http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.50 ? Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/ http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2414 UCA will host An Evening with Marvin Hamlisch and the Conway Symphony Orchestra tonight, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall.

As a world-renowned composer, Hamlisch boasts a wide range of accomplishments, including three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globe awards. His groundbreaking show, "A Chorus Line", one of the longest-running Broadway shows in history, earned the Pulitzer Prize in 1975.

Hamlisch is also the composer of more than 40 motion picture scores, including his latest for The Informant, starring Matt Damon, in September 2009."This is a great way to increase the visibility of the university as well as provide an invaluable opportunity for the students and faculty who are members of the Conway Symphony Orchestra to learn from and be led by an award-winning conductor," said Jerry Biebesheimer, director of UCA Public Appearances.

Tickets are available at the UCA Ticket Central Box Office from 10-4 and starting at 6 pm. Tickets are $30, $32 and $35 for the general public, $27, $29 and $32 for seniors, $25, $27 and $30 for UCA alumni, $23, $25 and $28 for UCA faculty and staff, and $10 for all student tickets. For tickets, call (501) 450-3265 or toll free from anywhere in Arkansas at 1-866-810-0012.

]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2414 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 15:04:38 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2406
Her lecture will be titled, "The Power of Respect."

The university is delighted to bring an individual of O'Brien's professional background, said UCA President Allen Meadors.

"She brings a unique insight to many national and international events," Meadors said. "Having had Ms. O'Brien at my previous institution as a speaker, I know our UCA family will find her lecture insightful and informative."
O'Brien is probably most known for being the host of CNN's "In America" documentaries. The series started in 2008 with "Black In America," where O’Brien looked into the lives of blacks in America 40 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The documentary garnered great response from viewers, and in 2009, O'Brien followed with"Black in America 2," which focused on community leaders who are helping to improve the lives of blacks in America.

Her most recent project was "Latino in America," which focused on how Latinos in America are changing the nation and how the nation is changing them.

O'Brien also reported for the CNN documentary, "Words That Changed a Nation," which included a first look into King’s private writings. She then investigated King's assassination in "Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination."

O'Brien started on CNN in 2003 as co-anchor of American Morning. She was soon recognized for her coverage of the tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Her coverage of the two natural disasters won her the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Goodermote Humanitarian Award in 2008, of which she was the first recipient.

Other awards include the NAACP President's Award in 2007, the Soledad O'Brien Freedom's Voice Award from the Morehouse School of Medicine, and the 2009 Medallion of Excellence for Leadership and Community Service Award from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Tickets for the Distinguished Lecture Series are $10 for the general public, $5 for UCA Community and students, and free for UCA students with a current student ID. For tickets, call (501) 450-3265 or toll free from anywhere in Arkansas at 1-866-810-0012 or visit www.uca.edu/tickets. For more information, call UCA Public Appearances at (501) 450-3682 or e-mail jerryb@uca.edu. -- Miranda Grubbs




]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2406 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 17:30:00 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2411
The original goal of $35 million was publicly announced in the fall of 2007, coinciding with the university’s 100-year anniversary.
During the course of the five-year fundraising period, 7,617 individuals and organizations contributed to the campaign.

In addition to surpassing the goal of the university’s first major fundraising effort, several other milestones were achieved:

•More than $7.5 million in planned gifts matured during the campaign.

•More than 223 new funds were created, 101 of which were for student scholarships.

•New scholarships were established for students studying in each of the six academic colleges.

•A goal of establishing at least two new scholarship funds for African American students studying in each of the academic colleges was achieved.

•52 faculty members received faculty grants of up to $3,000 for various programs and research projects.

•36 individuals or organizations contributed $100,000 or more to the campaign.

•Faculty and staff giving more than doubled to just over 50 percent.

"I truly thank our faculty, staff and students who gave to this fundraising campaign," UCA President Allen Meadors said. "You are the heart of this campus and your generosity is a real testament of your loyalty and dedication to UCA and its future. We could not have done this without you. Thank you."

The largest single gift was a $5.3 million contribution from the Walton Family Foundation, Inc. to establish the Arkansas Public School Resource Center in 2008. The center was established to provide comprehensive services to advance and support school choice initiative and the implementation of high-quality open enrollment public charter schools in Arkansas, as well as providing a variety of support services critical to the fiscal and academic success of rural public schools in the state.

The foundation also accepted more than $7.5 million in planned gifts which matured over the course of the campaign. The estate of Jake and Mary Ellen White Crow directed a bequest of more than $4.2 million to the university to be used for scholarships for descendants of the family, as well as students from Phillips and Faulkner counties.

Since the fundraising efforts began in 2004, the amount of scholarship funds annually awarded to students through the foundation has nearly doubled to more than $474,000. The number of students receiving private scholarships has also continued to climb. This academic year, the university awarded private scholarships to 321 UCA students, 42 percent more students than in 2004-05.

"I am very excited that we were able to complete this campaign by not only meeting, but also by surpassing our campaign goal," said campaign co-chair Rush Harding. "Completing a successful campaign is also a credit to my co-chairs, the late Dr. Jeff Farris and his wife Patsy. I am confident that Dr. Farris would be proud that UCA was able to achieve this kind of success. I think we owe a lot of credit to Shelley Mehl and her staff for closing this out especially with the challenges we have faced over the several months. UCA will always be at the top of the list of my family’s giving and I look forward to the success of future UCA Foundation efforts. Private fundraising is something the university will have to continue to do and I am confident we will continue to be successful with it."

"We are so thankful all of our alumni and friends and members of the community who stepped up over the last five years and made a commitment to the University of Central Arkansas," said Shelley Mehl, interim vice president for advancement. "Many areas of the campus were positively impacted by the generous giving and we look forward to building on the success of this campaign and generating even more support for students and faculty especially in the areas of scholarships and faculty programs and projects."

- Jennifer Boyett]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2411 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 17:26:00 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2410
The primary athletics trademark and the various secondary marks were produced by The Joe Bosack Graphic Design Company and approved by a steering committee made up of a wide range of campus personnel, as well as members of the Conway business community, the Purple Circle and the UCA Sports Hall of Fame. The UCA Board of Trustees approved the trademarks at its Feb. 5 meeting.

The new logos will be put into use immediately as the primary marks for UCA Athletics. Merchandise featuring the new logos will be available exclusively at Barnes and Noble Bookstore in the UCA Student Center and Ace Hardware in Conway.
"The need to refresh our logo trademarks was clearly evident,’ said Dr. Brad Teague, UCA director of athletics. "We had a good deal of constituent feedback requesting a new look. We decided to develop the new logo over time, using a tremendous amount of input, with the unveiling to coincide with our reclassification to Division I.

"We will now begin the process of changing our logo impressions over campus, electronically, on paper, and any other medium necessary through the summer. The goal is to be fully converted by the new academic year 2010-2011," Teague said.

The initial conversation about producing a new UCA athletics logo began in 2008, due to licensing concerns, brand confusion with various logos represented by different sports and the need for a new, fresher trademark and new identity. The Joe Brosack company developed 10 logo options for review by the committee that was convened in the fall of 2008. That group narrowed the options to two in the spring of 2009. In the fall of 2009, a feedback session was held for a larger group of constituents affiliated in some way with UCA Athletics regarding the two options.

The result was the new trademark and its secondary and sport-specific marks, in both full-color and black and white.

"We do understand change can be difficult, but certainly feel this finished product will be pleasing to all over time,’ said Teague. "The new brand identity will improve our image and result in increase merchandise sales. We have seen several studies of institutions our size which have benefited financially from a logo re-branding campaign. With input from our Logo Steering Committee, the Bosack group has developed some very usable and effective marks for UCA Athletics."

The design fee for the production of the new logos was paid from private funds. The re-branding on campus involving the updating of courts, signage and uniforms will also be covered by private funds and corporate sponsorships.

"This is an exciting time for UCA Athletics," said Teague. "Not only are we close to being fully classified in Division I, but we have a new branding of our product, a new identity as we begin a new era."

UCA, a member of the Southland Conference, is in the final months of its five-year transition to NCAA Division I. If final approval is gained from the NCAA next month, UCA will be fully eligible on a conference and national level beginning in the fall of 2010.

The new logo can be viewed at UCA Athletics website at www.ucasports.com. - Steve East



]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2410 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 17:21:36 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2409
There were 1,411 students who qualified for the Dean's List. Recognition on the Dean's List requires at least a 3.5 grade point average with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours. This past semester, 793 students were named Presidential Scholars. Students must achieve a 4.0 grade point average with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours to receive the recognition.

"We are extremely proud of the academic accomplishments of these students," said UCA President Allen Meadors. "We ask a lot of our students academically and these students have shown what hard-work and commitment to their studies can do."The UCA Dean's List and Presidential Scholars List is compiled and certified by the Division of Undergraduate Studies.

The Fall 2009 UCA Dean's List and Presidential Scholars List are available at:

Deans:
http://www.uca.edu/shared/shared_undergradstudies/documents/deansfall2009.pdf

Presidential Scholars:
http://www.uca.edu/shared/shared_undergradstudies/documents/presfall2009.pdf
]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2409 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:01:00 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2408
NASP approval is a vital component of quality assurance and national recognition for UCA's master's and doctoral programs. The NASP approval is good until Dec. 31, 2014.

"Both prospective and current students know that NASP approval means that a program contains the course work and practical experiences necessary to become a competent practitioner," says Joan Simon, program director. "It is this 'stamp of approval' that draws students from both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate institutions into our program."
According to NASP, "School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home and school."

The school psychology program at UCA is housed in the Department of Psychology & Counseling within the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and is part of the Professional Education Unit that is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (NCATE).

The master's program at UCA was started in 1970 and was granted initial approval by NASP in 1994. The vast majority of these graduates work in the public schools in Arkansas and surrounding states. The curriculum includes two years of full-time course work and a 1,200 hour supervised internship experience in the school setting.

UCA started its doctoral program in 2000 and was accredited by the American Psychological Association in 2006. Most of these graduates are now licensed psychologists and are employed in school districts, mental health clinics, the Arkansas Department of Education, private practice, or higher education settings. The curriculum includes four years of full-time course work and a 2,000 hour supervised internship experience, with at least 600 hours in a school setting.

]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2408 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 08:05:00 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2385
The STEM Residential College will provide opportunities for greater student engagement and serve as a recruiting tool for students seeking a high quality, learning environment in the areas of math, science, computer science, technology and secondary math/science education.

It will also train more math and science teachers and improve science and math education in the state.
The STEM Residential College is the fifth residential college at UCA. It will house 210 freshmen in Arkansas Hall.

The hall will feature a large atrium with multiple study zones, an integrated classroom, and study rooms (Nerd Nodes) on each floor. Any student who has an interest in the sciences, technology, pre-engineering, or mathematics can apply to live in the residential college.

UCA is the only public four-year institution which uses a residential college system of learning communities for first-and second-year students.

"Other universities have recently developed living/learning communities, but UCA was the first and no other institution has a residential college system as expansive as ours," said Jayme Millsap Stone, director of learning communities.

The STEM Residential College is a partnership between UCA's Division of Undergraduate Studies' Learning Communities and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. This is the first time one of the academic colleges has partnered with undergraduate studies to develop a residential college.

"There have been many partnerships with faculty, but there has never been this much involvement by the college, itself, with the residential college to develop programs," said Dr. Carl Frederickson, associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Students will be able to take advantage of undergraduate research opportunities in several fields including cellular and molecular biology, organic chemistry, robotics, bio-physics, and aquatic ecology.

An important component of the program will be service-learning opportunities for students in the STEM Residential College. These students will have the opportunity to adopt a local elementary school and share the science they are learning in the classroom with students in these schools.

Frederickson and Stone noted that the residential college also fits into the governor's call to help improve science, math and technology education in the state by building a community of young scholars.

"One of the things that we know about our state is that less than 19 percent of our adults over 25 have baccalaureate degrees," Stone said. "We, as a state, cannot expect economic growth with an uneducated population. As educators of public institutions, we have a responsibility to the state for the state's own economic survival to emphasize science, technology and mathematics. To pull our state, to pull our people out of poverty, we have got to be aggressive about science and mathematics education."
]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2385 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 11:09:00 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2407
The Pancake Breakfast, organized by UCA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, brought in $4,481.50, which will be donated directly to the American Red Cross to go to Haiti relief.

"Our student-athletes did an outstanding job with the breakfast," said Natalie Shock, UCA assistant athletic director and advisor for the SAAC. "They did all the work leading up to the event, sold the tickets and then worked throughout the morning at Stoby's serving food and bussing tables. "Instead of raising money for our athletic department, they chose to donate the entire proceeds to the relief work in Haiti," she added. "They worked hard on this event and are to be commended."

Stoby's donated the use of the restaurant and Sysco donated the food for the event. Cooks included UCA Athletic Director Brad Teague, Associate Athletic Director Darrell Walsh and athletic assistant Kale Gober.]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2407 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 08:01:00 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2384
Bright coached football and track for 22 years. In 1949, he began his coaching career. He was the first officially hired junior high coach at Conway Junior High School. From there he became the athletic director, football and track coach at Conway High School. In 1958, he continued his coaching career at Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA). He left coaching in 1971 and later became director of housing at UCA from which he retired in 1983."Coach Bright loved athletics," said President Allen C. Meadors. "And he was loved by many who encountered him at the Conway Schools and UCA. So, it’s fitting to have his friends and family here to celebrate an athletic scholarship named in his honor that has reached the $25,000 endowment level."

The Raymond Bright Athletic Scholarship Fund will be awarded annually to student athletes. First preference will be given to football and track athletes.

Bright'’s wife, Doretta, proudly unveiled the endowed scholarship plaque that will hand on the Donor Wall of Honor in UCA’s McCastlain Hall. "The Bright family is honored to have this Raymond Bright Athletic Scholarship Fund endowed and to know that Raymond will still be recruiting for the purple and the gray," she said.

Athletic Director Brad Teague said scholarships are very important to the athletic program.

"Scholarship endowments provide the added benefit of never ending support since the fund will never end," he said. "But having an endowment named for one of our legends, Coach Raymond Bright, is truly special to all of us in Athletics."

For more information or to make a contribution to the Raymond Bright Athletic Scholarship Fund, contact the UCA Foundation at 501-450-5288. - Jennifer Boyett
]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2384 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:37:10 -0600 http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/?itemid=2358
More than $3,056 was donated to the American Red Cross to assist in relief efforts.

In less than an hour, $800 was donated to the cause, with $300 given by Students for the Propagation of Black Culture.

"The support of the community, the students, faculty and staff at UCA was amazing," said Jayme Millsap Stone, director of Learning Communities and one of the event's organizers. "As we went around and asked people to dig deeper, they were generous with their change and their dollars. We were touched by the public’s generosity."
A massive earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12, causing catastrophic damage and claiming thousands of lives. Various agencies assisting with the disaster relief asked that the public send cash instead of food, water or clothes.

UCA faculty and staff brain stormed about the best way to help. Within three days, organizers put together the benefit concert. More than 15 groups consisting of faculty, staff, students and Conway residents volunteered to perform. The event was held at Bear Den’s Pizza, which also donated $200.

Collen Joslin, director of the American Red Cross of Faulkner County, said she was thrilled that UCA and the community wanted to support the organization’s efforts and Haiti.

"The support and outreach from UCA students, staff, faculty and residents of central Arkansas is greatly appreciated," Joslin said. "It really shows the continued support of Arkansans, and what they can do to make a difference not only in their state but worldwide."

Individuals have another opportunity to donate funds for Haiti.

There will be a Learning Communities Bwalo on Haiti, the people and the earthquake on Tues., Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in Doyne Hall Auditorium on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.

Stone, an instructor of history, will give a brief history of Haiti; Jerry Reynolds, an associate professor in the Department of Geography, will talk about the earthquake; and Jeff Allender, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, will speak on the human geography of Haiti.

"In order for us to help Haiti to recover, it will take more than money," Stone said. "It will also take an understanding of who the people of Haiti are and their history and use that knowledge to help them rebuild."

Casey Griffith, coordinator of the First- and Second-Year Experiences, will also spotlight the efforts of four well-known and reputable relief organizations working in Haiti -- the American Red Cross, orphanCare International, Heifer Project International, and The Clinton Foundation.

Individuals can designate which organization to send their donation.

]]> Campus News http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=2358 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:58:25 -0600