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

Cultivating Student Success: How ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Resources Empower First-Generation Students

John Hill — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:44:55 +0000

November is First-Generation College Student Celebration Month. With more than 40 percent of its student population being first-generation students, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is especially committed to providing resources that help this special group of students reach their potential.�� “One of the biggest challenges first-generation students face in college is navigating a complex system such as a university,” said Heather Reed, director of Student Retention Initiatives. “There are so many processes that involve many offices. Luckily, Student Retention Initiatives can assist first-generation students in learning the university. It can be difficult to ask for help, and we make it easy through the Care Team, a support network for all students.” Members of the Care Team work closely with students to establish steps to reduce barriers to success. They take proactive action to support students in their pursuit of academic success, connect individuals to campus and community resources, create a supportive and caring culture for students, and establish best practices and standard protocols of response for academic referrals. Students who need assistance can contact the Care Team by filling out while faculty and staff who are concerned about a student can fill out . “We also offer peer mentors who are upper-class students who have successfully navigated various processes and have knowledge of the university,” Reed said. “First-generation students can request to be matched with a peer mentor to help them with a variety of issues, such as building locations, learning traditions, tips for academic success, and how to get involved on campus. Many of the staff in our office are first-generation college students so we understand first-hand the challenges students face and how to overcome those challenges.” The Office of Student Retention Initiatives also holds welcome events for new students and celebrates first-generation students every November during First-Generation College Student Celebration Month. “For me, being a first-generation student is a catch-22. I’m very excited that I decided late in age to go back to school,” said Veronica Tess Myers, a first-generation student studying applied communication who attended the Nov. 8 celebration. “I finally finished getting my bachelor’s and am looking forward to acquiring my master’s degree. However, it’s also a little bit of sadness. I’m considered to be a know-it-all because I went further. A lot of the reason why I went further is because of my autistic son and having to learn what I needed for him to succeed.” Since 1978, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s TRIO Student Support Services has provided resources to help increase the rates of academic achievement, retention, and graduation among historically disadvantaged students. “TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) provides services to a limited number of eligible ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students,” said Dr. Desarae Nelson, director of TRIO SSS. “Eligibility requirements include: first generations, and/or limited income, and/or disabled. SSS offers: a scholarship, weekly workshops, financial literacy, cultural events, textbook loans, tutoring, career readiness, and graduate school trips. SSS seeks to motivate students toward the successful completion of their post-secondary education. The goal of the program is to increase participants’ college persistence, support them through graduation, and facilitate the transition from one level of higher education to the next. The program is funded by the US Department of Education.” Dr. Mike Kirk, director of health services and counseling services, said that both units offer great resources to help first-generation students adapt to college life. “Health Services for certain can immediately impact first-generation students,” Kirk said. “To have a convenient family care clinic right here on campus is excellent for them. They can get in and take care of virtually any medical issue that you go to the doctor’s office. Also, the cost is going to be less here than when you go outside to your doctor’s office.

Dr. Mike Kirk

Counseling Services can help normalize the college experience. It’s not as easy to get students to come see us in Counseling Services. We know students can get anxious and concerned about succeeding in college. We can help normalize those feelings and give students strategies to help make them successful.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also supports students in several other ways. The office of Student Retention Initiatives coordinates peer mentoring, academic coaching, and tutoring to help all students thrive. Additionally, student researchers in the Signature Experience Program receive grant funding and are mentored by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty, helping prepare students for advanced study and improving persistence. The Multicultural Center provides several mentoring programs that help empower, support, and assist African American students, Hispanic/Latinix students, and students of color in achieving their goal of earning a college degree. Students in these programs meet with career and professional mentors for regular support. The university’s Learning Commons, which opened during the spring semester, provides a space where students have access to study space and tutoring assistance. The Learning Commons is the home of the Communication Skills Center, Math Assistance Center, University Writing Center, World Languages Center, and Trojan Tutoring. “The Learning Commons is a great free resource available to students,” said Brandon Sollars, Learning Commons coordinator. “In this space, we can help students be successful by providing them with direct access to resources that can help them in their courses. Collectively our centers cover a large variety of subjects, everything from intro-level courses, math, writing and communication. We also provide a comfortable space for students to study individually or to study in groups. Here in the Learning Commons we aim to equip our students with the necessary skills and strategies that they need to be successful.” Genesis Dominguez, a junior double major in Spanish and anthropology and first-generation student, helps many students in her work at the Communication Skill Center. “The Communication Skill Center is a great opportunity for the students,” Dominguez said. “This center helps students do presentations, organize slide presentations, prepare them for a speech or interview, rehearse, organize ideas, and manage anxiety while speaking. It has a great team that is willing to help you every step of the way and will celebrate with you every win that you make.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a number of student ambassador programs that create leadership opportunities for successful students who serve as tutors, mentors, and guides for their fellow students.

Learning Commons Coordinator Brandon Solllars and Michelle Malone and De’Ja Johnson, applied communication graduate students, give a presentation in the Communications Skills Center in Ottenheimer Library. Photo by Ben Krain.

“I intend to help create pathways for opportunities for other ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and specifically veterans, students of color, and nontraditional students to gain access to resources that hopefully will help generate more student success,” said Bryan Hernandez, a first-generation student and ambassador for the School of Business. “I hope to show that programs like the student ambassador program work! That they help to create a sense of community at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and build confidence in students that may deeply need it.” Additional campus resources that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students will find useful include:

Trojan Works is an institutional work study program that provides on-campus employment opportunities as well as a unique experience that prepares students for success beyond graduation.
Career Services provides opportunities for students to prepare for careers through internships, job postings, career fairs, and career coaching.
Trojan Career Closet offers a career closet to help ensure students are dressed for interviews and internships. Each semester, students can select outfits to wear for professional settings.
Trojan Food Pantry is open to assist students, faculty, and staff with food needs they may have throughout the year.
The Military Student Support Center offers support for the university’s more than 700 Active Duty, Reservists, National Guard Members, Veterans, and their families utilize the center each year.

LULAC Awards Martinez Special Book Scholarship

John Hill — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:03:21 +0000

The has awarded a special $750 book scholarship to University of Arkansas at Little Rock freshman Luis Martinez. “I didn’t expect this scholarship,” Martinez said. “I thought I would have to work for the rest of the semester to finish paying for my books, but now I don’t have to stress as much over finances. This scholarship will help me a lot.” Martinez, a native of Bryant, plans to double major in business and Spanish. With the special knowledge earned from a minor in geology, Martinez wants to one day open his own real estate firm that will focus on sustainable housing built with renewable energy resources. This is the third scholarship that LULAC Council 750 has provided outside its annual scholarship program for students in need of financial assistance. The scholarship was funded by LULAC, the Richard Family Fund Scholarship, and private donations. “This book scholarship is an example of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock working with nonprofit and community organizations like LULAC and private citizens to help fill an essential student need,” said Dr. Terry Trevino-Richard, a professor emeritus of sociology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “LULAC is very grateful for the assistance Chancellor Christina Drale has provided to Latino students on campus.” LULAC seeks to empower the Latino community at the local, state, and national level through its seven councils chartered in Arkansas. The organization involves and serves Latinos of all national origins and focuses heavily on education, civil rights, and employment. “Providing scholarships for college students is ground zero for community development,” said Dr. Andre Guerrero, LULAC Council 750 president and deputy state director. “This is an investment in our community with the knowledge that Luis and other students like him will help their communities in the future. When we follow through years later, we are always amazed by what these students do with their lives and education.” LULAC is accepting scholarships for its national scholarship program until March 31. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000. Students to apply for the scholarship.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Giving Day 2022 on March 29

John Hill — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:20:00 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is encouraging friends of the university, employees, alumni, students, and the community to come together to make a difference at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on Tuesday, March 29, the university’s fourth annual Giving Day celebration. Donations to Giving Day 2022 will focus on student scholarships, student support, and enhancements to the learning and living environment. “Approximately 68 percent of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students work while going to college,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Whether your gift is to the General Scholarship Fund or the other areas that are supported by Giving Day, we want our donors to know that we see firsthand how much of an impact these gifts have on our students.” Another important philanthropic option is the Student Support Fund, which provides funds for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students to meet basic needs like food, gas, rent, and medical expenses in extreme circumstances and emergencies. “The little things are often the big things when you’re a college student,” said Kristi Smith, senior director of alumni and development. “There are times when food, gas, rent, and other items just aren’t affordable. Many of our students face food insecurity, and more than 40 percent are at risk of becoming homeless. When you lend a college student a hand, you help them stay on track with life and their education.” Your gifts can also help enhance students’ living and learning spaces on campus. Donations to the Beautification Fund will help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock maintain a beautiful and environmentally responsible campus for everyone who learns, works, and visits the university. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will celebrate the success of Giving Day 2022 with the return of Taste of Little Rock. The popular culinary and social event will take place from 6-8 p.m. March 29 in the Jack Stephens Center, featuring culinary treats and specialties from dozens of local restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and food trucks. Proceeds from ticket sales directly benefit general student scholarships that are provided through the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association. To donate on Giving Day, visit . Those interested in learning more about how to make a larger investment in these areas by contributing to an existing endowment or establishing their own should contact Kristi Smith at klsmith4@ualr.edu or by phone at 501-916-6435

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Launches New Program to Provide Child Care Funding for Low-Income Students

John Hill — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:41:56 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has launched a new program to help university students find and afford quality child care so they can complete their college education. The Child Care Connections program is two-fold. First, it will provide child care funding for eligible students though a federal grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Second, the program helps connect student parents with the resources and support they need to finish college. Child care funding will be available to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 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 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, about 39 percent of undergraduate students are Pell Grant recipients. The Child Care Connections child care funding is provided by a (CCAMPIS) four-year grant of $581,128 from the U.S. Department of Education. The program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services. “With the Child Care Connections program, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will be able to provide a unique service for students by helping provide child care coverage,” said Shanna Parker, director of Child Care Connections. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is only the second university in Arkansas to receive a CCAMPIS grant, so students will receive something that other colleges won’t be able to provide. Eligible students will be able to focus more on their education knowing that their child is being cared for while they attend school.” The program also provides assistance for students who don’t qualify for the federal child care funding. Parker will provide consultations to help students navigate child care services in central Arkansas. They can also provide wrap-around services to help student parents get the support they need to be successful in school and in life. These include referrals to the Care Team, student support specialists, success coaching, tutoring, and other campus and community resources. “We want students to understand that we can provide many services to help them succeed in school,” Parker said. “We want to nurture the entire family by providing the resources they need. We can connect them with a student success coach to help them stay in school and connect them with other resources on campus. We won’t make the choices for students, but we will guide them and give them the tools necessary to do what is best for their families. We will exhaust all avenues to help them.” A priority for the child care funding 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’s Policy Research, there are nearly 2.1 million single mothers in college today, many of whom are women of color. Shamari Burnett, a junior psychology major, is applying for the program to help keep her 1-year-old son at the great daycare center he currently attends. “As a new single mom and full-time college student, it’s hard because I want to make sure he’s getting great care while I spend a lot of time studying,” Burnett said. “When I first heard about the program starting last semester, I was excited because it’s just what I needed! The cost started to get really expensive, and I was debating on taking him out of the daycare he currently attends, but I decided to wait and apply for Child Care Connections. I’m always looking for ways to save money while working towards my career and educational goals.” Johna Rocha, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student who plans to apply for the Child Care Connections program, said this program could help provide her with peace of mind while she is attending classes to complete her nursing degree. “Because of COVID, child care has become scarce, inconsistent, and it is also extremely expensive,” Rocha said. “I have two children who need care while I am in class, and I am scrambling every week to find someone to watch them. I want quality care for my children so that I can fully engage in class and create a better life for them by finishing my degree. Good child care is vital for me to do that.” Students may fill out an application for child care funding . State-licensed child care providers who maintain general liability insurance and agree to a Memorandum of Agreement can participate in the CCAMPIS program. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will host two virtual sessions for child care providers interested in being a part of the program from 7-7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 7. For more information, contact Shanna Parker at childcare@ualr.edu or 501-916-5648.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives Donation to Create Endowed Student Support Fund in Honor of Stacy Duckett

John Hill — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 14:35:44 +0000

The Duckett Family has made a donation to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create an endowed student support fund in honor of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law alumna Stacy Duckett. The fund will help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students meet basic educational expenses and needs including housing, critical car repairs, food insecurity, licensure exam costs, participation in national honor societies, student travel, etc. “The Duckett family’s gift in memory of Stacy will enable us to provide financial support in areas that have not previously had an available funding source, such as food insecurity needs or coverage of professional licensure fees,” said Provost Ann Bain. “The ability to provide this support can make a difference in a student completing their degree or in accessing timely employment.” The Stacy Duckett Student Support Endowment Fund will honor Stacy Duckett’s memory of living a philanthropic life by helping others improve their lives through education without having to experience great financial burden. Student recipients will be selected by the Office of the Provost at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Stacy believed in the transformative power of education, and she would have liked the idea of a student support fund that could eliminate barriers for others pursuing college degrees,” the Duckett family said. Stacy Duckett graduated from Hendrix College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 and earned her law degree from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 1995. She was the first TCBY employee who was not a member of the founder’s family, the Hickingbothams, and began working at the company’s first store in 1981 when she was in high school. She later became vice president and assistant general counsel for TCBY Enterprises, Inc. Duckett, who was vice president, chief compliance officer, and corporate secretary at Southwest Power Pool in Little Rock, passed away in 2015. Donations may be made to the Stacy Duckett Student Support Endowment Fund by visiting this website.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $40,000 Donation to Create Dr. Moira Maguire Student Support Fund for History Students

John Hill — Wed, 19 May 2021 14:26:56 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $40,000 donation to create a student support fund in honor of Dr. Moira Maguire, a history professor who worked at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for 15 years and had a reputation of going above and beyond to help students succeed.�� The Dr. Moira Maguire Student Support Fund will help students in the Department of History in times of need. The fund, a quasi-endowment, will help students with housing, car repairs, utilities, food insecurity, and other expenses.�� Patricia Merry, of Rhode Island, made the donation in honor of her daughter, who was always looking for ways to help students. “Moira was the most caring person I ever knew,” Merry said. “After enjoying her time at ��Vlog��ýLR, she moved back to Massachusetts to be closer to family. Moira also gave generously of her time. She helped with the Feed the Hungry program in Little Rock and was a tireless worker for FuRR, Feline Rescue and Rehome. This past year Moira organized a campaign to distribute backpacks loaded with school supplies to students in need.” Maguire was born in Boston and went to high school in Reading, Massachusetts. In 1982, the family moved to Little Rock when her parents received job offers to build Channel 16. Maguire graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy. She earned a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University, a master’s degree from Northeastern University, and a Ph.D. in history from American University. After spending six years conducting research for her dissertation in Ireland, Maguire taught in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of History from 2000 to 2015. She also served as dean of liberal arts at Schenectady County Community College and dean of social sciences for Holyoke Community College. She is remembered by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of History as a tireless and fierce advocate for students.�� “The fund’s unique purpose couldn’t be more fitting for its namesake,” said Dr. Jess Porter, chair of the Department of History. “Dr. Maguire had a heart of gold and was a true servant to her students and her community. She worked so hard for her students in the classroom, but also as an advisor. I know there are many, many history graduates out there that benefited from her time and attention. Our students face so many challenges and it seems like this has become even more acute during the past two years. To be able to draw upon this fund in a student’s time of need is something that Moira would cherish.” Dr. Kristin Dutcher Mann, a professor of history and friend of Maguire’s, recalls how she would often hear Maguire on the phone helping students find temporary housing, ensuring they had groceries, and helping secure scholarships. “Moira took time to research the specific circumstances of each student’s journey to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and to ask questions that would help determine the most advantageous paths for them to follow to complete their degrees,” Dutcher-Mann said. “As a first-generation college student, she understood the challenges that many of our students often face. Throughout it all, she aimed to cultivate skills of organization, self-reliance, critical thinking, and writing in her students so that they would be prepared to manage whatever challenges came their way after college. I can think of no more fitting way to honor her than to establish this fund in her honor.” Providing students with financial support helps increase student retention, since financial difficulties are a common barrier for students to remain in college. “Students can face many large and small barriers to completing their educational goals,” said Heather Reed, director of student retention initiatives. “Making funds available for students can help meet needs such as car repairs, food, and housing expenses. Donations such as the Moira Maguire Student Support Fund can be a life saver for students. A sum of $2,500 from the donation will be used to help students beginning in the fall semester. History students who would like to apply for assistance from the fund in the fall may contact Chair Jess Porter or a history department faculty member.�� Maguire passed away Nov. 3, 2020, from a blood clot. She was 55 years old. Memorial services for Maguire will be held on June 4 in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and June 5 in Green Harbor, Massachusetts. In the upper right photo, Dr. Moira Maguire celebrates the launch of her book in Ireland in 2010.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock community comes together to support students during COVID-19 pandemic

John Hill — Mon, 04 May 2020 13:30:54 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock community has come together to help students facing critical financial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.�� “In times like these, we witness the true heart of the American spirit,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “The COVID-19 pandemic gives us all a sense of togetherness and reminds us that while we continue to practice social distancing, we are not alone.” The newly established COVID-19 Student Support Fund will support students facing immediate needs, including reduced job hours and income, food and housing insecurity, technology needs, access to healthcare, and other unforeseen expenses. In honor of #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, a national day of global action for giving and unity in response to COVID-19, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is celebrating the contributions of donors with special content on and .�� “We are using this day as an opportunity to thank all the generous donors who have gone above and beyond to help our students by supporting the COVID-19 Student Support Fund,” said Samantha Wiley, assistant director of development. “Meeting the needs of our ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students would not be possible without the help of the Trojan community and companies like Seal Solar whose donations have made such an impact during this time.” Around 60 donors have raised nearly $27,000 to help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students in need. “The fund started off with an anonymous donor who wanted to help students and pledged to match $5,000 in donations,” Wiley said. “It’s amazing how many people want to help our students right now. It touches our alumni community in particular. They want to give students the same opportunity they had to complete their college education.” One of the fund’s donors, Julie Brown, a 1993 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate from De Queen, Arkansas, said she was moved to give $13,000 after realizing what a difference it can make for the students. “Ever since I graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I’ve wanted to help other students succeed,” Brown said. “I know how important a college education can be to a person’s future, and my heart breaks for all the students who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. I know a lot of students have suddenly lost their jobs and are facing basic need insecurities, such as the ability to purchase groceries or rent. When I saw ��Vlog��ý Little Rock had started a fund for these students, I wanted to help right away to ensure they get the support they need.” One student who can benefit from the fund is Mariam Bouzihay, a senior psychology major who is graduating this semester. Shortly after moving home to Jonesboro, Bouzihay’s family home was damaged in the tornado that struck the town on March 28.

Mariam Bouzihay

“Some people in the neighborhood lost their houses completely, so we were lucky,” Bouzihay said. “Huge parts of our roof were blown away. The carport is gone. We have a food truck in the back of our yard that just landed there, and we don’t know who it belongs to. The response from first responders and all the people who came from out of town to help the people of Jonesboro was really nice to see.” Fortunately, Bouzihay and her family were uninjured, but she now faces an unexpected financial difficulty, but is grateful for the support from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “It’s a very confusing time,” Bouzihay said. “So many people have lost their jobs, and we have all transitioned to classes online. A lot of students need support. I want our students to know that there are people here to help them. During this time, it’s about being there for people. We are a Trojan family, and look what our family, friends, and supporters have accomplished. When you have people who support and care for each other, it’s amazing what can be achieved.” Students who would like to apply for a micro-grant may fill out a, and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees may refer a student. Students will be contacted by a member of the CARE Team, who will provide them with a short application. A committee will review each submission and make an award recommendation to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. If you would like to help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students by making a donation, please visit the website or text ��Vlog��ýLR to 41444.

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

Cultivating Student Success: How ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Resources Empower First-Generation Students

LULAC Awards Martinez Special Book Scholarship

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host Giving Day 2022 on March 29

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Launches New Program to Provide Child Care Funding for Low-Income Students

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives Donation to Create Endowed Student Support Fund in Honor of Stacy Duckett

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $40,000 Donation to Create Dr. Moira Maguire Student Support Fund for History Students