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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock names interim vice chancellor of student affairs

Janea Snyder — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 20:17:11 +0000

Dr. William “Cody” Decker has been named interim vice chancellor of student affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� Decker, 35, of Little Rock, will fill the post to be vacated by Mark Allen Poisel on Aug. 8 after a two-year tenure. Decker will serve a one-year term while the university conducts a national search for a permanent vice chancellor. In the new post, Decker will oversee all units that work with student affairs, including recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and the overall student experience.�� In addition, Decker will continue leading the Office of Institutional Research and Analytics as associate provost and chief data officer. That office facilitates the collection, analysis, and interpretation of institutional data to support planning, decision making, and regulatory reporting at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� “Dr. Decker has been instrumental in building data analytic capabilities at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and will bring his leadership and technical skillset to Student Affairs,” said Dr. Andrew Rogerson, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock chancellor. Decker serves on several strategic committees, including the Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Steering Team, the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, University Enrollment Committee, University Retention Committee, and the Quality Initiative Task Force. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Information Science.�� Decker joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock�� in 2015 as director of Institutional Research and Analytics. He was promoted in 2018 to associate provost and named the university’s first chief data officer. Prior to joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Decker worked as the assistant commissioner of education and chief information officer at the Arkansas Department of Education, network project manager in research and technology at Dawson Education Cooperative, and technical support manager at Environmental and Spatial Technology, Inc. (EAST).�� He has a doctorate in philosophy in integrated computing, a Master of Science degree in information quality, and a Bachelor of Science degree in information science, all from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Photo of Dr. William “Cody” Decker by Benjamin Krain

Improvements coming to Donaghey Student Center in the fall

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:03:49 +0000

In response to student feedback, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is making many renovations at the Donaghey Student Center over the summer to transform the DSC into a more inviting space for students to meet, eat, play, and study.�� “We have listened to your ideas for improving the DSC, and I think you will be pleased with what you find this fall,” Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said. “We are currently in the process of creating more multipurpose areas, including gathering and gaming spaces. We’re also remodeling the entryway on the west side of the DSC and creating more student lounge space for your activities.” With the eStem High School students now dining on the second floor of Ross Hall beginning in the fall, students can take advantage of extra lounge and eating spaces throughout the DSC with many changes come to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Dining Services. Outside of the continuous dining area, a new lounging and dining space with open seating for more than 175 people will be available. This open seating area will be accessible to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors and does not require the purchase of a meal to gain entry. Some new seating options in the continuous dining and open seating area will contain plugins for students to charge their electronic devices. “The focus is on making it a student-friendly area. It’s a great space for popup dining and class projects. It will serve as an excellent spot for friends to gather for a meal, for students to meet to work on class projects, and for students and faculty members to come together,” said Doug Britt, general manager of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Dining. A bigger and better Meeting Room G will also open in the fall with more seating than before. The meeting room will be accessible through the cafeteria or an outside entrance for people coming from the south end of campus. Students can also look forward to a new Starbucks coming to campus next year. The restaurant will be located in the quad on the back side of the Old Student Union A building with a patio seating area facing Cooper Fountain and is scheduled to open on Jan. 20, 2020. On the east side of the DSC, upgrades will include the creation of multipurpose and recreational student-gathering spaces where students can watch television and movies, play e-games, and have fun with pool tables and foosball. The new gaming and lounge ��areas will be open several nights a week for the exclusive use of students and student organizations. “Students will be coming back to a Donaghey Student Center with a different, more inviting look,” said Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor for student affairs. “These improvements are about transforming the area into more student-accessible spaces that will give students more reasons to hang out in the student center.”

Smith named Arkansas’s ACT College and Career Readiness Champion

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 12:54:21 +0000

Amber Smith, assistant vice chancellor of student experiences and director of the, has been named a 2019 ACT College and Career Readiness Champion for the postsecondary professional category.�� ACT is recognizing professionals for their work to advance college and career readiness for all. Champions are high school seniors, K-12 professionals, postsecondary professionals, and workforce professionals who are making a positive impact on their communities through their efforts to advance college and career readiness. The ACT College and Career Readiness Champions are individuals across the country who support ACT’s mission of education and workplace success. “I was honored and surprised. When you are doing work for students, you do it because it needs to be done,” Smith said. “My goal was to create an innovative experience for students to learn how to be successful on the ACT. What I found is that a lot of the preparation programs out there did not appeal to the students I focus on. I work with a lot of underserved and underrepresented populations. I was looking for a culturally relevant pedagogy to enhance student performance on standardized tests. When we couldn’t find it, we created our own, ACT Prep Express.” The Donaldson Scholars Academy helps students who are at risk due to socioeconomic disadvantages or other factors improve their academic achievement and prepare for college. The programs include ACT Prep Express, which helps high school students in Pulaski County Special School District, Little Rock School District, and the North Little Rock School District prepare for high school graduation, the ACT, and college. “We created an experience that goes to high schools driven by music and games,” Smith said. “We are dealing with high school students, and we want them to have fun. We start the morning with a parent breakfast, and we have recruiters from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, ��Vlog��ý Pulaski Tech, and Philander Smith College. The speakers explore the concepts of the ACT through different sessions. We wanted to help students decrease the anxiety associated with standardized tests and empower them with real test-taking strategies. Students don’t understand that they don’t have to know everything, that there are strategies that can help them score higher on tests. Then we end the day with an engaging activity, like an obstacle course, that allows them to review what they learned.” More than 400 high school students have participated in the ACT Prep Express program since its inception in 2017. Of those, more than 70 percent said they feel more confident in at least three of the four subject areas covered for exam preparation. The academy also participates in college fairs, hosts meetings with school counselors, facilitates college and ACT prep sessions, and offers fall retreats. Additionally, the Summer Bridge Academy is a two-week residential program that prepares incoming freshmen for college-level work by eliminating the need for them to take remedial math and English courses. “We are very proud of what Amber has been able to achieve with the Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Summer Bridge Academy initiative,” said Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor for student affairs. “She has continued to develop the program so we can reach many more high school students and increase their access to higher education. Her work, along with her team, is making a big difference in the Little Rock community.” Smith is a graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a master’s degree in student affairs. She also earned a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from Capella University. She started her career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2011 as interim assistant coordinator of the African American Male Initiative and Teaching Enhancements Affecting Minority Students programs. Prior to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she worked as a corporate trainer, educational presenter, and psychology instructor. ACT State Councils comprised of education and workforce professionals from all 50 states serve as the selection committee and select one champion per category for each participating state. “We all know inspiring individuals who work tirelessly for the advancement of college and career readiness for all students,” said ACT Senior Vice President of State and Federal Programs Scott Montgomery. “The ACT College and Career Readiness Champions initiative lifts up their stories so that more people can be inspired to find their own path to success through the motivation and determination of the seniors, K-12, postsecondary and workforce champions leading the way.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host suicide prevention walk April 13

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 13:37:01 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is fighting the epidemic of suicide by holding a suicide prevention walk on Saturday, April 13.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock Counseling Services is partnering with the Arkansas chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to hold an Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk beginning at the Donaghey Student Center mall area. “The intent for bringing the walk to campus is to encourage conversation about the serious issue of suicide,” said Dr. Mike Kirk, director of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Counseling Services. “We also want to promote help seeking from a mental health professional as a positive behavior that healthy individuals participate in when appropriate.” Registration will begin at 11 a.m. Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor for student affairs, will give the welcome at noon, while the one-mile walk around campus will begin at 12:15 p.m. The walk is open to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the public. There is no cost to participate. Any participant who raises $100 will receive a T-shirt. Those who cannot attend the walk in person can also join as virtual walkers. All proceeds will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. About 1,100 college students die from suicide every year, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In Arkansas, suicide is the third leading cause of death for those aged 15-24 and the 10th leading cause of death in the state. Suicide prevention is especially important on college campuses since suicide is the second leading cause of death in the world for those ages 15-29, according to the �� Participants may register by. For more information, contact Kirk at hmkirk@ualr.edu or 501-569-8651. In the upper right photo, over 100 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the public walked in the 2018 Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock recognizes students, faculty, and staff who have passed away

Jenny Lambert — Thu, 03 May 2018 15:33:00 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock hosted a memorial ceremony on May 1 to honor the faculty, staff, and students who passed away during the 2017-18 school year.�� The campus community and families of the deceased were invited to attend the event. As guests gathered in the Upper Concourse of the Donaghey Student Center, Karen Jarboe, violinist, rendered the songs “Be Thou My Vision” and “Bach Air.” Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor for student affairs, welcomed attendees and expressed his sincerest gratitude to the eternal Trojans, the phrase designated for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s departed. He also expressed his deepest regrets to the families and acknowledged that whether they’d spent one semester or many years with the university, their loved ones would forever be Trojans. Following his address, Jennifer Dodson, director of the Student Experience Center, recited the poem, “We Will Remember.” The first stanza read:

Chancellor Andrew Rogerson and Janessa Rogerson place flower petals in a memorial fountain to honor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, students, faculty, and staff members who have passed away during the 2017-18 academic year. Photo by Ben Krain.

“The ones that we’ve lost still go on with us in spirit We will remember them.” Brian Gregory, president of the Student Government Association, followed Dodson with the reading of the names of the deceased. This list included students William Kendrick, Emily Cook, Jasper Cosper, Michael Hargrove, Joseph Pollock, Brad Orell, Margaret Garrett, and Domorion Williams; faculty member Karen Russ, research and community engagement librarian; and staff member Carol Tucker, administrative support supervisor at the Benton Campus. A moment of silence was observed after the reading. Before the ceremony concluded, Jarboe performed her final selection, “Ashokan Farewell,” while Richard Harper, associate dean of students, gave the final words. Guests ended the ceremony by placing flower petals in a memorial fountain to honor the deceased.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold memorial service to honor students,��employees who have passed away

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:08:49 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a memorial service to honor all students, faculty, and staff members who have passed away in the past year.�� The service will begin at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, in the Donaghey Student Center Upper Concourse. “We are a large university community, so sadly sometimes we lose members of our community,” said Richard Harper, associate dean of students. “We have created this event to remember and honor the lives of those members who have passed away.” The memorial service will be the first of an annual event to honor and commemorate the lives of all students, faculty and staff members and recently retired employees who have passed away throughout the academic year. During the ceremony, Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor for student affairs, will deliver the welcome address, followed by Jennifer Dodson, director of the Student Experience Center, who will recite the poem, “We Will Remember.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumna and violinist Karen Jarboe will perform “Be Thou My Vision,” “Bach’s Air,” and “Ashokan Farewell.” Student Government Association President Brian Gregory will read the names of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock family members who have passed away, followed by a moment of silence. The students who have died during the 2017-18 academic year include Emily Cook, Jason Cosper, Margaret Garrett, Michael Hargrove, William Kendrick, Brad Orell, Joseph Pollock, and Domorion Williams. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees who will be remembered include Karen Russ, research and community engagement librarian and associate professor, and Carol Tucker, administrative support supervisor at the Benton Campus. For more information, contact Harper at 501-569-3328 or reharper@ualr.edu.

Volunteers needed for Campus Day of Service

Janea Snyder — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 21:23:22 +0000

University of Arkansas at��Little Rock will host a campus-wide day of service on Thursday, April 19, dedicated to sprucing up the campus grounds. The “Trojan ReFRESH” event, which takes place on Earth Day, is scheduled for ��3-5 p.m., with check-in beginning at 2 p.m. at various zones around campus. Faculty, staff, and students are all invited to participate, and the first 300 volunteers to sign up will receive a T-shirt. Participants also will receive tickets to attend an ice cream social at 4:30 p.m. on the Donaghey Student Center mall after the clean-up. Volunteers can ��before noon on Wednesday, April 18. “We are very excited about this new opportunity to engage our campus community in an event to give back to our environment,’’ said Mark Allen Poisel, vice chancellor of student affairs. “Students, faculty, and staff working together to make a physical difference in our campus shows the pride we have in our university. I hope to see many of our campus community members participating.” ReFRESH will target seven zones around campus: Zone 1: Coleman Creek Zone 2: University Avenue / Human Resources / Lot 5 / University Services Zone 3: Administration North / Dickinson Hall / Nanotechnology / Science Lab / Fribourgh ��Hall Zone 4: ETAS / EIT / Reynolds Center / Zone 5: Donaghey Student Center / Student Services Center / Library / Fine Arts Zone 6: eSTEM / Stabler Hall��/ Ross / Theater Zone 7: Residence halls / University Village Facilities management will provide trash bags and tools for weeding and raking. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Wednesday, April 25.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock names interim vice chancellor of student affairs