Chancellor Addresses New Policies

Editor-in-Chief

   Chancellor Jack Lassiter spoke of the challenges and opportunities facing the campus at the State of the University address Aug. 13.

   Lassiter said by Sept. 1, the executive council will vote to change the campus to tobacco free, smoke free (but dip will be allowed) or to keep the same smoking policy. The current policy for smoking is the smoker must be 20 feet from a building entrance.

   “We may be the only college in the state with this current policy,” Lassiter said.  

   Lassiter also addressed the 10 percent tuition and fee increase. He said some public concerns include:

   The fact that low-income students may lose access to UAM is Lassiter’s biggest concern.

   “We may have to consider increasing productivity to lower costs and tuition,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter pointed out the campus still has lowest tuition for a four-year public institution in Arkansas.  He said Pell grants increased this year and will pay for 15 hours of tuition and fees. The university did not increase number of scholarships, but increased funding to accommodate tuition increases.

   Lassiter also said the university is working with less money in the budget than in 1984. Two weeks before the university completed the budget, it was cut by $700,000.  He said most salary increases had to be postponed due to budget cuts.

   The tuition increase and budget cuts led Lassiter to encourage the entire faculty to fundraise.

   “We need more campaigns for scholarships and academic support,” Lassiter said. “ We need to progress to a higher level in fundraising and it will take everyone in this auditorium.”  

   The most successful campaign right now is a retired professor contacting former students, according to Lassiter.

   “This isn’t about Jack, this is about you,” Lassiter said. “If you raise that money, you get to use that money.”

   Lassiter challenged the faculty members to learn more about their students to help the students be more successful. He said the university is only as successful as the students are.

   Lassiter said the population of UAM is drastically changing. The average age of students is 28-years-old. He said professors have to look at their teaching style and methods and adapt them for older students.

   Lassiter also discussed the approaching centennial year celebration. The celebration will begin in April 2009. Lassiter said everyone should use this time to look back at the university.

   Lassiter closed the address by talking about the importance of the people at UAM.

   “This is not my university, this is about the people here,” Lassiter said.  “The most important letter in UAM is ‘U’.”

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