Assembly Announces Changes for Commencement, Communication Major

Editor-in-Chief

   The University of Arkansas-Monticello Assembly met Thursday, Oct. 22 in the auditorium of the Memorial Classroom Building for its first time of the fall semester.

   During the meeting, several officials made announcements of changes and plans for the University, including the restructuring of the Speech and Journalism programs into a new communication major, and the planning of two commencement ceremonies.

   Marsha Clayton, associate professor of Business Administration, presented information for the curriculum and standards committee.

   According to Clayton, the committee reviewed nine proposals from the School of Arts and Humanities, most of which accumulated to the modifications to the Speech and Journalism programs.

   The new restructuring replaces all Speech (SPCH) and Journalism (JOUR) prefixes with a Communication prefix of COMM. The new Communication major would allow for three emphasis tracks in speech, media and performance.

   Clayton said the Communication minor would be modified accordingly and the Journalism minor would be deleted as the media emphasis replaces it.

   The committee also added a 1000-level art course in digital photography, changed the name of a course in School of Education and for the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, changed prerequisites for Biology I and its lab.

   Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs David Ray announced the Executive Council decided to hold two commencement ceremonies Friday, May 13, 2011.

   Ray said two ceremonies would be held in UAM’s Steelman Field House. Half of the schools would participate in a ceremony at 10 a.m. and the other half would walk at 2 p.m.

   Jay Jones, vice chancellor for Finance and Administration, told the faculty in attendance some changes would be seen within rooms around campus. Through the American Reinvestment Recovery Act, light bulbs in rooms would be replaced with smaller bulbs and automated controls, or digital thermostats, would be installed.

   According to Jones, the changes could save the university an estimated $250,000 to $300,000 a year.

   Jones also said the School of Forest Resources remains in the programming phase for renovations and addition of an annex to its building.

   Jones also addressed the University’s newest software shift to WeevilNet. He said the change brought snags along the way, which have been worked out.

   “We are really doing a good job of getting information in the system,” Jones said, stating administration now faces the challenge of extracting data from the system.

Changes in McGehee and Crossett

   Linda Rushing, vice chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology in Crossett, announced the school’s adult education grant was approved. She said the grant was close to a half million dollars, but was just short of a couple thousand dollars. Rushing also said a Career Pathways grant was approved right at a quarter million dollars.

   “We’re very thankful for these grants because we can provide services that are much-needed on the two-year campus,” Rushing said.

   UAM-CTC’s early childhood education program started this semester on campus with what Rushing calls, “A strong enrollment.”

   The college also plans to begin its correctional law enforcement program in January with Rodney Pickens as the instructor.

   Rushing also recognized the school’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter which attended a state conference and placed second in the state on customer relations. The chapter went on to compete on a national level and received eighth place.

   According to Rushing, UAM-CTC plans to put around $375,000 into renovations to the Adult Education Center in Hamburg, for which a building was donated by the University. She said the school hopes to use the building for community classes as well. The renovation project has an expected completion date of Jan. 15, 2011.

   Rushing also presented news of a $250 million expansion of the Georgia Pacific plant in Crossett. She said the University is in talks with the plant to flow all training endeavors through the Crossett campus.

   According to Bob Ware, vice chancellor for the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology in McGehee, funding by Carl Perkins of $87,775 would be used for equipment on campus, professional development and programs for students.

   Ware also said a 61-spot parking lot has been completed on the UAM-CTM campus.

Announcements

Myeong Kim, associate professor of Psychology and chair of the faculty research committee, announced 12 proposals were received and are in the process of individual evaluation. Kim said he plans to meet with Provost Ray to make a decision.

   Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jay Hughes announced the University has a 90 percent occupancy rate with 660 students living on campus of a maximum 727 bed capacity.

   Hughes also described the renovations of Bankston Hall as “phenomenal” in changing in culture of the dormitory. He stated by this point in the semester in Fall 2009, 60 discipline incidents occurred. As of the meeting Thursday, only six incidents had been reported this fall.

   Hughes and Kuttenkuler plan to work on a master housing plan for the campus with assessment of current facilities and a possible new facility in the future.

   He also said over 700 students and family members attended the Parent Family Appreciation Day held in September. He thanked the faculty for helping make the event successful.

   Clay Brown, vice chancellor of Advancement, said, “(Homecoming) was very successful.”

   According to Brown, close to 300 alumni attended the Sports Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction ceremony held Oct. 14 and just shy of 200 alumni attended the alumni dinner Oct. 15.

   He said annual awards of achievement and merit were presented to alumni. Recipients include: Karen Oakes, Shay Gillespie, Marvin Coffman and Sean Rochelle. An award of opportunity and connection of UAM and Arkansas A&M was presented to Buddy Carson.

   Brown said the office of Advancement currently has 77 names on the Centennial Circle and closes in on its needed 100 names. He encouraged attendees to contribute.

   Brown also announced a $70,000-endowment from Quintus Crews for the general maintenance and care of the indoor practice facility on campus.

   Provost Ray announced the School of Business and School of Computer Information Systems would be undergoing a 10-year evaluation. The School of Music would also be preparing for an upcoming accreditation report. He also said a 2011-13 catalog was in the works.

   According to Ray, the Spring 2011 class schedule would be finalized soon as pre-registration runs Nov. 8-19.

   Ray encouraged faculty and students to attend the lighting ceremony of the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE-ON) to be held Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center.

   “The ceremony will demonstrate our connectivity with the world,” Ray said.

   According to Chancellor Jack Lassiter, “(ARE-ON) will greatly enhance what we’re able to do in our educational programs.”

   Ray also encouraged attendance of the Majors Fair to be held the same day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the John F. Gibson University Center Green Room.

   Lassiter encouraged attendance at choir performance of “Messiah” in North Little Rock Dec. 3. He said an alumni and friend reception would be held before the performance, with a location to be determined. He said the performance “will bring chill bumps.”

   Lassiter also said he continues to seek volunteers for the cost-containment committee, which he addressed during his State of the University Address Aug. 16.

The Assembly 

   According to Lassiter, the Assembly officers meet every two weeks. The next official Assembly meeting is scheduled for Dec. 2.

   Officers for the 2010-11 academic year:

• Chair – Scott Lykens, associate professor of Art

• Vice-Chair – Donna Hunnicutt, master of arts in teaching coordinator

• Secretary – Greg Borse, assistant professor of English

• Parliamentarian – Rich Club, professor of Psychology
  

For additional reading:

Chancellor Discusses Goals During Annual State of the University Address

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