CONWAY, AR—New fall community education courses are being offered to the public through University of Central Arkansas’ Division of Outreach and Community Engagement. Nine classes have been added to the fall course offerings, which are scheduled to begin early-September.

“Community Education is more than reading, writing and arithmetic. It’s a cluster of courses designed to enrich the lives of the residents in Faulkner County and surrounding communities,” says Lawana Hawkins, Coordinator of Community Education at UCA.

Community Education offers lifelong learning opportunities designed to meet a variety of needs and interests in the areas of business, arts, lifestyle and leisure, and technology.

Six courses have been added in the area of health and fitness: four courses sponsored by the American Red Cross, Positive Vibration Reggae Yoga, and Using Essential Oils and Natural Products to Green Your Life and Promote Better Health.

The American Red Cross courses will target both healthcare professionals and the general public. Two courses, CPR/AED Basic and CPR/AED Review, are designed specifically for healthcare professionals and meet the Emergency Cardiovascular Care 2010 guidelines. The general public can register for the American Red Cross’ Family First Aid and Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED. All American Red Cross courses will award an official certification card upon completion.

All courses are open to the public and are non-credit classes. Most classes are held on the campus of BTĚěĚĂand range in course fee.

Registration for fall courses is now open and interested participants can register online at or by calling (501) 450-5811. Selected courses qualify for the Early Bird Discount, which ends August 30.

For more information, contact Lawana Hawkins at lhawkins@uca.edu or call 501.450.5811.

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Contact:
Lawana Hawkins
Community Education Coordinator
University of Central Arkansas
Outreach & Community Engagement
501.450.5811
lhawkins@uca.edu

The camp will be held on the BTĚěĚĂcampus from July 24 – 27, 2013. Students can expect to learn valuable information about IT careers, receive technology training and experience a day at Acxiom Corporation, a high-tech company headquartered in Arkansas.

“The Acxiom/BTĚěĚĂIT Careers Camp has steadily grown the last six years and now hosts about fifty of the brightest technology students across Arkansas,” reports Dr. Jim Downy, Camp Coordinator and BTĚěĚĂprofessor.  Due to the success and growth of the camp, a second, more advanced technology track is offered for returning campers to build upon their technical foundation.

This grant-funded camp, made possible by the generosity of ACXIOM Corporation, provides on-campus housing and meals at no cost to students.  Students will be required to obtain transportation to and from BTĚěĚĂand required to stay on campus through the duration of the camp.

“Any student interested in technology as a career, no matter what their expertise level, may apply,” says Downey.  To apply, students are required to submit an application and short essay online by the February 15 deadline. Enrollment is limited, so students are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible. The online application form and detailed information can be found at .

About Axciom

Acxiom is a recognized leader in marketing services and technology that enable marketers to successfully manage audiences, personalize consumer experiences and create profitable customer relationships. With over 40 years of experience in data management, Acxiom delivers high-performance, highly secure, reliable information management services. Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, and serves clients around the world.
Contact information:

Camp Coordinator Dr. Jim Downey, BTĚěĚĂjdowney@uca.edu (501) 450-5327ACXIOM Contact Allison Nicholas allison.nicholas@acxiom.com

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BTĚěĚĂHONORS VETERANS

CONWAY –  The University of Central Arkansas and City of Conway are hosting the 15th Annual Veterans Day Celebration on November 9, 2012 to honor and recognize local veterans. The free event will be held at the BTĚěĚĂPractice Field next to Estes Stadium from 11 am – 2 pm.

Major General William D. Wofford, Adjunct General of Arkansas National Guard, the guest speaker for the event, understands firsthand what it takes to be a veteran. “It is important that we take time on Veterans Day to recognize and thank our men and women in uniform for the freedoms we enjoy.  As we go about the challenges of our daily lives we often lose sight of the sacrifices that are made on our behalf by the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines deployed around the world.”

Special guest Alyse Eady, Today’s THV morning anchor and former Miss Arkansas, will lead the ceremony with the National Anthem.

The celebration offers a full schedule of activities, including a ceremony, free food provided by local restaurants, educational information booths, bone marrow donor registry drive and a community blood drive. Companies and organizations committed to hiring and providing services for Veterans will be present as well.

Community members interested in community service opportunities can participate in the Red Cross blood drive and the Be The Match Marrow Donor registry on site at the celebration.

For more information, visit /outreach/veteransday.

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The 2012 History Symposium: Presidential Elections in History is a conference for educators who teach social studies. Keynote speaker Dr. Allan Lichtman will lead the conference by examining the 13 historical patterns in presidential elections that have been used to correctly predict the popular vote in elections from 1984 to 2008. Lichtman will apply these patterns to the upcoming 2012 elections.

“You’ve heard what the polls have to say about who is favored to win the November election, but come to the symposium to see what history has to say about who is likely to win,” said Dr. Ken Barnes, the BTĚěĚĂDepartment of History chair.

Dr. Lichtman is a Distinguished Professor of History at American University and author of seven books, including The Keys to the White House. He has also provided commentary for several national television networks and foreign broadcast companies.

Additional presenters will speak on the election and presidency of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln’s election in a time of Civil War, and the 1992 election of Bill Clinton.

Registration is available online at: uca.edu/historysymposium. A fee of $25 is required upon registration. This event is sponsored by The Point 94.1FM.

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.

Conway– The University of Central Arkansas and the Department of Outreach and Community Engagement are offering a free workshop for educators on using iPads in the Classoom. The workshop, iPads in the Classroom, invites educators of all grade and subject levels learn how the iPad can impact student learning.

The workshop will be held Friday, February 10^th from 8:30am – 12:30pm at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center located on the BTĚěĚĂcampus.

Mr. Harry Dickens, co-author of Apps for Learning: 40 best iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone apps for High School Classrooms, will lead the workshop and demonstrate how to use free and inexpensive apps in the classroom.

Educators can expect to discover how the iPad impacts the classroom; whether it’s true, anytime anywhere content development, or merging 60 pounds of textbooks or an entire library into a 1.5 pound device. Educators will also learn how to take advantage of what the iPad has to offer by exploring the multitude of instructional possibilities.

The workshop is recommended for users with little to no experience with iPads, iPods, and/or iPhones. Interested participants can register online through Outreach & Community Engagement at uca.edu/outreach/educator-development.

About the Presenter

Harry Dickens is the technology director for the Arkansas Public School Resource Center and currently serves on the Arkansas State technology planning committee in addition to chairing the teaching and learning subcommittee. He teaches professional development classes on infusing technology into instruction throughout Arkansas, as well as national conferences.

The camp will be held on the BTĚěĚĂcampus from June 20-23, 2012. Students can expect to learn valuable information about IT careers, receive technology training and experience a day at Acxiom Corporation, a high-tech company headquartered in Arkansas.

“The Acxiom/BTĚěĚĂIT Careers Camp has steadily grown the last five years and now hosts about 50 of the brightest technology students across Arkansas,” says Dr. Jim Downy, camp coordinator and BTĚěĚĂprofessor.

Due to the success and growth of the camp, a second, more advanced technology track will be offered for returning campers to build upon their technical foundation.

This grant-funded camp, made possible by the generosity of ACXIOM Corporation, provides on-campus housing and meals at no cost to students. Students will be required to obtain transportation to and from BTĚěĚĂand required to stay on campus through the duration of the camp.

“Any student interested in technology as a career, no matter what their expertise level, may apply,” says Downey.

To apply, students are required to submit an application and short essay online by the Feb. 16. Enrollment is limited, so students are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible. The online application form and detailed information can be found at uca.edu/itcareerscamp.

About University of Central Arkansas

Founded in 1907, University of Central Arkansas strives to provide strong academic programs to meet the diverse needs of those it serves. BTĚěĚĂis committed to the intellectual, social, and personal development of its students; the advancement of knowledge through excellence in teaching and research; and service to the community. BTĚěĚĂranks 23rd in the category of “Top Public Schools” among regional universities in the South in the 2012 U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of universities and colleges. For more information on BTĚěĚĂplease visit http://www.uca.edu/.

About Acxiom

Acxiom is a recognized leader in marketing services and technology that enable marketers to successfully manage audiences, personalize consumer experiences and create profitable customer relationships. With over 40 years of experience in data management, Acxiom delivers high-performance, highly secure, reliable information management services. Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, and serves clients around the world.

The ‘Man of Steel’ Examined in BTĚěĚĂHistory Symposium

CONWAY, Ark. (Oct. 3) —   Examining popular culture in history, including the use of Superman as a metaphor for 20^th Century America, is the focus of a symposium at the University of Central Arkansas.

The 2011 History Symposium: Popular Culture in History is scheduled for Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center located on the BTĚěĚĂcampus. The event is sponsored in by the BTĚěĚĂDepartment of History and by The Point 94.1FM.

The symposium also will look at pop culture in the 1950s, graffiti in the ancient world, and popular culture in Victorian Britain.

Keynote speaker Dr. Randy Roberts will lead the conference with a discussion entitled, “Pop Culture Goes to War: America in the 1940s”. Dr. Roberts is a distinguished professor of history at Purdue University. He has authored, co-authored or edited 16 books in the area of American culture and social history. Roberts has also made more than 50 appearances on various television documentaries.

The symposium is a conference for teaching the social studies and targets educators of all grade levels.  The 2011 History Symposium: Popular Culture in History is directed toward educators, but is open to the general public. Each participant will receive a complimentary ticket to the BTĚěĚĂvs McNeese State football game following the symposium.

Registration is available online at: uca.edu/historysymposium. A fee of $25 is required upon registration. For information about the history symposium at UCA,contact Dr. Kenneth Barnes at kennethb@uca.edu

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