Chancellor Addresses Recovery and Renovations

Editor-in-Chief

   Chancellor Jack Lassiter discussed his recovery as well as the accomplishments of the University of Arkansas at Monticello at the State of the University address Aug. 19.

   Lassiter suffered a stroke in June of this year and commended Monticello’s local hospital, Drew Memorial, for its medical expertise.

   “Within 15 minutes time, they not only performed a CAT scan, but were able to determine the type of stroke that I had,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said if one suffers from a clot type of stroke, a shot remains available to treat the blockage. The same shot, if given to a patient with a bleeding type of stroke, results in death.

   “They were able to determine the shot would be effective and they administered it to me in Monticello,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said after arriving in Little Rock, the trauma team met him at the helipad and commented on the skills of the medical staff at Drew Memorial. He said, because of the treatment received at Drew Memorial, he regained movement of his leg the first day.

   “Now, I can reach up. We’re still working on the hand and fingers, but I’m sure they’ll come around,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said this summer marked the completion of phase one of the Master Plan created in 2005. He said he looks forward to phase two.

   “We have obtained from the legislature, governor and a private donor approximately $6.1 million that will provide us the opportunity to build an annex on the Chamberlain complex,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said the annex provides expanded research opportunities for the School of Forest Resources and the Arkansas Center for Forest Resources. He said phase two also includes the upgrade, renovation and possible addition to the Math and Science Center.

   Lassiter said UAM received a $1 million loan in May. The University plans to use a portion of the loan to rebuild the foundation of the Agriculture building.

   Lassiter said the University received $2.514 million from stimulus funds. Engineers predict an annual utility savings of $300,000 from the result of the submitted energy saving projects, which includes all three campuses. The UAM College of Technology at Crossett and UAM College of Technology at McGehee renovations include landscaping and parking.

    “I am pleased to report we have received full funding for every project we submitted,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said the budget remains fiscally sound for the upcoming fiscal and academic year. He said budget managers faced the challenge of developing a budget requiring a 2 percent reallocation of the previous fiscal year’s funds. Primary expenditures in this fiscal year’s budget include student-related expenditures, classified salaries, fringe benefits for all employees and an increased debt service. He said the increased debt service remained necessary for heating and air-conditioning renovations in the Memorial Classroom Building and the Gibson University Center.

   Lassiter said the struggling economy restricts the available state funds allocated to institutes of higher learning. He said adding to constraints remains maintaining a low cost of tuition per student. The tuition increased 4 percent for the coming year. Lassiter said the University neglects to utilize the increased tuition or state funding for salary increases.

   “Students will be paying $158 per hour on the Monticello campus and $70 at the two colleges of technology. This will keep us as one of the lowest tuition and fee costs of any state four-year institution,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said the past five years showed record-setting numbers in enrollment. He said the increase in enrollment resulted from providing a low cost of attendance along with financial aid and scholarships.

   “We want to emphasize that our primary function is teaching. Teaching is a skill that must be fully utilized when dealing with a unique student population that has been the history of this institution,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter included the history of UAM, which includes:      

•    the establishment of the institution in 1909 by an act of the Arkansas General Assembly to serve the educational needs of southern Arkansas
•    originally called Fourth District Agricultural School
•    first opened its doors Sept. 4, 1910
•    name changed to the Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1925
•    Arkansas A&M received accreditation as a junior college in 1928 and as a four-year institution in 1940.
•    officially named the University of Arkansas at Monticello July 1, 1971
•    included UAM CT-Crossett and UAM CT-McGehee July 1, 2003

   Lassiter said this year marks his sixth year as chancellor of UAM.

   “The most important letter in our name is “U.” Yes, this is the time that you can say it’s all about you,” Lassiter said.

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