The award honors groups in the state striving for performance excellence.

The Division of Outreach and Community Engagement and the Community Development Institute-Central were presented the award by Governor Beebe at the 2012 Governor’s Quality Awards Celebration on Sept. 24.

“Excellence is one of Outreach’s core values and we are committed to being the best we can be, and we’re happy to be recognized at this level,” said Kristy Carter, director of Outreach and Community Engagement.

The Governor Quality Challenge Award is the starting point for any organization interested in adopting and applying quality principles to attain performance excellence.

“Even though we’re just at the beginning of the process, we’ve benefited greatly from the experience. BTĚěĚĂis a steward of a valuable state and regional resource and this will help us safeguard its future.” said Kelly Lyon, director of CDI. “Bill Craddock, a leader in the state and national quality process as well as an instructor for CDI, suggested this is a way to help CDI grow to the next level.”

The Governor’s Quality Award program is operated by the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence, Inc. Developed by a team of volunteers, the program is designed to provide opportunities for all organizations in the state to measure their progress in the journey of performance excellence.

“I am very happy that our Outreach and Community Engagement and Community Development Institute-Central have been recognized for their work and contributions to the people of Arkansas and beyond,” said Dr. Steve Runge, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “BTĚěĚĂwas the only four-year public institution recognized at the awards dinner; a remarkable accomplishment for our people and programs. I look forward to see the work of the people in OCE and CDI-Central and the level of recognition continues to rise moving forward.”

The series examines different topics, primarily from the humanities perspective. The ideas and topics, led by BTĚěĚĂfaculty, come from different disciplines and are brought to light and viewed from different angles in discussions among participants.

“The ‘Exploring Our World’ series is an exciting outreach project for BTĚěĚĂto connect with the residents of Conway and surrounding communities,” said Dr. Maurice A. Lee, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “The topics are designed to engage the mind and ignite discussion amongst all participants. It is our hope that this series of lectures, seminars and workshops will be a way for BTĚěĚĂto engage the community in intellectual conversations with each another.”

The series kicks off with Conway’s Creative Approach to Battling Obesity Through Active Infrastructure Projects and Programs, scheduled for April 5, at 6 p.m. at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center.  Dr. Duston Morris, assistant faculty in the Department of Health Sciences and founder of 3 Sport Fitness, will provide information on current projects that are underway to stimulate physical activity through the utilization of active infrastructure.  Morris will lead discussions on the impact of active infrastructure on healthy lifestyle characteristics, developing active infrastructure plans, and how to promote that infrastructure to Conway residents.

Other scheduled lectures for this spring include: Persons in the World: Perspectives on Human Ecology, April 17 at 7 p.m.; East and West; Women in the World: Pornography,  Abuse and Sexualization of Young Girls, May 1 at 7 p.m.; and Ain’t I a Man: If I Act Like a Women and Think Like a Man?, to be announced.  All lectures will be held in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center.

The  Exploring Our World Series is free and open to the public. For more information, visit uca.edu/world or call (501) 450 – 5261. Participants are advised to sign up early.