The university presented several awards to outstanding faculty.

Adam Frank, Schedler Honors College, received the Public Service Award.

Scott Meador ’96, Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing, received the Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award.

Jennifer Parrack, Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures, received the Teaching Excellence Award.

The university awarded the Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award to Donna Wake, College of Education, and Adriian Gardner, Department of Student Transitions.

Staff members recognized as the nonclassified Employee of the Year and as the classified Employee of the Year were Lesley Graybeal, Division of Outreach and Community Engagement, and Kortnee Kalberer ’12, Department of Music, respectively.

Employees with milestone records of service–25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years–were recognized, and recent university retirees were also honored.

Special recognition was given to Don Jones, Department of History, for 50 years of service and being the longest-serving employee in university history.

The Public Service Award recognizes individuals whose service contributions to the BT天堂community, professional community and other communities outside the university have been outstanding.

The Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award recognizes individuals whose contributions to their disciplines have been exemplary. Through original work in research, scholarship or creative activities, they have expanded human knowledge, interpreted the human experience or enhanced the quality of our lives.

The Teaching Excellence Award is given to faculty who have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in teaching. Recipients of this award strive to enhance student learning as they continually seek ways to improve their teaching.

The Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award recognizes individuals whose commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence on or off campus have made a significant impact on various ethnic groups and diverse populations in a positive way. These individuals have improved conditions at BT天堂and within the community.

BT天堂ranks 26 in the Top Public Schools category of regional universities in the South, which is the highest ranking among other Arkansas regional public universities. A regional university is defined as an institution that provides a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“For at least the last seven years, BT天堂has continually ranked in the top 30 of the Top Public Schools category among regional universities in the South. This continuous ranking solidifies our standing as a leader in innovative education and experiential learning opportunities for our students,” said BT天堂President Houston Davis. “Following a year of unprecedented fundraising for the university, we recently welcomed 2,033 freshman students who also are the most academically qualified in university history. We expect that BT天堂will continue to maintain this top-tier ranking.”

Universities in the Best Regional Universities category were ranked against their peer groups in one of four geographic regions. Generally, these universities draw students most heavily from surrounding states, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Overall, BT天堂ranks 71 among public and private institutions in the Best Regional Universities in the South category.

The University of Central Arkansas Department of Outreach and Community Engagement celebrated the grand opening of the new Arkansas Coding Academy campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 23.

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin was a special guest speaker at the ceremony. “The Arkansas Coding Academy is the perfect example of local entities – UCA, the Chamber of Commerce and businesses – partnering to meet the needs of employers,” Griffin said.

The new campus offers students and employees two classrooms, dedicated study and break areas, expanded office space and 24-hour access to the facility. It is the culmination of work to create a space more conducive to the learning needs of the students.

BT天堂President Houston Davis said, “This is a venture to meet industry needs and to shape opportunities for the future.”

Brad Lacy ’94, president and CEO of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce said, “This is about talent development and opportunities for individuals.”

Currently, there are 15 students enrolled in classes, and enrollment is underway for the next cadre of developers.

“We’re both honored and privileged that the university has invested in and entrusted us with the new space. It ensures our growth and success, and we can’t wait to see what’s next,” said Mary Condit ’14, director of the Arkansas Coding Academy.

The University of Central Arkansas Student Government Association hosted a launch party in April to celebrate the expansion of Zagster to the BT天堂campus.

The Zagster Bike Share initiative falls under the umbrella of the city of Conway’s Bike Share initiative. The BT天堂expansion allows students to seamlessly access Zagster bikes and bike stations on and off campus.

Bringing the Zagster Bike Share program to BT天堂was spearheaded by the SGA in partnership with the BT天堂Office of Housing and Residence Life.

“Zagster Bike Share is a great option for students to have transportation that is economical, sustainable and environmentally friendly,” said Spencer Burton, SGA’s vice president of finance. “And it’s not limited to students. Faculty, staff or anyone in the community can use the system.”

The Zagster Bike Share Stations at BT天堂are located at the Student Center, Mashburn Hall, Win Thompson Hall, Bear Village, and between the Lewis Science Center and Conway Corporation Center for Sciences buildings.

To use the program, users must download the Zagster app. They can purchase an annual membership or pay by the hour.

“BT天堂is dedicated to providing an exceptional education and a rich student experience, and we also want to be great community partners. This Bike Share initiative gives us both,” said BT天堂President Houston Davis. “Our program integrates with the existing Conway Bike Share Program, which means students can hop on a bike at BT天堂and drop it off at any Zagster location in Conway.”

Henry most recently served as adjunct faculty for the BT天堂College Student Personnel Services and Administration program in fall 2017. She previously served as interim general counsel at BT天堂from 2012-13 and as associate general counsel from 2008-12.

Reynolds served as a member of the BT天堂Board of Trustees from 2009-15 and chair in 2011. In 2016, Reynolds was chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee that ultimately led to Houston Davis being named as the 11th president of UCA.

“The BT天堂Alumni Association is excited that Bobby and Katie have been elected as the newest members of the association’s Board of Directors,” said Ryan Caststeel ’04, ’08, and 2017-18 president of the BT天堂Alumni Association board. “Bobby and Katie have served BT天堂in various roles in recent years, and the association and board will greatly benefit from their previous experiences with BT天堂to contribute to the mission of the association.”

Henry and Reynolds began their three-year terms July 1.

The BT天堂Alumni Association Board of Directors develops and oversees the programs and budget of the Alumni Association to advance the interests of the group. The 20 members of the board are elected by dues-paying members of the association. Association members are encouraged to contact board members to make suggestions for the Alumni Association.

In this role, Lachowsky coordinates and conducts exercises that test the university’s preparedness, response and recovery capabilities both within the university and with partner agencies at the local, state and federal levels. He will also review and update UCA’s emergency operations plans.

“In today’s environment, BT天堂must be prepared to respond to and recover from natural and man-made incidents,” Lachowsky said. “I will work to promote resilience at the individual and organizational level by making training and education accessible and exercising our capabilities to find out where we fall short. I will also work to identify and establish support systems to assist students, faculty, staff and our larger community after an incident.”

Lachowsky previously worked with the Faulkner County Office of Emergency Management, where he coordinated emergency preparedness and response plans. While with that office, he also served as Faulkner County Fire Services coordinator, a role in which he managed communications and addressed challenges among volunteer departments in the county. Lachowsky earned a bachelor’s in emergency management at Arkansas Tech University.

Baxter, a Clarksville native, graduated in May with a double major in English literature and modern languages, and a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. As a Fulbright awardee, Baxter is serving as an English teaching assistant at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Palmira, Colombia.

Baxter is one of more than 1,900 U.S. citizens conducting research, teaching English and providing expertise abroad for the 2018-19 academic year through the program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as a record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields.

“I cannot wait to be able to serve my country as a positive representative and to disseminate the knowledge I have been given to others. I am a firm believer in using the opportunities you have to benefit others, and that is what I hope to do during my time in Colombia,” Baxter said.

At UCA, he served as a writing tutor, chair of the Honors College Ambassadors, member of The Big Event committee, LEAD Team member, member of Sigma Tau Delta and was a Community and Economic Development Fellow in the BT天堂Center for Community and Economic Development.

After returning from Colombia, Baxter plans to attend the University of Washington in fall 2019 to pursue a Master of Public Administration at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. He hopes to use his education and experience to work in the public sector and positively impact the lives of American citizens.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered at BT天堂through the Schedler Honors College under the direction of Dr. Allison Wallace, associate professor.

University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis and University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Chancellor Larry Davis signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2018 establishing the Bear Partners program.

The partnership gives UACCM students who are pursuing an associate degree the opportunity to participate in campus activities and access to academic resources at UCA.

鈥淏oth campuses are very strongly student-centered and focused on creating an environment emphasizing student success,鈥� said Chancellor Davis. 鈥淭he UCA-UACCM Bear Partners program was formed to essentially treat those identified students as BT天堂and UACCM students concurrently with both schools working with and tracking students to graduation here and there.鈥�

BT天堂and UACCM have 34 existing 鈥�2+2鈥� transfer agreements, providing a clear pathway to both an associate degree at UACCM and a baccalaureate at UCA. These agreements allow students to seamlessly transfer to BT天堂with no loss of credits.

鈥淲e have our transfer agreements that provide a clear path to a bachelor鈥檚 education, and the Bear Partners program builds upon those existing relationships,鈥� said President Davis. 鈥淭his is adding the student experiential element for students and helps to complete their full collegiate experience.鈥�

Hoelzeman has more than a decade of strategic communications experience in publishing, marketing and nonprofit communications.

She previously ser鈥╲ed as communications director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a nonprofit child advocacy organization in Little Rock. There, she collaborated with policy analysts, elected officials, and local and national partners to help ensure children in Arkansas have the resources they need to live healthy, productive lives. She worked with local and national media contacts and managed the public relations and communications strategies for the agency鈥檚 offices in Little Rock and Springdale.

Prior to joining AACF, Hoelzeman was editor of Little Rock Soiree magazine, editor and marketing coordinator for Arkansas Business Publishing Group and assistant editor for At Home in Arkansas.

BT天堂Chief of Staff Kelley Erstine 鈥�79 said he was pleased with the amount of interest shown in the search for a new director of media relations. 鈥淎manda brings a wealth of valuable experience to this position. We look forward to the impact she will make in helping contribute to telling our story,鈥� Erstine said.

Hoelzeman, a native of El Dorado and a graduate of Parkers Chapel High School, holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree from BT天堂in writing with a minor in linguistics. She has written numerous stories covering a range of topics, which have appeared in a dozen local and statewide publications.谓

The Conway Regional Health Foundation is providing a total of $390,000, with $240,000 for student scholarships and $150,000 for faculty development and School of Nursing initiatives.

The Partnership for Clinical Excellence, or PCE, will award a $2,500 scholarship to an average of eight students in the BT天堂School of Nursing. Funds will be granted per semester for four semesters for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

“BT天堂continues to be a leader in producing exceptional clinical professionals for the health care industry in Arkansas, and we recognize the growing need for quality nursing graduates. We are uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand in our state and region,” said BT天堂President Houston Davis.

“As longtime neighbors and partners working together to positively impact this community and state, Conway Regional is proud to be a part of the solution to the growing demand for quality nurses. This partnership with BT天堂will ensure that we can continue to provide the community and our patients with excellent and compassionate care for years to come,” Conway Regional CEO Matt Troup said. “Health care providers across the country are looking for ways to tackle this critical nursing shortage, and we see this investment in education as an important step along with the added benefit of a focus on clinical best practice and other areas such as research and staff development.”

The January 2012 issue of the American Journal of Medical Quality includes a report that projects a nursing shortage between 2009 and 2030, with the most acute shortages in the South and West.

“As a BT天堂nursing graduate myself, I understand the challenges faced not only by the health care provider in great need of nurses but also by the educational institutions striving to produce more graduates to meet the demand of the market. Our hope is that this new program can help more students pursue their dream of becoming a nurse,” said Angie Longing ’94, Conway Regional chief nursing officer.

Nursing students will be admitted with the standard admissions requirements in the BT天堂School of Nursing. The university and Conway Regional will jointly select students for the PCE scholarships. PCE students must commit to working for Conway Regional for a minimum of two years after graduation and passing licensure requirements.

BT天堂will also receive support for nursing faculty development and School of Nursing initiatives through the Nursing Enhancement Fund, a $150,000 grant with $50,000 paid annually over three years.

“Nationally, and here in the Southern region, the nursing shortage is augmented by the shortage of nursing faculty. In fact, the shortage of nursing faculty is just as critical as the shortage of nurses, if not more so,” said Susan Gatto ’90, director of the BT天堂School of Nursing. “This initiative will help support the retention of current faculty and recruitment of other faculty here at UCA.”