/news-archive/tag/erin-finzer/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:23:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2022/12/09/computer-science-educators/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:23:59 +0000 /news/?p=84057 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Celebrates Computer Science Educators]]> We are highlighting our innovative Department of Computer Science with an in-depth interview with Dr. Albert Baker, chair and professor since 2018. What is the current state of the department? We currently have 210 undergraduate majors, of which 46 are pursuing our new cybersecurity degree program. We also have 35 students in the MS in Computer Science program. When I started, we only had nine. We also have 15 doctoral students. With this growth in our graduate programs, we鈥檒l see more of our graduate students moving on to academic as well as industry careers. With the initiatives we are undertaking to develop and promote our interactive immersive technologies (AR/VR) programs, I think we will begin to see solid growth in that area as well. What kind of opportunities are available in the department? Our programs open opportunities on two career paths. One is software developer, which is a pretty broad area that includes听 programming, software design, performance testing, quality assurance, etc. We also have a game option. The game industry is very competitive, but the skills our students get are applicable in interactive immersive technologies (AR/VR) applications in education and training, medical applications, and industrial design. There are an increasing number of opportunities for our students in this emerging area. We have much to highlight in this emerging area of interactive immersive technologies. The Emerging Analytics Center has fabulous facilities for hands-on development and research in that area. Drs. Ivan Conde, Arya Basu, and Jan Springer all have expertise in this area. This is an area of strength for the department, and I am happy about the opportunities that we provide students. I tell prospective students and their parents that we have good opportunities in interactive immersive technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, mobile applications, user interface and user experience, and computer graphics/data visualization. If a student has an interest in any of these areas, this is a great place to study. The opportunities for undergraduate students are particularly noteworthy because we have funded positions for students to work on grant funded research as well as industry projects. Those kinds of opportunities for undergraduate students are rare at other universities. How has the department changed since you started? Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, former director of the Emerging Analytics Center and former chair of the Department of Computer Science, asked me to develop a stronger sense of community in the department, particularly with undergraduate students. We restored the charter for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Student Chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery. The ACM is the largest professional society for computing professionals. The dhapter is very active. One of their impactful service projects has been the program to refurbish donated computers and make them available at no cost to students through the COVID pandemic. They have placed over 90 machines repairing hard drives, reinstalling operating systems, and handing out computers to students who needed them. We have continued to innovate the department鈥檚 curriculum. In computer science, things are constantly changing. We鈥檝e added courses accessible by students outside our department. For example, we will now have in the catalog a sophomore-level course that is an introduction to machine learning using a no-code environment. This means students who have no coding experience can take the course. One of the most important changes in the department has been the new degree in cybersecurity and some very important industry partnerships. Why has your department taken a lead in promoting cybersecurity education? We鈥檝e been very strategic in the way we鈥檝e laid a foundation for cybersecurity. Huge credit goes to Drs. Philip Huff and Erin Finzer for the creation of CyberLearn. (糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock received a $1.96 million workforce development grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development in the spring to form the Cyber Learning Network, a consortium of seven University of Arkansas System campuses to expand and diversify workforce education in emergent cyber technologies.) With CyberLearn, we are implementing a resource and course sharing network between the partner campuses. For example, if a 糖心Vlog传媒PB student needs to take a cybersecurity course this summer that is not being offered on that campus, they can register for that 糖心Vlog传媒PB course, pay 糖心Vlog传媒PB tuition fees, and actually take the course offered here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. In addition, with the addition of the National Cyber Teaching Academy funded, in part, by a grant from the NSA, we are training high school teachers so they can teach cybersecurity in Arkansas high schools. The State of Arkansas is requiring one credit in computer science as a graduation requirement for all students starting with the Fall 2023 freshman class. Cybersecurity is one of the ADE-approved computer science pathways meeting this requirement. We have a partnership with cyber industry leader and have really good outreach to the cyber industry in Arkansas. I鈥檓 excited about the holistic strategic approach we are taking with cybersecurity training and workforce development. What is coming up for the future of the computer science department? Certainly, cybersecurity will continue to grow and progress rapidly. We are also receiving tremendous feedback on our interactive immersive technologies initiatives. The Emerging Analytics Center (EAC) has been recognized as one of the top AR/VR research and development labs in the country. Between the EAC and the Cyber Arena, we are offering students opportunities unique in the State of Arkansas and beyond. What else would you like to add? I鈥檓 proud of the way the department office is running now. Chris Thompson (administrative assistant III) has been fantastic. I would also give a shoutout to Seth Cook who has worked as a GA in the office for the last three years and maintains our social media presence and department website. We are now much more organized and efficient through their efforts. Being in Arkansas has been a productive place to work in that I鈥檝e had an opportunity to meet people at levels that I wouldn鈥檛 have had access to in larger states. Lee Watson, CEO, Forge Institute, and Bill Yoder, Executive Director of , are at the top of the list. They are doing tremendous work. Tina Moore and Kelly Griffith at the Arkansas Department of Education are also great to work with. These are just some of the talented Arkansans I鈥檝e had opportunities to work with. The Industrial Advisory Board of the department is proving to be a tremendous asset as well听 and providing excellent guidance to me and the department. Brian Stack, Chief Scientist & Cofounder, LeapXL, chairs our advisory board. I appreciate the leadership he is providing. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the State of Arkansas are proving to be fertile places to develop innovative, state-of-the-art programs and initiatives in the computing sciences that will help us develop a future-ready workforce. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity I鈥檝e had to serve the Department, College, University, and State of Arkansas.]]> /news-archive/2022/03/23/cyber-learning-network/ Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:26:38 +0000 /news/?p=81200 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Awarded $1.96 Million Workforce Development Grant to Support a Regional Cyber Learning Network]]> cybersecurity. The CyberLearN partners include 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, 糖心Vlog传媒 Pine Bluff, 糖心Vlog传媒 – Pulaski Technical College, 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot, 糖心Vlog传媒 Hope-Texarkana, 糖心Vlog传媒CC Batesville, and 糖心Vlog传媒CC Morrilton. The Forge Institute, the Arkansas Center for Data Sciences, and SmartResume are also collaborating on the initiative. Gov. Asa Hutchinson awarded a total of $7.9 million in Large-Scale Workforce Development Grants to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and eight other organizations during a March 15 press conference at the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce. The grants were funded by the , a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. “We don’t have an unlimited source of funds in Arkansas for workforce training, so we want to invest it wisely,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “And you do that by partnering with industry to guide our training, our funding, so that it results in jobs.鈥� CyberLearN leverages shared resources for the purposes of expanding and diversifying cyber workforce education in Arkansas. The consortium will provide more equitable access to cybersecurity education for Arkansas learners, aligning freshman and sophomore cybersecurity curriculum with ABET, a national accreditation board, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Standards. CyberLearN partners will share instruction and create a common learning experience through standardized, hybrid-flexible learning spaces that will utilize the cloud-based . 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is proud to lead in creating the Cyber Learning Network, which will put Arkansas on the map for cybersecurity workforce education,鈥� said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淭his new consortium among academic and nonprofit partners will serve as a model to provide collaborative education and training opportunities across the state. We thank Gov. Hutchinson and the Office of Skills Development for this investment in Arkansas鈥檚 economic security and for providing our state with cyber talent for many years to come.鈥� CyberLearN will drive economic development opportunities by providing robust talent pathways and creating opportunities to spur creative innovations. Arkansas currently has more than 3,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions listed on LinkedIn, and that number is expected to continue to grow. Now that Arkansas鈥檚 broadband initiatives have provided more internet access across the state, there are more opportunities for cybersecurity professionals to work remotely, which can provide a boost for rural communities. The workforce development grant builds on 鈥媡he commitment and spirit of last year鈥檚 糖心Vlog传媒 System announcement of a $900,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce鈥檚 Economic Development Administration (EDA) to boost the state鈥檚 鈥媠tatewide workforce recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19 鈥媑rowth through the creation of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System Workforce Response and Training Center. That grant included nine 糖心Vlog传媒 System institutions, led by the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, to collect and analyze statewide workforce data and use outcomes to provide existing and bolstered education and training efforts through all seven of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 two-year colleges, along with two colleges of technology at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (糖心Vlog传媒M). 鈥淭his is a shining example of the synergy that鈥檚 possible by harnessing 糖心Vlog传媒 System resources in a collaborative and innovative fashion to continue bolstering the 鈥媑rowth of a world-class, highly skilled workforce in Arkansas,鈥� said Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development for the 糖心Vlog传媒 System. 鈥淲hen we鈥檙e able to pool the resources and talent within the 糖心Vlog传媒 System 鈥媍lose to Arkansas citizens and in our communities, the momentum that鈥檚 created can have a much larger impact on the state鈥檚 economic growth and within Arkansas families.鈥� In order to support this economic and workforce development potential, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and its academic partners are providing stackable certificates, which are a set of professional credentials that can be stacked into more advanced certificate and degree programs or may be earned by Arkansas workers wishing to upskill or reskill. Stackable certificates are an innovative way for institutions of higher education to serve working students by providing them with distinct skill sets and manageable motivators on their way to a two-year or four-year degree. “COVID has changed a lot of how we operate in higher education, and this program shows a positive adaptation in meeting the needs of today鈥檚 learners,鈥� said Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭he workforce needed in cybersecurity is so great right now, and we can’t simply tell the industry to wait four more years for us to provide you with a pipeline of talent when they need it yesterday. These stackable certificates address the immediate need, and also open up new academic paths if a student chooses to continue their education.鈥� The certificate programs, the first of which is pending approval for the Fall 2022 semester, include two certificates of proficiency in cybersecurity fundamentals that 鈥渟tack鈥� into a technical certificate and associate degree. By completing these foundational certificates, learners will be ready to enroll in upper-level specialized certificates in areas like data security, digital forensics, cybersecurity operations, and software security. These certificates are designed to provide college students and workers with a road to lifelong learning with personalized pathways to learn skills that meet both learner and employer needs. 鈥淗igher education should seize every viable opportunity to increase efficiency in the delivery of educational services contributing to workforce education. CyberLearN is exactly this kind of opportunity,鈥� Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚t has been, and continues to be, energizing to collaborate on this opportunity to build efficiencies in the development of the Arkansas workforce in the emerging and evermore critically important cybersecurity industry.鈥� While 糖心Vlog传媒 System campuses will provide space and construction and renovation costs for the training operation centers, the grant will provide computer equipment and supplies, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Arena cloud access for all students, curriculum and instructional design, and tuition and fees for 100 new learners. An additional eight more scholarships will go to instructors from two-year colleges to earn 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 new graduate certificate in cybersecurity education in an effort to expand the cybersecurity teacher workforce in the state. Dr. Steve Cole, chancellor of 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot, said one of his biggest worries is how to combat the cyber-attacks that are happening all around the world. This new partnership with CyberLearN will bring education and training opportunities directly to 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot and other two-year colleges across the state. Having a skilled workforce that can respond to cyber threats will ensure a resilient economy in Arkansas. 鈥淐ybercrime just doesn’t touch large corporations, it even touches the small business owner with one employee,鈥� Cole said. 鈥淭o combat cybercrime, we must build a workforce of cybersecurity experts, and CyberLearN seeks to address this huge skills gap. Community colleges like ours find it extremely difficult sometimes to start new, technology-rich programs due to the high costs involved and the lack of available instruction, but a collaborative effort like CyberLearN allows us to tap into the talent at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the Forge Institute to offer cybersecurity programming in our rural area. I am confident that, without this effort it would be difficult to offer a world-class program like this to many rural parts of the state like ours.鈥漖]> /news-archive/2021/12/01/strong-start-to-finish-initiative/ Wed, 01 Dec 2021 20:19:57 +0000 /news/?p=81867 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Empowers Student Success Through Strong Start to Finish Initiative]]> In partnership with the University of Texas at Austin鈥檚 Charles A. Dana Center, the (SSTF) initiative is an effort by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the state鈥檚 institutions of higher education to make sure that all students who start college underprepared are enrolled in co-requisite support courses that will help them succeed in their college courses. 鈥淚t is exciting to see how student outcome data can give us insights on where to intervene with curricular and student support to make a meaningful difference in our students’ lives,鈥� said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淥ur math and composition faculty and advisors have taken advantage of SSTF’s professional development in scaling co-requisite support, multiple measures placement, supporting diverse student needs, and equity dashboards to build upon improvements already underway in their developmental courses.鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock implemented Strong Start to Finish in 2020. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of students who stop out of college after unsuccessful attempts at math and composition gateway courses. This goal supports 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 urban mission and its diverse student body. The initiative also empowers students as mathematical and composition learners and prepares them to use these skills in their personal and professional lives. Three 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock employees took on leadership roles to implement the Strong Start to Finish effort. They include Dr. Annie Childers, associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dr. Melvin Beavers, assistant professor and director of composition in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, and Carla Griffin, student development specialist for the College of Science, Technology Engineering and Math. The Strong Start to Finish Initiative focuses on creating a co-requisite support in developmental courses. Students who are enrolled in developmental reading and writing courses should also take a credited course co-currently. The Department of Rhetoric and Writing implemented this learning model in 2013. 鈥淪tudents placed in our Composition Fundamentals course also take the credit-bearing Composition I course during the same semester with the same instructor,鈥� Beavers said. 鈥淭his is what’s called the ALP (Advanced Learning Placement) model. We are using the ALP model for students that need additional support in writing while taking the credit- bearing Comp I course. We are exploring ways to create a reading course that serves a similar function.鈥� As the director of first-year writing, Beavers is using the information he learns from the SSTF workshops to inform decisions about placement and programmatic assessment in gateway composition courses. 鈥淭he Strong Start to Finish program is helping us to see the gaps and blind spots in particular divisions or units so we can create interventions that truly align with our vision and mission as an institution of higher learning,鈥� Beavers said. 鈥淢y goal is to walk away from these workshops with a more well-rounded view of how the writing program can ensure that our program meets the needs of our students and that we are providing a more equitable path to success. We want to make sure that we are eliminating any, if not, all barriers for students taking first-year writing.鈥� In mathematics, the Strong Start to Finish initiative will create more equitable student outcomes in mathematics pathways through multiple measures placement, co-requisite support, offering quantitative literacy courses as well as college algebra, and other data-informed interventions. 鈥淭his program will help students save money and graduate faster because they won鈥檛 have to take college preparatory classes,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 especially helpful to students who are not majoring in STEM. These students can go directly into their college-level math class with a straight path to graduation.鈥� Childers, who has been leading the Strong Start to Finish initiative with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, said the program is helping the math faculty learn new skills that are making them better teachers. 鈥淚n the past year, this has been some of the most valuable professional development I have ever received,鈥� Childers said. 鈥淥ur math faculty are doing amazing things with multiple measures placement, co-requisite support, and scaling QMR, and our composition faculty are asking some fascinating assessment questions that we are talking about scaling out to campus through diversity dashboards. It is exciting to see how data can truly allow us to pinpoint areas to intervene and make all the difference in our students’ lives!鈥� Faculty members from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics are working with the Office of Records and Registration to implement a new algorithm that combines high school GPA and test scores to determine what math class a student is placed in. 鈥淭his math index helps students get placed in the right math pathway for their majors,鈥� Childers said. 鈥淥ur developmental students get enrolled in a co-requisite model. Our success rates are much higher when we incorporate our corequisite models. We are placing students in the most appropriate math course that they have the best chance of being successful in. We hope these students are being placed in a class where they have every chance of being the most successful student they can be.鈥� The math index is being tested this semester, and academic advisors should be using the index to place students in math courses next year. 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock joining this initiative has been very beneficial to our campus,鈥� Childers said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really helped with the administration and professors being on board and promoting these goals. At the end of the day, it鈥檚 all about helping our students be successful and be the best students they can be. That is the hope and goal of the project.鈥� Educators are also working to make the transition from high school to college math education more successful. Finzer serves as the central Arkansas co-lead of the 9-16 Math Pathways initiatives. 鈥淲hile we are working to improve math education at the college level, we will be using some of these same interventions at the high school level,鈥� Finzer said. 鈥淲e hope to align the mathematical curriculum between high school and college. Instead of putting every kid in algebra in high school, you put them in a quantitative literacy course where they learn a whole lot of practical math and statistics for life skills.鈥� The initiative also includes collaborating with high school teachers and creating partnerships where colleges and universities provide math tutors and peer mentors for high school math students.]]> /news-archive/2021/10/15/cybersecurity-panel-discussion-oct-21/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:17:46 +0000 /news/?p=80157 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Host Cybersecurity Panel Discussion Oct. 21]]> The panel will be held from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, in Dickinson Hall Auditorium. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security and National Cyber Security Alliance. It was created to ensure individuals stay safe and secure online. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 cybersecurity panel will focus on the 2021 theme, 鈥淒o Your Part #BeCyberSmart.鈥� The panelists will give a timely and informative discussion on how people can improve online security and share recent cybersecurity events that have occurred at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. The panelists include Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of computer science, Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and distinguished professor of information science and director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), Dr. Thomas Bunton, chief information officer at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and Dr. Veysel Erdag, chief information security office at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, will serve as moderate.]]> /news-archive/2021/03/09/hybrid-commencement-2021/ Tue, 09 Mar 2021 22:36:58 +0000 /news/?p=78526 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to hold hybrid commencement ceremony for spring 2021 graduates]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a hybrid spring commencement ceremony with both a virtual ceremony and an in-person experience to celebrate the university鈥檚 spring 2021 undergraduates. A pre-recorded video commencement ceremony featuring the names of graduates, photos of grads in their caps and gowns, and speeches from university officials will serve as a permanent celebration of degree recognition. This virtual ceremony will be posted on June 5. In addition to the virtual ceremony, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will hold a degree recognition ceremony over the weekend of April 24-25 at Jack Stephens Center. May 1 will serve as an overflow date if needed. Social distancing and masks will be required, though masks can be removed for photos. The Bowen School of Law will hold a separate ceremony on May 15, and the Graduate School will soon be announcing its plans for separate in-person ceremonies for doctoral and masters students. Graduates and up to two guests will come to the Jack Stephens Centers at a reserved time to celebrate their graduation. Chancellor Christina Drale and academic deans will present students with their diploma covers, and a professional photographer will capture each degree recognition as they would in a traditional ceremony. 鈥淲e believe this experience will provide a wonderful, lasting memory for students and families to commemorate their achievement,鈥� said Malissa Mathis, registrar and hybrid commencement co-chair. Guests and students should be prepared to stand as they promenade through the mezzanine at the Jack Stephens Center for their official degree recognition. Additional photo backgrounds will be available at the Jack Stephens Center so graduates can take pictures with their guests. Contests for the best-decorated graduation cap and footwear will be located on the mezzanine. Winners of the cap and footwear contests will be announced in the official video commencement ceremony. Graduates will receive an email from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a link to register for the in-person event or to submit their pictures for the virtual ceremony.听 If you have any questions about the hybrid commencement ceremony, please contact Dr. Erin Finzer, hybrid commencement co-chair, at esfinzer@ualr.edu.]]> /news-archive/2021/01/26/forge-institute-cybersecurity-partnership/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 19:11:10 +0000 /news/?p=78217 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Partners with Forge Institute to Grow Skilled Cybersecurity Workforce]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Forge Institute have partnered to strengthen the cybersecurity workforce development in Arkansas by providing academic credit for those who complete professional development courses in cybersecurity at the Forge Institute. Under the terms of the recently signed collaboration agreement, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will award successful graduates of the Forge Institute鈥檚 IT/Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate academic credit towards a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science or cybersecurity at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭his is truly an exciting and innovative opportunity for the IT workforce in Arkansas,鈥� said Dr. Al Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚 thank Forge Institute for providing invaluable advice as we have built our programs and curricula in cybersecurity in the Department of Computer Science. The partnership is strong and growing.鈥� Each institution has thoroughly reviewed the curriculum and mapped academic requirements to corresponding aspects of Forge Institute鈥檚 professional development program.听 The first Forge Institute course that is eligible for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock course credit is IT/Cyber Fundamentals. Those participants who successfully complete the Forge Institute course can receive three hours of academic credit for CSEC 1310, Intro to Cybersecurity, which is a required course for the bachelor鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity. 鈥淲e are excited to further expand our partnership with Professor Philip Huff, Dr. Al Baker, Dr. Erin Finzer, and the team at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Lee Watson, chairman and CEO of Forge Institute. 鈥淭his rather unique relationship will further cement Arkansas as a leader in cybersecurity and help provide the skilled talent pipeline required by the private and public sector employers.鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is designated an academic center of excellence by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 鈥淭his is an exciting collaboration for us as we begin a new Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree in the fall,鈥� said Philip Huff, professor of cybersecurity in the Department of Computer Science. 鈥淭he overwhelming demand for cybersecurity professionals requires us to reimagine how we in higher education design our programs. This partnership between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and Forge Institute creates a two-way path between cybersecurity professionals and our cybersecurity degree program programs. We are working together to prepare students for an exciting and challenging profession.鈥� For more information, visit . In the upper right photo, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock visitors tour the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Gym, which opened in December 2019. Photo by Ben Krain.]]> /news-archive/2020/11/19/social-mobility-arkansas/ Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:57:56 +0000 /news/?p=77855 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock ranked top university for social mobility in Arkansas]]> The ranking measures a university鈥檚 success in graduating economically disadvantaged students who are less likely to finish college. “Facilitating social mobility is a fundamental value at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. It is inherent in our role and scope as a metropolitan university,鈥� said Chancellor Christina Drale. 鈥淲e also know that helping our students advance means more than providing excellent programs. We must also provide a success infrastructure that will keep them engaged, help them solve problems, and enable them to build relationships with professionals in their field that will assist in their transition to a career path after graduation.” 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumnae Reteisha Byrd, was able to afford college with the help of Pell grants, scholarships, a graduate assistantship, and student loans. She graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration in 2014 and a Master of Public Administration听in 2016. An internship at Little Rock Port Authority led to her current job as a research manager for Boyette Strategic Advisors. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to attend 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock upon graduating from high school,鈥� Byrd said. 鈥淭he university had a great business program and was in the capital city with plenty of job opportunities. The College of Business provided plenty of opportunities for students to network with local businesses. My education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has allowed me to apply what I learned in the classroom, make connections within the community, and advance in my personal life. I鈥檝e also made lifelong friends who were either classmates or roommates while attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥� The social mobility indicator measures how well schools graduated students who received federal 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. The social mobility ranking was computed by assessing Pell Grant graduation rates and Pell Grant graduate rate performance. At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, 47 percent of undergraduate students from the fall 2020 semester are Pell Grant recipients, and 48 percent of undergraduates are first-generation students. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 student body is the most diverse of any college or university in Arkansas. More than half of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students are over the age of traditional college students, with an overall average age of 27. Mercades Parker, a single mother who will graduate in May 2021 with a Master of Social Work degree, would not have been able to afford college without taking on substantive loans if she had not been selected for the Chancellor鈥檚 Leadership Corps at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the Academic Challenge Scholarship from the Arkansas Department of Education. Parker said that the advancement of social mobility is shown at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock by the way people take care of the students. 鈥淚 think 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock really cares about its students,鈥� Parker said. 鈥淔rom 2013 and on, I always felt like there was someone to help me when I needed help the most. College is challenging and tough. Having those different outlets to go to is what helped me. Having a professor who would go back and look over your work with you is very helpful. They really want you to succeed. I think social mobility is shown in how people care about their students.鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has proven to be the higher education institution in Arkansas that can transform your life and empower graduates through education. When Dr. Brian Berry came to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as a first-generation college student, he never imagined that he would get his Ph.D. and go one to become 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 even dream of a Ph.D. when I first got here. I was just happy to be going to college,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淭his place gave me more to dream about. I鈥檝e always been thankful for the opportunities that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has given me. Not only has this institution given me an education, but it鈥檚 given me a career.鈥� Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, emphasized the many programs 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has available to help underrepresented students as one of the reasons for the university鈥檚 high social mobility ranking. Those programs include the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy, a year-round program open to students in the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) that provides academic support and mentoring for underrepresented students at the university. Additionally, the Summer Bridge Academy is a three-week residential program that prepares incoming freshmen socially and academically for college-level work and accelerates their progress toward degree completion. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is also home to the African American Male Initiative, African American Female Initiative, Hispanic Latino Initiative, TRIO Talent Search, and McNair Scholars, which also support underrepresented students towards degree completion and graduate school enrollment. 鈥淥ur academic programs, service to students, and commitment to community engagement are determined by our mission to improve students鈥� lives through engaged teaching and learning,鈥� Finzer said.]]> /news-archive/2020/02/03/what-you-need-to-know-about-criterion-2/ Mon, 03 Feb 2020 15:13:03 +0000 /news/?p=76098 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Road to Reaccreditation: What You Need to Know About Criterion 2]]> A peer review team of seven faculty and higher education professionals will visit campus all day Monday, Feb. 24, and the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 25. During the campus visit, members of the team will ask questions of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty, staff, students, and visitors. It鈥檚 important for members of the university community to be familiar with the five criteria used to evaluate the institution. Criterion 2, 鈥淚ntegrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct,鈥� evaluates whether or not the university and governing board follow their own processes and procedures. Under Criterion 2, institutions must also assure peer reviewers that they present themselves clearly and completely to students and the public and that they are committed to academic freedom and the pursuit of truth. 鈥淭his criterion focuses on effective, transparent oversight and accountability, as well as responsible resource allocation and decision-making,鈥� said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and chair of the Higher Learning Commission Steering Committee. 鈥淭his criterion focuses on whether or not the institution establishes and follows its own policies to ensure fair and ethical treatment,鈥� Finzer said. 鈥淭he criterion also focuses on consumer protection and that we present ourselves to the public with transparency and honesty. HLC also wants to make sure that we protect academic freedom on this campus. A quality institution takes stewardship seriously, operating with integrity and accountability by fostering a culture of documentation and transparency.鈥� The core components of Criterion 2 include: 2.A. The institution operates with integrity in its financial, academic, personnel, and functions; it establishes and follows policies and processes for fair and ethical behavior on the part of its governing board, administration, , and staff. 2.B. The institution presents itself clearly and completely to its students and to the with regard to its programs, requirements, and staff, costs to students, , and accreditation relationships. 2.C. The governing board of the institution is sufficiently autonomous to make decisions in the best interest of the institution and to assure its integrity. 2.D. The institution is committed to freedom of expression and the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning. 2.E. The institution鈥檚 policies and procedures call for responsible acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge by its , students, and staff. Members of the university community can prepare for questions about Criterion 2 by familiarizing themselves with where to find 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock policy documents, such as administrative pages, faculty/staff/student handbooks, governance documents, policy pages, and consumer information pages. What are the questions you may be asked regarding Criterion 2? Do you think the university is clear in its communication with students about topics such as financial aid, student conduct, costs, and graduation requirements? What improvements would you recommend? What opportunities do you have for professional development? Are staff members treated equitably in their access to these opportunities? What opportunities do students in your program have to gain experience with research? Community or civic engagement? Diversity or multiculturalism? Provide an example of how 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is committed to the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning. How are staff involved in campus decision-making processes? Do you think that staff have sufficient input into decisions that affect them? Talk about shared governance and how faculty participate in decision-making at different levels of the university (department, college, institution). Do you think the university is clear in its communication with students about topics such as financial aid, student conduct, costs, and graduation requirements? What improvements would you recommend? Members of the peer review team are looking for candid and thoughtful answers that demonstrate that the university鈥檚 employees and students understand the mission, its vision for the future, and how the institution will serve the public good. 鈥淗LC looks for institutions who respond to what their stakeholders need most,鈥� Finzer said. 鈥淗LC also looks for campus communities that understand and buy into their mission and for institutions that align their resources with their mission. Perhaps more than any other regional accrediting body, HLC values the public good.鈥� For more information, visit 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 reaccreditation website.]]> /news-archive/2019/12/12/dylan-wright-graduation/ Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:28:53 +0000 /news/?p=75893 ... Grad believes 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has prepared him for future career of public service]]> A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate is grateful for the personalized yet flexible college education he received that helped him gain experience in politics, public policy, and nonprofits that will be invaluable to his future career.听 Dylan Wright of Little Rock will graduate Dec. 14 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and minors in economics, math, and creative writing. 鈥淚 think the biggest reason that I attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is that I got the Donaghey scholarship,鈥� Wright said. Donaghey Scholars receive a financial package that includes full tuition and fees, a housing subsidy, a stipend, a study abroad experience, and a new laptop computer. 鈥淚 knew I would have a lot of opportunities to be flexible in my education,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淚 got to study abroad and take a bunch of classes in different areas. Dr. Jessica Scott and Dr. Simon Hawkins from the Donaghey Scholars Program have been amazing and helped me through any problems I鈥檝e had.鈥� The Little Rock native has also studied human rights and social movements at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. During his study abroad trip, Wright researched queer cinema in Argentina and the role it plays in citizen鈥檚 LGBTQ rights under the mentorship of Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and assistant professor of Spanish. He presented his research at the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference in Mexico in March.听 In another research project, Wright is working with Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs, to study the implementation of more than 1,000 recommendations of truth commissions in 13 Latin American countries. The truth commissions investigated histories of human rights violations. Wright and Wiebelhaus-Brahm have presented their research at the Law and Society Association conference and will present at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting in Chicago next year with support from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 presidential Studies Program. 鈥淒ylan has done some amazing things at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. 鈥淗e鈥檚听 supported some of the most important nonprofits in our community. He鈥檚 worked on several election campaigns, ranging from mayoral to presidential. There are great things in his future.鈥� Wright remains thankful to the research opportunities he had with his mentors. 鈥淒r. Brahm and Dr. Finzer have been the two professors who have been the most active in guiding my interests and helping me explore the topics I鈥檝e been interested in, including human rights, international relations, and social justice,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淭he professors here have done a really great job of providing me with guidance and resources and passion for different areas that I am now interested in and want to pursue.鈥� During his time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Wright has become an active volunteer in the Little Rock nonprofit world. He has served on the advisory board for Lucie鈥檚 Place and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Diversity Council. He has also volunteered with El Z贸calo Immigrant Resource Center, Heifer International, and the Clinton Presidential Library.听 鈥淚 started out as an English major, but I didn鈥檛 feel fulfilled,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淚 switched my major to political science. As I became more politically aware, I wanted to become more active in local organizations who are doing important work. I tried to dedicate as much of my time as I could to volunteering.鈥� In the political arena, Wright has interned for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, the Clinton Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign: Project One America, and two political campaigns. After graduation, Wright plans to attend a joint graduate program where he will attend law school while studying public policy. While he鈥檚 keeping his options open, Wright鈥檚 future career will most likely involve law, politics, and public policy. 鈥淚鈥檓 applying to graduate programs, but I do know I want my career to be nonprofit or public-service oriented,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淚 really want to spend my career helping people.鈥� ]]> /news-archive/2019/12/04/road-reaccreditation-criterion-1/ Wed, 04 Dec 2019 13:57:25 +0000 /news/?p=75849 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Road to Reaccreditation: What You Need to Know about Criterion 1]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is preparing for a campus visit from the Higher Learning Commission to achieve reaccreditation for the university.听 A peer review team of seven faculty and higher education professionals will visit campus all day Monday, Feb. 24, and the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 25.听 During the campus visit, members of the team will ask questions of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty, staff, students, and visitors. It鈥檚 important for members of the university community to be familiar with the five criteria used to evaluate the institution. Criterion 1 is all about the university鈥檚 mission. The peer review team will be looking closely at how well 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 mission is known and how it鈥檚 communicated to the public.听 鈥淗LC believes that a quality college understands its purpose: Who are we? Where are we headed? How will we get there? What are our values, our distinctive characteristics? What are our essential activities? Who are our stakeholders?鈥� said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and chair of the Higher Learning Commission Steering Committee. The core components of Criterion 1 include:听 1.A. The institution鈥檚 mission is broadly understood within the institution and its operations. 1.B. The mission is articulated publicly. 1.C. The institution understands the relationship between its mission and the diversity of society. 1.D. The institution鈥檚 mission demonstrates commitment to the public good. Members of the university community can prepare for questions about Criterion 1 by familiarizing themselves and others with the university鈥檚 mission, vision statements and strategic goals, which can be found on 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 mission page. What are the questions you may be asked regarding Criterion 1?听 How would you describe 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 mission? How do you contribute to the university鈥檚 mission? Do you know where you would find the official statement? What are the university鈥檚 strategic planning goals? How does 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock serve the public good? Members of the peer review team are looking for candid and thoughtful answers that demonstrate that the university鈥檚 employees and students understand the mission, its vision for the future, and how the institution will serve the public good. 鈥淗LC looks for institutions who respond to what their stakeholders need most,鈥� Finzer said. 鈥淗LC also looks for campus communities that understand and buy into their mission and for institutions that听 align their resources with their mission. Perhaps more than any other regional accrediting body, HLC values the public good.鈥� For more information, visit 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 reaccreditation website.]]>