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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Recognized for Top Online Computer Science Doctorate Program

John Hill — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 12:58:34 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as having the best online doctoral program in computer science in the country, following a trend of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock being a leader in STEM education. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been ranked first in Phds.me’s list of Programs for 2022. The Computer and Information Sciences Ph.D. program is designed to promote collaborations across several computing disciplines. The information science track focuses on the theory, applications, and technologies, while the information quality track focuses on the theory, principles, models, and techniques for maximizing the value of an organization’s information assets. Dr. John Talburt, Acxiom Chair of Information Quality and graduate coordinator for the program, said the success of the online doctoral program stems from the fact that the online and on-campus programs are fully integrated. Online students receive the same course lectures, assignments, and exams and have access to all the resources as on-campus students with the convenience of taking classes on their own schedule. “This stimulates a lot of interaction among the instructors, online students, and on-campus students,” Talburt said. “This interaction is often missing in traditional ‘work-at-your-on-pace’ type of instruction where students complete posted assignments in isolation. Many of the students in the program are working professionals with many years of experience in information science and technology, and their interactions with traditional students enriches everyone’s experience in the program.” Graduates from the program often earn good job placements in academia and industry. Some alumni are working at companies like Google, Silicon Valley Bank, Walmart, London Stock Exchange Group, and Visa, and four alumni have already advanced to chief data officer positions in their organizations. Other graduates have decided on academic careers with schools such as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, North Texas State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. To determine the rankings, PhDs.me looked at factors like the availability of academic and career counseling services, student-to-faculty ratios, job placement services for graduates, tuition, and the number of enrolled students in online programs. To be considered, all schools must hold an active regional accreditation from an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $1.215 Million Grant for McNair Scholars Program

John Hill — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:15:41 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $1.215 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help disadvantaged college students gain opportunities for success in their future doctoral studies. The five-year grant will provide $243,041 a year for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. The McNair program is one of eight federal TRIO programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock McNair Scholars Program provides research and student success opportunities for juniors and seniors who plan to advance their education and skills through competitive graduate programs. “When we look at U.S. students studying to become our future physicians, professors, scientists, and other crucial professionals requiring graduate degrees, many demographic groups are underrepresented, including first-generation college students and those from low-income families,” said Nasser Paydar, assistant secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education. “McNair grants fund projects at universities and colleges that help underrepresented students to access doctoral programs.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock supports 26 McNair Scholars every year to participate in the university’s enriching Research Internship Program. In their first year, McNair Scholars participate in the Summer Research Internship. Afterwards, students complete a McNair required-research experience where they work with a faculty mentor to conduct an independent research project and write a paper on the results. “In this undergraduate research program, we offer research opportunities for students to prepare them for graduate school,” said Ashia Muhammad, director of the McNair Scholars Program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “We have workshops on getting ready for graduate school and presenting research at a conference as well as attending graduate school fairs and cultural events. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor to complete independent research projects that will prepare them for research requirements of graduate school. The ultimate goal is for our scholars to receive a Ph.D. 10 years after they have graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. This funding will help us increase our graduation rates and post-baccalaureate success among first-generation, low-income students, and students from underrepresented populations in graduate school.” The program also provides intensive support for scholars who apply for external research opportunities and for graduate school programs. These services include Graduate Record Examination (GRE) preparation and advising, tutoring, academic counseling, financial aid counseling, assistance with securing financial support for graduate school, and advising on how to apply for and successfully complete graduate school. “Our university has a strong track record of McNair Scholars not only successfully moving on to doctoral programs, but also thriving in their careers with a commitment to inspire others,” said Dr. David Montague, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs–student success. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is one of three Arkansas universities, including Harding University and Henderson State University, that hosts the McNair Scholars Program, which started in 1991 at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

U.S. Department of Education Awards ��Vlog��ý Little Rock $581K Grant to Provide Child Care Funding for Low-Income Students

John Hill — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 14:20:00 +0000

The University of Arkansas at 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 to help them complete their college education. “The child care support provided by this grant will help our students who are parents and is another example of our institution’s commitment to student success,” Provost Ann Bain said. “This 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.” ��Vlog��ý 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 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, 39 percent of undergraduate students from the fall 2021 semester are Pell Grant recipients. “The grant will allow us to pay support for child care to Pell-eligible students with children using established and licensed child care providers,” said Dr. Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs for student success. “The 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’s voucher program and child care provided by Early Start, Head Start, and the Little Rock School District.” 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’s 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’s degree within six years, compared with about half of women who are not mothers. The Institute for Women’s 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’s 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. “Being a parent while a student myself, I thought of how difficult it must be for those who don’t have resources or support to advance themselves through higher education,” said Gehring, associate director of advancement services at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “As a student at ��Vlog��ý 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.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock previously had a child care center that closed down in 1993. A 2020 survey of ��Vlog��ý 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. “It isn’t often that a person’s educational career and professional career intersect,” said Heather Reed, director of Student Retention Initiatives and a MPA student who helped write the grant. “This 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.” The child care funding will be available to ��Vlog��ý 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’d like to donate to help support ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students with child care needs, please donate via this link. In the upper right photo, ��Vlog��ý 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 ��Vlog��ý 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.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock receives $2.1 million grant to help low-income, first-generation, and college students with disabilities

John Hill — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 16:30:48 +0000

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of Arkansas at Little Rock a $2.1 million, five-year grant that will help more students succeed and graduate from college. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to providing an affordable and high-quality education for everyone who wishes to make their dream of a college education a reality,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has recognized our commitment to student success and the extraordinary work of our Student Support Services program. The program’s success is a credit to the hard work and determination of its participants and the dedicated educators who are working to close the education gap and make college accessible for all students.” The $2,137,725 grant will support the university’s Student Support Services (SSS) program, which provides resources to undergraduate college students who are low-income, first-generation, and/or have a disability. This year’s grant includes the addition of a success coordinator who will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all aspects of student success, including coordinating tutoring services, maintaining relationships with other departments on campus to assist students with career and internship placements, developing interview skills, conducting career assessments, and conducting the Career Academy, which includes a series of workshops on financial literacy and career readiness. SSS is a federally funded TRiO program that provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to increase participants’ academic success and help them persist to graduation. It provides services to assist students in adjusting to college and support them from enrollment through graduation with a bachelor’s degree at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “TRIO Student Support Services provides services annually to 260 eligible ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students,” said Desarae Nelson, director of Student Support Services. “SSS helps 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.” Since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, SSS has continued to provide services via Blackboard, NetTutor, and virtual advising and wellness checks. This semester, services are available online and by appointment.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Jodie Mahony Center receives nearly $2.5 million STEM grant

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 13:14:34 +0000

The Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received nearly $2.5 million to develop and implement a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program that identifies and serves academically promising second- and third-grade students in Arkansas.�� Funded by a five-year $2,449,587 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the STEM+C2 program is designed to identify promising students through universal screening and provide services to gifted and talented second- and third-grade students, including students from underrepresented populations.�� “The STEM+C2 team assembled across three universities is a thrilling powerhouse of women devoted to developing academic and creative STEM talents in young children,” said Dr. Ann Robinson, director of the Jodie Mahony Center and principal investigator of the grant. “The current grant is the third in a series and builds on both STEM Starters and STEM Starters+. We published several research studies documenting the effectiveness of this intervention. In fact, one study, ‘,’ received two awards for research excellence. When we complete STEM+C2, we will have been funded for 15 years to develop, research, and disseminate an effective STEM intervention in elementary schools.” STEM+C2 is the third five-year grant Jodie Mahony Center researchers have received through the, which emphasizes serving traditionally underrepresented students in gifted and talented services to reduce the�� gap in achievement among groups of students at the highest levels of performance. The Jodie Mahony Center will provide elementary students with the tools and resources they need to succeed in computer science, engineering, and science with creativity and innovation. Through professional development, STEM+C2 will prepare second- and third-grade teachers in gifted, creative, and talented education with summer institutes and academic year support.�� Fellow researchers on the grant include Dr. Jill Adelson, research scientist with Duke University’s Talent Identification Program; Dr. Christine Cunningham, professor of education and engineering at Penn State University; Kristy Kidd, project director in the Jodie Mahony Center, and Dr. Christine Deitz, associate director of the Jodie Mahony Center. “The STEM+C2 project will empower over 100 teachers to engage students in creative and innovative curriculum connected to STEM and computer science education,” Deitz said. “This exciting intervention is designed to develop learning talent in the primary grades and help teachers spot potential in young learners; especially children from low-income families and in populations who are traditionally underrepresented in gifted programs.”�� The program’s professional development component will equip teachers with content related to STEM disciplines, strategies to identify promising students from underrepresented groups, a STEM+C2 toolkit with engineering design challenges and computer science explorations, and support for National Board Teacher Certification. The program will also prepare teachers to implement “Blueprints for Biography: Computer Science Series,” developed by researchers at the Jodie Mahony Center. The series features STEM innovators Grace Hopper, a pioneer of computer programming; Ada King, an English mathematician and Countess of Lovelace; and Raye Montague, the 2019 recipient of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Fribourgh Award who created the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship. Over the course of the grant, the program will serve nearly 1,400 second- and third-grade students, 60 classroom teachers, 30 gifted education teachers, and 30 elementary school principals across two cohorts at 30 elementary schools in the state.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock TRIO program receives $1.2 million grant to create educational outreach center for Arkansas Delta region

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 14:10:35 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock TRIO program received a five-year Educational Opportunity Grant worth nearly $1.2 million to help Arkansans in the Delta region enroll in postsecondary education programs.�� Linda Barker, director of the TRIO Educational Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center programs at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, received a five-year grant totaling $1,179,985 from the U.S. Department of Education. TRIO will receive $235,997 a year from 2016 to 2021 to provide services to 1,000 participants in the Arkansas Delta. “There is a need in the Delta region for our type of services, and there is not an existing center in that area,” Barker said. With the Delta Educational Opportunity Center program, TRIO staff members will travel to community partners like workforce services, veterans affairs offices, and school districts to serve people in the 12-county area. TRIO recently hired three staff members and has already started helping people in Jefferson County. Brandon Scaife, project director of the Delta Educational Opportunity Center, said the center will expand its services to additional target counties in the upcoming months. The new center will provide guidance, academic and financial aid information, and assistance throughout the year to adults who wish to advance their academic career at a postsecondary institution. Workshops, financial aid information, computer lab tutorials, entrance exam preparation, individual counseling, and computerized placement exams will be available to participants. According to the 2013 American Community Survey, Arkansas ranks second highest in percentage of low-income working families. In the Delta region, 21 percent of residents live on a low income, and 86 percent of adults do not have a post-secondary degree, which is becoming imperative to obtaining a successful career. Through participation in the program, Arkansans can access the services necessary to enroll in a post-secondary institution and create a comprehensive plan for academic and career success. In the upper right photo, members of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock TRIO Talent Search staff include: Back row (left to right) Crystin Amato, Michita Merriweather, Rachel Vanveckhoven, Elena Maina, Billy Huggins, and Jermaine Rudd. Front row (left to right): Brandon Scaife, Sandra Carmona Garcia, Linda Barker, and Shanikia Williams.��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock receives five-year grants worth more than $3.75 million to help low-income students in Pulaski and Jefferson counties

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 20:50:18 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received two five-year grants totaling more than $3.75 million to fund college readiness programs for low-income and first-generation college students in Pulaski and Jefferson counties.�� The U.S. Department of Education’s Federal TRIO Program awarded the grants totaling $3,762,035 to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock TRIO Educational Talent Search program. The grants will help more than 1,500 middle school and high school students successfully graduate high school and prepare for college. The first grant, which serves 1,068 students in Pulaski and Jefferson counties, funds $512,408 annually for five years, totaling $2,562,040. The second grant, which serves 500 students in north Pulaski County, awards $239,999 annually for five years, totaling $1,199,995. The grants will provide funding for the 2016-17 to the 2020-21 academic years. “By hosting the TRIO Talent Search grants, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock continues to demonstrate a long-standing commitment to the central Arkansas community by making its resources available to those persons who face social and cultural barriers in educational attainment,” said Linda Barker, director of the TRIO Educational Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center programs. Talent Search, one of eight programs collectively known as the , is uniquely designed for students traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, including first-generation college students and other at-risk youth. The Talent Search Program will provide a comprehensive plan of activities for each participating student that identifies and explores future academic and career aspirations and provides plans for financial assistance, financial planning, and opportunities for engagement to bolster postsecondary enrollment.

Linda Barker

Recent Census Bureau data shows the great need for the TRIO Talent Search Program in these target areas. In Jefferson and Pulaski counties, 48.3 percent of families in the first target area are considered low-income, while the national average is 17.8 percent. Additionally, 76 percent of students in the target school districts participate in free and reduced lunch programs. In the north Pulaski County target area, 47 percent of families are considered low-income, and 64 percent of students participate in free and reduced lunch programs. On the academic side, only 26 percent of students in Jefferson and Pulaski counties are taking advanced placement courses. In the north Pulaski County target area, only 14 percent of students are taking advanced placement courses. In both target areas, post-secondary enrollment rates are lower than the state and national rates. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock TRIO Educational Talent Search Program will identify students who need these services and assist in removing barriers that prevent them from obtaining a post-secondary degree. TRIO will provide a variety of higher education access workshops and activities to middle and high school students in the target schools. The activities include admission and financial aid workshops, student achievement assessments, access to online tutoring programs, and college campus tours as well as leadership and motivational sessions. Participants in the program will be chosen based on target search requirements along with recommendations from target school officials. In the upper right photo, members of the ��Vlog��ý��Little Rock TRIO Educational Talent Search program staff include: Back row (left to right) Crystin Amato, Michita Merriweather, Rachel Vanveckhoven, Elena Maina, Billy Huggins, and Jermaine Rudd. Front row (left to right): Brandon Scaife, Sandra Carmona Garcia, Linda Barker, and Shanikia Williams.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Recognized for Top Online Computer Science Doctorate Program

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Receives $1.215 Million Grant for McNair Scholars Program

U.S. Department of Education Awards ����Vlog��ý Little Rock $581K Grant to Provide Child Care Funding for Low-Income Students

����Vlog��ý Little Rock receives $2.1 million grant to help low-income, first-generation, and college students with disabilities

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Jodie Mahony Center receives nearly $2.5 million STEM grant

����Vlog��ý Little Rock TRIO program receives $1.2 million grant to create educational outreach center for Arkansas Delta region

����Vlog��ý Little Rock receives five-year grants worth more than $3.75 million to help low-income students in Pulaski and Jefferson counties