/news-archive/tag/master-of-public-administration/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:07:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2022/12/21/dorn-chief-of-staff/ Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:07:50 +0000 /news/?p=84150 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Names Dorn as Chancellor鈥檚 Chief of Staff]]> Dorn, a native of Pine Bluff, serves as the primary liaison to the Office of the Chancellor and assists in areas of communication, planning and preparation, project management, and other administrative responsibilities. One of her first major projects will be to assist in the creation of the university鈥檚 new five-year strategic plan. 鈥淚 am extremely happy and excited that I was chosen as the chancellor鈥檚 chief of staff, which means they trust that I am very qualified to assist the chancellor in her vision for the university,鈥� Dorn said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful to be a part of that. I鈥檓 looking forward to all that I will learn in this position and to contribute to the university community in a meaningful way.鈥� Prior to joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Dorn worked as the communications director in the School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where she supervised a staff of five to manage all communication functions for the school. 鈥淚 became interested in working in higher education because I know the impact that higher education had on my life as far as opening and expanding my mind and the wealth of opportunities that I wouldn鈥檛 have without higher education,鈥� Dorn said. 鈥淚 just want others to be able to experience that and know the power of furthering your education.鈥� She also previously served as the communications director and part-time deputy for the Jefferson County Sheriff鈥檚 Office. 鈥淚n order for me to be effective in my position and represent the sheriff鈥檚 office correctly, I felt I needed to understand from the deputy鈥檚 perspective, so I completed the part-time certification in conjunction with my full-time job as communications director.鈥� Dorn earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mass communication/broadcast journalism from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master of Public Administration from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She said she鈥檚 grateful for the opportunity to work for the alma mater that helped her so much. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy to be able to give back to the university that helped establish who I am today,鈥� Dorn said. 鈥淭hey invested in me as a student. I get the chance to come back to a place that helped enhance my skills, abilities, and talents. It鈥檚 an honor to give back to the university that gave so much to me.鈥漖]> /news-archive/2021/10/26/smith-leadership-greater-little-rock-xxxvi/ Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:23:48 +0000 /news/?p=80103 ... Smith Selected for Leadership Greater Little Rock XXXVI]]> An initiative of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Greater Little Rock (LGLR) is a nine-month community leadership program committed to enhancing and connecting leaders from businesses, nonprofits, and government. This unique program has empowered participants with a comprehensive understanding of central Arkansas鈥檚 challenges and opportunities. A native of Marche, Arkansas, Smith said that it鈥檚 an incredible honor to join the Leadership Greater Little Rock program. 鈥淚 have attended graduation programs in the past and always had ambitions to be selected over the years,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚’m thankful that I was chosen to be a part of Class XXXVI, and that they waited until we could meet in person to get the true Leadership experience. I think it will help me by understanding the needs of the city in order to incorporate how 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock can meet that need.鈥� After completing a two-day retreat in October, LGLR participants meet every month at a different central Arkansas location to explore topics through expert speakers, panelists, tours, and group presentations. LGLR is designed to develop effective leaders by enhancing their civic, social and professional awareness to positively impact our community. Smith graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in international studies and a Master of Public Administration. Before joining the Office of Alumni and Development in 2016, Smith also worked at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as assistant to the dean of the Graduate School from 1998 to 2002. 鈥淜risti will be an asset to the class as she has been at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淚n her role as senior director of development and director of the Alumni Association, she has been a great leader and ambassador for the university. Her perspectives will enrich the class as much as she does ours.鈥� In the community, Smith is a member of the Council for Support and Advancement of Education; Beta Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a social organization that does a variety of community service activities including the American Heart Association and Alzheimer鈥檚 Association; and a board member for the Little Rock Diamond Foundation, the charitable arm of the Little Rock Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.]]> /news-archive/2021/10/19/child-care-connections/ Tue, 19 Oct 2021 14:20:00 +0000 /news/?p=80196 ... U.S. Department of Education Awards 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock $581K Grant to Provide Child Care Funding for Low-Income Students]]> 鈥淭he child care support provided by this grant will help our students who are parents and is another example of our institution鈥檚 commitment to student success,鈥� Provost Ann Bain said. 鈥淭his grant is particularly exciting because the baseline data to support the need for grant funds involved our faculty and our students, and the final grant submission was a collaboration between Dr. Daryl Rice and graduate student Cassie Jo Gehring.鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock received a (CCAMPIS) four-year grant of $581,128. The program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services. Funding will be available to students who are eligible to receive 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. At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, 39 percent of undergraduate students from the fall 2021 semester are Pell Grant recipients. 鈥淭he grant will allow us to pay support for child care to Pell-eligible students with children using established and licensed child care providers,鈥� said Dr. Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs for student success. 鈥淭he amount is based on a sliding scale. The program will also provide assistance in accessing child care support from other sources, such as the Arkansas Department of Health鈥檚 voucher program and child care provided by Early Start, Head Start, and the Little Rock School District.鈥� A priority will be given to single parents. Parents who are going to college face a tougher road than traditional college students and have lower student retention and graduation rates. Single mothers are particularly hard hit. According to the Institute for Women鈥檚 Policy Research, there are nearly 2.1 million single mothers in college today, many of whom are women of color. Only 8 percent of single mothers who start college earn an associate or bachelor鈥檚 degree within six years, compared with about half of women who are not mothers. The Institute for Women鈥檚 Policy Research also shows that providing support for parents in college, such as free child care, financial assistance, and social skills training, would allow more student parents to graduate in less time. During the spring 2021 semester, four Master of Public Administration (MPA) students in Dr. Kirk Leach鈥檚 social entrepreneurship course did background research for the grant, including a phone survey of local child care providers about capacity, prices, availability, and partnership opportunities with the university. The students include Andrea Neloms, Cassie Jo Gehring, Heather Reed, and Jenifer Tindle. Dr. Rice and Gehring wrote the final proposal and are co-principal investigators for the grant. 鈥淏eing a parent while a student myself, I thought of how difficult it must be for those who don鈥檛 have resources or support to advance themselves through higher education,鈥� said Gehring, associate director of advancement services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淎s a student at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, I have participated in many service-learning projects. I was inspired to think that the research I am doing as a student and my connections in my personal and professional life can come together to make a real-world change that will make a real impact for students who are looking to make a better life for themselves and their children.鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock previously had a child care center that closed down in 1993. A 2020 survey of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff found that 46 percent reported having primary responsibility for a child under 18. There is a current and anticipated demand for child care, specifically for children five and under. A third of respondents (33 percent) currently have a need for after school care for a child between the ages of 5-12. Student respondents indicated that child care issues have had a direct impact on coursework and class attendance. More than a third of respondents reported that they have had to drop or withdraw from a class due to child care issues. In addition to funding for child care, students accepted for the program will also have access to student success resources in the Office of Student Retention Initiatives, including success coaching, peer mentoring, and a licensed social worker. 鈥淚t isn’t often that a person’s educational career and professional career intersect,鈥� said Heather Reed, director of Student Retention Initiatives and a MPA student who helped write the grant. 鈥淭his is one opportunity where the research team for the Social Entrepreneurship MPA course with Dr. Leach led to the university being awarded a grant that will be put into direct action to support students. This is a humbling experience as a graduate student and professional to see theory to practice in action with the end result helping promote student success.鈥� The child care funding will be available to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students beginning in the spring 2022 semester. A full-time director will be hired to run the program in the Office of Student Retention Initiatives. All students who are eligible for the program will receive an email with more information later this semester. Students can also or visit this website for more information. If you鈥檇 like to donate to help support 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students with child care needs, please donate via this link. In the upper right photo, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has been awarded a federal grant worth more than $581,000 from the U.S. Department of Education that will help pay child care expenses for low-income students. Pictured, from left to right, are three of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock employees responsible for researching and writing the Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant: Heather Reed, Dr. Daryl Rice, and Cassie Jo Gehring. Photo by Angie Faller.]]> /news-archive/2021/08/17/latonda-williams-human-resources/ Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:36:28 +0000 /news/?p=79378 ... Williams Named Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock]]> LaTonda Williams has been named the new associate vice chancellor of human resources for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.听 鈥淚 am very excited about having the opportunity to serve the campus in this capacity,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淲e are streamlining a lot of our procedures, and we are doing a lot of cross-training for our staff so we can be more efficient for all the employees on campus.鈥� In her new role, Williams will oversee the Department of Human Resources, recruitment, employee benefits, and the Office of Title IX. Williams has more than 30 years of experience in the HR field and brings a wealth of experience to her new role. In 2007, Williams joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as an employee benefits manager. She鈥檚 also worked as the training and development manager, leave administrator, and employee relations manager before her previous role as Title IX director. As the new leader of human resources, Williams said she plans to revitalize the employee training and development program, create a new professional development program, and expand diversity and inclusion training on campus. 鈥淭he creation of a professional development program is something we are looking forward to in the future,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 very important to develop our employees. We want to offer more courses for employees who want to better themselves, learn new skills, and know how to better handle situations at work. We will be having more training for employees serving on search committees, microaggressions, and implicit bias. We are revamping the Yes Campaign, the service excellence training program, to bring it back to employees in a new and improved way. We also want to be more collaborative on campus regarding diversity and inclusion training and events.鈥� Williams earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology from Henderson State University.听 When she moved to Little Rock, the first position she was hired in was as a human resources consultant and employee benefits administrator for CHI St. Vincent Health Systems. After that, Williams has never looked back on a career in human resources, often taking professional development courses, earning new certifications, and learning new skills to excel in the field. 鈥淚 found that I really liked human resources,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 am still working with people and still using the skill set I learned through my sociology degree. I took the opportunity to learn more and cross train. I believe in lifelong learning. I made sure that I was able to gain experience in all areas of human resources.鈥� At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Williams has earned graduate certificates in management and conflict mediation. She will graduate in 2022 with a Master of Public Administration.]]> /news-archive/2021/08/05/criollo-ventres-mpa-student-year/ Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:34:53 +0000 /news/?p=79495 ... Criollo Ventres Named Master of Public Administration Student of the Year]]> 鈥淩eceiving an award was wonderful for me, but unexpected,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淭he university has been very supportive. I鈥檓 so grateful for my advisors, my professors, and my classmates. The program has been great.鈥� Born and raised in El Salvador in Central America, Criollo Ventres earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in public accounting and a master鈥檚 degree in educational technology. She worked for the Salvadoran Ministry of Education for over 15 years. In 2011, Criollo Ventres met her husband, Dr. Bill Ventres, at a restaurant on the Pacific coast. He had come to El Salvador on a Fulbright scholarship intending to stay for one year, but ended up staying for five. 鈥淲hen I came to Little Rock, I couldn鈥檛 speak much English,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淲e met in El Salvador, and my husband could speak Spanish well. Five years later when we got married, I said I want to learn English and I want to get a degree in the U.S. Having a bicultural family gave me the motivation I needed.鈥� In 2017, Criollo Ventres and her husband moved to Little Rock, and she entered the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淟earning a different language as an adult is hard, and it takes time and patience,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淗aving a supportive university has been really important. The Communications Skills Center, the IELP, and Ottenheimer Library have given me a lot of help and support.鈥� While earning her master鈥檚 degree, Criollo Ventres has been volunteering at free or low-cost clinics that serve immigrants in Little Rock, like Harmony Health Clinic at 糖心Vlog传媒MS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center. 鈥淓sthela is simply amazing,鈥� said Dr. Jerry Stevenson, professor and graduate coordinator of the MPA program. 鈥淗er graduate work has been nothing but stellar. And best of all, she is genuinely kind and giving, always willing to assist other students when needed.鈥� After volunteering for one year at El Z贸calo Immigrant Resource Center, Criollo Ventres became the organization鈥檚 health program coordinator. 鈥淓l Z贸calo means town square in Spanish,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淚t works with the Mexican Consulate to provide basic needs for immigrants. We have a food pantry, provide used clothes, and serve as a resource referral center. We help immigrants access听 community services and navigate the system when they don鈥檛 speak English.鈥� In her position, Criollo Ventres has seen firsthand the difficulties that immigrants face when looking for healthcare. Because of the language barrier and high cost, many immigrant families are unable to communicate with healthcare professionals and need interpreters to speak with their healthcare professionals. 鈥淚n the clinics and hospitals that I work with, I am trying to help immigrants connect with their healthcare professionals,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淲hen immigrants hear someone speak in their native language, it gives them hope. In many cases, they don鈥檛 feel like they belong to this community. They feel isolated. When someone speaks their language, they feel hope and they feel better just because somebody cares. The sense of being a part of the community is a huge need.鈥� In addition to her MPA, Criollo Ventres is finishing her studies at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to gain a graduate certificate in nonprofit organization management. She hopes to find employment locally in the public or non-for-profit sector where she can put her skills, knowledge, experience, and education to work to help people. Criollo Ventres鈥� long-term goal is to start an educational nonprofit in El Salvador. 鈥淗aving a nonprofit in my own country is my dream for my retirement,鈥� she said. 鈥� I want to find a way to help people. If people in El Salvador have their basic needs met, maybe they won鈥檛 have to cross the border and put their lives in danger. This is my dream for the future.鈥漖]> /news-archive/2021/06/01/cassie-gehring-commencement/ Tue, 01 Jun 2021 15:16:05 +0000 /news/?p=79143 ... First-Generation Graduate Cassie Gehring is Giving Back to the Community]]> Graduate Cassie Gehring is ending the spring semester on several high notes. Not only is she the first person in her family to earn a graduate degree, but Gehring has recently been promoted and is writing a grant proposal that could help single parents at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock afford childcare.听 Gehring, a native of Helena who now lives in Searcy, is graduating this month with a Master of Public Administration degree and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management. 鈥淪ince I work in Alumni and Development, I wanted an educational background in nonprofit work,鈥� Gehring said. 鈥淚 wanted to learn more about this sector. Since I started the program, I have been promoted within my department so I feel like I鈥檝e already got the job I would have applied for after graduation. I feel lucky to be able to achieve synergy between work and school. There are a lot of applications for real-world experiences while working in nonprofit development.鈥� In addition to her graduation, Gehring received a promotion in April to associate director of advancement services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She works in the areas of gift processing, accounting, prospect research, and data management. As a first-generation college student, Gehring said her relatives are especially excited now that she has earned a master鈥檚 degree. 鈥淓ven though my parents and grandparents didn鈥檛 have a college degree, they have always been supportive in every way of my goals,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom the beginning of my life, they helped prepare me for college. I am grateful that they raised me with that thought. I always knew that was the path that I would take. Even now, they are so proud of me graduating with a master鈥檚 degree. They always support me going further in my education.鈥�听 This marks the third degree Gehring has earned from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She graduated in 2011 with a bachelor鈥檚 degrees in professional and technical writing and Spanish. She worked as a national consultant for Chi Omega Fraternity and a Spanish teacher at DeSoto School before taking a full-time position in Alumni and Development. This semester, Gehring has completed two capstone projects with the Arkansas Department of Education.听 鈥淲e鈥檝e been doing research and analysis on community service learning programs,鈥� Gehring said. 鈥淥ne team is analyzing survey results from different administrators of the programs in Arkansas. In my nonprofit capstone group, we are putting together a report to provide recommendations on how to improve community service learning programs in Arkansas and their implementation.鈥� Gehring named Dr. Kirk Leach, Dr. Jerry Stevenson, Dr. Derek Slagle, Dr. Daryl Rice, Chris Hamilton, and Christian O鈥橬eal as mentors who have inspired her to meet her full potential at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Leach, who is Gehring鈥檚 professor for all of her spring classes, said that she is an excellent example of how graduate lessons and projects can be used for professional applications that make a difference in the community. 鈥淐assie’s partnerships with external stakeholders and commitment to public service, shows that she seamlessly connects her scholarly and applied work,鈥� said Dr. Kirk Leach, assistant professor of public administration. 鈥淔or instance, Cassie and her team are currently working on a project to address a lack of access to childcare in the University District. From this work, it is quite clear that Cassie embodies all that a graduate student in public administration should be with her professionalism and quality of work. I am looking forward to seeing the results of her work, and I am confident she will continue to make a positive contribution to our community.鈥� As part of the Social Entrepreneurship course, Gehring is a co-principal investigator writing a grant that, if funded, will help 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock establish a new program to support students by providing funding for childcare.听 鈥淢y most memorable college experience is happening right now in my last semester,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am taking a social entrepreneurship course with Dr. Leach, and you come up with an innovative idea that can make a positive change in society. I picked childcare at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. I talked to several people who had been involved with childcare initiatives. I鈥檓 applying what I learned into a federal grant proposal. It鈥檚 opened up me working with other departments on campus and stakeholders in the community.鈥� Gehring lives in Searcy with her husband, Andrew, and 7-year-old daughter, Scarlett. 鈥淚 would like to thank my husband, Andrew, for helping me achieve my educational and career goals as if they were his own,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e always puts my wants and needs above his, and I’m grateful for the love and support he provides as my husband and as the father to our daughter, Scarlett.鈥�]]> /news-archive/2021/04/30/reed-volunteer-work-phi-kappa-phi/ Fri, 30 Apr 2021 19:34:38 +0000 /news/?p=78899 ... Reed Recognized For Volunteer Work with Phi Kappa Phi]]> Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, is one of four听 across the nation who was highlighted in celebration of National Volunteer Week. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation鈥檚 oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week was created as a way to celebrate service and the volunteers that transform our world.听Phi Kappa Phi acknowledged the efforts of its board members, committee members, and chapter officers that serve on more than 300 campuses across the U.S. and the Philippines. Phi Kappa Phi sought to 鈥渓ift up our volunteers who keep us moving forward. Their commitment, service and hard work supports our mission of recognizing and promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education.鈥� Reed serves as social media chair of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Phi Kappa Phi chapter. She was inducted in Phi Kappa Phi in 2004 while studying at Western Illinois University. She transferred her membership to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2016 when she arrived on campus. She has been involved as a chapter member in initiation ceremonies and helps maintain communication with the alumni base through social media.听 鈥淚 moved to the south to start a new job at a college campus and was feeling disconnected,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淲hen I found Phi Kappa Phi on campus and started to get involved, I felt like I was finally home. The other faculty and staff involved with the Phi Kappa Phi chapter helped me navigate the university and welcomed me with open arms. The best thing I knew to do was to get more involved and volunteer!鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Phi Kappa Phi chapter has been recognized in recent years as a Circle of Excellence Gold Chapter, the second-highest commendation a chapter can receive from the organization. The distinction is given to chapters that exceed expectations in chapter operations and that demonstrate sustainability and vitality. In addition to her work student retention initiatives, Reed is also the leader of the CARE Team at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, is a graduate student in the Master of Public Administration program, and was recently honored as the 2021 Ben Fry Service to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Award winner.]]> /news-archive/2018/01/25/sarah-miller/ Thu, 25 Jan 2018 22:15:37 +0000 /news/?p=69110 ... Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Miller]]> She currently manages , which is part of the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) Main Library campus. There, she coordinates the theater鈥檚 many offerings of films, music performances, plays, readings, lectures, speakers, and children’s activities. 鈥淚 love the idea of organizations existing for the sole purpose of serving others,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚 served a few different organizations through college. After I graduated, I realized the public sector was where my home was, where I felt most comfortable.鈥� Miller, a native of Arkadelphia, graduated from Henderson State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater in 2014. She learned to act and do technical work and discovered her passion for directing. 鈥淚 loved the creation aspect of it,鈥� she said. In 2015, she moved to Little Rock and enrolled in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Graduate School and completed her Master of Public Administration with a graduate certificate in nonprofit management in December 2016. 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock prepared me for nonprofit work in ways I didn’t even realize,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 understand responsibility in money management, how important a strategic mindset is, and most importantly, that it is ok to constantly be asking, 鈥榃hy are we doing it this way?鈥� You either come away from the question with a better understanding of why that system is in place, or you get to be a part of a change that could make a meaningful impact. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock really challenged me to constantly be thinking, researching, pushing for better ways to impact the most people.鈥� During her graduate studies, she began to understand the setbacks and hardships that nonprofits face, especially smaller ones. 鈥淚 thought there had to be more solutions out there,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd I aimed to find those solutions and one day become a resource for those nonprofits.鈥� Miller already is serving as that resource. In May 2017, she joined Board of Directors and also took on the volunteer position as the theater鈥檚 volunteer coordinator. The Weekend Theater is also a nonprofit and is run by volunteers. When she鈥檚 not working or volunteering, she enjoys reading, hanging out with her beagle mix, Bron, and playing the ukulele, a hobby she picked up five years ago. She also spends time volunteering for various youth organizations. For the past few years, she has worked with the Arkansas Young Playwrights Competition, which encourages high schoolers to write original plays for the chance to have their play staged. She also has volunteered for Y.E.S (Youth Entrepreneur Showcase) Arkansas, judging middle school students鈥� proposals for business start-ups. 鈥淭he whole purpose of volunteering is the chance to make this world a little better than how we found it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat type of work brings you clarity and purpose. Any time someone tells me they are in a rut or struggling with a big decision, my advice is to put in some volunteer hours for a cause they care about. Volunteering almost always makes you feel better about your place in the world at the end of the day.鈥� Pictured听top right is听糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduate Sarah Miller who manages the Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater and volunteers at The Weekend Theater. Photo Credit: Lonnie Timmons III/ University Communications  ]]> /news-archive/2017/08/07/early-entry-graduate-degrees/ Mon, 07 Aug 2017 13:30:41 +0000 /news/?p=67579 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock unveils new early entry programs for graduate degrees]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is continuing its promise of making college more affordable and accessible with four early entry programs that offer an affordable fast track to earning a master鈥檚 degree.听 鈥�I am very excited that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Graduate School, in collaboration with the colleges, has created this new pathway via early entry programs for our undergraduate students to secure advanced degrees in less time and less cost,鈥� said Dr. Abhijit Bhattacharyya, interim dean of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Graduate School. Beginning in the fall, master鈥檚 degrees will be available in public administration, information science, information quality, and construction management via early entry programs. Students who successfully complete one of these four programs can shave off almost a year from their studies by enrolling in the early entry program. A key aspect of these fast-track programs is that students have the opportunity to take up to 12 course hours in classes that will count toward both their bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees. Students can enroll in an early entry program after they have earned 75 undergraduate hours and can begin taking dual-credit courses once they have earned 90 undergraduate hours. To be accepted to an early entry program, applicants must have a minimum 3.2 GPA, must submit applications to the graduate program and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Graduate School, and must complete an early entry program form. As master鈥檚 degrees are becoming more commonplace in the workforce, earning a degree one year earlier allows students to save money on tuition, fees, and other educational expenses. They also can enter the workforce faster, while earning professional skills to get ahead in the workplace. 鈥淭hese programs are going to save students a lot of time and money by fast-tracking their classes and degrees,鈥� said Dr. Jerry Stevenson, coordinator of the Master of Public Administration Program. Graduates of the Master of Public Administration program have found fulfilling jobs in key government positions and nonprofit organizations and also have launched successful careers as 听lawyers, educators, lobbyists, campaign consultants, and business executives. 鈥淢any state, local, and government employees will be retiring over the next couple of years, so there is a lot of growth opportunity in the public sector,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淭he baby boomer generation is slowly retiring. It鈥檚 time for the other generations to get on board.鈥� With the information science and information quality early entry programs, students have the flexibility to work full time after earning their bachelor鈥檚 degree, since classes are offered in the classroom and online. 鈥淭hese students don鈥檛 have to put their careers on hold,鈥� said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science which hosts the information science and information quality graduate programs. 鈥淭hey can go into the workforce and still continue their master鈥檚 degree studies. This means they can get an early start in the workforce and get more professional experience than most students their age.鈥� The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the early entry programs in April. Plans for additional master鈥檚 degree programs are under way. 鈥淭he four programs are the tip of the iceberg鈥擨 expect more to come in the near future,鈥� Bhattacharyya said. For more information, please visit the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Graduate School at /gradschool/undergraduate-credit-collaboration-programs. ]]> /news-archive/2017/01/04/ualr-grad-named-president-arkansas-automobile-dealers-association/ Wed, 04 Jan 2017 18:49:57 +0000 /news/?p=66044 ... 糖心Vlog传媒LR grad named president of Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association]]> Kirkpatrick took over the post Jan. 1. He succeeded Dennis Jungmeyer, who was the association鈥檚 president the past 38 years. Kirkpatrick graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒LR in 2002 with a master of public administration. He also earned his juris doctorate from 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 Bowen School of Law in 2007. The 糖心Vlog传媒LR graduate held positions with former Gov. Mike Huckabee’s administration, including director of intergovernmental affairs. He also served as executive director of the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission for 11 years. Kirkpatrick serves as an administrative hearing officer for several state boards and commissions and was president of the National Association of Motor Vehicle Boards and Commissions from 2011 to 2014. He is actively involved with Camp Aldersgate, a nonprofit organization enriching the lives of children and youth who have medical or physical conditions or developmental delays. The camp provides educational and recreational opportunities in an outdoor environment. 听]]>