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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock welcomes 24 new faculty members

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 16:43:04 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock introduced 24 new faculty members to campus during the Faculty and Staff Convocation Aug. 16 in the University Theatre.�� Interim Provost Christina Drale welcomed the new faculty by recalling how faculty are often described as research- and community-engaged faculty members who serve as great student mentors and help students to build cultural and social capital while also serving the communities of�� Little Rock and Arkansas. “The identity that emerged from that discussion describes an institution that recognizes that as we strive for distinction in our research profile, our public service, and our educational programs, we also understand the life-changing responsibility that we hold for our students and our community,” Drale said. “All of us recognize that our students are counting on us to help them grow and reach their potential. As we welcome the new members of our campus community, as we celebrate the beginning of a new year, and contemplate our challenges ahead, remember that we have the capacity to do amazing things.”�� The new ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty members include:��

�� John Barbuto, instructor in the Department of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation
�� Justin Bunting, assistant professor of music
�� Lindsey Clark, instructor of nursing
�� Jennifer Dostert, instructor of nursing
�� Kenneth Goff, assistant professor of music
�� SeRena Hill, visiting assistant professor of public affairs
�� Philip Huff, assistant professor of computer science and cybersecurity
�� Kailash Jajam, assistant professor of engineering technology
�� William Jergins, assistant professor of economics and finance
�� Whitney Johnson-Freeman, data services librarian
�� William Kerns, assistant professor of education
�� Seunghyun Kim, assistant professor of marketing and advertising
�� Stephanie Leacock, instructor of biology
�� Lorissa Mason, assistant professor of music
�� Brittany Mathis, instructor of nursing
�� Farren Moore, assistant professor of nursing
�� Ivan Rodriguez Conde, assistant professor of computer science
�� Stuart Scheiderer, instructor in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering
�� Derek Slagle, assistant professor of public administration and director of the Survey Research Center
�� Glenys Spence, visiting assistant professor of law
�� Johni Beth Teague, instructor of nursing
�� Frank Thurmond, visiting instructor of English
�� Christopher Trudeau, visiting assistant professor, Bowen School of Law
�� Brian Walker, visiting instructor of chemistry
�� Kensuke Yamada, assistant professor of art

Chancellor Rogerson addresses state of the university during Faculty and Staff Convocation

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 13:24:46 +0000

As Chancellor Andrew Rogerson welcomed faculty and staff to a new academic year at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during the Faculty and Staff Convocation on Aug. 16, he updated the campus community on the state of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� His address included updates on new campus initiatives to address falling enrollment, the status of several campus renovation projects, changes in campus athletics, and updates on fundraising and research.�� Campus Initiatives ��Vlog��ý Little Rock formed a new recruitment committee and retention committee over the summer with the goal of increasing student enrollment on campus. “Our attention was highly focused on increasing the yield of applicants for this coming fall and looking at ways to do business differently in the year ahead,” Rogerson said. “This is our focus: increasing enrollment and moving forward sustainably, while remaining true to the mission of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, a university that continues to offer possibility and promise to so many. “Academic year 2018-19 has been a time of self-imposed inquiry and evaluation for our campus. Collectively, we have wrestled with a myriad of challenges. ��Vlog��ý System budget and policy changes, the main one being a focus on our net position, required us to make $6 million in cuts before this July.” The Office of Communications and Marketing, Financial Aid, and Admissions implemented a campaign to encourage people to register for fall classes with the encouragement of removing the scholarship application deadline. Ads placed on social media, billboards, and digital channels resulted in 7,900 visits to the university’s website, 708 inquires, and 365 registered students. Additionally, Communications and Marketing has been conducting focus groups with internal and external audiences to gather data to create a new brand messaging strategy that will be launched later this fall. An agreement was reached with eStem Public Charter Schools to provide temporary space for dining and recess for the more than 500 high school students who go to school on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s campus. Last year, overcrowding was a problem in the Donaghey Student Center. “This agreement will eliminate congestion in our student center. We shall work hard over the coming year to find a longer-term solution to ensure sustainability for both institutions,” Rogerson said.�� Athletics Rogerson congratulated ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s women’s basketball and soccer teams, both 2018-19 season Sun Belt Conference championship winners. He also introduced Bob Denman, who will serve as the interim vice chancellor and director of athletics. This fall, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has become the only college or university in Arkansas to offer Division 1 wrestling. Thanks to the generosity of Greg Hatcher, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hired Neil Erisman as head wrestling coach, brought 30 wrestling student-athletes to campus, and recently completed construction of a state-of-the-art wrestling training facility. “With an award-winning coach from Oklahoma State, and our acceptance into the prestigious Pac-12 Conference, a new exciting Trojan pathway has emerged, and we are attracting top wrestlers,” Rogerson said. “Our donor-funded Hatcher Wrestling Center is ready, and we can now compete with teams like Stanford and Arizona.” With the addition of wrestling, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is now home to nearly 250 student-athletes on campus with some of the highest academic achievements in the Sun Belt Conference. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student-athletes have an average GPA of 3.36 and average graduation rate of 82 percent. Fundraising and Research ��Vlog��ý Little Rock raised more than $20 million during fiscal year 2019, an 11 percent increase over last year. This is the third consecutive year of gift growth. New endowments totaled $2,774,937, bringing ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s total endowment to more than $80 million. Rogerson also highlighted the work of faculty members who received research grants and contracts during the 2018-19 academic year, noting that faculty brought in around $32 million in grants and contracts. “Dr. Alex Biris, for example, heads our nanotechnology center. Working at the molecular level, he has developed scaffolding for regenerating bone loss in gaps up to 10 cm, as is often the case after traumatic injuries,” Rogerson said. “Although the center runs many research projects, his bone work has resulted in a spinoff company, NuShores, and substantial external funding over the last five years totaling $23 million. Another Arkansas Research Alliance fellow, Dr. Nitin Agarwal, has just landed a $2.4 million dollar cybersecurity award from the Department of Defense.” Last year, donors funded 140 signature experiences for students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. These one-semester-long experiences create a unique opportunity for undergraduates to gain creative and professional experience. The Signature Experience program continues to grow. This year, donors have provided $175,000 to fund 175 $1,000 signature experiences. “These programs help students connect with their majors, develop skills, and ignite the ambition for graduate school,” Rogerson said. “We are committed to serving this region with graduates equipped for the innovation required to thrive in the 21st ��Գٳܰ��.” Campus Improvements The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus had undergone a number of renovations and improvements over the past year. These campus improvement projects include:

�� Renovation of the Physics and Astronomy Building and Stabler Hall
�� Installation of a new roof on the Donaghey Student Center
�� Renovation of the athletic space in the Donaghey Student Center, including coaching offices, meeting spaces, and a weight training facility
�� Installation of a technology-rich, collaborative classroom in Ottenheimer Library
�� Renovation of the Trojan Café and addition of a game room in the Donaghey Student Center

“Our grounds team and beautification committee have worked to improve the look of the campus, improving landscaping, as funds permit,” Rogerson said. “Every step we take propels us to innovate. At the same time, we seek to address how to move forward sustainability.” One of the university’s major accomplishments of the year was the opening of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown in January 2019. The 4,000-square-foot space is divided into two sections. The front area is used for recruitment, specialized events, and college and community lectures, while the back area houses the historic Joe Jones Mural and has become a “space for civic reflection and appreciation of an important work of art.” “We wanted to create a space that honored the past, engaged the present, and imagined the future,” Rogerson said. “That is what this multi-use space reflects.” Since its launch, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hosted 72 events with more than 2,100 attendees. These events have included college access events, K-12 discussions, and numerous community business meetings. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown also hosted a Wednesday night lecture series to explore important research and community work being done by faculty members, with seven new presentations lined up for the fall. In the upper photo, Chancellor Andrew Rogerson presents to faculty and staff during the 2019 Faculty and Staff Convocation. Photo by Ben Krain.

Chancellor Rogerson addresses state of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during convocation

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 19:11:46 +0000

As Chancellor Andrew Rogerson welcomed faculty and staff to a new academic year at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during the Faculty and Staff Convocation on Aug. 17, he updated the campus community on the state of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� His address included updates on new campus initiatives to address falling enrollment, community partnerships, the status of several campus renovation projects, changes in campus athletics, and updates on fundraising and research. �� Campus initiatives ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will implement an Institutional Effectiveness Planning Committee tasked with evaluating all academic and non-academic programs and implementing planning and resource allocation recommendations that align with the university’s mission and strategic plan. The committee will be chaired by Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Chasse Conque, vice chancellor and director of athletics. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is continuing the “YES” campaign begun two years ago to empower faculty and staff to embrace a positive, efficient, and creative outlook in serving students. The university has also centralized advising for undergraduate students with less than 45 credit hours. Dr. Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor of academic affairs, will soon be reaching out to faculty and staff to support a new early intervention program to identify students at risk of failure, so these students can get the support they need to remain in college. Community partnerships Over the summer, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has boosted community partnerships in four ways. The university has renewed its contract with Rock Region Metro to provide free transportation on all metro buses to student, staff, and faculty members to make college more affordable for students. For the second year, the university is partnering with the��Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. More details will be announced soon. In Saline County, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has expanded services at the Benton Campus and is offering three complete degree programs and two associate degree programs this fall. Also, the nursing program has been expanded with a new partnership with Saline Memorial Hospital to train nurses. Rogerson also hopes to form community partnerships to rejuvenate the University District area.�� “I have spent a lot of time finding ways to rejuvenate the University District, an undefined area around our campus, but one that I envision encompasses a one-mile radius,” Rogerson said. “First and foremost is our shopping mall on the south end of campus. We are in the process of commissioning an RFP (Request for proposal) to devise a plan to rejuvenate this space for the benefit of both the university and the district. Undoubtedly, this would involve public-private partnerships.” In downtown Little Rock, the university has leased��a new downtown building space that will open this fall.��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown will house the Joe Jones mural and serve as a recruitment space, event space, and classroom for relevant downtown lectures. “This dream realized will result in a remarkable gift to Little Rock’s downtown – making their university visible and accessible in the heart of the River Market,” Rogerson said. “A destination for inspiration, a place of civic reflection, and a vital functioning advertisement for the university.”��

Chancellor Andrew Rogerson addresses ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and staff during a convocation on Aug. 17 in University Theatre. Photo by Ben Krain.

Campus improvements On campus, several building renovations and improvements are underway. The University Police Substation on Fair Park Boulevard has recently been completed. “This high-profile operation will help safeguard this edge of the campus close to our residences,” Rogerson said. In addition, a renovation of the Physics and Astronomy building is near completion. The Donaghey Student Center will soon receive a new roof. The Field House, which houses coaches’ offices and weight rooms in the Donaghey Student Center, will also undergo a renovation thanks to funding from the Donaghey Foundation. Finally, the university will build a new collaborative classroom in Ottenheimer Library, thanks to funding from the Ottenheimer Foundation. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will seek input from faculty members who would like to help design the new high-tech, innovative teaching space. Enhancing campus climate In an effort to improve the campus experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, a feasibility study will look into ways for eSTEM High School to better co-exist on campus, including addressing overcrowded dining facilities. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in October. Rogerson also announced the hiring of a new diversity director��who “will be sensitive and proactive to issues of race on this campus.” Additionally, Rogerson thanked the Campus Beautification Committee for their hard work in making the campus a more pleasant place to live, study, and work. “We are proud of the work being done by our beautification committee who have made great strides in making the campus more attractive – whether it’s getting all the rusty poles painted yellow or revamping our flower beds.” �� Last but not least, a new arts committee has been leaving its mark on campus by promoting art to better reflect ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s commitment to broad-based education. Athletics In athletics, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has begun the only Division I wrestling campus in Arkansas. Thanks to the generosity of Greg Hatcher, who is committed to promoting wrestling as an intercollegiate sport, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hired Neil Erisman as head wrestling coach and started construction of a state-of-the-art wrestling training facility. The wrestling program will begin in fall 2019. This summer, the university received the results of a feasibility study that looked into starting a football team and marching band on campus. A working group has been formed to review the report and make a recommendation on whether to move forward with the football program. Rogerson also congratulated the university’s more than 200 student-athletes, who earned a combined GPA of 3.3 for the 2017-18 academic year. He welcomed Darrell Walker, the new head men’s basketball coach, and congratulated Joe Foley, head women’s basketball coach and five-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year award winner, for re-signing with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Fundraising and research Through the All In Campaign, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has raised $63 million to date with $18.1 million raised in fiscal year 2018. This year represents the 15th year in a row that the number of donations to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has increased. Rogerson also highlighted the work of faculty members who received research grants and contracts during the 2017-18 academic year. “Of course, being an R3 university, we celebrate research success, and I am proud to report that our faculty brought in over $32 million in grants and contracts last year on the back of 186 submitted proposals,” he said. “Truly outstanding. As a former researcher, I know how difficult it is to secure external funding. I am proud of you.” Finally, Rogerson announced that the university will sponsor 100 signature experiences, 20 more than last year, for undergraduate students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during the 2018-19 academic year. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is providing 100 $1,000 grants so students can participate in a one-semester signature experience, such as a research project, creative activity, community service project, or study abroad experience, that will contribute significantly to an undergraduate student’s academic development.

Convocations will welcome new freshman, faculty, and staff to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 13:38:35 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will welcome new students, faculty, and staff for the start of a new academic year Friday, Aug. 17.�� The Freshman Convocation, an annual tradition offered by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Affairs to mark the beginning of students’ academic journey, will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the University Theatre in the Center for Performing Arts. Following the Freshman Convocation, afternoon activities will include lunch, a pep rally with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s athletic teams, and an organizational fair beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Donaghey Student Center Fitness Center followed by a fashion show at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bookstore at 1 p.m. In addition to the Freshman Convocation, the 2018 Faculty and Staff Convocation will be held from 3-4:30 p.m., also on Friday, Aug. 17, in University Theatre. Dr. Velmer Burton Jr., executive vice chancellor and provost of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will introduce new faculty members, while Chancellor Andrew Rogerson will discuss university initiatives and priorities for the 2018-19 academic year. After the convocation, a Champagne reception will be held in the University Theatre foyer to honor new faculty members.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host convocations to welcome freshman, faculty, and staff

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 13:00:14 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will welcome students, faculty, and staff for the start of a new academic year Tuesday, Aug. 15.�� The Freshman Convocation, an annual tradition offered by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Affairs to mark the beginning of students’ academic journey, will be held at 11 a.m. in the University Theatre in the Center for Performing Arts. Following the Freshman Convocation, all students, faculty, and staff are invited for lunch, a pep rally with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s athletic teams, and an organizational fair at noon in the fitness center located in Donaghey Student Center. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bookstore will host a fashion show at 1 p.m. During the Faculty and Staff Convocation beginning at 2 p.m. in University Theatre, Chancellor Andrew Rogerson will introduce new faculty members and talk about university initiatives. Provost Velmer Burton, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Mark Allen Poisel, Faculty Senate President Andrew Wright, and Staff Senate President Richard Harper are also scheduled to speak. In addition, six faculty members will give short TED Talks-style presentations on exciting research happening at the university: · ��Dr. Tito Viswanathan, professor of chemistry, will speak about water purification. · ��Dr. Moiz Bhal, assistant professor of economics, will discuss the outcomes of national teaching certifications. · ��Dr. Naveen Nagaraj, assistant professor of audiology and speech pathology, will talk about hearing, language, and cognitive science. · ��Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and professor of information science, will review his extensive work in social media research. · ��Dr. Rebecca Glazier, assistant professor of political science, will give a presentation about her research into religion and electoral politics. · ��Dr. Suzanne Penn, associate professor of clinical law, will discuss her work at the Delta Legal Clinic. After the convocation, a Champagne reception will be held in the University Theatre foyer to honor Provost Burton, Vice Chancellor Poisel, and new faculty members.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock welcomes 24 new faculty members

Chancellor Rogerson addresses state of the university during Faculty and Staff Convocation

Chancellor Rogerson addresses state of ����Vlog��ý Little Rock during convocation

Convocations will welcome new freshman, faculty, and staff to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host convocations to welcome freshman, faculty, and staff

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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock welcomes 24 new faculty members

Chancellor Rogerson addresses state of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during convocation

Convocations will welcome new freshman, faculty, and staff to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host convocations to welcome freshman, faculty, and staff