees at the University of Arkansas and Oklahoma State University-Tulsa. Institutions were selected based on their vision for their Campus Center, the demonstrated commitment of leaders on campus and in the community to the goals of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation framework, and their ability to provide evidence for the need of a Campus Center in their community. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a strong history and commitment to using and leveraging data to assess problems and how they might manifest themselves within the community and on campus,” Montague said. “A more recent 2021 Campus Climate survey of faculty, students, and staff revealed some disheartening, but poignant information about issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on campus. We have a diverse student body, and we want to have something that reflects Little Rock’s important history in the civil rights movement. Our hope is for the center to serve as a catalyst for various campus and community initiatives.” The Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center training and network is administered through the American Association of Colleges & Universities in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation. In partnership with the City of Little Rock, the campus center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will use truth, racial healing, and transformation as a means to change both the city and university’s cultural competency. “We are excited to participate in this Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation training and support the work of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock team as they engage their campus community in the critical work of DEI,” Jackson said. The center’s mission is to deepen the community engagement footprint by strategically strengthening our commitment to robust economic development, social justice, and an increased focus on BIPOC student and faculty recruitment and retention. “We want people to come together to share their lived experiences, no matter what that may be,” said Dr. Melvin Beavers, the Chancellor’s DEI fellow. “The center creates a safe place for people to talk about race and racism where people won’t be judged.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host March 11 Conversation with Authors David Montague, Paige Bowers

John Hill — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:26:52 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a with authors David Montague and Paige Bowers to discuss their new book on the life and legacy of the U.S. Navy’s ‘Hidden Figure’ Raye Montague. The event, “Overnight Code: A Conversation with Paige Bowers and David Montague,” will take place from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11. , the award-winning anchor of FOX16 News since 2004, will moderate the conversation.�� “It is a privilege for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown Center and the Center for Arkansas History and Culture to work with David Montague and Paige Bowers to bring the extraordinary life of Raye Montague to our community through their discussion and the rich assortment of archival material that her family so kindly gifted to the university,” said Dr. Deborah Baldwin, associate provost of collections and archives at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Raye Montague’s story is an inspiration to all of us and a legacy to�� be protected.” Montague, executive director of online learning and faculty mentoring at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and Bowers, a nationally published news and features writer, released “,” in January.

“Overnight Code” by David Montague and Paige Bowers

The book tells the story of Montague’s mother, Dr. Raye Montague, an internationally registered professional engineer with the U.S. Navy who is credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown and the Center for Arkansas History and Culture are co-hosting the event in celebration of Women’s History Month and Diversity Month. In addition to the virtual conversation, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown is hosting an exhibit of materials on display from the center’s Raye Montague Collection as well as some items donated from David Montague. The collection can be seen at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown from March 11-31.�� “We are grateful to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for hosting us in what promises to be a very special book talk,” David Montague and Paige Bowers said. “Not only will we be able to discuss the narrative arc of Raye Montague’s remarkable life, but we will be able to further illuminate it with her personal artifacts that are being lovingly preserved at the Center for Arkansas History and Culture. Archives like these are vitally important to the community at large, giving us tangible reminders of who we are and what we can become. Raye’s collection there is perfect proof of that.” The collection includes Montague’s awards from the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame,�� the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Academy of Computing, and the National Computer Graphics Association. They also include a scrapbook and sweatshirt from Montague’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and a framed photograph of a battleship that Montague designed digitally. The event is free and open to the public and can be

��Vlog��ý Little Rock online graduate programs listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report

John Hill — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 22:37:00 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as having some of the best online programs in computer information technology in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 19th in its 2021 ranking of “Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs.”�� “Our university continuously encourages innovative academic programming to help students and faculty achieve academic success,” said Dr. David Montague, executive director of online learning and faculty mentoring. “This significant accomplishment in these prestigious academic rankings demonstrates commitment to academic excellence, optimal functionality, accessibility, innovation, universal inclusion, and user-friendly education.” This ranking assesses online master’s degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. For ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, this ranking includes the online Master of Science in information quality and Master of Science in information science programs. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also ranked 19th in the 2020 U.S. News list. “We are really gratified to make the list again this year. The online degree market has become very competitive,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science, which houses both programs. “There are a lot of good schools offering good web-based degrees so we need to keep improving what we offer each year in order to stay a competitor.” The online master’s degree in information quality is a 33-hour program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to prepare students for industry and government careers as well as advanced doctoral studies. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, the curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art technology. “The Information Quality Graduate Program was launched in 2006, and it’s the only graduate program in the U.S. devoted to the study of data governance and data quality management issues,” Pierce said. “The program is attracting a lot of attention from the chief data officers community due to the strong synergy between this program’s curriculum and the need for chief data officers to ensure their organization has trusted data that is available when needed.” The online master’s degree in information science is a 33-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. Students learn how to compete in an industry with an ever-present demand for new innovations in data science and analytics, advanced information systems design and development, and emerging information technologies. Both degrees serve as a stepping stone for other advanced graduate degrees, such as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Ph.D. in computer and information science. For the 2021 rankings edition, U.S. News evaluated schools on five categories, including engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, service and technologies, and student excellence. Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and distinguished professor of information science who teaches online courses in the graduate programs, said the professors work hard to meet the challenges of online students.�� “Online students face a variety of challenges,” Agarwal said. “Aside from technological challenges, online students�� miss peer-experience, engagement and participation during asynchronous classes, instant access to instructors and on-campus resources. We recognize these limitations of online education and make a concerted effort to improve students’ learning experience.”�� Pierce said that the success of the online programs is driven by several factors, including the use of innovative online technologies to deliver a live classroom webcast from video classrooms in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, skilled instructors, and support from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “In our programs, we have worked hard to improve the delivery of the online learning experience,” Pierce said. “We encourage students as much as possible to take their classes synchronously online to get as much interactive engagement with their instructors as if they were physically on campus. In addition though, we do offer students the flexibility to view the recorded sessions anytime their schedules do not permit them to join the live session at the given time. The other part of the equation is the quality of the program’s instructors and course content. In addition to our regular graduate faculty, we recruit highly qualified individuals from industry to teach specialized content so that our students can get the best combination of real world experiences coupled with sound academic principles.” Two of the information science professors who teach for the graduate programs, Dr. John Talburt and Dr. Richard Wang, were recently named to Chief Data Officer Magazine’s 2021 .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Professor Montague co-authors book on mother, Navy Hidden Figure Raye Montague

John Hill — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 19:18:40 +0000

For years, people would tell the U.S. Navy’s Hidden Figure Dr. Raye Montague that she should write a book about her incredible life.�� The late Dr. Montague, an internationally registered professional engineer with the U.S. Navy, is credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship. Montague was recognized as the U.S. Navy’s real-life “Hidden Figure” during naval events in Washington, D.C. and Virginia and on the Feb. 20, 2017, live episode of “Good Morning America.” In the last years of her life, Raye Montague decided to write the long-awaited book with her son, Dr. David Montague, executive director of online learning and faculty mentoring as well as a professor of criminal justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and co-author, Paige Bowers.�� Bowers brought to the table the experience of a published author. She wrote “The General’s Niece: The Little-Known de Gaulle Who Fought to Free Occupied France” and is a nationally published news and features writer. Just as the trio had finished a book proposal and was about to secure a publisher, Raye Montague passed away in October 2018 at the age of 83. One of the last promises David Montague made his mother was to finish her book. That book, “,” will be published Jan. 12, 2021, by Chicago Review Press Inc.

Paige Bowers, author of “The General’s Niece: The Little-Known de Gaulle Who Fought to Free Occupied France,” co-wrote “Overnight Code” with David Montague.

“Even though my mother couldn’t stay for the whole process, she was able to contribute a lot to the book,” Montague said. “When she was in hospice, I promised her that I would finish the book. I’m really excited about it. It gives us a chance to give her story, which is much broader than her amazing career. It also talks about encouragement for so many types of people and overcoming obstacles against impossible odds.” ��“Overnight Code” is equal parts coming-of-age tale, civil rights history, and reflection on the power of education. The 240-page book is described as a tale about persistence and perseverance when the odds against you seem insurmountable. “We believe there is so much in this book for so many people,” Bowers said. “Yes, it is a story about a woman with a formidable life who became a very gifted engineer just through her sheer determination and through often teaching herself computer science and coding when they were still in infancy. But there is also a huge takeaway about resilience, about not giving up if you have a setback or if something is blocking your way to success.” Raye Montague earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at a time when the engineering school at the University of Arkansas did not accept minorities. She began her career with the U.S. Navy in 1956. She held a civilian equivalent rank of captain and was the Navy’s first female program manager of ships. Among many other honors, she was awarded the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1972, the Navy’s third-highest honorary award. She was also nominated for the Federal Woman of the Year Award the same year. After her 33-year naval career, Raye Montague retired in 1990 and was presented with a flag that had flown over the nation’s capital in her honor. She was passionate about highlighting the value of education and encouraging girls to get involved in STEM education, receiving many awards and commendations over the years for volunteering with youth. After returning to Arkansas in 2006, she spent many years as a mentor, volunteer, motivational speaker, and dedicated mother and grandmother in Little Rock. Montague mentored prison inmates through ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s community re-entry program and was honored with the 10th Annual Fribourgh Award in 2019. Beyond all of Raye Montague’s admirable achievements, Bowers described the book as a story about the power of a mother’s love across generations.��

“Overnight Code” will be released Jan. 12.

“Raye’s mother was the foundation that helped her become the woman she was meant to be, and Raye’s love for David helped him become the Dr. Montague that we know,” Bowers said. “David has taken the baton from his mother. He continues to encourage people to stay in school. He is doing her proud by continuing this outreach. That is a testament to her and a testament to him.” During the process of researching, conducting interviews, and writing the book, David Montague discovered hidden depths about his mother. “I learned my mom was more of a firecracker than I ever thought her to be. People came at her from every direction, but she didn’t let that stop her,” David Montague said. “After she passed, there were people who talked about how much she had done to open doors for them. Until recently, they had no clue that she had done all these things in the Navy. That is something I have tried to do as a faculty member and administrator and that is something that I learned from her. Even when she was struggling in hospice, she was trying to encourage people in those facilities to go to school and so many people have come to school at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and beyond because of her.” “Overnight Code” is widely available for pre-order online, at your , or via the publisher’s website at .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock rolls out online resources for best practices in online instruction

John Hill — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:14:38 +0000

With summer classes moving to an online-only format for the summer 2020 semester, educational experts at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are breaking out new resources to help faculty members implement best practices in online education.�� Dr. David Montague, director of online learning and faculty mentoring which includes eLearning and Scholarly Technology & Resources (STaR), said that the university has been preparing multiple resources to assist faculty members to continue to deliver excellent online courses.�� They have 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. “Faculty members are aware of the potential for social distancing guidelines to be reinstated at some point during the fall semester, and they are taking every precaution to be ready to resume online learning to protect the health of our students,” Montague said. “The Fast Track to Teaching Online course is just one of things we are doing to help our teachers provide strong instruction in the online learning environment.”�� Facilitated by Dr. Daryl Tate, faculty coordinator, along with the STaR Instructional Design team, the course is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with other online instructors as well as gain insight and research-based best practices for developing and creating innovative online content. Faculty members will learn how to develop a syllabus, create a course overview, how to develop accessible and engaging content, how to interact with students, etc.�� While faculty members are working hard at developing their online courses, STaR members are available to evaluate online and hybrid courses through its Online Course Design Quality Assurance Standards. Earning a silver or gold standard ensures that courses meet internal quality assurance guidelines. “Earning a silver or gold star from the STaR Office is a good way for faculty members to make sure their online course is ready to go,” Montague said. “A thorough evaluation and review means that students have everything they need to be successful in an online course.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also has an instructional continuity website, where faculty members can view instructional videos and guides, learn about online open lab sessions with eLearning and STaR, sign up for Blackboard and Collaborate Ultra Training, and request individual help. They also offer a mini-renovation service, where faculty can dust-off an old online course and refresh it with the “latest and greatest,” Montague said. Additionally, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a new Faculty Helping Faculty Blackboard Organization, a forum where ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty members share tips and ideas and provide assistance for online education. “All of these things can help improve the online learning experiences of our students,” Montague said.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate programs listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report

John Hill — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 17:20:11 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as having some of the best online programs in computer information technology in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 19th in its 2020 list of the “Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs.” “Our university continuously seeks innovative and resourceful strategies to help students and faculty achieve academic success,” said Dr. David Montague, director of online learning and faculty mentoring. “This significant accomplishment in these prestigious academic rankings demonstrates commitment to academic excellence, optimal functionality, accessibility, innovation, universal inclusion, and user-friendly education.” This category ranked online master’s degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. For ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, this ranking includes the online Master of Science in information quality and Master of Science in information science programs. The online master’s degree in information quality is a 33-hour program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to prepare students for industry and government careers as well as advanced doctoral studies. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, the curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art technology. “The Information Quality Graduate Program was launched in 2006, and it’s the only graduate program in the U.S. devoted to the study of data governance and data quality management issues,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science, which houses both programs. “The program is attracting a lot of attention from the chief data officers community due to the strong synergy between this program’s curriculum and the need for chief data officers to ensure their organization has trusted data that is available when needed.” The online master’s degree in information science is a 33-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. Students learn how to compete in an industry with an ever-present demand for new innovations in data science and analytics, advanced information systems design and development, and emerging information technologies. Both degrees serve as a stepping stone for other advanced graduate degrees, such as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Ph.D. in computer and information science.�� U.S. News ranked programs based on engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, services and technology, and student excellence. Programs ranked high on the list demonstrated quality online instruction that promotes participation in courses, accessible and responsive instructors with strong academic credentials, diverse online learning technologies, and strong student accomplishments. Pierce said that the success of the online programs is driven by several factors, including the use of innovative online technologies to deliver a live classroom webcast from video classrooms in the College of Engineering and Information Technology, skilled instructors, and support from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock “We are very picky about who teaches in our program,” Pierce said. “For our technical classes, we use faculty who are extremely knowledgeable in their field of expertise. For our more techno-professional classes, we recruit experts from the community to ensure our students are getting real-world instruction, such as Dr. Eric Nelson from Acxiom, Dr. Jennifer Davis, chief privacy officer for the state of Arkansas, and Dr. Timothy Holthoff, chief technology officer at Arkansas Court Information Systems. This would not be possible without the support of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock administration in helping us to find the dollars and resources to improve our teaching facilities and to hire top talent to teach in our programs.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to honor ‘Hidden Figure’ Raye Montague with 10th annual Fribourgh Award

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 13:15:32 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will celebrate the life and achievements of the late Dr. Raye Jean Jordan Montague at the 10th annual Fribourgh Awards Reception Thursday, Oct. 10. The late Dr. Montague, an internationally registered professional engineer with the U.S. Navy, is credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship. The Fribourgh Award honors individuals who have made considerable contributions to the state of Arkansas through mathematics and science. This year’s reception will be from 6-8 p.m. at Chenal Country Club, 10 Chenal Club Blvd., Little Rock. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at this website. Sen. Joyce Elliot will serve as the event’s emcee and give a memorial to the event’s presenting sponsor, the late Dr. Garry Glasco. Proceeds will be used to create the Raye Jean Jordan Montague Endowed Scholarship Fund that will help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock attract and retain high-achieving, full-time students majoring in math and science with preference given to minority women. This year’s award recipient has a special connection to the university. Montague’s son is Dr. David Montague, director of eLearning and professor of criminal justice at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, who will receive the award on his mother’s behalf. According to David Montague, his mother would have loved to receive this award because of her love of STEM subjects, especially math. “My mother loved math as a young student during the 1940s and 1950s, a time in which it was even more difficult for girls and women to be taken seriously in such academic areas,” he said. “She told me that at the same time that many of her colleagues sought to take home economics, she actively sought taking shop and as many math and science classes as she could.” The story of Raye Montague’s contributions in engineering, computer science, and the advancement of women in the sciences was brought to public attention in recent years after the 2017 release of the movie, which highlighted the story of African-American women who played a crucial role in helping NASA send astronaut John Glenn to orbit the Earth in 1962. Montague was recognized as the U.S. Navy’s real-life “hidden figure” during naval events in Washington, D.C. and Virginia and on the Feb. 20, 2017, live episode of “Good Morning America.” Montague earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff because the engineering school at the University of Arkansas did not accept minorities at the time. She began her career with the U.S. Navy in 1956. She was the first female professional engineer to receive the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Achievement Award, the National Computer Graphics Association Award for the Advancement of Computer Graphics, and the first female to serve on the board of directors for the Numerical Control Society. Montague held a civilian equivalent rank of captain and was the U.S. Navy’s first female program manager of ships. Credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship, Montague completed the process in fewer than 19 hours, when the process had previously taken two years. Among many other honors, Montague was awarded the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1972, the navy’s third-highest honorary award. She was also nominated for the Federal Woman of the Year Award the same year. After her 33-year naval career, Montague retired in 1990 and was presented with a flag that had flown over the nation’s capital in her honor. She was passionate about highlighting the value of education and encouraging girls to get involved in STEM education, receiving many awards and commendations over the years for volunteering with youth. “Both before and during her retirement, my mother actively spoke with students across the United States, especially in Arkansas, to assure them that as long as they have the drive to succeed and ability to grasp the concepts, there is a way to have a fulfilling career in STEM fields, no matter what you look like or where you are from,” David Montague said. After returning to Arkansas in 2006, she spent many years as a mentor, volunteer, motivational speaker, and dedicated mother and grandmother in Little Rock. Montague mentored prison inmates through ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s community re-entry program and students at the eStem Elementary Public Charter School in Little Rock. Additionally, she was an active volunteer with LifeQuest, The Links Inc., the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the American Contract Bridge League. In recent years, Montague was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Arkansas Academy of Computing. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The Arkansas Science Olympiad named a new prize after Montague, which is awarded to the highest ranking majority female team, to encourage more women to participate in the sciences. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Fribourgh Awards, which began in 2010 to honor the late Dr. James H. Fribourgh, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor emeritus, who served for more than 45 years as chair of Life Sciences, interim chancellor, vice chancellor for academic affairs, and distinguished professor of biology. “We appreciate the opportunity to recognize the late Dr. Raye Montague for her outstanding contributions and noteworthy work in the nation’s scientific and mathematical community,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Her legacy of embracing education, breaking barriers, commitment to family, and service to her country will never be forgotten.” Past recipients include Jerry B. Adams, president and CEO of Arkansas Research Alliance; H. Watt Gregory III, partner at Kutak Rock LLP; Dr. Charles E. Hathaway, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock chancellor emeritus and Donaghey distinguished professor; Peter Banko, former president and CEO of St. Vincent Health System and now president and CEO at Central Health; Dr. James Hendren, former CEO and chairman of Arkansas Systems Inc.; Dr. Mary Good, founding dean of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Engineering and Information Technology; Jerry Damerow, a retired Ernst and Young partner, and Sherri Damerow, a retired kindergarten teacher; and Cory Davis, partner and principal consultant at the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health. For more information, please contact Derek Boyce at dcboyce@ualr.edu or 501-683-7355. In the upper right photo, David Montague (left) is shown with his mother, Raye Jean Jordan Montague. Photo by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock-affiliated women honored at Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 14:23:47 +0000

Several women associated with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock were honored during the fourth annual Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony held Aug. 30 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.�� The goal of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is to honor women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their community or the state. It is dedicated to preserving the history of accomplishments and recognizing women across the state of Arkansas. It also provides women encouragement and inspiration from stories shared by these great women. Linda Holzer, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor of music, accepted an award on behalf of inductee Florence Price, a Little Rock native who was��the first black woman recognized as a symphonic composer and first to have a composition premiered by a major orchestra. Price was a recipient of the Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow Award earlier this year after Holzer campaigned for Price to receive the award from the national organization after the state organization, the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association, denied Price entry due to her race nearly a century ago. Price composed more than 300 works in her lifetime, including chamber music, choral works, solo vocal compositions, and commercial jingles for radio. In 1932, she won first place in the Rodman Wanamaker Music Competition for her “Symphony in E Minor,” which was performed during the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Price passed away in 1953. “Florence Price was a gifted pianist-composer, in the tradition of Beethoven, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff,” Holzer said. “Her music is inspiring to play and feels good in the hands. She connected with leading artists of her day, drew on the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance, and composed American music with tremendous beauty. Once published scores of her concert works became more readily available in 1998 and rediscovered manuscripts were published after 2009, it opened the door to more opportunities for performers to share her music with audiences again.” Price also will be inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Oct. 27 at the Robinson Center Performance Hall in Little Rock. Two of Price’s descendants will accept the award on her behalf, and a string quartet will perform some of her music.

Photos of Florence Price are courtesy of University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections.

The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas is the only “organization inductee” of 2018. Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, interim dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, serves on the foundation’s Board of Directors as first vice president. The is devoted to improving the economic viability of women and girls through education and introducing girls to careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Founded in 1998, the organization is the only one in the state focusing solely on women and girls. It was created by a group of the “Top 100 Women in Arkansas,” selected by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group. The 100 honorees challenged themselves to make a difference in Arkansas and the foundation idea emerged. The founders put out a call for funds and more than 150 women responded, while 82 donated more than $1,000 to create a permanent endowment. In 2002, the organization acquired 501(c)(3) status. Programs include Girls of Promise, an annual two-day STEM conference for eighth-grade girls; First Person Plural, which gathers the life stories of 20th century women; an Arkansas Women’s Organization directory for those wanting to support women-oriented groups and organizations; and the annual Women Empowered Leadership Conference. Last but certainly not least, another honoree, Dr., is the mother of Dr. David Montague, director of eLearning and professor of criminal justice at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Raye Montague is an internationally registered professional engineer with the U.S. Navy, credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship. The process had previously taken two years. She accomplished the task in fewer than 19 hours, when her department had been given one month to finish the job.��

Holly Fish (left), Raye Montague (middle), and David Montague (right) celebrate Raye Montague’s induction into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame.

Montague held a civilian equivalent rank of captain and was the U.S. Navy’s first female program manager of ships. Among many other honors, Montague was awarded the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1972, the navy’s third-highest honorary award. She also was recognized as a real-life “hidden figure” on the Feb. 20, 2017, live episode of Good Morning America. After her 30-year naval career, Montague is now a mentor, volunteer, and motivational speaker in Little Rock. She’s active with LifeQuest, The Links Inc., the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the American Contract Bridge League. She volunteers with students at the eStem Elementary Public Charter School in Little Rock and works with inmates through a community re-entry program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The night’s other honorees included Dr. Carolyn Blakely, lifelong educator and chancellor emeritus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Karen Flake, president and chief executive officer of Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock and founder of Karen Flake & Associates market research and consulting firm; Dr. Sue Griffin, a pioneer in the research of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions; Bessie Moore, who piloted a program for economic education in public schools and created the Ozark Folk Center State Park; Mary Steenburgen, Academy Award-winning actress; and Annabelle Tuck, the first woman elected to the Arkansas Supreme Court. “If one of these stories creates a spark in a young female mind and leads her to achieve her hopes and dreams, we’ve done our job,” said Holly Fish, chairman of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame. “We draw inspiration from those who have come before us.” In the upper right photo,��Linda Holzer (center) accepts Florence Price’s award for being inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame. Also pictured are Holly Fish (left), board chairperson, and Kristina Garlington, Girl of Promise awardee.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $1.215 Million Grant for McNair Scholars Program

Largest NSF Grant Awarded to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Will Support Ongoing Undergraduate STEM Education Efforts

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Participates in Institute on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Centers

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host March 11 Conversation with Authors David Montague, Paige Bowers

����Vlog��ý Little Rock online graduate programs listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Professor Montague co-authors book on mother, Navy Hidden Figure Raye Montague

����Vlog��ý Little Rock rolls out online resources for best practices in online instruction

����Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate programs listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to honor ‘Hidden Figure’ Raye Montague with 10th annual Fribourgh Award

����Vlog��ý Little Rock-affiliated women honored at Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame