Board of Visitors Announce Current Enrollment and Building Plans

Editor in Chief
 

Photo by Susan Pruitt

Take a Number - Clay Brown (right), vice chancellor of Student Affairs, and Jay Jones (left), vice chancellor of Finance and Administration, provide the Board of Visitors Oct. 8 with the average ages of students attending the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The highest percentage of students remain in the 20 to 24-years-old category.

   The Board of Visitors met in the Spencer Gallery of the Fine Arts Center Oct.8 to discuss the current enrollment of the University of Arkansas at Monticello colleges and future building plans.

   Provost R. David Ray said UAM retains 44 online classes, 16 compressed video interaction classes, 63 early college high school classes and 622 other classes. He said UAM-CT Crossett retains 53 technical classes and 17 general education classes and UAM CT- McGehee retains 51 technical classes and 32 general education classes. The total for all three campuses comes to 898 classes being offered to constituents of Southeast Arkansas.

   At the UAM CT-Crossett campus, there remain 207 students enrolled in technical programs with 37 of those taking general education. On the UAM CT-McGehee campus, 268 students enrolled in technical programs with 92 taking general education. Early college high school maintains 312 students enrolled in classes.

   “It looks like it’s a very good year as we’re starting out 2009 of the fall semester,” Ray said.

   Clay Brown, vice chancellor for University Relations and Student Affairs, announced 90 percent of UAM students derive from the state of Arkansas. He said students aged 18 to 19-years-old average 27 percent, 20 to 24-year-olds average 33 percent and 25 to 50-year-olds average 29 percent.

   “You can see we have quite a few students who are not a youthful age, which we think is very good. We are very proud of that fact,” Brown said.

   Brown said the most popular schools at UAM include General Studies, Education, Nursing and Business. He said the number of students at UAM stands at 3,482 students, which remains a little less than the expected number of 3,500 students.

   Ray announced faculty changes at UAM, which includes the retirement of Jim Roiger, chair of Computer Information Systems. Ray said Brian Hairston, assistant professor of Computer Information Systems, plans to take Roiger’s place. Ray also announced a replacement in the division of Music for Annette Hall who died Aug. 6.

   “In the area of music, we realize we lost our chair this fall. In her place, we have hired James Woolly,” Ray said.

   Ray said Trey Berry, dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, plans to resign Oct. 20. Ray said he named Carol Strong, assistant professor of Political Science, as interim dean to take Berry’s place. Berry plans to assume the duties of deputy director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, which places him in charge of four different museums in Little Rock.

   Brown announced Scott Kuttenkuler, director of Forensics and Debate, as the director of Development and Advancement. Until January 2010, Kuttenkuler assumes both positions.

   “Scott joined us in the fall of 2003 as our director of Forensics and Debate and has done an outstanding job in that program leading us to national and international awards,” Brown said.

   Ray announced Act 971 passed through legislation, which requires end-of-course examinations comparable to the ACT for all remedial courses. Remedial courses in Math, English and Reading require end-of-course exams beginning fall 2010.

   “There will probably be something along the lines of COMPASS or ASSETT testing in order to assure (students) are up to standards,” Ray said.

   Jay Jones, vice chancellor of Finance and Administration, reported the current assets of the University at just over $50 million. The University’s cash investment stands at $12 million. He said some of the funds plan to be used for future projects such as renovations to the H.H. Chamberlain Forest Resources Complex. 

   Chancellor Jack Lassiter said he spoke with Jones about advertising for architects and contractors to work on the H.H. Chamberlain Forest Resources Complex. The project remains the first time on the campus a design-build plans to be used.

   “We currently have 6.1 million in funds at this time committed to us. The only problem is, because the funds were committed the last legislative session, we will only be able to access 75 percent right now,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said he plans to look at building more residence halls and new facilities for Greek organizations. He said currently Greek organizations remain housed at Jeter Hall, which plans to be demolished when new construction begins.

   Lassiter said thanks to President Barack Obama, Governor Mike Beebe and Beebe Staff Member Chris Massingill, the UAM campus plans to receive $2.5 million in stimulus funds. He said Jim Hudgins, director of the Physical Plant, brought the idea of an energy audit to his attention.

   “We will be working on all three campuses to do some energy-efficiency projects that is estimated to save us $300,000 a year,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter discussed the stadium light poles at the Convoy-Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium. He said engineers put 16 gussets around each pole for reinforcement.

   “We feel we can make it through the school year with those poles. We will have to make a decision this spring on what we are going to do about them,” Lassiter said.

   He said the University took immediate action to ensure the safety of students. He said the University paid for the residents of Royer Hall to move into hotels in Monticello until engineers determined how to reinforce the poles.

   Brown discussed the implementation of a smoke-free campus, which took place Sept. 1. He said students remain compliant with not smoking on campus.

   Lassiter said legislation takes place September 2010 for non-smoking on all campuses in Arkansas.

   “There are tickets that can be written once legislation takes place. One hundred dollars the first time, $200 the second and $300 the third,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter said the money from the fines goes to Drew County and not UAM.

   Ray discussed the Assembly’s new constitution, which the Board of Trustees approved Sept. 4. He said the purpose of the constitution remains to bring the three UAM campuses together in the government process. Two Assembly meetings remain for fall 2009, which include meetings on Oct. 28 and Dec. 2.

   Lassiter said he contacted board members of the Board of Visitors and discovered four members just served their second term. New appointments for board members plan to be made, but until then three board members plan to go off of the board. Those members include Frank Johnson, Marilyn Johnson and Rhonda Mullikin.

   Brown discussed 2009 Centennial Homecoming week, which takes place Oct. 19-24. He said the Homecoming parade moved to the Monticello downtown area and takes place Thursday, Oct 22 at 4 p.m. The Sports Hall of Fame inductees reception and Clock Tower dedication takes place Friday, Oct. 23 at 4:30 p.m.

Editor's Note: An error appeared in the article about the Board of Visitors meeting. The original article stated Provost R. David Ray said James Woolly would be the new chair for the division of Music. James Woolly will replace Annette Hall until Ray hires a new chair. The article has been updated to reflect these corrections.

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