Arkansas Times | September 2020

VY E V D SANSI I ND S I F ID K

HISTORY IN A SHOEBOX | COLLEGE GUIDE | COMICS AND CANCEL CULTURE

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

FROM WILLISVILLE TO WASHINGTON A CIVIL RIGHTS TRAILBLAZER AS A TEENAGER IN HER RURAL ARKANSAS COUNTY, STATE SEN. JOYCE ELLIOTT WANTS TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO CONGRESS.

BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE

SEPTEMBER 2020

PEACEFUL

PROTEST

IS OUR RIGHT. Protect freedom of assembly. freespeech.center

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SEPTEMBER 2020

ELIZABETH ECKFORD: Unseen negatives of photographs of Little Rock Nine member Eckford and other scenes from the 1957 desegregation of Central have been discovered and printed.

FEATURE 20 HOPING TO MAKE HISTORY (AGAIN)

57 SPECIAL AD SECTION: COLLEGE GUIDE

State Sen. Joyce Elliott, a leader in Arkansas’s educational landscape, could be Arkansas’s first Black person in Congress.

From academics to sports to safety measures, here’s what’s on offer at Arkansas’s two- and four-year schools.

By Stephanie Smittle

9 THE FRONT

The Inconsequential News Quiz: Make America WAP Again Edition.

The Big Picture: How to vote absentee.

16 NEWS & POLITICS

A look back at the Elaine massacre as two Arkansans, one Black, one white, from East Arkansas publish their memoirs.

By Ernest Dumas

13 THE TO-DO LIST

Watch “The Great American Lie” documentary; read Olly Neal’s autobiography; browse new exhibitions at UALR; download the “No Tears Suite”; order “Lesbian Fashion Struggles”; go virtual on 2nd Friday Art Night.

29 SAVVY KIDS

News & Notes: Tinkerfest spreads out.

Feature: Managing school and stress in pandemic times.

Meet the Parent: Verda Davenport.

ON THE COVER:

by Joshua Asante.

4 SEPTEMBER 2020 Photograph ARKANSAS TIMES

40 CULTURE

Comic book publishers hit the big time with a spot on Walmart shelves.

By Sam Eifling

46 FOOD & DRINK

Restaurateurs find ways to open despite pandemic plight.

By Rhett Brinkley

50 HISTORY

Found in a shoebox: Negatives of photographs of Central High School, 1957,

by Little Rock lawyer Walter Riddick.

By Leslie Newell Peacock

54 CANNABIZ

Patients find relief from a variety of maladies with medical marijuana.

By Griffin Coop

98 THE OBSERVER Endorsements 2020

American Democracy and the Race for the White House WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:30/WEEKENDS AT 5 P.M.

SATURDAYS AT 5:30 P.M.

Join Judy Woodruff and correspondents for in-depth analysis and election coverage

Join Margaret Hoover for conversations with voices from across the ideological spectrum

WEEKNIGHTS AT 10:30

SEPT. 22 AT 8 P.M.

Christiane Amanpour engages global thought leaders and influencers on issues impacting our world

A deep dive into the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates

PBS NewsHour

Amanpour & Co.

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

FRONTLINE The Choice 2020 Trump vs. Biden

OCT. 6 AT 8 P.M.

FRIDAYS AT 7 P.M.

Washington Week Robert Costa and a panel of journalists discuss the week’s election news

VOCES Latino Vote: Dispatches from the Battleground Examines how Latino interests and political power could swing the election

YOUR HOME FOR IN-DEPTH ELECTION COVERAGE

On PBS and the PBS Video App

Check myarkansaspbs.org/schedule for additional election programming

PUBLISHER Alan Leveritt EDITOR Lindsey Millar CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mandy Keener SENIOR EDITOR Max Brantley MANAGING EDITOR Leslie Newell Peacock ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Stephanie Smittle CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Benjamin Hardy, Mara Leveritt PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Chilson DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY Jordan Little ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Mike Spain GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katie Hassell DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST Lucy Baehr DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Phyllis A. Britton ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brooke Wallace, Lee Major, Terrell Jacob and Kaitlyn Looney ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER Roland R. Gladden IT DIRECTOR Robert Curfman CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jackson Gladden CONTROLLER Weldon Wilson BILLING/COLLECTIONS Charlotte Key PRODUCTION MANAGER Ira Hocut (1954-2009)

association of alternative newsmedia

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VOLUME 47 ISSUE 1 ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each month by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, 201 EAST MARKHAM STREET, SUITE 200, Little Rock, AR, 72201. Subscription prices are $60 for one year. For subscriber service call (501) 375-2985. Current single-copy price is $5, free in Pulaski County. Single issues are available by mail at $5.00 each, postage paid. Payment must accompany all orders. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents without the written consent of the publishers is prohibited. Manuscripts and artwork will not be returned or acknowledged unless sufficient return postage and a self-addressed stamped envelope are included. All materials are handled with due care; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for care and safe return of unsolicited materials. All letters sent to ARKANSAS TIMES will be treated as intended for publication and are subject to ARKANSAS TIMES’ unrestricted right to edit or to comment editorially. ©2020 ARKANSAS TIMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

ARKTIMES.COM 201 EAST MARKHAM, SUITE 200 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985 6 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

8 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

THE FRONT

INCONSEQUENTIAL NEWS QUIZ

MAKE AMERICA WAP AGAIN EDITION

PLAY AT HOME, WHILE PREPARING TO CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR OF ALPENA. 1) U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) once again went viral for all the wrong reasons over something he said in a recent Arkansas Democrat-Gazette news story. What was Cotton’s offending brainfart?

A) Cake donuts are better than glazed donuts.

B) Cardi B’s “WAP” video would have been better if it had starred a digitally resurrected version of late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

C) After an evening spent watching QAnon videos on YouTube, Cotton argued in favor of sending in troops to quell the interdimensional reptilian pedophile hordes that are helping George Soros’ bionically enhanced clone take over American pizza parlors.

D) Cotton reminded us that chattel slavery of human beings “was the necessary evil upon which the Union was built.”

4) There’s been a flare-up of political drama in the tiny town of Alpena, population 390. What was the hubbub?

A) Dr. Charles Woofsworth Jr., a 3-year-old English bulldog, was recently elected to the city board on a platform of lower taxes and free tummy rubs.

B) Following the death of 89-year-old City Clerk Agnes Pecker, it was discovered that nobody knows where she hid the keys to Alpena’s lone road grader.

C) The city board instituted a 3-mile-per-hour speed limit that applies solely to “any sumbitch who ain’t frum (sic) here.”

D) It turns out that Theron McCammond, who was elected mayor of Alpena in 2018, was never really mayor because his house actually stands just outside the city limits.

2) Speaking of crazy ideas, the University of Arkansas sent out a letter to Razorback ticket holders in July informing them of precautions the UA planned to take to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus during home football games. Which of the following is one of the steps they planned to take?

A) Once per quarter, UA cheerleaders will hose the crowd down with a 30 percent bleach solution pumped from a large tanker truck parked on the sideline.

B) Each season ticket holder will be safely encased inside a human-sized hamster ball for the duration of the game.

C) Instead of beer, concession stands will serve shots of 190-proof pure grain alcohol, which officials hope will sterilize the breath of imbibers.

D) To promote social distancing, only 16,00017,000 fans will be allowed into 76,412-seat Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

5) There was a rare spot of good news for Newton County after a buyer was finally found for the dilapidated, 400-acre former Dogpatch amusement park, which closed in 1993. Who was the buyer?

A) [Name redacted due to extreme wealth and political connections].

B) Abner “Lil’ Abner” Yokum, who prospered in male-enhancement pills after leaving the comic strip over a contract dispute in 1973.

C) Not the Ku Klux Klan, thankfully.

D) Billionaire Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris.

190-proof pure grain alcohol

ANSWERS: D, D, D, D, D, D

3) It looks like a plan to install a gaudy, 18-acre outlet of the Topgolf sports bars chain on publicly owned parkland once occupied by War Memorial Golf Course in Little Rock is off. What put the plan on hold?

A) Someone realized that building “golf entertainment” in a city with so few golfers that a golf course closed due to lack of business might not be the best idea.

B) Surveys by Topgolf showed that Little Rock just isn’t home to enough well-off narcissists to support “Chuck E. Cheese, But Golf-Related.”

C) Construction was halted after excavations on the old golf course revealed the unmarked, beercan-filled grave of pro golfer John Daly’s first caddie, Jabbo “Dimples” Robina.

D) The city’s request for proposals to build a “golf entertainment” venue on the land attracted zero bids.

6) A recent incident left a 37-year-old man with a head wound after, he said, he was attacked at a hotel on West Markham in Little Rock. Which of the following is a real detail from the account the man gave to police?

A) He told police that while staying at the hotel, he had been approached by a woman who he knew only as “Dirty.”

B) After accepting Dirty’s offer to stay the night in his hotel room, the victim told police, he also allowed her friend “Charlton” in so he could use the restroom.

C) After using the restroom, Charlton allegedly emerged from the bathroom with the toilet seat lid, which he used to whack the victim twice in the head before robbing him of $600 and a cell phone.

D) All of the above.

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 9

THE FRONT

ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS

BIG PIC

THE INS AND OUTS OF VOTING ABSENTEE TO GET IT COUNTED,

This is the last day to request a mailed absentee ballot, but don't delay, apply now!

GET IT RIGHT.

Thousands of voters wishing to avoid coronavirus-laden droplets at the polls and live to see the results of Election Day Nov. 3 have applied to the Pulaski Circuit/County Clerk’s Office to receive absentee ballots, and thousands more are expected. As of Aug. 19, 57 days before the deadline to request a mailed ballot, 8,312 applications had been received by the office. Already the number exceeds 8,000, the total received for the 2016 presidential election.

Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Terri Hollingsworth confesses that she is beginning to lose a bit of sleep over handling the load. Help her out by checking out the voter registration and application forms shown here and by acting quickly so you can get your ballot, which will be printed in mid-September.

Then, make sure your absentee ballot counts by providing precisely the same information on the application and the voter statement that you will return with your ballot. Even the slightest difference will disqualify your ballot. Pulaski County Assistant Director of Elections Shawn Camp gave the following example: Say on your application, you write that your address is 123 Main St. But on your voter statement that accompanies the ballot you write 123 Main St., Apt. 6. Bam! Your ballot is disqualified. “In Arkansas, the [election] laws are very precise,” Camp said, fraught with the potential for failure.

If you don’t have an I.D. to include with your ballot, you may vote provisionally — but your vote won’t be counted until after Election Day (and before the Election Commission meets to declare the official tally). You don’t want to make us wait, do you?

Because not everyone has access to a copier (and because a reason people ask for an absentee ballot in the first place may be because they are staying home to avoid a deadly virus), Hollingsworth has been talking to groups like the League of Women Voters to provide a copy-making service.

10 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

Provide the full address of where you want to receive the absentee ballot packet by mail.

Remember to sign and include your DATE of BIRTH and not today's date!

"Voting Residence” is the physical address on file for your voter registration.

Tips for Completing Voter Registration Forms #1: Complete the form in black or blue ink only #2: Make sure the highlighted areas are completed #3: Be sure to sign the form #4: Return completed forms to Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk 401 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 501-340-8336 vrcr@pulaskiclerk.com

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: • Read the tips for completing the form to register. Also: If you will turn 18 before Nov. 3, go ahead and fill out the voter registration application.

• Read the information in the green boxes on the ballot application. Fear of COVID-19 is a valid excuse for voting absentee, per a directive by Governor Hutchinson. Check the top box under “I request an absentee ballot” saying you will be unavoidably absent from your polling place.

• Oct. 10 is the last day to request a mailed ballot, but because the clerk’s office needs a good idea of how many ballots it will need to print sooner than that, and because the ballots are expected to flood the mail, don’t wait until then. Get the ball rolling now.

• Ballots will be printed around Sept. 17-18, Hollingsworth said. When you receive your ballot, “I would like folks to take five days to read the ballot and immediately send it back,” Hollingsworth said. Mailing it back will require three stamps.

• Include a copy of a valid I.D. — a driver’s license, state I.D., handgun license, U.S. passport, military I.D., college I.D., public assistance card with photo I.D., voter I.D. card issued by the county clerk — with the ballot. If you are unable to make a copy, you must sign your name in two places: The first attests that you are a registered voter and your information is correct, and the second serves as an affidavit of identity. Providing there is no problem with the information on the voter statement (which must be identical to the information on the application), your vote will be provisional, but it will be counted — starting the day after the election and through the next 13 days before the Election Commission declares the official tally, 15 days after Election Day. If a ton of qualified provisional ballots (no errors, signed in two places, etc.) come in, it could be a while before the final vote is known.

The Election Commission is shy about 600 to 800 poll workers. To volunteer, email PCEC@votepulaski.net.

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WE ARE WHAT WE EAT! Fit 2 Live, a department of the North Little Rock city government founded in 2009 to address citizen and employee wellness in the municipality, is celebrating its 10th year of the Fit 2 Live Community Garden Network program.

Community groups, faith-based organizations, and schools may request up to $5,000 for garden construction materials, tools, and certain other expenses during two rounds of funding in the Spring and Fall of each year.

People look to gardening not only as a safe activity to do outdoors but as a way to mitigate the costs of their food shopping bills. Garden grown food is often more nutritious, better tasting and safer than store bought food.

Learn more at FIT2LIVE@NLR.AR.GOV 12 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

the TO-DO list

BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE AND LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

READ ‘LESBIAN FASHION STRUGGLES’

LISA KRANNICHFELD/SETH PENNINGTON

SIBLING RIVALRY PRESS. $12.

Educator Caroline Earlywine’s debut collection of poetry comes out in October on Sibling Rivalry Press, and it includes such golden delicious phrases as “Halloween is the Queer Christmas,” “Lesbian plates” and an utterly delightful machination called “All the Closeted Characters from my Childhood March in a Pride Parade,” in which Nancy Drew rolls up in a blue convertible blasting Melissa Etheridge’s “Come to My Window.” As fellow poet Megan Falley put it in the book’s release, it can be read as “a poetic field guide for being femme, queer, blonde, and presumed straight in Arkansas,” but however you read it, just read it. Pre-order “Lesbian Fashion Struggles” at siblingrivalrypress.com. SS

READ OLLY NEAL’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, ‘OUTSPOKEN’ UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PRESS. $29.95.

Marianna native Olly Neal is a civil rights legend. Neal, a farmer’s son who served in Vietnam and stirred up a bunch of “good trouble” in the name of voting rights and economic equity in Memphis and Chicago, returned to Marianna to head up the Lee County Cooperative Clinic, a nonprofit that garnered national attention in the early 1970s in battles over health care access for the poor. The New York Times described him in 1971 as “a younger version of Charles Evers, the Mississippi leader. ... Like Mr. Evers, he is open-faced and straightforward. He does not lower his eyes when he talks to white men.” Neal went on to become the first Black prosecuting attorney in Arkansas, was elected circuit court judge two years later and was then appointed to the Arkansas Court of Appeals. His memoir, “Outspoken,” released in May by the University of Arkansas Press, is summarized as follows: “You might wonder if a community health clinic could actually be the spark that ignited a civil rights fire in a quiet Delta town. It was.

Or you might not believe that an inexperienced health clinic director could become a civil rights bogeyman or hero depending on who you were talking to. I was. And it all happened in a flash.” Get the book at uapress.com/product/outspoken. SS

TAKE THE 2ND FRIDAY ART NIGHT TOUR ONLINE

5-8 P.M. SEPT. 11, FACEBOOK. FREE. Let your fingers do the walking — or typing — to this month’s 2nd Friday Art Night venues.

The Historic Arkansas Museum will feature on its Facebook page an interview with glass artist Ed Pennebaker, a drawing demonstration by Fayetteville nature artist and designer Tram Colwin, music by Americana group Ten Penny Gypsy, mocktails with Sherry (not sherry) and the answer to that burning question, “How did Arkansas get its name?” from HAM video producer and education coordinator Leon Tidwell. Then, type in Barry Thomas Fine Art & Studio on Facebook to see the Arkansas impressionist painting at the Capital Hotel to live jazz. LNP

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SEPTEMBER 2020 13

COURTESY CLANDESTINE LABEL SERVICES

the TO-DO list

WATCH ‘THE GREAT AMERICAN LIE’

THURSDAY 9/3.

ARKANSASCINEMASOCIETY.ORG. FREE. The Arkansas Cinema Society is partnering with the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas to screen Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s (pictured above) “The Great American Lie,” a documentary about how all sorts of income inequalities are tied to masculine ideals of money and power, and how qualities like cooperation and empathy are devalued to our national detriment.

Or, as it’s put in the film, “Politicians always find money for activities that are stereotypically masculine — weapons, wars, prisons.” The series is called “Mind the Gap,” and sets out, Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Executive Director Anna-Beth Gorman said, to “promote a greater understanding of gender inequity, our role in its continuum or our role in challenging the norm and creating a different reality.”

Later screenings are co-sponsored by Just Communities of Arkansas and Washitaw Foothills Youth Media Arts & Literacy Collective. A Q&A with Siebel Newsom follows the free screening, which takes place on the Eventive platform. RSVP at arkansascinemasociety. org. SS

14 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

DOWNLOAD THE ‘NO TEARS SUITE’

“I was drowning in unfamiliar activities and sounds,” Melba Pattillo Beals writes in the fourth chapter of her memoir “Warriors Don’t Cry,” “the sound of the constantly ringing telephone, of people talking loud in my ear and expressing their views about integration, of reporters’ urgent voices about what integration might do to the city and to the South.”

It’s Beals’ memories of cacophony and chaos that dominate this chapter of her life — the one where she walked into Central High School and became one of the Little Rock Nine. That memoir, and the tumult therein, inspired a 60-minute jazz suite called “No Tears,” commissioned by the Oxford American. The suite is a nimble blend of spoken word, jazz vocals and a score for a small orchestra that combines composition and improvisation. Musically, the suite marries triumph and tumult; Pattillo Beals was, after all, not only at the epicenter of colliding worlds — the segregationist South colliding with a nationwide call for school integration, federal government colliding with state government — but she was also experiencing it as a young adult, and Chris Parker’s score uses that sprawling range of emotion and character. There are moments carved out for majestic orchestral statements, but also for wailing sax solos and oboe/cello duets and, of course, room for Parker and vocalist Kelley Hurt to work their own magic.

Originally performed as a septet in 2017 near Little Rock’s historic Magnolia Mobil Gas Station during a series of events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of Central High School, the suite has since been been outfitted with orchestral parts by revered jazz bassist Rufus Reid, and this recording features Grammy Award-winning drummer Brian Blade, bassist Bill Huntington, trumpeter Marc Franklin and saxophonists Bobby LaVell and Chad Fowler. It’s being released as an album on Sept. 25. A 2019 performance of the piece with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will be released the same day as a free bonus album. Pre-order the CD with an accompanying digital download code under the “Good Listening” tab at oxfordamericangoods.org. SS

MARIA STEWART

BROWSE VIRTUAL EXHIBITS AT UA LITTLE ROCK MONDAY 8/24-SUNDAY 10/11.

ARTEXHIBITIONSUALR. ORG. FREE.

Have a seat in front of your virtual art delivery post to see what’s on offer at UA Little Rock’s galleries this fall: A second show of “Contemporary British Ceramics,” a follow-up exhibition to last fall’s British ceramics show, from the permanent collection of the Arkansas Arts Center; an accompanying exhibition of ceramics from the university’s permanent collection; and “Landscapes,” works in various media. The ceramics exhibit, which in the physical world will be in the Brad Cushman Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design, explores 20th century studio works, from teapots to structural pieces and slabware to Japanese neriage and nerikomi laminates of swirling clays.

The Installation Annex off the Cushman gallery will carry the pottery theme a bit further with an adobe chair molded to resemble an Eames chair and other objects in clay. Downstairs, in the Small Gallery, the “Landscapes” show pairs photographs with drawings and watercolors to compare the use of color, light and shadow in the mediums. To see the shows in person, students and patrons should contact the art department for a reservation at 501-9163182 or email Brad Cushman at becushman@ualr.edu. There will be a limit to the number of visitors allowed in the galleries at one time. New hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. LNP ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 15

NEWS & POLITICS

MEMOIRS IN THE TIME OF TRUMP SONS OF EAST ARKANSAS AND THE LEGACY OF ELAINE MASSACRE.

BY ERNEST DUMAS

I

ELAINE, 1919: Soldiers sent to East Arkansas by Governor Brough round up farm workers to bring them to jail.

16 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

n this season of memoirs and tell-alls, by sheer coincidence two of the most poignant and honest are written by a couple of aging old boys from Lee County, Ark., one Black, the other white, but, unlike the current best-selling chronicles, neither tells us a thing, good or bad, about Donald J. Trump.

At least directly.

Olly Neal, now 79, and Grif Stockley, 76, actually drop not even a passing mention of Trump into their books, although he has been trying for nearly four years to reshape America in the mode idealized by the old general whose towering statue adorns the square of their hometown and after whom their county is named. Their stories spring altogether from the racially stratified social order that was defended and then bequeathed by the general, which made the white author a lifetime child of privilege and the other its prey, and both of them rebels.

Neal’s memoir, “Outspoken,” recounts how the angry grandson of a slave literally terrified the white establishment around 1970 by merely starting a poor people’s medical clinic in the heart of the Delta, down the street from the Lee monument, and, after having his experiment saved by a spunky new governor named Dale Bumpers, went on years later to become a distinguished state judge. “Hypogrif in Bubbaville” is Stockley’s story of his painful search for the legacy of his beloved parents and beyond and of coming to terms with the advantages that he figures he had enjoyed all his life at the expense of people like Olly Neal, the Black boy down the road that he apparently never met.

The lanky Black boy and the short white kid were perpetual screwups, according to their own shockingly frank accounts, but both became lawyers fighting for poor people and icons of the civil rights and legal justice movements in Arkansas. Although told by a Memphis professor that he could not write and shouldn’t try, Stockley penned six legal mysteries for Simon & Schuster about the conquests of his conflicted lawyer-hero Gideon Page before launching into his real life’s work, the real and sordid history of race in Arkansas.

Nearly 25 years before Neal and Stockley were born, perhaps the single most unspeakable racial violence in American history — aside, of course, from the Civil War — occurred 20 miles down the road from their homes in Marianna, the Elaine Race Massacre of October 1919.

Hundreds of innocent Black men, women and children were murdered by law-enforcement bands and federal soldiers fresh from the Second Battle of the Marne in France because a few Black men dared to organize a union to get a better shake from the landowners for the crops the poor men and their wives and children produced. I mean “unspeakable” literally because the day after the slaughter white leaders put a notice in the Helena World that people should forever refrain from any discussion of the events beyond the official white account of what had happened. That silence would prevail for 80 years until Stockley went back home to see what he could unearth about a tragedy that was the subject of only muted references at home and none at all in school. His first history, “Blood in Their Eyes,” followed in 2001.

Were much known about it, the Elaine Massacre would be the iconic inspiration for the national Black Lives Matter movement, which suddenly transformed politics and public dialogue in 2020 after a century and a half of systematic violence against Blacks by lawmen across the nation. Trump may be mistaken, but he hopes the protests and white reaction will save him in two months in a race that is not going his way.

Olly Neal doesn’t deal at all with the massacre in “Outspoken” because he has plenty of personal battles to recount, and Stockley mentions it only in passing because his sainted forebears at least did not seem to have taken a role in that horrific undertaking, which was down the road a ways at Helena, Elaine and the intervening cotton fields and canebreaks. Stockley’s ancestors, he found, were disciples of the Lost Cause ARKANSASTIMES.COM

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ARKANSAS TIMES

STOCKLEY WROTE WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS FAILED TO REPORT. and white supremacy — his scholarly grandma Effie and the Daughters of the Confederacy put up the Lee monument on the square and she eloquently eulogized its significance — but they probably would have considered the massacre needless violence.

Stockley had written voluminously about the killings after tracking down trial transcripts, affidavits and military records that furnished a few firsthand accounts of the troubles, including the shocking memory 50 years later of the prosecutor who had sent scores of Black men to prison for crimes they didn’t commit and a dozen to wait for electrocution. “Blood in Their Eyes” set off a scramble by scholars to uncover more details about the massacre and its causes. It spurred Stockley on to a new career, race historian. Among his works, largely unread by the general public, are the massive “Ruled by Race,” about Black-white relations in Arkansas from slavery to 2000, and “Black Boys Burning,” about the fire in the so-called Negro Boys Industrial School south of Little Rock that killed 21 outcast children who labored on the state farm at Wrightsville and were locked for the night inside a rundown shack where they spent their time away from toil. We were writing about the tragedy, which was described as “unfortunate,” when I arrived to write for the Arkansas Gazette in 1960. Stockley wrote what we failed to report.

Although it is written with customary scholarly detachment, “Blood in Their Eyes” is one of the most riveting and sickening books that people will never read. Some attention has been given to the massacre in the past year on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, but all that is happening in the burning summer of an election year should earn an audience for it and for the memoirs of two men who were raised in its shadow. So, from Griffin Jasper Stockley Jr.’s research, my attenuated account: In the “Red Summer” of 1919, a rising labor movement and the return of Black veterans to their old drudgery produced riots and conflicts with lawmen in a number of Midwestern cities and also the farming hamlets of Phillips County. A Black veteran named Robert Lee Hill began organizing the Progressive Farmers and Household Union to demand higher reimbursement for their crops and better wages for household work. Planters, businessmen and political leaders — all white — were in turmoil. The Business

Men’s League of Phillips County engaged the sheriff to monitor the unionists. When Black unionists gathered late on a Tuesday night at a little colored church in the woods at Hoop Spur, near Elaine, the sheriff sent two men — a deputy and a Rock Island Railroad agent — out to check on it a little before midnight. To find the church, they took along a Black trusty at the jail known as Kid Collins.

The story the sheriff gave was that the men were out looking for a bootlegger named Clem — at midnight? — when they accidentally drove upon the meeting. According to Kid Collins later, the two white men fired into the church and shots were returned in the darkness. The deputy was shot in the neck and the railroad man, though wounded, left the dying deputy and fled back to town with the trusty. The call went out during the night that a massive Black insurrection was underway and posses were needed. Hundreds of armed men from across the river and up and down the Delta came rolling into Helena and Elaine to be deputized and hunt down the murderous Negroes. They swarmed the towns and countryside, shooting men, women and children wherever they found them — in their homes, fields and canebrakes.

A Black Helena dentist and his three brothers were returning from a hunting trip and, when they resisted capture by vigilantes, were shot to death and left on the road. Scores were rounded up and locked in temporary stockades, where they were tortured and made to concoct stories about a massive plot to kill all the white people and take their land and homes.

Local leaders called Governor Brough at the Capitol and told him of a massive insurrection and of heavy fighting between the deputized vigilantes and Blacks. Brough telegraphed Washington and the Wilson administration instantly sent six rifle companies — 583 war veterans armed with 10 machine guns — by train from Camp Pike in Little Rock to Elaine and Helena. The excited governor joined them. The soldiers, told that Blacks were out to kill all whites, joined the mayhem. Though the commander’s official reports told of no killings by the soldiers, other reports told a different story.

A subordinate officer wrote that he saw soldiers kill about 20 Black men who tried to run away.

It was the kind of armed forces mission that Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Trump would

THANK YOU,

champion a century later to take down protesting Blacks and their sympathizers.

John Elvis Miller, the local prosecuting attorney who dispatched scores of Black men to prison and used the achievement to catapult himself into the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and a federal judgeship, told a far different story 57 years later in a recorded interview with a history professor at the University of Arkansas. He said the Blacks were victims of peonage and had valid grievances against the planters and businessmen.

As for the soldiers, whom he confused with the National Guard, Miller said that when the train loaded with soldiers, the governor and reporters from the Little Rock newspapers pulled into town they were greeted by jubilant Blacks who thought the troops came to protect them from the vigilantes. One of them fired a gun into the sky. “... [T]he national guard fired on them and they must have killed 100 niggers right there,” the old judge said. “That is what happened.

There wasn’t a soldier hit or anything.”

All the newspapers, including the Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Democrat, stuck with the official story that Blacks rioted in a campaign to wipe out the white population and had to be put down by honorable men. But a revered longtime reporter for the Gazette and admirer of racist politicians wrote in a weird little book a few years later — but never in his newspaper — that the soldiers, deputies and vigilantes had killed 856 Blacks. He called it “the blackest day ever written by blood or bayonet in the history of Arkansas.”

Five white men died, though two apparently by the friendly fire of troops or vigilantes. No proof was ever tendered about who killed them, but 12 Black men were sentenced to the electric chair, only to have their cases bounce back and forth for years among state and federal courts until the U.S. Supreme Court exonerated them in a brilliant opinion by Oliver Wendell Holmes.

When two key witnesses who participated in the capture and questioning of the men changed their stories two years after the first trials and told graphically of bestial torture and unprovoked killings, the state’s case collapsed and all 12 men went free.

The papers never changed their stories. My beloved Gazette bitterly demanded the summary execution of all the Black scoundrels. Forty years later, it would be honored and nearly put out of business for criticizing a segregationist governor’s use of his militia to prevent Black children from attending a white high school.

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CONGRESS

Sen. Joyce Elliott was the second Black graduate of her newly integrated high school.

If elected, she’ll be the first Black lawmaker Arkansas sends to Congress.

BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE

T

he state of Arkansas has never sent a Black lawmaker to Congress. If state Sen. Joyce Elliott were to win her race for Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District, that would change. But despite her decades-long record of diligent public service, it will be an uphill climb.

Arkansas has been shifting steadily to the right for at least a decade now, and Elliott is a progressive with a history of vocally supporting reproductive rights and environmental protections and humane policies toward immigrants.

She’s running in a state that voted for Donald Trump in 2016 against its own former first lady.

Elliott’s opponent is Republican Rep. French Hill, whose resources and connections as a former banker run deep. And in her first attempt to win the 2nd District seat in 2010, Elliott lost to another Republican, Tim Griffin, by a nearly 20 percent margin.

But Elliott’s time has come, experts and colleagues say. Her 30-year record as a public school teacher makes her a formidable advocate on issues Arkansans profess to care deeply about — education, health care and child care.

She’s been tireless in pursuing reforms to Arkansas education policy; in a former legislator’s words, she is “a work horse, not a show horse.”

And her personal story is riveting. Elliott was

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the second Black person to graduate from her rural Arkansas high school; her sister Caroline was the first.

Now, Elliott’s campaign emails are signed by the likes of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris — high-profile Democrats lending their endorsement weight to an outraised but promising challenger. Elliott will almost certainly win her home county of Pulaski, but she needs to win it by a large enough margin to counterbalance rural and suburban counties like Saline and White, which voted overwhelmingly for Hill in 2018.

The year 2020 has been extraordinary and unpredictable, though, and Democrats like Elliott have made some big inroads with suburban women and college-educated voters. Though her campaign trailed Hill’s in cash on hand as of July, she raised more than twice as much money as her opponent between April 1 and June 30, a sign of the enthusiasm around her candidacy. *** Elliott was born in 1951 and grew up in a rural stretch of Nevada County along what is now state Highway 371. For her and her six siblings, Willisville — population 140 — was “town.” After their parents’ separation, their father moved

to Kalamazoo, Mich., and the Elliott kids lived with their mother, Edna Elliott, who worked as an orderly at the local hospital, and their grandparents, Tilton and Leedoshia Smith.

Without a movie theater or other such city-kid amusements, the Elliott kids learned to entertain themselves. Joyce, less squeamish than her sisters, would climb the giant catalpa trees that surrounded their house and pick off worms to sell as live bait to the fishermen headed to the lake behind Willisville’s country store. She and her sisters shared clothes, and they’d do yard work for neighbors for pocket money, or collect bottles along the highway to sell. During the summers they’d hike trails through the woods nearby and look forward to eating “Dinner on the Grounds,” the potluck Sunday supper that local churches took turns hosting. In the fall, they’d report to Oak Grove Public School, established in the 1930s as a means of public education for Black students who lived in the Willisville, Oak Grove, Cale, Bodcaw and Laneburg school districts.

At Oak Grove, Elliott was a star student, positioned to graduate at the top of her class. She planned on attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on the full scholarship she’d receive as Oak Grove’s valedictorian. But in the years after the landmark Brown vs. Board of Ed-

BRIAN CHILSON

‘DO NOT SUBMIT’: Sen. Joyce Elliott speaks before a crowd of protestors on the steps of the state Capitol in November 2019.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 21

TEACHER, SENATOR, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, BASKETBALL STAR: (top left and right) Elliott was the second Black person to graduate from her rural Arkansas high school. (below) Elliott spends time with her granddaughter, Athena.

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ucation decision in 1954, court-ordered desegregation began to filter out to the rural parts of Arkansas.

Willisville instituted a plan under which Black students from several families living within the school district’s boundaries were to attend Willisville schools for the 1966-67 school year (though no white students were required to transfer to Black schools). Nearly a decade had passed since the desegregation crisis at Little Rock’s Central High School, but integration was nevertheless met with great resistance in Nevada County. Elliott was 15 then, about to enter the 10th grade. Her teachers at Oak Grove, Elliott recalls, were excited for her, in part because sending a high academic achiever like her to Willisville High might bolster the message that Black schools in Arkansas were providing a robust education. Within her family, Elliott said, the prospect of changing schools was met with “acquiescence,” she said, “and with a bit of trepidation.”

“The idea was, if you choose to go to this school, you’ll be treated so badly you won’t choose to come back,” Elliott said. Her stellar transcript from Oak Grove was called into question in a meeting with the Willisville High superintendent and principal, she recalled, where Elliott was told: “You might have made these grades at your n***** school, but you won’t make them here.” The high school basketball coach told her, falsely, that they didn’t have a uniform that would fit her. “I got some disparate treatment,” she said, “to sum it up.”

After the first year, with Willisville High asserting that it had held up its end of the bargain to pursue integration, Elliott’s family and the others were given the option to return to Oak Grove. “The principal and the superintendent gathered all of us in the hallway and announced to us at semester that we could go back to the other school the next year,” she remembered.

Before she realized she’d spoken the words aloud, Elliott recalled, they’d already left her lips: “I’m not going back,” she said.

Not that it wasn’t tempting. Oak Grove was a big school, and Elliott knew her former teachers there to be dedicated and engaging. They’d been careful to couch core subjects like history and English in context, Elliott said, “to be sure that we knew about things in our lives other than slavery.” They’d taught Langston Hughes.

They’d fostered conversations about the message behind Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.” They’d talked about the murder of Emmett Till, and why his mother insisted his casket remain open at his funeral.

In the end, the only Black students that did not return to Oak Grove were Elliott and her siblings; by this time, Elliott’s path to the valedictorian spot had been upended anyway, she said, and at the encouragement of their mother, “it became more important to me that I stand my ground where I was.”

The years at Willisville High, Elliott said,

“were defining years,” a time when she “was paying attention to everything, and seeing so many things that needed to change.” When she wasn’t doing schoolwork or, eventually, playing on the Willisville High basketball team, she was an avid newspaper reader, absorbing speeches from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy on television and reading reports of students organizing under the banner of racial equity across the nation. In 1968, pioneering civil rights lawyer John Walker was about to open up one of the South’s first racially integrated law firms in Little Rock. When he came to speak in Willisville, Elliott and her sister managed to borrow their Uncle Brown’s bright pink truck to drive into town and hear Walker, carefully parking their conspicuous ride six blocks away so as to not attract the sort of attention a pink truck tends to receive. (Decades later, Elliott would serve in the Arkansas legislature with Walker, and would eulogize him in 2019 as his body lay in state at the Capitol rotunda.)

By the time she turned 17, Elliott had resolved to go to college in her corner of Arkansas, despite an uncle’s offer to pay her tuition if she’d leave the South for college. In 1969, she enrolled as an English major at Southern Arkansas University in nearby Magnolia, then called Southern State College. In need of a job, she walked into the Columbia County employment office to see if any local businesses were hiring. On the way out, she ran into the office’s manager, so she asked him for a job in the employment office itself — and got it. She used the sewing skills she’d learned in her high school home economics class to make her own office attire — first, as a way to dress for the new gig, and later, as a side business selling handmade hats, tops and bridesmaid dresses. To keep up with demand, she opened up a layaway account at a local fabric store.

She also began cementing her plans to become a teacher, largely because of the way she was treated during her own high school experience. “There was just too much that needed to be done,” she said. “And for some reason I thought, ‘What will I do if I just leave? What will be my contribution?’ ” *** In the end, Elliott did leave — but not for long.

After college graduation, she secured a teaching job in New Boston, Texas, a school that had never had a full-time teacher who was Black.

She married an aspiring educator named Bill Barnes and taught the subsequent year at Leto High School in Tampa, Fla., where Barnes was completing a fellowship at the University of South Florida. Elliott returned to Arkansas in the mid-’70s to teach at El Dorado High School; she told the Arkansas Times in 2005 that it was like she “had an umbilical cord” connecting her to her home state.

“You know how sometimes you might go

to college and just chill for a year or so? Joyce didn’t have a chill bone in her body,” said Bonnie Haynie, an educator and director of federal programs for the El Dorado School District. “She was a go-getter. She took nothing for granted.”

Elliott and Haynie taught together in El Dorado for years — dressing as football players to liven up school assemblies, co-leading the Classroom Teachers Association and, later, pushing for more equitable access to Advanced Placement courses for their students. El Dorado, in those days, was “a community of haves and have-nots,” Haynie said, “and still is, for the most part. … I have seen her fight for kids who needed to be fought for.”

It was during the ’70s, too, that Elliott met Johnnie Roebuck, an Arkadelphia educator who would eventually join Elliott in the state legislature in 2007. Roebuck remembers Elliott’s forward-thinking teaching style from professional development workshops as part of a program called “Teacher to Teacher.” “Joyce was one of the first people I knew that did a lot of group work with audiences, instead of just lecturing to them,” Roebuck said. “She would put people in groups and have them problem-solve. Back in the ’70s, it was something that we were not seeing everyone do, and she did it so successfully.”

They served together on the Southern Regional Education Board and later collaborated on legislation, including one bill to help college students retain credits when transferring institutions and another to hold universities accountable for low graduation rates. But long before Elliott became a legislator, she sought ways to improve the profession, like advocating for the establishment of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 1987, a voluntary but rigorous training program that both certifies teachers in their field of study and gives them a financial incentive for doing so.

Elliott continued teaching in El Dorado until 1984, when she moved to Little Rock and spent almost 20 more years in the classroom. Over four decades after she began teaching, Elliott has asked for many of her former students’ votes while campaigning door-to-door. She’s watched some of them become her fellow legislators.

House Minority Leader Rep. Frederick Love (D-Little Rock) was a student of Elliott’s at Joe T. Robinson High School, where Elliott taught from 1989-2003. Love remembers a time during his junior year when he wanted to apply for Arkansas Governor’s School, but changed his mind halfway through the time-consuming application. Elliott wasn’t having it. “She told me, ‘Fred, you are going to Governor’s School. You will complete that application, and that is the end of it,’ ” Love said. He was accepted and still cites that summer session as a life-changing experience.

Little Rock City Manager Bruce Moore, who grew up in South Arkansas, took English from Elliott at Rogers Junior High in El Dorado. “You always knew to be prepared in her class,” he ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 23

said. Moore was careful to say he does not, in his city government role, weigh in on partisan politics, but called Elliott a “true champion” in the realm of public education.

“Sometimes when decision-makers are in a room, it’s not always well-represented or well-balanced, and she has an uncanny ability to make sure all sides are at the table — not only at the table, but that they have a voice. That’s something I’ve watched her do over the course of my career, and it’s something I’ve tried to emulate,” Moore said. *** Elliott’s transition from teacher to policymaker was seamless: She didn’t quit teaching when she became a state representative, and she legislated while teaching at Robinson High for the first two of her three terms in the state House of Representatives. During that first race in 2000, she’d canvas neighborhoods after her school day concluded, limiting her door-knocking time in accordance with her doctor’s wishes, as she’d donated a kidney to her sister Gloria that July.

Not least among the campaign volunteers that year was Bill Barnes. By this time, he and Joyce had divorced but had raised a son, Elliott Barnes. A now-retired math teacher and school administrator, Bill “has campaigned with me in every one of my campaigns,” Joyce said.

The foray into politics was a long time coming. Elliott had first imagined it when she was 9 years old, overhearing her older relatives voicing their enthusiasm for then-candidate John F. Kennedy. “They stopped whispering about voting and started talking out loudly about voting,” she said. “Just not being bent over. I mean, literally, I saw people walk straighter. And they became these pillars of resistance unto themselves. And I knew that meant something. ... I just thought, ‘I don’t know what this is, but I want to make people do that.’”

Some who knew her in the ’80s and ’90s might have been surprised that she didn’t run for office sooner. Not long after Elliott moved to Little Rock in 1984, she took a teaching hiatus to serve two terms as president of the Pulaski County chapter of the National Education Association. There were personal calculations to be made, though, and she returned to the classroom when her NEA service concluded. Elliott wanted to wait until her son was older before she ran for office. “My husband was very involved in the household,” she said, but during her son’s upbringing, “it mattered to me very much that he was a boy, and that he was Black.

I felt it demanded a lot of my time to make sure he was safe and cared for and was being challenged in school. I knew what could possibly happen.”

She remembered picking Elliott up one weekend during his first year at the University of Arkansas, and being stopped by a state trooper on the return trip, with both Elliott and his half-brother in tow. Bill Barnes, Elliott said, “had gotten remarried and had a little boy, and we were all still very close and very good 24 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

friends. And that was my son’s little brother.”

They’d pulled over briefly; the boy, then about 5 or 6 years old, needed to pee. “And I saw a state trooper on the other side of the interstate, and I just knew that he would come back. And he did, sure enough. And I kept thinking, ‘I want this to be that he is checking to make sure we’re OK.’ ” It wasn’t. “He came back, lights on and everything, and stuck his head in the car, and just demanded to know who in the car was smoking pot. And kept insisting, so much so that it scared the little boy.” This began to upset Joyce’s son, Elliott, “who was a big ol’ guy. And I knew that was not going to be good.”

The situation cooled, but the memory stuck with Joyce. She said being a mother — and now a grandmother to her son’s daughter, Athena — has helped her build policy with an understanding of “what other parents go through, especially with their Black sons, and thinking about other kids having a fair shot at the beginning.”

And, Elliott added, without missing a beat: “That’s why pre-K is so important.”

Shifting from a personal story to public policy (like nationwide pre-K access) is both necessary and tricky territory for a politician. Some sound slick, or too rehearsed. Not many do it as honestly and as elegantly as Elliott does. Maybe it’s all that time she spent teaching literature to high school kids, where tying a specific story to a broader principle is absolute bedrock.

Or, more likely, the connection between the personal and the political is something Elliott grasps at a deep level. “As a former English teacher, she recognizes that words are powerful,” Rev./Dr. Anika Whitfield said, “and that the words that are written in the preamble of the Constitution have never been realized for people who look like her and myself.”

Whitfield is one of the most visible activists pushing for change in the Little Rock School District in recent years. In 2015, the state Board of Education took control of the LRSD on the basis that six of the district’s 48 schools were in “academic distress.” Since then, a coalition of groups have pushed for restoration of local control. Whitfield, who works as a podiatrist at CHI St. Vincent, co-chairs a group called Grassroots Arkansas, founded in June 2017 in response to the takeover. She says Elliott was “boots on the ground, Day One.” In January 2015, as the state board debated whether to take over the LRSD, Elliott warned against the “myopic” approach of blaming schools for problems created by poverty and inequality. “It’s myopic to the point that most well-meaning folks don’t even discuss that schools and neighborhoods are connected. And that’s not an excuse — it’s just reality,” she told the state board at the time. But the state board pressed forward, voting 5-4 to take over the district.

Years later, the LRSD is still under state control, and Elliott has only gotten louder on the issue. “You may punish Little Rock by closing schools,” she said in a press conference in October 2019, and “you may punish Little Rock by

taking over the district, but five, 10 years from now, what is going to be different if we are not looking at the source from which all of the problems come?”

At a protest the following month on the steps of the state Capitol, Elliott stepped to the microphone and made a speech that managed to combine two things she’d come to know very well in her lifetime: the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Arkansas mosquitoes. “Dr. King said the only way people will walk on your back is if you bend over and cooperate with them. There is no bending over. There is no walking on your backs unless you submit. Do not submit.

“If you think you can’t make a difference,” she told the crowd, “you try sleeping in a room with a mosquito, and see if it won’t ruin your night. Let’s be mosquitoes and do everything we have to do to make sure the Little Rock School District is not operating in 1957 in 2019.”

Elliott’s influence on Arkansas schools extends far beyond Pulaski County and the LRSD. As a lawmaker, she has worked on virtually every aspect of public education, from school funding to teacher licensure standards. Among the myriad pieces of legislation she’s sponsored is a 2013 law that requires schools to provide dyslexia screenings. She’s become known as one of the state’s most persistent advocates for expanding access to pre-K education.

Speaking up for poor communities and communities of color on the legislative floor for two decades now has meant enduring some tough circumstances. Sam Ledbetter, a Little Rock lawyer from Camden (Ouachita County) who served as a Democrat alongside Elliott in the state House, remembers a time when she received death threats for her sponsorship of a bill that would extend in-state tuition rates to some undocumented students — those we would now call “Dreamers.”

“She was fearless,” Ledbetter said. “It didn’t faze her a bit.” (Ledbetter is a former chairman of the state Board of Education and cast the deciding vote for the LRSD takeover in 2015, though he’s since been critical of what he called the Arkansas Department of Education’s “utter mismanagement” of the LRSD.) Elliott has had to collaborate across ideological divides. That Dreamer tuition legislation, for one, was supported by then-Gov. Mike Huckabee.

University of Arkansas political science professor Janine Parry said the partnership always fascinated her. “You had a liberal Black female legislator and a white male Republican Southern Baptist radio personality,” Parry said. “It seemed like an unlikely partnership, but I always thought it spoke well for them both that they at least tried it.” The bill did not pass, but Huckabee and Elliott had sparked the conversation, and Elliott tried again many times over the years. In 2019, the state Senate passed a bill — sponsored by Rep. Dan Douglas (R-Bentonville) — that gave Dreamers and certain other groups of immigrants access to in-state tuition.

“Things incubate,” Parry said, “usually for decades, until conditions change. And then we

BRIAN CHILSON

REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE: Elliott’s work in the legislature has meant collaborating across ideological divides.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 25

BRIAN CHILSON

NO MORE SILENCE: Sen. Elliott speaks at Theressa Hoover United Methodist Church in Little Rock on June 6, where a socially distanced group of demonstrators gathered to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis, Minn. police.

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finally get the thing that people were trying to do 20 years ago.”

Building public policy across party lines, though, isn’t what it used to be. Politics in the United States has made a pretty robust transition to what Parry called negative polarization.

“It’s not just that we’re for our team,” Parry said, “it’s that we think the other team is murderous and immoral.”

Perhaps that’s why it’s been captivating, in recent years, to watch Elliott develop a friendship and legislative partnership with Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Hendren. Hendren, a veteran and F-15 fighter pilot, flew Elliott in his plane to the Paragould Rotary Club in 2018, where the pair spoke jointly on the topic of civil disagreement. He’s now joined Elliott in efforts to pass a bipartisan state hate crime bill in the 2021 legislative session, something Elliott first pushed for as a freshman state representative in 2001. Governor Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and other Republican legislators announced their support for a draft of the bill in August 2020.

Maintaining civil discourse with Republicans is not new to Elliott, nor is it a skill set she saves for the Capitol dome. For more than 15 years, she’s attended Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, where the 500-plus congregation represents “25-30 nations,” Pastor Mark DeYmaz said, and includes Governor Hutchinson’s Director of Labor Ralph Hudson and other Republicans.

Mosaic hosted a watch party for Obama’s presidential acceptance speech in 2008, and its 15th anniversary celebration in 2016 was opened with words from Hutchinson, the first few of which DeYmaz recalls were devoted to greeting — and lauding — Elliott’s career from the pulpit.

“It seems like Americans have lost the ability to think in nuance these days,” DeYmaz said, “but Joyce is one of those people who — even if people disagree with her policies — I’ve never met a person who’s doubted her heart.” *** At 69, the reasons why Elliott briefly considered a career in broadcasting are still very apparent. She’s instantly recognizable. Her hair is cropped short, her features are striking and she favors oversized, baubled necklaces in unblinking hues — teal flecked with gold, or pearlescent white. At her campaign kickoff in January, she wore a blue bowtie. That so many of her colleagues and supporters casually refer to her beauty, or describe her as “stunning,” might feel out of place in 2020 when, presumably, her accomplishments have eclipsed her style. That is, it might feel out of place until Elliott is looking you in the eye, sharp and ready and inquisitive and compassionate.

“She just has an aura that makes you hap-

py to be around her,” Hendrix College politics professor Jay Barth said. Barth and Elliott have known each other for about 25 years, and Barth remembers asking her to read at the blessing of his marriage to lawyer Chuck Cliett in 2012. At the time, Elliott was in a runoff contest for her bid at re-election to the Arkansas Senate. “She was running in a district that was overwhelmingly African American and pretty conservative, religiously. Also, 2012 was a long time ago when it comes to same-sex marriage,” Barth said. “So it was an ask. And she said, ‘Yeah.’ It just kind of shows the core of who she is. … She did what was right, rather than what politics told her needed to be done.”

John Whiteside, political consultant at Watershed Political Strategies and former political director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, called his campaign work with Elliott “the political love affair of his life.” He managed Elliott’s campaign for the Arkansas Senate in 2008, and then again when Elliott made a run at Congress in 2010, hoping to succeed Vic Snyder, a Democratic incumbent who was retiring that year.

“She’s just an incredible human,“ Whiteside said. “We always knew that if people ever discovered who Joyce was, they would fall in love.”

He remembered campaigning with Elliott at a 2010 parade in Pangburn, a White County town that was over 95 percent white. “She was the only Black face in that entire crowd. There were people who, if not openly hostile, were clearly signaling that they didn’t want to engage,” he said. “And she would just go right up to them, and start a conversation. There would never be enough time in a race, but if you could put Joyce in front of everybody, you’re gonna win. ” But that didn’t happen in 2010. Nearly 58 percent of voters in the 2nd Congressional District voted for Elliott’s opponent, Tim Griffin, who is now lieutenant governor and a 2022 gubernatorial candidate. Republicans gained more seats in Congress that year than they had since 1948.

Even in 2018, when tides turned and Democrats flipped 41 House seats nationwide, Arkansas was barely touched by the blue wave.

French Hill kept possession of his U.S. Congress seat after defeating Democratic candidate Clarke Tucker — a Harvard grad, state representative and cancer survivor who had been seen as a serious challenger to Hill.

This isn’t 2010, though. Or 2018. The country has been ravaged, economically and emotionally, by a global pandemic, the president’s handling of which threatens to erode support from independent voters who have otherwise voted Republican in recent elections. We’re in the middle of a reckoning on race that mirrors what Elliott bore witness to in the 1960s — one that begs for a perspective like hers in congressional leadership.

“She’s opened my eyes to a lot of things,” Ledbetter said. “The way we still have racism ingrained in so many institutions in society; she’s helped me understand that. And I think that Joyce is one of those people who makes everyone around her a better person.”

As Snyder’s campaign chair in ’96 and ’98, Ledbetter knows the 2nd District well. Ledbetter thinks Elliott has a shot in this election. “Obviously she’s the underdog,” he said. “But we understand she’s got more support out in the rural counties than she got in 2010. I think a lot of women in the district are feeling a little differently toward going in and reflexively voting Republican. I think they’re more open to looking at another option.”

Some of the rural counties in the 2nd District are becoming more diverse, Barth said, despite being tied to histories of white flight. And Elliott’s record on public education “is something that she has in common with folks who don’t look like her, and probably don’t share a lot of her beliefs on other issues. Schools — public schools, are really at the center of a lot of those communities,” he said.

Whether or not a blue wave is in store nationwide, Parry said, will be a matter of Democratic turnout. “It’s who’s engaged and brought into the political stream vs. who chooses to sit it out, and historically, the burden is much more on Democrats to mobilize their voters,” she said.

And, Parry said, when it comes to Elliott’s ability to energize voters, “I don’t think you should bet against the power of 30 years of [teaching] high school students. It’s hard to sweep people into an electorate who are what we call seldom or infrequent voters, but if the conditions were ever right for sweeping some of those voters in, this is it. She’s it.

“I think that if a Democrat has a shot at a U.S. House seat in Arkansas for the next decade, it’s this candidate, in that district, this year,” Parry said. She pointed to a study done by her colleague Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida who runs the United States Election Project. McDonald, who correctly predicted record high midterm turnout in 2018, expects that turnout in the 2020 election could exceed 65 percent, another 100year record. That could bode well for Elliott’s numbers in Pulaski County, where her biggest groundswell of support lies.

“It is a very challenging race for any Democrat,” Barth said. “That’s unquestioned. I do think she has an authenticity that is perhaps the most valuable trait that any person can have in 2020 politics. And that’s true whether you’re Donald Trump, who possessed a certain core of authenticity in 2016, or a candidate like her. I think voters have a pretty good nose for fakers.

And I don’t think anyone has ever accused her of being fake.”

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 27

COUNSELING & DIAGNOSTICS

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SEPTEMBER 2020 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM 28 SEPTEMBER ARKANSAS TIMES

SAVVY kids News & Notes pg 30 | Meet the Mom pg 38

Photography by Lucy Baehr

BRING IT ON HOME Experts talk homeschooling, strategies for reducing stress.

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ARKANSASTIMES.COM

NEWS & NOTES

SEPTEMBER 2020

TINKER ON

Tinkerfest, the Museum of Discovery’s most popular annual event, is still on this year, but to keep guests spread out and allow more of the museum’s staff to focus on sanitization amid all the tinkering, it’s been divided into four Saturdays. Tinkerfest 2020 will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 12, Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and Oct. 24 on the 100 block of Sherman Street, just outside the museum’s main entrance. Each Tinkerfest will have a different theme: The Sept. 12 event is called “Splashing and Tinkering” and will be all about water-related activities. The Oct. 24 Tinkerfest, “Spooky Tinkering,” celebrates Halloween. The Tinkerfests on Sept. 26 and Oct. 10 will involve technology and tinkering, with activities such as LEGO robotics and a car takeapart, where guests use tools to disassemble a junked car.

Tinkerfest events are included in the museum’s regular daily admission: $10 for adults, $8 for children 1-12 and free for infants younger than 1. Seniors, teachers, Little Rock city employees and active and retired military get in for $8. SNAP recipients plus an additional five people are admitted for $2.

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL TO RAISE MONEY TO FEED HUNGRY FAMILIES

Yadaloo Music & Arts Festival, a showcase of local, regional and national country and Americana musicians that held its inaugural event in North Little Rock last year, is going virtual this year. The festival, 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, will be free to stream, but organizers will use the platform to raise money for its nonprofit partner, City Connections Inc., which works to feed hungry families and support schools in Central Arkansas. There will also be a small, socially distanced VIP and sponsor viewing party. Go to yadaloo.com for more information.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

WALK FOR EASTERSEALS

Support Easterseals Arkansas through Sept.

19 by participating in the nonprofit’s annual fundraiser “Walk with Me,” which is a virtual event this year. You can register as an individual or a team to walk 3.1 miles, or simply donate at easterseals.com/arkansas.

Check the website for information on a celebratory car parade Saturday, Sept. 19. Tag your pictures of the event on social media #virtualwalkwithmear.

National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 6-12. Suicide is one of the top five leading causes of death among teenagers, and, in a July 24 press briefing, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said his agency had seen increases in adolescent suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741.

3

SMALL TALK

Sylvie Davis of Little Rock loves being outdoors. You’ll often find her pirouetting across the summer grass, cartwheeling from point A to B, scrambling up trees in the blink of an eye, making fairy gardens and wading in any available body of water (puddle, pond or stream). How fitting, then, that her name originates from the Latin word for forest. This little woodland sprite, age 7, is a secondgrader at Pulaski Heights Elementary.

When not playing at Allsopp Park or other natural areas, Sylvie enjoys spending time at home with her sister, Sharlotte, 10, and their cats.

Here’s a Q&A by Silas Wyrick (pictured above with Sylvie), age 8: Name a book you love (picture or chapter).

“El Deafo.” It’s a graphic novel about a bunny person who is deaf.

If you could be an animal, what would you be?

I would be a housecat because they get whatever they want.

What is your favorite food?

Bacon donuts.

What’s your favorite mythological creature?

A phoenix.

Would you rather turn into a fairy or have as many pets as you want?

I would rather have a bunch of pets so that I can have a giant bird that I could fly on or a bunch of owls that could carry me into the sky.

Brooke Wallace, Publisher, brooke@arktimes.com | Katie Hassell, Art Director | Lesa Thomas, Senior Account Executive, lesa@arktimes.com

SEPTEMBER 2020 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM 30 SEPTEMBER ARKANSAS TIMES

PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS EXCITED ABOUT PROVIDING EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE TO ALL STUDENTS IN THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR. As we navigate the unknowns of COVID-19, PCSSD is offering three paths for our students this school year: traditional, virtual, blended.

This summer, parents were given the option to choose what they feel is best for their family. This approach allows our schools to better adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Students attending school in person should also wear a face-covering.

Entering his third year as superintendent, Dr. Charles McNulty is constantly monitoring the health and safety of staff and students, but he also continues the shift to improving education, opportunities and collaboration across the district.

PCSSD will continue to enhance initiatives that started last year in the upcoming school year in a blended learning approach for those in the traditional classroom and those participating in the virtual classroom.

Two of these initiatives include AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). AVID increases student engagement, promotes classroom collaboration and activates deeper levels of learning with practical, useful tools and instructional strategies. PBIS assists our schools with enhancing our school climates and provides additional support to all students.

DRIVEN School of Opportunity is another program offered to students at Joe T. Robinson, Maumelle and Wilbur D. Mills University Studies high schools. DRIVEN is a flexible online and The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved 12 PCSSD in-person learning program which allows students to master schools to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision core knowledge and skills because lessons are accessible 24/7. (CEP) program. CEP provides breakfast and lunch, regardless of eligibility category, at NO CHARGE for students at these schools.. The provision will be available for the next four years at the following schools: Cato Elementary, College Station Elementary, Crystal Hill Elementary, Daisy Bates Elementary, Harris Elementary, Joe T. Robinson Middle, Landmark Elementary, Lawson Elementary, Mills Middle, Oak Grove Elementary, Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High, and William Jefferson Clinton Elementary.

We look forward to seeing what the 2020-2021 school year will bring us. Every day in PCSSD, we are working to find solutions to continue to provide a quality education, equity and excellence to our students.

ABOUT PCSSD Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 25 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.

pcssd.org 501.234.2000

PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

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32 SEPTEMBER ARKANSAS TIMES SEPTEMBER2020 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

HOMESCHOOL PRO: HEATHER LARSEN, MOTHER OF SEVEN, HAS BEEN TEACHING HER KIDS AT HOME FOR 11 YEARS. SHE'S PART OF THE HOME EDUCATORS OF GREATER LITTLE ROCK AND RECOMMENDS THAT PARENTS OF CHILDREN DOING VIRTUAL EDUCATION THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLS JOIN FOR SUPPORT AND SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION RESOURCES.

School days, school days,

BRAND-NEW COVID RULE DAYS

How to deal with the stress of parenting school children amid the pandemic.

BY DWAIN HEBDA PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUCY BAEHR

F

or generations, back-to-school has meant unlimited promise and the potential for new growth and experiences as bright as a new box of crayons. But as Arkansans enter the uncharted 2020-21 school year, that traditional optimism and excitement has been tempered substantially by the coronavirus pandemic.

This isn’t the first time in history formal education has been disrupted by national and world events, but there’s no question the 2020-21 school year will be unprecedented. The mode and manner of content delivery, social distancing and the shifting recommendations and directives of medical and governing bodies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Governor Hutchinson’s office means this year holds the potential to be highly stressful for everyone involved.

Bronwyn MacFarlane, professor of gifted education at UA Little Rock, said the disruption of traditional routines are likely to be the most challenging aspects of the school year’s “new normal.” Parents should therefore seek to create order and consistency to shore up their children’s feelings of security.

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“There are many things to think about and consider as we go back to school,” she said. “Consistency with routine is the first thing; it provides children with an understanding of what to expect. Predictable is comfortable. When kids have a routine and it’s a consistent routine, that keeps them from being overwhelmed by constant chaos and fear.”

MacFarlane said parents can play a big role in minimizing their children’s fear and anxiety over the coronavirus by controlling the home environment regardless of whether they choose in-person or virtual instruction this school year. This includes limiting access to media and being intentional in how they broach the subject of the pandemic.

“It’s really important to talk with [children] every day and ask them questions about what they’ve heard to clarify any misunderstandings they may have taken in,” she said. “Talk about the facts in the news regarding the pandemic; when we keep it at the factual level, that helps provide some security that this is absolutely known as opposed to something that’s ambiguous and speculative.”

MacFarlane also said parents should monitor their own feelings of fear or frustration as children take their cues from mom and dad’s speech and mannerism.

“Talking to children calmly will help nurture their ability to cope with big topics and big issues,” she said. “Your words should be careful, loving and kind. Choose words that are clear and not ambiguous; children need words that inspire security and a sense of confidence.”

Angela Scott, assistant professor of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at UAMS, said that to create the comforting routines in which children find so much solace, parents should follow the same patterns they always have, including practicing the skills of the school year.

“It’s the things we say every year before we go back to school: You’ve been out for the summer, so try to get back into a regular sleep routine, try to go to bed at the same time, wake up at the same time,” she said. “Get them back on school hours by getting back into eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at certain times to help make that transition a little easier.

“Those things are going to be even more important this year because we’ve been out for so long. It’s not just a couple of months that kids have been on the summer schedule, it’s quite a while.”

From there, it’s a relatively small step to practicing the new activities related to school life, those things specifically dictated by the pandemic.

“If you haven’t been bringing your children out to stores and practicing wearing masks, it would be a good thing to do that,” she said. “Pick out something that is comfortable for them to wear, something that’s in bright colors and they’re excited about and then practice wearing it. Some kids aren’t going to love wearing the mask, so try a little bit at a time and go a little bit longer every day.

“Do the same thing with handwashing. If your kids aren’t used to washing their hands for the full 20 seconds, start that at home by singing the ABCs or the birthday song or come up with

WHO WILL WHO WILL YOU BE THIS YOU BE THIS

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SEPTEMBER 2020 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM 34 SEPTEMBER ARKANSAS TIMES

“If you haven't been bringing your children to stores and practicing wearing masks, it would be a good thing to do that. Pick out something that is colorful to wear, something that's in bright colors and they're excited about."

— Professor of pediatrics Angela Scott something fun. For older kids, make it a couple of bars of a Taylor Swift song or something that helps to keep track of that time.”

Of course, routine is precisely what’s in shortest supply as the new school year opens. Even though school districts from coast to coast have developed new plans and protocols — the Little Rock School District among them — such plans are rife with contradictions, many of them unavoidable.

For instance, per the LRSD’s updated “Frequently Asked Questions” page (as of Aug. 4), parents may choose if their student attends classes in person or digitally, offering no hybrid options. However, as extracurricular activities are open to all, stay-at-home students will likely mix with peers anyway. Students will be expected to wear masks and maintain social distancing on school campuses, but the practical

implications of maintaining such guidelines during PE, lunch, busing and recess reduced the district to acknowledging, simply, “We know we will have settings where social distancing will be a challenge.”

And all of this, of course, can be wiped out with a wave of a hand due to another surge in cases, as seen this spring.

It’s enough to cause stress and anxiety in adults as well as children, as the 13th annual Back to School survey by Deloitte and Touche confirms. The survey reported 66 percent of parents nationally are anxious about sending their children back to school, with Southern states reporting the second-highest level of anxiety behind the Northeast. Nearly six in 10 Southern-state parents are unsure how the school year will start and more than 75 percent are concerned about their health and that of their families.

11218 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD. 4822 N. HILLS BLVD. LITTLE ROCK / 501.223.4929 NORTH LITTLE ROCK / 501.978.3154 11218 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD. 4822 N. HILLS BLVD. LITTLE ROCK / 501.223.4929 NORTH LITTLE ROCK / 501.978.3154

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ARKANSASTIMES.COM

DEVELOP ROUTINES FOR YOUR KIDS: REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL OR LEARNING VIRTUALLY. THAT'S THE ADVICE OF UAMS PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS ANGELA SCOTT, HERE WITH DAUGHTER LUCY, SON HOLDEN AND DOG MAX.

Even in situations where kids are learning digitally, parents are likely to feel additional stress over being pushed to the forefront of their kids’ learning.

“It’s a challenge; what they’re having to do is actually more difficult than if they were just homeschooling their kid on their own,” said Heather Larsen, mother of seven, who’s homeschooled her children for 11 years. “[Parents ] don’t have as much control because they’re having to work within someone else’s constraints and system.”

Larsen, volunteer communications coordinator for the homeschooling group Home Educators of Greater Little Rock (homeedonline.com/1082/), said she’s talked to many parents looking to homeschool for the first time this year as well as parents who will exercise the digital option. She advocates joining the association to both groups as an important, lowcost educational resource.

“It’s $25 to join and they get all of the support that Home Ed offers,” she said. “There’s a forum where you can post

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36 SEPTEMBER ARKANSAS TIMES SEPTEMBER 2020 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

questions or challenges that you’re having. Home Ed has also started offering some homeschool-mom mentors who have been doing this for a long time and can walk beside you.

Sometimes it just helps to have someone that you can ask questions or get advice.”

Larsen said the group also provides ways to provide supplemental educational experiences.

“There are actually many small group activities you can do,” she said. “There might be a small group Spanish class. Or, if there’s an art class or anything you want to put together, you bring in a teacher and do it. It’s great for the COVID situation because you can limit the size of the groups.

“My 8-year-old really loves to draw, and we found a girl who did lessons and three of his other friends went to her house once a week and had great drawing lessons.”

Educational challenges and worries over health and exposure being what they are, family counselors say parents have to pay particular attention to their own mental health in the new school year. Ken Clark, practice director of Chenal Family Therapy, said developing these coping mechanisms are a key element to the entire family surviving the year ahead.

“As mom and dad go, so go the kids,” he said. “Kids are phenomenally attuned to what’s going on, so first and foremost, parents need to be honest with themselves about whether or not the situation is freaking them out.

“One of the best things a parent can show a kid is how they themselves deal with adversity, not that they’re impervious to it, but how to struggle and survive. Teaching them how to struggle with something in a healthy way may be the silver lining of this whole thing.”

To do this, parents should maintain a support system of their own to properly cope with the stress and volatility of the coronavirus pandemic. This preserves the parents’ own mental and emotional health and makes them better equipped to address their children’s needs.

“Mom and dad need to go ahead and wrestle with the complexity and the uncertainty and the frustration and the emotions of this, and they need to do it with their significant other, with their best friends, with their own parents or their support system,” he said. “That’s far better than just pouring some mommy juice and locking the kids in their room.

“Good child therapists teach mom and dad how to be therapists on the scene by learning how to do this for themselves so they can do it for their kids. It’s like airplane safety; you need to put on your own mask before you can help the people around you.”

CRIB NOTES

It’s impossible to predict everything that lies ahead in the 2020-21 school year, so we asked our experts to boil down three essential things for parents to keep in mind. Here’s what they told us.

Coronavirus Also Affects Minds That’s why we are available anytime from anywhere, offering all our services in the safest possible manner – from telehealth to in-person psychiatric testing with plexiglass screen and PPE

KEN CLARK, Chenal Family Therapy “We need to show our kids that it’s OK to not be OK. You cannot take people where you have not gone yourself.

“It’s an important developmental modeling moment to say, ‘I need space; I need an hour of just me with a book so I can be a fun mom the rest of the night.’ That’s a really good example to set for any growing human.

“Know you’re a good parent if you’re getting out of bed and focusing on being with your kid. That alone makes you a good parent in the middle of this.”

ANGELA SCOTT, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences “The thing about anxiety is, it’s contagious. Parents have to control not only what they say, but how they say it, what their body language is and their tone of voice.

“Take the child’s lead in conversations [about COVID-19]. Ask what questions they have and ask how they’re feeling, but don’t try to give them a lot of information without knowing that’s what they need.

“Watch for changes in sleep habits, changes in eating habits.

[Kids] should still be showing some happiness and some joy and if you’re not seeing that, it’s worth seeking some professional help. I would have a really low threshold for talking to your primary care doctor or your child’s pediatrician.”

HEATHER LARSEN, homeschool parent-educator

Call 877-778-1197 info@MethodistFamily.org

well

STAY

“First of all, relax. Parents feel a lot of pressure, but it’s very hard to mess instruction up, especially with schools doing things virtually.

“Having a loose schedule with time for children to be active and be outside or have a snack, I think, is helpful both for the parent and for the kids.

“People who are going to do a virtual option with their school should consider joining Home Educators of Greater Little Rock. It’s super cheap and they can get all of the support that Home Ed offers.”

BRONWYN MacFARLANE, UA Little Rock

When you or an aging loved one in Central

“Have fun with any learning activity. You want to inspire fun and enjoyment with children to learn. It’s very important to have that overarching sense of enthusiasm and excitement that we’re learning together.

“There are many educational resources available for parents posted online. Here’s just one: ualr.edu/gifted/exciting-enrichingand-exceptional-recourses-for-the-curious-the-advanced-and-thegifted-child.

“Productive play is really valuable for learning, so plan some outdoor activities every day. It’s just really important, cognitively and physically, to have outdoor activities and exercise. As Mr. Rogers used to say, ‘Play is the work of childhood.’ ”

Arkansas needs help aging gracefully at home, CareLink is there with services like Meals on Wheels, HomeCare, family caregiver support, & urgent needs.

Contact us today to learn how we can be there for you and your older loved ones.

501.372.5300 | CareLink.org

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ARKANSASTIMES.COM SEPTEMBER 2020 2020 37 SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | SEPTEMBER

Meet the Parent:

VERDA DAVENPORT Verda Davenport is an actor and costume designer who shares a home with husband Guy Booher, mom Loretta Davenport, son Rhett (18), daughter Sela (15), and rescue dogs Viola and Murrie. She’s known for her work on the films “Nothing but the Truth,” “The Rainmaker, “21 Grams” and “Sweet Inspirations.” A veteran of the local theater scene, Davenport is also costume manager for Ballet Arkansas. Her most recent role is on “Blueberry’s Clubhouse,” an original series for young viewers from the Arkansas Arts Center and Arkansas PBS. How do you balance work and family (and online school if that’s what’s happening in your house)?

I don’t! Who does? After years of homeschooling, virtual schooling, charter schooling and public schooling and freelance theater/commercial/film/voice acting, costuming, teaching and more, I’ve gotten very good at trusting that things will work out, and stressing out does not ever help. I do try to sleep well, eat well and move my body, and when my mind is swirling and I’m overwhelmed, I reach out and talk to my friends.

What are your favorite family-time activities?

My favorite is walking our dogs and watching movies. I think my family’s favorite is game night.

Do your kids help with chores, and is it uniquely hard to get teenagers on board with this sort of thing?

NO! Now after months of being in the house and school starting, I’m delegating kitchen duties. I’m getting over the idea that it really won’t be done how I would like it — or is it that I just don’t care anymore?

'THINGS WILL WORK OUT': THAT'S VERDA DAVENPORT'S MOTTO AMID A HECTIC FAMILY AND WORK LIFE. SHE SHARES A HOME WITH (ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) HER MOTHER, LORETTA DAVENPORT; HUSBAND GUY BOOHER; AND CHILDREN SELA AND RHETT.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

Name three things that are helping your family get through 2020.

Loblolly ice cream, Shuffles and Ballet II dance classes and “The Legend of Zelda.”

though, and have had some on-camera and voice work, but much of my other work (UAMSstandardized patient and teaching professional) has dried up significantly.

How do you recharge?

Reading, learning new things but mostly talking to and hanging out with friends — socially distanced, of course.

Which phase of parenting have you enjoyed the most?

Is raising teens everything you dreamed it would be and more?

My favorite phase so far has been the toddler and early school years. So much exploring, playing and hanging outside in Allsopp Park with friends — and lots of muffins (thanks Angie and Whitney).

The teen years are hard for me; primarily I’m struggling with letting go! The eye-rolling and talking back is a bit much, too!

Is it fun seeing your kids follow in your footsteps with acting?

I’m so proud of them! But it’s not fun. I know all of the challenges so all of my mama senses are on overdrive!

How have you seen your work change/evolve since the coronavirus pandemic?

My work with Ballet Arkansas has been impacted the most.

The staff and the board are working to try to find ways to have a 2020-21 season following all of the COVID safety guidelines; it’s intense, but we are hopeful. I have been lucky,

Any parenting advice or wisdom you’ve been given over the years that has stuck with you?

Just like we tell teens going to high school: Find your people!

Community makes it all feel much easier.

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CULTURE

A UNIVERSE LAUNCHES IN LITTLE ROCK LITTLE ROCK’S MITCH AND ELIZABETH BREITWEISER GO BIG WITH A NEW COMICS LINE AT WALMART.

BY SAM EIFLING PHOTOGRAPHY BRANDON MARKIN

40 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

ALLEGIANCE ARTS: Elizabeth and Mitch Breitweiser launched their comic book line at the world’s largest retailer, during a pandemic, amid a wave of social unrest.

F

or a hot minute this spring, a couple of Harding University art-school grads and their Arkansas-based publishing startup were the only company in America distributing comic books. And as a twist: Those comics were going to Walmart stores, which hadn’t carried comic books in more than 20 years. A total of 3,384 Walmarts, to be exact.

In a year in which supply-chain breakdowns changed the fate of the country, comic books wouldn’t seem to rise to the level of news. But you have to admire that at its May launch Mitch and Elizabeth Breitweiser’s Allegiance Arts, the country’s youngest indie comic publisher, was the only one shipping books for a couple of weeks. The industry had to stop and stare.

Consider what it took for the Little Rock couple to launch a company that began its life as the only business in town — any town, pick your town.

First: They enjoyed long careers illustrating (Mitch) and coloring (Elizabeth) for the biggest publishers and titles in the industry. He grew up in Benton; she, in Beebe. When he graduated from Harding in 2000, he moved to New Jersey and had a view of the Twin Towers (for a few months), painting signs for banks and industrial parks and knocking on doors till he got his break at Marvel Comics, with a contract to redesign Drax the Destroyer. He met Elizabeth the old-fashioned way, through MySpace, when he later logged on to see how his old art department was doing. “I had a good feeling,” he says now. “She had a quote from my favorite professor — and he wasn’t exactly the most liked guy. I figured if she also liked this professor who made other people cry, there might be something there.”

Because it’s a small state, Mitch naturally already had met her family; he’d once given her brother a ride to a comics convention in Chicago after meeting their mom in a pottery class.

After Elizabeth graduated from Harding in 2005 she taught art at Central Arkansas Christian in North Little Rock. When she and Mitch met, he was illustrating a Captain America title, and she got into digital coloring. “I colored up a few pages to show them and get feedback for a portfolio,” she says now. The feedback came back: a job offer. Mitch and Elizabeth got married in 2007 and today live in the Heights neighborhood of Little Rock.

Second: They got tired of working on other people’s stuff. This happens. You wake up one

day and realize working on other people’s stuff is a double bummer: They tell you what to do, and then they keep most of the money and credit. Even if the stuff you’re working on is the likes of Captain America, the Young Avengers and the Sub-Mariner (Mitch); and the Hulk, Batman and Outcast (Elizabeth), at some point, you gotta do you.

Third: They crowdfunded almost $200,000 to prove an audience existed for a title called “Red Rooster,” a title Mitch likens to Batman in a barn. They connected with Little Rock lawyer and businessman David Martin, whose Rolodex led them to a corporate recruiter in Bentonville named Cameron Smith, who knows approximately everyone in Northwest Arkansas.

Fourth: They made a killer “Shark Tank”style pitch to Smith and then again when he assembled some Walmart-fluent folks. They got in front of Walmart, a company that hadn’t carried comic books in a generation, and made the sell there, too. “Nobody,” Smith says, “gets to start out with Walmart. The presentations blew me away and blew away the people I brought into that meeting. It was show-and-tell — it wasn’t just a bunch of words. They had these characters outlined and drawn and colorful and bigger than life.”

Fifth: They recruited talent to write and draw and letter their original titles: “Norah’s Saga,” “The Futurists,” “Red Rooster” and, notably for Arkansans, “Bass Reeves.” It follows the legendary ex-slave-turned-U.S.-marshal whom Fort Smith’s “Hanging” Judge Isaac Parker hired in 1889 to collect fugitives from Indian Country in what would later become Oklahoma. The writer, Kevin Grevioux, is known for gothic pulp-horror titles like “Underworld” and “I, Frankenstein.”

That real-life tall tale convinced Hunter Haynes, a Fayetteville commercial real estate maven, to invest in Allegiance Arts. “The right hand of the guy dealing out this justice is this badass Black guy?” Haynes says now. “He’s ‘Django Unchained’? This is awesome.”

Blake Northcott, the Toronto-based writer on “Norah’s Saga,” says the diversity of the whole portfolio enticed her into the fold. That, and freedom for her to really own the story: “Mitch and Elizabeth were both so generous creatively,” she says. “Anytime someone is willing to hand over the reins and give you creative freedom, it makes a project infinitely more fun.”

And finally, as one does: The Breitweisers launched in the world’s largest retailer, during a

pandemic, amid a wave of social unrest.

The moment felt wrong for an ad blitz, but they’re printing and distributing 140,000 combined copies of the books across the four titles, says Patrick Stiles, Allegiance Arts’ COO and an art department classmate of Mitch’s at Harding.

They pushed it on Facebook and YouTube and held their breath. To date, about 100,000 copies have been sold at Walmart at $4.98 per comic.

Audiences had spoken. The gambles worked.

Pandemic or no, Allegiance Arts is a thing.

“Walmart shoots a lot of bottle rockets in the air and only a few stay up,” Smith says. “Just because they launch it doesn’t mean you’ll be one of the few that stay up. But it was a good start. It looks like it’s really got some traction.”

It’s too early to call Allegiance Arts a runaway success, or to declare that it has changed the fundamentals of an ailing industry. In films and video games, comic characters have taken over the world. Comic books are literally a different story. They’re a much smaller group these days, and its creators tend to be a tight tribe. The benefits are obvious when a group of entrepreneurs successfully launch a new venture with so much upside, especially for Arkansas.

Meanwhile, one subplot remains a bit more ticklish. The Breitweisers worry some people in the comics world because of their friendliness with comics creators who have fostered a toxic subculture within comics. In a shrinking industry where most creators publicly cheer new ventures, some of their peers are so wary of the culture fight, they declined to comment for this story.

The Breitweisers are adamant that they’re building an inclusive, nonpolitical platform, and that they don’t support those who would pick on others in the comics community. To examine that tension requires asking the sneakily heavy question of who comics are for. Allegiance Arts is decidedly widening that audience. But the whole picture is more complicated. *** The O.G. comics expert in Little Rock is Michael Tierney, who since the 1980s has run two comics specialty shops: Collectors Edition, in North Little Rock, and the Comic Book Store, in Little Rock. He’s weathered changing tastes and business models, and as a brick-and-mortar guy till the end (or, rather, till the pandemic shut his doors for him in June, chasing him onto ARKANSASTIMES.COM

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BIG STORIES: The Breitweiser’s title “Bass Reeves,” follows the legendary ex-slave-turned-U.S.-marshal who Fort Smith’s “Hanging” Judge Isaac Parker hired in 1889 to collect fugitives in what would later become Oklahoma.

BREITWEISER PELLEGRINI

SEAS PREMIEORN E!

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online-only) he can answer the question of why comic books have all but cratered in America.

It boils down, essentially, to changing customer tastes and industry missteps.

The former is easy to see. Comics were a dominant pop art before they had to compete with the likes of MTV, Super Mario Bros. and AOL Instant Messenger, let alone Instagram, TikTok, Minecraft and Fortnite. The movies and television series are a mixed blessing. On the one hand, they’re better now than ever, and bigger.

The 23 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have grossed, on average, a billion dollars apiece. DC’s eight films have grossed another $5.5 billion. The dozen X-Men films have added $6 billion. Then: all the dang video games, Halloween costumes, amusement park rides, knickknacks. The business of comics characters is bigger than ever without a kid needing to pester a parent for a single thin comic book.

As readers became viewers and players, the publishing industry did itself no favors. Publishers sell comics mostly through hobby or specialty stores. Like so many bookstores, Amazon et al. have put the hurt on them over the years.

Tierney says an industry that used to be 15,000 stores strong a generation ago is probably down to a thousand or so, maybe double that if you count gas stations and bait shops that still stock a spinner rack. In the mid-’90s, Marvel and then DC bought their own comics distributors, hoping to cut out the companies that served as middlemen to retailers. Starving other distributors into oblivion led to an effective duopoly that prevented indie comics from even making it to market. When those distributors (Heroes World for Marvel, Diamond for DC) faltered in their deliveries, in Tierney’s view, it landed on the retailers, who had no options for better service. “Retailers got caught in the crunch,” he says. “The industry has been constantly shrinking. Used to be if a Marvel print run got below 90,000 copies, they’d cancel it. Now print runs are 10,000. They’re down to some 5,000 runs.

We used to call those ‘limited editions.’ ” As the print industry shrank, it also started turning out less kid-friendly fare. The phrase “gritty reboot” is almost a punchline among comics films, but the trend started years before as the PG heroes of days past matured, not always in a good way. The crossover success of the dystopia-tinged “Watchmen” and of Frank Miller’s oeuvre — the “Dark Knight” Batman storyline, “Sin City,” “300” — helped steer comics into a darker, more explicit period that brought the lurid stories and images of pulp paperbacks into a medium that had long belonged to kids.

If you were a certain kind of kid, the turn toward R-rated fare was and probably still is totally awesome. If you are a certain kind of parent, not so much. Tierney felt a 2001 Nick Fury comic jumped the shark when it depicted the one-eyed Marvel spy smoking a stogie and carrying a glass, robe half open, surrounded by a half-dozen nude women begging him “please … no more” with smiles on their faces. He had to fight on two fronts. Over the years he tried to explain to publishers that gratuitous sex and vi-

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olence weren’t growing their readership, while also railing against Act 858, a proposed 2003 law that would’ve given practically anyone in Arkansas the authority to declare a comic book or magazine obscene, and unlawful to display.

“Comics got trashy,” he says. “You don’t want to freak out the parents. ‘Oh my god, what are you showing my kid? Punching somebody’s kidney out with an I-beam?’ ” ***

DEMISE OF THE HOBBY STORE: Comics were a dominant pop art before they had to compete with the likes of MTV, Super Mario Bros. and AOL Instant Messenger, let alone Instagram, TikTok, Minecraft and Fortnite.

“RETAILERS GOT CAUGHT IN THE CRUNCH.”

The skirmishes continue over who, exactly, is the audience for comics. Behold the 2018 Vox headline, “Batman’s penis is in a comic book for the first time ever — but not for long,” about a single panel in DC’s Black Label storyline that gives new meaning to the phrase comic strip.

The parents, they freak out. So do the aunties and uncles, including the Breitweisers. It says something when a former color artist on Batman would feel uncomfortable leaving a comic out for their five nieces and two nephews to browse.

“The stories were not what we were necessarily into,” Elizabeth Breitweiser says of her and her husband’s time at big publishers. “We wanted to work on something universal and family-friendly.”

Allegiance Arts, at least at launch, is mindful of these deeper trends, good and bad. Working with a single printer and a single distributor to stock thousands of comics at a single massive retailer seems, for the moment, to eliminate a bevy of headaches. Overnight they’re being sold in more physical stores than probably any other title in America, reaching readers who’ve never even seen a hobby store. “For some kid in Lufton, Texas, there’s no way he’s going to discover comic books randomly,” Mitch Breitweiser says. “You may enjoy the movies, but the experience of picking up that four-color paper product that has that magic to it is just not available.”

The themes and action in the books are intense without veering into the grotesque or lurid, perfect for that film-and-TV-ready PG-13 sweet spot. Whereas other comics are serialized by volume and issue, Allegiance titles arrive as 24page “episodes” in six-book “seasons.” They’re laying the groundwork to be adapted, expanded, universed. Comics are a natural segue into other visual media. More than novels or even screenplays, they make natural storyboards. As you read issues of “Bass Reeves,” it plays as a Western in your head. “Norah’s Saga” plunges an angsty Canadian teen back to the time of the Vikings. “Red Rooster,” Mitch’s baby, feels like a “Rocketeer”-sized Depression-era blockbuster on the page. They’re big, mythical stories, built for big audiences.

So here’s the condensed version of how a rift came between these stories and so many of the writers, artists and readers who would otherwise be cheering their success. In November 2016, Mitch Breitweiser sent what in another era might be considered a benign tweet, complete with illustration, of the U.S. president-elect ARKANSASTIMES.COM

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WHO ARE COMIC BOOKS FOR? The comic book industry is grappling with questions about inclusivity, ideology and cancel culture.

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standing with a sword and a halo, evoking a medieval knight, with a message: “Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump.

I wish you the very best in your effort to Make America Great Again for ALL Americans.” (The original tweet exists only in screenshots; Mitch has since deleted his account.)

You could read it as ironic or you could read it as flattering, but either way, he rolled that into a twittersphere still sore from Election Night and, more broadly, always itching to scrap over the broader questions of inclusivity in the comics industry. You can guess what happened next.

“Captain America Artist Wonders Why He Is Losing Friends Over His Patriotism,” a Bleeding Cool headline read.

Mitch’s tweet activated two factions. Some people lobbed at them the sort of insults they’d like to send to the president; meanwhile, people inclined to support the president stood up for him. Acrimony simmered. Then, the following summer, some in the more conservative faction tagged harassing tweets aimed at feminists and trans people and young women in the industry with #Comicsgate. Some fans and creators lumped the Breitweisers in with the faction that was hurling abuses at people. Things came to a head in 2018, when the Breitweisers canceled a scheduled appearance at a comic convention over what they said were safety concerns.

Like other internet movements marked by harassment, Comicsgate thrives on vagueness.

One of its proponents, a comics artist named Ethan Van Sciver, described it on a YouTube channel called Comics Artist Pro in 2018 as “a community for dispossessed right-wing and moderate comic book professionals who can no longer get work in this blacklisted, disgusting, politically oppressed industry, as it’s become.”

A rational person would prefer to steer clear of its blast zone. Irrational people, trying to understand comics in 2020, instead might open dozens of browser tabs, watch hours of YouTube, and reach out to comics creators who reply by saying they don’t want their names in a story that touches on Comicsgate. (As a for-instance, from one writer: “I would rather not furnish a quote because [Comicsgate] people just destroy people’s lives and I wouldn’t go near them with a barge pole.”)

But a deep dive turns up little to impugn the Breitweisers. The perception that they’re aligned with Comicsgate seems to rest largely on their being polite to creators other people find abhorrent. It’s not hard to see why they’d try to be diplomatic. For one, they’re not publicly political, a certain tweet notwithstanding. For another, they’ve been running crowdfunding campaigns and trying to draw broad support from fans and investors, and they’ve tried not to take sides. It’s a tightrope they’ve been walking.

Today, they would very much prefer to focus on a business they say will give writers and artists the freedom and resources to do eclectic, ambitious, best-in-class work. And so far they’ve backed that up.

Says Mitch: “I want to think we took bad energy and turned it into good energy. It’s not fun

to transmute bad energy into good energy, but sometimes that’s the only way forward.”

Says Elizabeth: “We want to make a safe haven for creators. It’s been my worst nightmare to be labeled all of these things that have nothing to do with me.”

In July of this year, on the online show “Live From the Bunker,” Mitch was asked about how he navigated “cancel culture” on the way to his successful crowdfunding and the Walmart launch. He said he was hopeful that other creators would find room at the table, even if they weren’t ideologically aligned with the industry mainstream, which tends to tilt left.

“Nobody should have to go through what we went through,” he said. “It sucks, it’s horrible.

But it also hardened us to a degree. We probably wouldn’t be here doing what we’re doing now if we weren’t sharpened on a hard stone.”

And perhaps there’s one Easter egg folks can find on the stands at the end of a Walmart book aisle. At the end of the first “Red Rooster” episode, you’ll find tucked away a little note setting up the world of the hero: “Motion pictures and radio plays catapulted the once secretive Order of the Dawn into the spotlight of celebrity, potentially to catastrophic effect — a risk we all navigate in the era of social media.” *** For what it’s worth, anyone you talk to who meets the Breitweisers tends to really like them.

They’re friendly and soft-spoken and genuine and hard-working. It’s not for nothing they wowed multiple successful investors — Martin, Smith, Haynes — who hadn’t exactly been sitting around waiting for a comic book opportunity, of all ideas, to come waltzing into their offices.

“It’s not only investing in this business idea,” Haynes says. “Ultimately you’re investing in Mitch and Elizabeth. What I’ve been able to experience is, they’re in it to win it. This isn’t a game. They’re heart and soul.”

They’re betting that comics can be for everyone, which it turns out is pretty close to the truth. That question of who comics are for is and always has been readers. Readers may be considered an endangered species, but they walk among the rest of society, blending in only for as long as they need to get hold of the next book or magazine or graphic novel or zine.

They’re discerning and yet ravenous. They can be young or old, Black or white, possessed of rainbows’ worth of sexual identities, broke or loaded, jazzed to see Bruce Wayne drop trou or perfectly satisfied to see heroes keep their tights on. Readers are a big tent, and it’s a pity that screens are trying to capture them all.

As for who comics are by, the answer is, the best ones have always been by marginalized artists, even outcasts. They’re an American art form that resonates with American audiences because Americans don’t know how to square two perpendicular wants: to be a world power, and to be a scrappy underdog. That paradox absolutely stokes modern conservatism, which

can’t decide whether America is unassailably mighty or whether people who reject a gender binary might just collapse society; whether we’re a shining light on a hill or whether we’re being quicksanded into the dark ages by desperate immigrants who believe our hype; whether we’re a nation of Christian values or one that can be ably led by a lifelong financial and sexual predator who has never been able to recall a single Bible verse when asked to cite one near to his alleged heart.

We all live amid that confusion this year.

Wedge that conflicted ideology into a supposed underdog art and of course you get trench warfare.

And yet there’s also got to be room for vivid stories that kids and their parents can enjoy on the same couch together. Never mind launching a new company during a pandemic, as millions of ordinary Americans stand toe-to-toe and tell police to quit their jobs. When the history of this 2020 culture moment is written, it will marvel (ha) at the idea of trying to engage America writ large when the country can’t decide whether to be hero or heel.

Comics, at least, have historically helped offer clarity on this point. It helped that they were the invention of genuine outsiders.

“Our industry was created by a bunch of Jews who had nothing in front of them but starving,” says Fabrice Sapolsky, a French Jewish immigrant and comics creator whose brainchild Spider-Man Noir you might recognize as the blackand-white Spidey from “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” “It was like, ‘We have to do something because we can’t pay for study — we can’t be doctors, we can’t be lawyers. We have to eat.’

To me, hate groups as a whole are a betrayal of who we are as an industry. We are the children of Bob Kane, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, who were Jews who came from nowhere.”

Sapolsky moved to New York and later to Los Angeles because he loves comics and because he wanted to make them in America. He spent a decade and five figures getting a visa and a green card. He’s in the States because he loves this American art form; he gets to close this story because he doesn’t really have a dog in this fight but cares deeply nonetheless that the art stays strong.

Asked to play expert in a conversation about where the culture and industry of comics is going, and how Allegiance Arts fits into it, he takes an aerial view. America has always been split, so controversy shouldn’t surprise anyone. Immigrants like him sympathize with launching your own company if you feel isolated. Talent eventually wins out. And the future belongs to people who can find an audience, because audiences don’t lie. They either buy your stuff, or they don’t.

“One of the beautiful things in this industry,” he says, “is 99 percent of creators support other creators. We may have lost a bit of the community because politics are gangrene on our industry. We’re still a fraternity. We’re still a place of good.”

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FOOD & DRINK

HOW TO OPEN A RESTAURANT DURING A PANDEMIC BROOD & BARLEY, CYPRESS SOCIAL, OTHERS PRESS ON.

BY RHETT BRINKLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

DOUBLE DUTY: Sisters Leila and Helen Grace King, co-owners of @ The Corner, are opening Henrietta’s a few blocks east in the River Market.

46 SEPTEMBER 2020

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W

hen the World Health Organization classified the coronavirus as a pandemic in March, restaurants all over the country were forced to reinvent themselves. Scaled back menus and staffing, curbside takeout and delivery, mobile trucks, gallons of hand sanitizer, outdoor tents for picnic-style dining, plexiglass dividers and air purifying systems are some of the ways restaurants have dealt with the crisis. Five months later, some spots remain closed, others are operating at 66 percent capacity and some are still just doing takeout and curbside service.

But, despite economic uncertainty and hardship, several brand-new restaurants have popped up. Some had plans to open this year and are still waiting for the right time. Others are looking for an entirely different approach altogether.

Brayan McFadden accepted the position of general manager and kitchen lead of Brood & Barley, the new gastropub at 411 Main St., in Argenta, from the owners of Flyway Brewery. He decided to take the job in North Little Rock despite living in Philadelphia with his family.

“My cousin [Jess McMullen] owns Flyway Brewery,” McFadden said. “We’ve both been in the restaurant business our entire lives.”

Every time he and McMullen got together, McFadden said, they’d always discuss starting a restaurant together. Last year, McMullen called McFadden and informed him that he had the opportunity to open another spot.

“It was a long conversation I had to have with the wife,” McFadden said. “She was like, ‘You want to move … to Arkansas?’ ” It didn’t take a whole lot of convincing.

“We came down and visited a couple times and my wife fell in love with the area down here,” he said. “We live in North Little Rock and I work in North Little Rock. I mean, this town is awesome.”

McFadden arrived in Arkansas in early January expecting Brood & Barley to open in April.

The team at Brood & Barley had already begun ordering inventory and started the hiring process when restaurants were ordered closed on March 19.

“In the back of my head, although I know that we’re going to be successful and we’re going to rock it out down here, you know, it’s tough,” McFadden said. “You’re moving your family halfway across the country and then all a sudden it was just like, boom. It takes the wind out

of your sails, you know? So a whole lot of discouragement there. But being part of the Flyway family, it was like, ‘All right, listen, this is what we’re going to do: We’re going to work at Flyway because Flyway’s going to stay open right now.’ ” McFadden and his counterpart, bar lead and front-of-house manager David Burnette, worked at Flyway doing curbside for a few months.

“Finally we sat down with my cousin [McMullen], and it was just like, ‘You know what, if we’re going to do it, we just need to do it.’ At the time they were letting us seat 33 percent and we were like, ‘Let’s just do it and turn it into a positive thing.’ There’s not many restaurants out there that get a chance to do like a slow roll and kind of see what works and what doesn’t work,” McFadden said.

Despite only being able to seat at 66 percent capacity, McFadden said Brood & Barley has been busier than expected. “It’s certainly been a positive, for sure,” he said. He’s also found the neighborhood welcoming.

“I’ve seen so much business unity,” he said.

“We’re right next to Four Quarter [Bar] and I don’t know if you know Conan [Robinson] that owns Four Quarter, but, I mean, the guy is amazing. There’s been a lot of camaraderie through this whole thing. I’ve just been surprised during this unbelievable crazy part of history that we’re going through right now that people are still willing to put a hand out and be like, ‘Hey man, we’re here if you need us.’ It’s just awesome [when you’re] starting a new business.” *** Leila King owns the popular downtown breakfast destination @ The Corner with her sister, Helen Grace King, and sister-in-law, Kamiya Merrick. Last August they acquired the space formerly occupied by Andina Cafe at 433 E. Third St. in the River Market district for a new restaurant to be called Henrietta’s.

“We loved the space right off the bat,” Leila King said. “I’ve always loved that space, the garage doors that open. It’s really beautiful and has so much potential.”

They started going into full design and concept mode, anticipating opening in the spring of 2020.

“Henrietta’s is a new concept,” King said.

“It’s still in design, as far as I’m still thinking about what I’m going to do, but it’s going to be very health-centric, like food as medicine and ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 47

NEW EATERIES, EVEN NOW: (above) Chris Tanner stands in the reimagined Oyster Bar with his wife, Samantha, and his daughter-in-law, Virginia, and (below) Brayan McFadden helms Brood & Barley.

48 SEPTEMBER 2020

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just kind of how you need to eat to live a very fulfilled life. I want everyone to be at their best — even the cocktails, I want you to feel good after you’ve consumed them; I want it to have something vital and viable for you. It’s going to be a beautiful concept. I just can’t say when she’s going to open.”

King said they had just nailed the sign on the wall and were gearing up to hit the ground running when COVID-19 hit and put the project on hold.

“I never dreamed that we would encounter this,” she said. @ The Corner is still closed to indoor dining.

The restaurant’s seating capacity is small, and the seating capacity at Henrietta’s is even smaller.

“So that’s another challenge when you can only operate at 66 percent,” she said.

“It’s me and my two sisters and my family. …

We’re always here, so it might affect us a little bit differently,” King said. “I don’t want to expose anyone that I love [or] care deeply about.

My father’s older as well, so we just have a lot at stake. I don’t know how COVID is going to interact with the flu season, and there’s just so much I feel like we don’t know right now, and that’s just my opinion.

“I don’t know how you set a date right now.

Especially with such a tiny, tiny restaurant. You know, if I had a bigger restaurant and I could space people out, that would be one thing. But then, you know, you have a beautiful concept and a beautiful interior that I’ve designed and beautiful tables, and you want to invite people in to experience that right off the bat because you don’t get a lot of chances in restaurants with the clientele.”

Back in the spring, King and her sisters started a program called Cinnamon Roll It Forward.

“It’s kind of a program where people could buy cinnamon rolls from us, we deliver them to hospital workers, especially COVID units, respiratory therapists and just kind of everyone [in] the trenches at the beginning of this,” King said.

“It was terrifying times for myself and my family because no one really knew anything about the virus, what it was going to do for the economy or our business. So we just kind of created that so that people could support us and we could support hospitals. Kind of like as a lifeline, if that makes sense.”

Cinnamon Roll It Forward is still going, and King said that @ The Corner is in survival mode.

“I think a lot of restaurants are in survival mode,” she added. “Especially because we’re a super small team, so PPP wasn’t outstanding for us. Like, I’m not a 600-employee restaurant group. I have like 10 to 12 employees. I’m super tiny. But we’ve had beautiful patrons, and we’ve had our followers who support us. And I’ve had record days. It’s amazing to have record days during a pandemic. But I just really want customer service to be perfect. There are even more reasons to make sure everything is great, and there’s not much control with curbside.

It’s been challenging, but you just have to keep treading water.”

*** Chris Tanner’s plan for the Oyster Bar, which has been under renovation and closed since mid-March, is a unique approach that will likely draw people who miss live music.

Tanner intends to open the restaurant two nights a week — Thursday and Saturday. It will be reservations-only, with a prix fixe menu and live music.

“It’s all hinging on getting the final certificate of occupancy from the city because we’ve done all this remodeling,” he said.

Tanner said he just wants to keep things simple and socially distant. Once a customer reserves a table, it’s theirs for the night, and they can arrive and order whenever they want.

“You don’t have to worry about a lot of people coming in and out,” Tanner said. “Whoever’s coming in, they’ve got their table. That’s it. It’s gonna be a chance to get out. Everything will be socially distanced, but because of the size of the building, we’ll be able to get some folks in there and make it worth my while, and a few of my people can make some money.”

Tanner said the menu will change each week, and if there’s something you don’t like on it, check back the next week. No matter what’s on the menu, char-grilled oysters will be available.

As far as opening up the Oyster Bar for regular hours, Tanner said, “We’re just going to play it by ear.”

Tanner added that the target date for reopening Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill is Sept. 10. *** Jim Keet’s new destination restaurant, Cypress Social, located in Maumelle in the former home of Cock of the Walk, opened to the public Aug. 18. It was originally slated to open April 14.

Opening a new restaurant is challenging in and of itself, but many of Keet’s staff at Cypress Social are transfers from Petit & Keet, which Keet also owns. Petit & Keet needed all hands on deck to reconfigure the restaurant to meet all of the new directives from the health department there before turning their efforts and attention to Cypress Social.

“Well, the challenge was because of the interruption with one-third seating and then twothirds seating,” Keet said. “When we reopened Petit & Keet with that seating configuration, we wanted to make sure that things were perfect before we opened this restaurant.”

Among the transfers from Petit & Keet are managing partner Brent Lenners and his wife, general manager Tyler Lenners; chef Steve Binotti; sommelier Susie Long; and pastry chef Sara Horton.

Once those employees gave Keet the green light to turn Petit & Keet over to another trusted management team, he wanted to know how long it would take to get Cypress Social ready for the first tasting.

“Brent did an outstanding job at putting an entire critical path together, kind of working forward and setting a date and then working back

to say, ‘Here are all of the things that need to be done every day to get to that opening,’ ” Keet said. Keet’s construction company, Keet-O’Gary, deconstructed the building from the roof to the ground — from the inside.

“Every wall, every floor covering, everything you see here is brand new,” Keet said.

Keet said the idea was to retain the iconic nature of the place but offer a pleasant surprise for everybody that enters. For example, the brandnew water fountain in the middle of the lake is visible from the restaurant’s lobby. A lot of the wood lining the walls is reclaimed cypress from Cock of the Walk.

“So that name kind of came one night. I was lying in bed with my wife and I went, ‘We have to call it Cypress something,’ ” Keet said. “So we had a variety of different names, and then Stephanie [Keet, vice president of marketing and Jim’s daughter-in-law] came up with the name Cypress Social, and this kind of preceded COVID.” Spacing patrons out at Cypress Social shouldn’t be a problem. Keet said the building is 8,000 square feet and the three covered decks that overlook the lake add another 2,000 square feet.

There are a few private rooms, one with its own patio. The bar is two levels, and through the window, patrons will have a nice view of a renovated stone-stacked waterfall.

The delay caused by the pandemic gave the team at Cypress Social more time to perfect the menu. Keet said his staff goes through a very rigorous tasting process before anything is allowed to go on the menu.

“We have taste panels of between eight and 12 people,” Keet said. “For this restaurant, we’ve probably done 20 test panels, maybe 25.”

“I don’t think it would’ve been as many if the pandemic hadn’t happened, but it was very thorough,” Binotti added.

“It gave us extra time to refine each dish,” Brent Lenners said. “We just collectively decided we were going to put every single dish under a microscope and really get it down to the last grain of salt, the last placement of this or that just to make everything as good as we can. You know, it’s unfortunate what happened, but it did provide us a lot of time to really hone these dishes and make them the way we want them.”

Lenners acknowledged how tough of an undertaking it’s been to get Cypress Social ready to go amidst the pandemic.

“In this climate, everything is magnified,” he said. “You have to work that much harder to inspire people. You have to work that much harder to make them feel reassured with our safety protocols. You’ve got to really cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ and create a system for, if something happens, that it doesn’t completely just wash away. The structure is there. It’s not a house of cards. It’s a strong foundation. And doing that has been very challenging. But it’s a rush and this is what we do. This is why we get up every day. This is my life and this is our life.

So, yeah, it’s very rewarding but challenging to say the least.”

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SEPTEMBER 2020 49

HISTORY

THE CRISIS CROWD AT CENTRAL: Postives of photos shot by Walter Riddick Jr. on Sept. 4 and 5, 1957, show military vehicles and adults and students filling Park Street in front of Central High. The car in the foreground of the positive at left sports the KATV logo.

HISTORY R IN A SHOEBOX PHOTOGRAPHER FINDS UNSEEN SHOTS OF THE CENTRAL HIGH CRISIS.

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

50 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

ita Henry, a Little Rock photographer who’s exhibited widely, has taught classes in the art for 20 years. To help her students fine-tune their skills, she asks them to develop prints from negatives — good old-fashioned film.

It’s also her experience that you shouldn’t just pitch old photos.

So a year ago, when she ran into Joanne Riddick, the mother of Rita’s friend John, she asked Riddick if she ever stumbled across any negatives stashed away in the big family home she lives in on Hill Road to save them for her.

In March, Riddick, who’d been clearing out the attic in anticipation of a move, called Henry. She had shoeboxes full of film and pictures for her.

The pandemic had just reared its ugly head in Arkansas. Henry wasn’t teaching classes. She had a lot of time on her hands — enough time to go through a shoebox that once held Troylings high heels to look at photographs and film from the 1940s and 1950s shot by Riddick’s late husband, Walter G. Riddick: Brownie negatives. 35

mm film, Kodak Tri-X and Ansco Supreme. Negatives in Pinky’s Photo packets from Hall’s Drug Store, neither of which entities exists today. Girl Scout Council negatives. Small snaps of tanks and ships from what appear to be World War II bases.

Henry went through the box picture by picture, envelope by envelope. “It was a week or two before I got to the bottom,” she said. There she found loose, dirty negatives, uncut and flat.

She didn’t look at them at first because she assumed they were in terrible shape.

But then she picked up a loupe and checked them out. There, in one of the 35 mm frames of two rolls of film that Riddick shot in 1957, was a photograph of a young Black teenager sitting on a bench and surrounded by people. Henry knew right away what she had: Shots of Central High on the day it was to be desegregated. A photo of Elizabeth Eckford, the member of the Little Rock Nine who arrived alone at school and suffered racist taunts by fellow students and onlookers.

Shots of flatbed trucks and Army vehicles and

Air National Guardsmen with rifles. Laughing students, apparently excited by the attention, the girls in skirts filled out with petticoats and crewcut boys in short-sleeved shirts. Onlookers, students and adults alike, packing Park Street in front of the school. A Chevrolet with a KATV sign on its rounded trunk.

Few are the Arkansas adults who have not seen famous shots of Eckford being shouted at on her way to school — Will Counts’ shot for the Arkansas Democrat is iconic — and then sitting petrified and staring straight ahead on a bus stop bench, surrounded by a crowd of reporters and students and adults. Riddick’s shot is taken from Eckford’s left, and shows a reporter in coat and tie leaning over to talk to her.

XXXXXX: xxxxxxxx There’s a glimpse of Grace Lorch, the teacher who chided the crowd for tormenting Eckford and escorted her to a bus and home, behind the bench. (For her trouble, Lorch and her family were the target of threats; they eventually left not just Arkansas, but the country.)

Another of Riddick’s shots shows Terrence

Roberts, another of the Nine, by what appears to be an Army vehicle; Arkansas Gazette reporter Jerry Dhonau stands nearby. One shot captures Arkansas State Press publisher L.C. Bates, whose wife, Daisy, was shepherding the Nine’s entry into Central, seated on the bus stop bench before Eckford’s arrival.

An amazed Henry called Joanne Riddick to let her know what she’d found and ask what she should do with the film. Do what you want, was Riddick’s answer.

Because the pandemic had closed stores, Henry couldn’t get the photographic paper she needed to print the negatives. When she did, “I started printing each one by one, in order.”

Walter Riddick, whose father Walter Riddick Sr. served on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, was an assistant U.S. attorney when he made the photographs for the federal office. He was sent to Central High the mornings of Sept. 4-5.

Joanne Riddick, who married Walter Riddick in 1972, remembered what her husband told her about that day.

“They sent him out to see what he could find out ‘under cover,’ ” she said. (Riddick, 30 at the time he took the shot the film, had attended Central High several years earlier, but when he entered the school in that day on September in 1957, school registrar Ernestine Opie didn’t even look up when he entered the office, asking, “What do you want, Riddick?”)

In another surprising turn of events, when Joanne Riddick mentioned the film in a meeting in August with a UA Little Rock archivist, she learned the center had in its possession a report Walter Riddick had made of the trips to Central to make photographs. It had been in a box she’d previously donated to the University Archives at Ottenheimer Library.

In the statement, which he writes was “made in connection with an official investigation being conducted by the FBI,” Riddick, who was there with Assistant U.S. Attorney James Gallman, mentions seeing a “Negro boy about 16 years of age standing at the corner of the Central High School grounds” between two arARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 51

52 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

SEPT. 4, 1957: The number 5 frame (page 52) is shot from behind the bench on which Elizabeth Eckford sat, an unidentified reporter and New York Times newsman Benjamin Fine (in the bow tie) in attendance. The man in the white hat who has captured the attention of othes could be the person Walter Riddick said was shouting about Communism. In the frames above are publisher L.C. Bates (center frame, seated) and Eckford. Rita Henry, who printed Walter Riddick’s negatives, is at right. mored trucks. The boy was Terrence Roberts.

After talking to guardsmen, Riddick reported, the boy walked away. The report continues: “About the time the boy walked away, a number of persons who had been crowded around him, and others, ran Eastward across Park Street to a bench located at a bus stop on 16th Street immediately east of Park Street. On that bench was a small colored girl whose surname I later learned was ECKFORD. She was surrounded by some 30 to 40 people, most of whom appeared to be photographers or newsmen. On the fringes of this group, there were a number of people milling around, one of whom was vociferous in his advice to the crowd not to disclose anyone’s address. This same man kept shouting something to the effect that the country might as well be given away to the Communists.”

On Sept. 5, Riddick returned and climbed to the top of a military truck to observe the crowd.

Among the crowd of 200 people standing in front of the school on Park Street were small groups of 30 to 50 individuals he described as “quite agitated.”

“Various persons in these groups were distributing mimeographed petitions. In my judgment, the members of these small groups had arrived at an emotional state that could have become quite dangerous on short notice.”

Henry has tried to identify people in the film.

The identity of the man interviewing Eckford, seen in several of the shots, remains a mystery, as is the figure with a newsreel camera aimed at her.

Photographs of Eckford and the crisis at Central High are well known. In the scheme of things, how valuable are more photographs of an event that was covered in the pages of newspapers across the country, including Life magazine and other pictorial journals?

Very, said historian and editor of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas Guy Lancaster. “So many of the photographs used to represent the Central High crisis focus upon the drama of the specific individuals involved,” he said, “but these capture the scope of the crowds and give the viewer a sense of the chaos Faubus and his cronies unleashed upon Little Rock.”

Taking the photographs as the crisis unfolded would have been dramatic. Riddick, Henry said, “didn’t know what was going to happen.

He was just there to watch.”

Henry has made copies of the negatives for her Blue-Eyed Knocker Photo Club to print and high-resolution scans to go with the originals for archival research.

“If the virus hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have had time,” she said.

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 53

CANNABIZ

S

ince Arkansas voters passed the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment in 2016, more than 72,500 Arkansans have obtained Medical Marijuana Prescription Cards in order to obtain products to treat the 18 qualifying conditions.

These Arkansans include a sleepless cancer survivor, a 10-year-old epileptic child with seizures and a combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. Here are the stories of the conditions that led them to pursue medical marijuana as a treatment and their experiences using the drug.

A REMEDY FOR SLEEPLESSNESS: Cancer survivor Pat Edwards no longer needs her marijuana cookies every night.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA HELPS ARKANSAS PATIENTS ATTEST.

BY GRIFFIN COOP PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

54 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

SENIOR CITIZEN, CANCER SURVIVOR Like many seniors, Pat Edwards likes to stay in shape by exercising at the local community center. Every Tuesday, she and others would gather at the Bishop Park Senior Activity Center in Benton for line dancing class. One day in 2017, she noticed something a little different about herself.

While wiping away some sweat during her workout, Edwards noticed a hard lump in her breast. She’d had a mammogram a few months before and the doctor had noticed a mass that they thought was probably just calcium.

It turned out to be much worse.

Edwards was diagnosed with two types of breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatments and the use of an often-painful drug called Neulasta that causes the patient’s bones to ache as the drug prevents infection.

“Your bones hurt really bad,” Edwards said recently.

As Edwards struggled through the cancer treatments and four surgeries, she battled a common side effect: sleeplessness. Traditional sleeping medications didn’t help. “[Cancer treatment] affects your body in a lot of different ways,” Edwards said.

“I could not sleep even using my sleeping pills.”

While Edwards is cancer-free today, she still struggles with the sleeplessness that began during cancer treatment.

So she thought she’d give a different type of medicine a try: medical marijuana.

“I thought, ‘You know, this has got to help,’ ” Edwards said. “I talked to the doctors, got my medical marijuana card, and I started with the cookies and, I’m telling you, I could sleep. I slept like a baby.”

Not only did Edwards finally sleep well, she said she didn’t have the same hungover feeling that often accompanies other sleeping meds.

Edwards used the product, in cookie form, every night for a couple of months until she was able to sleep on her own. Now she only needs to use the cookies about once a week.

“It’s not an everyday occurrence like it was at first,” Edwards said.

In October, Edwards bought about $150 worth of cannabis, which her friend made into cookies and candies as well as a salve for her. Edwards has frozen cookies ready to bake when she needs them and she has not run out of products since her initial purchase last year.

Now that she has seen some benefits of medical marijuana, Edwards wishes she could have taken advantage of it sooner to help with other aches and pains of cancer treatment.

“If I had known I could have gotten the medical marijuana card when I was going through the other stuff with Neulasta, I would have done that in a heartbeat,” Edwards said. “I didn’t know how to obtain it, but that would have helped with the pain so much.”

10-YEAR-OLD GIRL SUFFERING FROM EPILEPSY One morning, when Jaynna Jenson was 5 years old, she woke up and got in bed with her mother, like many children do.

But something was different with Jaynna on this particular morning. Her eyes were moving in a strange way that would later be described as “eye deviations.” Jaynna even stopped breathing at one point.

Jaynna’s mother, Sarah Weatherford, called for an ambulance to come to their home in Romance in western White County. The medics stabilized Jaynna in the ambulance on the way to Arkansas Children’s

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SEIZURE-FREE: Sarah Weatherford and her daughter, Jaynna, are fighting Jaynna’s epilepsy with a tincture of CBD-infused medical marijuana.

Hospital, where she was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Jaynna had suffered a tonic-clonic seizure, formerly known as a grand mal seizure. She was prescribed a daily anti-epileptic medication as well as an emergency drug to be used in case she suffered any seizures lasting longer than five minutes.

Unfortunately, the medications came with some side effects that were difficult for Jaynna to handle, especially at bedtime.

“She had really bad night terrors,” Weatherford said. “She would scream and holler and run around the house while trying to go to sleep.”

Jaynna would have no memory the next day of her behaviors during the night.

Weatherford eventually weaned Jaynna off of the drugs and decided to give cannabis a try. First, they used CBD oil, because medical marijuana wasn’t legal in the state at the time.

Once it became legal, Jaynna obtained her medical marijuana card and, at age 9, became the youngest patient in the state. Because Jaynna is a minor, Weatherford was issued a caregiver card and the two began visiting the dispensary together.

Jaynna uses a tincture, which Weatherford dilutes with a hemp-based CBD oil because she said there aren’t many low-THC tinctures available. The bottles of tincture cost about $90 each, but they last for “quite a while,” according to Weatherford, since Jaynna uses small amounts.

While using the tincture, Jaynna has kept her seizures at bay.

“We’ve been pretty lucky here recently,” Weatherford said. “She’s right at a year and a half seizure-free.”

Jaynna, who suffers from some neurologi56 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

cal learning disabilities, recently finished the fourth grade in the Mount Vernon-Enola School District, where she earned all A’s and B’s.

“We have definitely seen a big difference as far as just her normal day-to-day activities and not having neurological issues,” Weatherford said. “She’s a tough cookie.”

COMBAT VET FIGHTS PTSD John Smith has an aversion to society. He’s often angry, has a short temper and is described by others as having an intimidating demeanor.

Serving eight years in the military, including time in Iraq, can do that. “[It has] something to do with a look in the eyes, I’m told,” said Smith, who requested that we use a pseudonym. “It’s the demeanor of a lot of veterans — being quiet.”

Smith, of Conway, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and struggles with social anxiety. He’s had a difficult time finding an effective treatment that will allow him to function in society.

Smith used every treatment offered at the VA Hospital, but without much luck. The drugs he was prescribed were not effective and made him feel overmedicated, so his wife and members of the vet community encouraged him to try medical marijuana.

“Pretty much everybody in the vet community was, ‘You should just smoke, man,” Smith said.

Smith worried he could lose VA benefits as a result of using marijuana, which is still an illegal drug under federal law.

Smith’s wife encouraged him to give it a try as well.

“My wife is the one that introduced me to the idea and kind of gave me the push, because I,

and other veterans, were pretty nervous about the way the VA was going to handle things,” Smith said.

Fortunately for Smith, the fears about the VA’s handling of marijuana use were unfounded. While the VA does not prescribe medical marijuana, the VA cannot withhold treatment or compensatory benefits for its use, according to DAV, a veterans advocacy group.

Smith finally made the decision when a VA psychiatrist suggested it after Smith had exhausted all his other options. “[I made the decision to try it] when one of the psychiatrists at the VA told me, ‘Man, you’ve been through every formulary the VA has, you ought to just try smoking weed, man. Just get your med card and see if that will help,’ ” Smith said.

Smith tried medical marijuana and has been pleased with the results, spending about $300 per week on edibles and flower at Green Springs Medical Dispensary in Hot Springs. Smith said he prefers hybrids or indicas because the sativas make his heart race and don’t soothe his PTSD symptoms as well.

“It calms the storm,” Smith said. “[I become] more willing to listen, if you will.”

Smith said his wife has been pleased with the results, too.

“My wife says my tone is more aggressive when I don’t smoke, almost abrasive,” Smith said. “[When I smoke,] I’m much better with my words.”

Smith said using medical marijuana to treat his PTSD is better than the alternatives.

“This is just being honest,” Smith said. “I’d rather smoke than be [heavily drugged] with meds or drink.”

Diploma in hand, Southern Arkansas University grads face a bright future.

A GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE NATURAL STATE Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 57

Dear Students and Families: The 2020 school year has brought with it challenges that are unprecedented in most people’s lives. In the modern era, few health emergencies have disrupted as much of daily life, including the college experience as COVID-19.

Ever since the pandemic reached Arkansas last spring, colleges and universities have worked to amend their programs and implement protocols to allow students to complete their studies in a manner that protects them and their instructors from potential exposure. These measures evolve quickly, with some changing on a weekly basis, as schools seek the right balance of access and common-sense distancing.

This year’s College Guide reflects these efforts. We’ve decided to print in September instead of our traditional spot in August, to provide the latest information related to the pandemic from many of the state’s institutions of higher learning. In this edition, you will learn about the added safety measures that have been implemented as well as the expanded digital options available to PLAN YOUR VISIT: students in this uncertain time.

OBU.EDU/ ADMI SSI ONS We also consider non-COVID topics, 1.800.DI AL.OBU such as updates on new facilities, clubs and organizations, security and ways to relax on campuses throughout the state. And we provide a handy table that gives you a sideby-side comparison of schools, enabling you to make an informed decision about where to pursue your degree.

For more than 30 years, the Arkansas Times College Guide has helped parents and students alike prepare for a rewarding college experience, and for all of its challenges, 2020 holds that same promise.

Thank you for making us a part of this most important chapter in the life of your family.

Be safe,

2019 COLLEGE GUIDE 2020 COLLEGE GUIDE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS

DR. JAMES SHEMWELL DR. STEVE COLE, CHANCELLOR DR. ROBIN E. BOWEN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ARKANSAS TECH NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE COSSATOT UNIVERSITY “We are very proud of the Arkansas “We know you have choices in life—choices “Arkansas Tech University empowers Northeastern College’s reputation for about your friends, your music, your life. We students to apply their grit and transform both personal attention and excellence in would love to be your choice for education. their lives for the better. We rank No. 1 in teaching; however, we are especially proud We refuse for UA Cossatot to be an old Arkansas and among the top 10 percent of the individual achievements and successes and stale college. We love technology and of colleges and universities nationwide in of the thousands of students who comprise are always looking for ways to make our providing students with access to upward DR. SHEMWELL DR. STEVE COLE, CHANCELLOR DR. E. BOWEN DR. STEVE DR. JAMES our JAMES history.

ANC is SHEMWELL a two-year institution of college fresh. Our textbook program isROOK socialROBIN mobility after graduation. Over 93 ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ARKANSAS ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ARKANSAS higher education, whichNORTHEASTERN boasts the lowest really cool;gone are the days where your percent of our TECH more than 12,000 students THREE RIVERS NORTHEASTERN COSSATOT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE costmyfuture@walton.uark.edu of any college inCOLLEGE the state while its books cost more than your tuition. We offer State University are from Arkansas, and approximately one “Joining the Arkansas System in January “We are very proud of the Arkansas Northeastern “We are very proud of the Arkansas “We know you have choices in life—choices “Arkansas Tech University empowers graduates earn the most. ANC graduates go textbook rentals for2020, a smallArkansas fee and many of every four ATU students comes from a State University-Three Rivers (formerly College’s reputation for bothfor personal attention andyour friends, your music, your life.

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ASU-TR ensures you have an opportunity Technicalcost certificates training programs experience, enjoy the community University. Learn more at www.atu.edu.” of any and college in the state while itscollege graduates our history.

ANC is a two-year institution of college fresh. Our textbook program is social mobility after graduation. achieve educational goals by providing programs Over 93 earn most.skills ANC for graduates go on to becomecollege doctors providetherelevant entering the life first andtothen make your the leap to higher education, which boasts the lowest really cool;gone are the days where your percent of our 12,000 students and services designed for our students whomore planthan to seek and lawyers, owners and corporate managers, workplace with business better earning potential—in a four-year college. We are excited about cost of any college in the state while its books cost more than your tuition. We offer are from Arkansas, and approximately one immediate employment, transition to a new career, or steel industry technicians and welders, nurses and EMTs one year or less, in many cases. ANC can another awesome year and hope to be your earn a four-year degree. Visit ofusevery at One College Circlecomes in from a graduates earn the most.

ANC graduates go textbook rentals for a small fee and many four ATU students —provide the possibilities are plentiful.

Technical certificates and the foundation future academic choice for higher education!”

Ouachita, we dofor more or onfree. If the web at www.ASUTR.edu.

At ASU-Three training programs provide relevant on toAtbecome doctors and lawyers, businessskills classroomthe materialsMalvern are completely diverse background.

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Joinprovide us at thethe foundation for less, in ANC can ranked, university, industry technicians andCollege welders, nurses technical options that will get you trained and caring. Innovative, leading-edge and Arkansas Northeastern to prepare we pride ourselves in future academic studies,are training forforcareer advancement, and EMTs—the possibilities plentiful. quickly. If you are looking for a university forward-thinking—we are Arkansas Tech offering high-impact learning a better or skillsfuture.” for a whole new career.

Join us at thecollege Arkansas Technical certificates training programs experience, enjoy the community University. Learn more at www.atu.edu.” experiences that willand prepare Northeastern College toOurprepare for a better future.” you for your futureskills career. provide relevant for entering the college life first and then make the leap to commitment to a love of God workplace with better earning potential—in a four-year college. We are excited about and love of learning means one you’ll year orleave less,here in many another awesome year and hope to be your readycases. to ANC can engage withfoundation the world for – and provide the future academic choice for higher education!” a difference in it. studies,make training for career advancement, or skills for a whole new career. Join us at the Come see how Ouachita Arkansas Northeastern College to prepare for can invest in you. a better future.”

We would love to show you around!

DR. KELLY DAMPHOUSSE DR. JOHN A. HOGAN Alan Leveritt ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE President, Arkansas Times “I want every high school senior in our “There is a lot to get excited about at JIM BORSIG region to know that he or she has a place at National Park College.DR. Join Nighthawk Nation DR. CATHIE CLINE CLINE HENDERSON STATEtheirUNIVERSITY research university. I want our faculty DR. CATHIE and be a part of amazing student life, “At Henderson State University,andwestaff offer morethey thanare65respected and EAST ARKANSAS EAST ARKANSAS athletics and campusundergraduate organizations. NPCand graduate programstotoknow prepare youweforall share COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE their ideas matter, and that has NJCAA teams foramen and women’s rewarding career. Whether you want to study with ourstudents reach “EACC’s career-ready transfer-ready programs provide “EACC’s career-ready andand transfer-ready the same goal of helping our basketball, men and highly women’sranked cross country, education, nursing or business programs or students with thestudents best and economical education PUBLISHER Alan Leveritt ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES programs provide with most the best and their highest aspirations.

Most of all, I hope baseball and softball.take We offer more Brooke Wallace, Lee Major, withthan Arkansas’s only professional pilot degree, available, complemented by the highest degree of perDR. KELLY DAMPHOUSSE DR. JOHN A.degrees HOGAN and if flight COLLEGE GUIDE EDITOR Lindsey Millar and Terrell Jacobmost economical education available, comfor a Henderson. university community that truly believes 75 transfer your ACT is 19 we invite you to learn more about We encoursonal service. holddegree paramount the goal of providingPARK COLLEGE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY plemented by theWe highest of personal NATIONAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mandy Keener ADVERTISING ASSISTANT that ‘Every Red Wolf personal Counts.’ ” age scholarly and creative activities in a caring, or higher, you may qualify for scholarships. students with quality learning opportunities, and our Hannah Peacock PUBLISHER “I want every high school senior in our service.

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Find your KAITLYN LOONEY service.

We are small but mighty, and we community.”

Nearly 70 percent of NPC students receive path at np.edu.” care deeply about our students. Our recent financial aid and scholarships. Last year, NPC merger has resulted in an institution that is students received over $7.5 millionADVERTISING in grants SUPPLEMENT OF THE ARKANSAS TIMES A SPECIAL 2 AUGUST ARKANSAS TIMES continue in better than2019ever. All programs and scholarships. At National Park College, the new institution, offering students the you can have a full college experience– opportunity to selectSpecial from aAdvertising diverse menu Section close to home–at less than half the cost 58 SEPTEMBER 2020 ARKANSAS TIMES of options when developing their educational of the average four-year university. Our plans. Our goals remain the same: to

2019 COLLEGE GUIDE

2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

HE PRESIDENTS

DR. STEVE ROOK COLLEGE OF THE OUACHITAS “College of the Ouachitas is changing the lives of the residents of Hot Spring, Grant, Dallas, Saline, and Clark Counties. For 50 years, COTO has been committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives. COTO CELLOR ensures you have DR. ROBIN E. BOWEN an opportunity to achieve DR. ROBINARKANSAS E. BOWEN RKANSAS your TECHprograms educational goals by providing ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY and services Tech designed for students who plan “Arkansas University oices in life—choices “Arkansas Techempowers University students empowers to apply totheir seekgrit immediate employment, and transform their transition lives andtothe lives of others r music, yourafor life.

Wecareer students grit andintransform better. rank toNo.apply 1 intheir Arkansas providing newthe or aWe four-year degree.

Nowhere choice for education. their lives for the better. rank No.after 1 in students with access upward socialWemobility else in Arkansas will youtofind the state-oftot to be an old Arkansas and among thestudents top 10 percent graduation.

Over 93 percent of our are from Arthe-art programs cutting-edge ove technology and technical of collegeswith andone universities kansas, and approximately of everynationwide four ATUinstudents to prepare youbackground. for today’s ways to maketechnology our from providing students withhighaccess upward yet comes a diverse We aretotenacious, tech world.

Visit us at One College Circle in Over competitive, yet after compassionate and 93 caring. ook program supportive; is social mobility graduation. on thepercent web atofwww.COTO. edu.

We are orprepared to deliver programs in multiple e days whereMalvern your our quality more than 12,000 students thatArkansas, are will innovative, leading-edge Atformats College the are Ouachitas you discover our tuition. We offer ofof learning from and approximately one and We are Techcomes University.

Higher Degree ofof You!” mall fee andaforward-thinking. many every fourArkansas ATU students from a Learn

more at www.atu.edu.” e completely free. If diverse background. We are tenacious, yet ob, we have many supportive; competitive, yet compassionate will get you trained and caring. Innovative, leading-edge and ng for a university forward-thinking—we are Arkansas Tech oy the community University. Learn more at www.atu.edu.” en make the leap to e are excited about and hope to be your tion!”

DR. W. JOSEPH (JOEY) KING DR. W. JOSEPH “JOEY” KING LYON COLLEGE LYON COLLEGE “Lyon College leadswill thealways way in carry preparing “A Lyon degree merit. Every year our students for today’s The skills successful job apcommunity hears workforce. about a graduate’s plication or graduate school interview and how attending sought by employers--critical thinking, Lyon set them apart from those the competition. leadership, collaboration--are in which In fact, the very skills sought by employers today our graduates excel.

Small class sizes foster— critical thinking, leadership, communication, collaboration — are those in mentoring between students and faculty which graduates of LyonDAMPHOUSSE College excel. This excellence is DR. KELLY indue an interdisciplinary liberal arts program in no small part to class sizes that foster one-on-one ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY LLEGE mentoring between faculty. campus where experiential learning andhigh aand culture ofseniorOur wantstudents every school in our ited about at community has“Iidentified priorities that will serve innovation are embraced.

We are committed region to know that he or she has a placeasat our in Nighthawk guidepost Nation in the next decade, including the additions of to a diverse and inclusive residential university. want ourWe faculty g student life,exercise sciencetheir andresearch data science as Imajors. have also community focused on educating the whole and staff to know they are respected and is the anizations. NPCgreatly expanded our varsity and club sports: Lyon person.

Campusinpriorities restoring their ideasinclude matter, and that we all share scholarn and women’s first college the state to offer collegiate archery themajor same and goal ofcare helping ourour students reach and aships. computer addition Mostscience importantly, wethe about students, men’s cross country, theirtostudies highest aspirations.

Most of and all, I learning hope wea film are dedicated providing aWe safehave living and media minor. e offer more ofthan environment where they can flourish.

No matter what this for a university community that truly believes if your ACT isalso 19 expanded varsity and club sports, and school year brings, LyontoRed remains committed thatgamer ‘Every Wolfthe Counts.’ fy for scholarships. have a professional coach new ” to establishing an inclusive community focused on educating the C students receive esports another wholeprogram, person. Ioffering invite you and“only your atfamily to learn more hips. Last year, NPC Lyon” experience.

A ROTC military science about what has made Lyon such an exceptional place for 7.5 million inconcentration grants is planned, along with an nearly 150 years.” onal Park College, exercise science major and minor, pending ge experience– final approval by the college’s accreditor. han half the Lyon cost is the only pet-friendly campus across university. Our the region, and a newly opened dog park staff are committed one of many spots where students find orkforce. Findisyour respite. Come see what has made Lyon College such an exceptional place for nearly 150 years.”SUPPLEMENT OF THE ARKANSAS TIMES SPECIAL ADVERTISING

myfuture@walton.uark.edu DR. JUDY I. PILE, CHANCELLOR DR. KELLY DAMPHOUSSE BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE ARKANSAS STATE BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE LITTLE ROCK UNIVERSITY LITTLE ROCK “BHCLR isisa aunique institution guidedguided by by healthcare work- “I want every high school senior in our region to know “BHCLR unique institution that he or she has a place at their research university. I the health careinworkforce needs Arkansas. force needs Arkansas.

Weinoffer one-year programs, want our faculty and staff to know they are respected and We offer one-year associatedegrees through several associate degreesprograms, and bachelor their ideas matter, and that we all share the same goal university Our through outcomes in retention, board/ degrees, andaffiliations. bachelor degrees of helping our students reach their highest aspirations. registry passage and graduate placement are competitive several university affiliations. Our outcomes Most of all, I hope for a university community that truly and are available on our website.

BHCLR offers rich cliniin retention, board/registry passage and believes that ‘Every Red Wolf Counts.’ ” cal experiences and a Christian environment.

Individuals graduate placement are competitive and are who fit well in healthcare have a natural tendency to care available on our website. BHCLR offers rich for others, enjoy learning and challenges and P L exhibit A N YOUR VI S I T: clinical experiences inandalla areas Christianof environprofessionalism their lives. The field O B U .E of D U /A D MI SSI O NS ment. Individuals who fit well health careand there are healthcare is dynamic andingrowing, many 1.

800.

D I A L .O B U have a natural to care for others, avenues to antendency incredible career.

Visit our website to learn At Ouachita, we do more enjoy learning and challenges and exhibit more at www.bhclr.edu.” than learn together. We do professionalism in all areas of their lives. The life together. As a nationallyfield of health care is dynamic and growing and there are many avenues to an incredible ranked, top-tier university, career. Visit our website to learn more at we pride ourselves in www.bhclr.edu.” offering high-impact learning DR. ESTERS ESTERS DR. EVELYN E. JORGENSON DR.RANDY RANDY experiences that will prepare NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE COLLEGE NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NORTH ARKANSAS you for future career.

“North College ranks the your COLLEGE “NorthArkansas Arkansas College isasranked as the 4thCOMMUNITY Best OnlineOur commitment to a love of Arkansas God Communit Community CollegeCollege in Arkansas Schools) 17th Best Community and the (Guide to Online “NorthWest and love of learning meanslives, inspire and is theAffordable first FANUC Authorized Satellite Training 24th Most Community College seeks toCenter empower for Robotics in Arkansas.

Enrollment is growing, with acommunity you’ll leave here ready to through that Offers Online Degrees in the nation. strengthen 17% increase the 2020 summer Aworld new uniengage with theaffordable, –quality andeducation at We’re excited to in announce a new online semester.

DR. JOHN A. HOGAN versityformat partnership laboratory hybrid delivery ofwith our UAMS Medicalallows Laborathroughout Benton makemedical a difference in it.and Washing NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE technology earn their bachelor’s degree without “There is a lot to get excited about at National Park tory Technologygrads (MLT)toprogram.

Coursework We focus on providing what our leaving their hometown. Our Lady Pioneer women’s College. Join Nighthawk Nation and be a part of amazing isever online and and the clinical is completed in recognized need, softball teams were as whether Teams that’s adult basi student life, athletics and campus organizations. NPC has abasketball facility near the student’s home. We’ve new job skills for today’s workp Come see how Ouachita of Distinction by the NJCAA and 15 athletes were named NJCAA teams for men and women’s basketball, men’s added four university partnership agreefoundation pursue a four-yea canlike invest in toyou.

All Academic Athletes.

Industry partners Big Cedar and women’s cross country, baseball and softball. We ments: Arkansas Tech University, John Brown and post-graduate Lodge, the Springfield Cardinals and others fuel a new We would love tostudy. NWAC offer more than 75 transfer degrees, and if your ACT is University, theManagement University of Arkansas Samwith environment that inspires stude Sports Turf program paid apprenaround!

19 or higher, you may qualify for scholarships. Nearly 95 M. Walton College of Business, and Evangelshow you courages them to maximize the ticeship opportunities. We pride ourselves in providing percent of NPC students receive financial aid and scholarUniversity Internships FedExyou a high-quality a family recently. atmosphere whilewith giving ships. year, NPC ELAINE Last KNEEBONE, J.D. students received over $7.5 million education at an affordable price.

I’d like to extend a Freight, Tyson Foods and Pace Industries in grants and scholarships.

At National Park College, you HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY personal invitation to you toexperience visit our campus and tour enable students to get hands-on can have a full college experience — close to home — at “At Henderson State University, we Northark for yourself.” while they pursue their education. We less than halfability the cost of the average believe in the of every student to four-year university. are a nationally recognized college with a Our experienced faculty and staff are committed to your be extraordinary. We offer more than 65 small-town feel. I’d like to extend a personal success in the workforce. Find your path at np.edu.” undergraduate and graduate programs to invitation to you to visit us in Harrison and prepare you for the career of your dreams. tour Northark for yourself. We are proud to Whether you want to study with our highly be Pioneers!” ranked education, nursing, or business programsPUBLISHER or take flight with Arkansas’s Alan Leveritt ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES only professional pilot degree, we invite Brooke Wallace, Lee Major, COLLEGE EDITOR you to visit our campus.GUIDE Henderson State Lindsey Millar and Terrell Jacob University encourages scholarly and creative DIRECTOR Mandy Keener ADVERTISING ASSISTANT activitiesCREATIVE in a caring, personal atmosphere Hannah Peacock that reflects the university’s motto for more DR. TERISA C. RILEY, CHANCELL DIRECTOR OF with DIGITAL STRATEGY Jordan Little ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER than a century, ‘The School a Heart.’

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANS Roland R. Gladden Learn what it means to Live Reddie at FORT SMITH ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Mike Spain hsu.edu. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katie Hassell IT DIRECTOR Robert Curfman “The University of Arkansas–Fo CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Anitra Hickman offers a transformational educa DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING CONTROLLER Weldon Wilson experience, where students lear JASON BILLING/COLLECTIONS L. MORRISON, ED.D. Phyllis A. Britton Linda Phillips highly-trained professors in stat SOUTHERN ARKANSAS Special Advertising Section ARKANSASTIMES.COM SEPTEMBER facilities.2020 UAFS 59 lives up to the p UNIVERSITY TECH providing both a deep and rich “SAU Tech is moving forward at a fast pace a major area of study as well a with the inclusion of NJCAA softball for fall DR. JUDY I. PILE, CHANCELLOR

2019 COLLEGE GUIDE

MESSAGE FROM THE

2019 COLLEGE GUIDE

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

teachers, architects, engineers and lawyers. We’re routinely recognized as one of the best values in higher education, and Fayetteville has been ranked among the nation’s best places to live. I encourage you to come see why.”

Our core values of empowerment and accountability drive our tight-knit community of educators and learners. What truly makes UAPB stand out—strong support from faculty and administration and the familial atmosphere—create the optimal environment for student success.

And our 1890 land-grant designation continues to pave the way for innovations in technology, agriculture, medicine and business. UAPB shapes the minds that go on to reshape the world.”

who are making a huge difference in Arkansas and beyond. Go Bears!”

2020 COLLEGE GUIDE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS

DR. KARLA HUGHES, CHANCELLOR

UNIVERSITY OFPH.D. ARKANSAS RODERICK L. SMOTHERS SR., DR. JEROME GREEN AT MONTICELLO PRESIDENT AND CEO SHORTER COLLEGE PHILANDER SMITH “Shorter is committed to its motto, ‘Your Path to “UAM is a place where opportunity “While life as we have known it has been drastically abounds.

Students come to UAM for Possible.’ We are graduating students that are capable altered in recent months,small it remains Philander classestrue wherethatfaculty know who and equipped to compete not just within the state of Smith College is a beacon of hope for those with a thirst Arkansas, but nationally. Since our founding, Shorter they areofand care about their success. College has been in the business of transforming lives for knowledge and big dreams scholastic achievement. are developed while by providing our students with a premier, quality higher Our guiding principles of Life-long caring forfriendships our community, students pursue an academic remaining student-centered and mission-focused, andpath that education. One of our primary goals is to enrich DR. MARGARET A. ELLIBEE executing in operational excellence us in themore academic instructional programs and student services to will change are theirleading future. We have UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS new normal — providing the our committhaninspiration 70 distinct for programs for students at endow students with the knowledge, skills and abilities PULASKI TECHNICAL mentCOLLEGE to produce world-class are making threegraduates southeastwho Arkansas campuses–our to become scholastically and professionally productive “UA-Pulaski Tech’s longstanding reputa- in the world. Through the lens of a positive difference in today’s global society. Shorter has remained steadfast andinour tech- in ensuring that our students are receiving all of the global achievehealth pandemicmain in thecampus midstinofMonticello civil unrest tion for dedication toastudent nicalafter campuses in McGehee and Crossett. necessary tools required to effectively complete their and 143 years its founding, Philander ment is a direct resultourof country, the dedication UAMcurriculum is a uniqueand university in that we educational journey. We are supplying our students with Smith — with its liberal arts focus on and professional excellence our faculty social justice — has a steadfast as anof educational offer aposition broad range opportunities for laptops and mobile hotspots at no out of pocket cost. As and staff bring to thepillar student for experience. the next generation of leaders who desire to we continue to move the college forward, it is imperative learning from certificates of proficiency UA-PTC’s students digmove deeperus toFORWARD find into atohealthier, more degrees diversetoand undergraduate master’s that we work together to build on our past achievements value and excellenceequitable within themselves. future.” and plan for continued successes.”

DR.RICHARD RICHARD DR. DAWE DAWE OZARKA COLLEGE OZARKA COLLEGE “OzarkaCollege Collegehashasbeen been committed to our students for “Ozarka committed 45 years and we continuously strive for ways to enhance to students experience for more thanand40toyears ourourstudents’ offer the highest quality and we continuously strive rates. for ways education at affordable Wetoare passionate about enhance students’educational experience and providingourexcellent opportunities to help students their careers to offer thesucceed highestinquality educationand in life.”

at affordable rates. We are passionate about providing excellent educational opportunities to help students succeed in their careers and in life.”

2019 COLLEGE GUIDE

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS

Our job is to give them the tools to do it. Whether a student pursues a university-transfer degree or needs cutting-edge technical training, it’s the personal touch that makes the difference.”

degrees. With hundreds of scholarship opportunities, an affordable education at UAM is a great first step toward your professional goals. We’re ready to invest in you and your success. Go Weevils!”

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF THE ARKANSAS TIMES

DR. CHRISTINA DRALE, CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK “UA Little Rock is a comprehensive metropolitan university that connects its students with professional opportunities in the capital city and beyond. While maintaining a strong liberal arts core education, UA Little Rock offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that meet the demand for advanced-level preparation in areas of critical need for local, state and regional development. Our location provides critical access to a wide variety of internship, field work and research opportunities in business, government, nonprofit, health care, education and high-tech organizations. By offering a large number of merit and need-based scholarships we provide access to an affordable, quality education for a diverse student body. UA Little Rock can be part of your success story.”

60 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

DR. JAMES SHEMWELL MICHAEL MOORE, PH.D. ARKANSAS CHIEF ACADEMIC/OPERATING OFFICER NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS “We are very proud of the Arkansas SYSTEM EVERSITY reputation for “Young people Northeastern should haveCollege’s the opportunity to go off both in personal andthat excellence to college and take all ofattention the things makeinthe university experience enriching memorable. teaching;sohowever, we and are especially proud Unfortunately, itof doesn’t always work out and thatsuccesses way for the individual achievements everyone. I’m honored to be aofpart of thewhostate’s only 100 of the thousands students comprise percent online university, which was created to provide our history. ANC is a two-year institution of an affordable and higher high-quality University of Arkansas education, which boasts the lowest System option to those who simply can’t make it to a campus. The cost ofuses anyworld-class college in thefaculty state while UA System eVersity and itsresources graduates earn the most.

ANC graduates from all of the UA System institutions to provide a go comon tounmatched become doctors and lawyers, business pletely online and experience.

In the midst of owners and corporate steel your such uncertain times, eVersity wasmanagers, built to support industry and welders, nurses educational needs withtechnicians award-winning courses that were designed from the for online delivery.

We’d love to and start EMTs—the possibilities are plentiful. help you stay safe and earn credits Technical certificates andwithout training compromising programs quality or your provide budget.relevant See how collegethedifferently skillswefordoentering by visiting eVersity.edu.” workplace with better earning potential—in one year or less, in many cases. ANC can Specialthe Advertising Section provide foundation for future academic studies, training for career advancement, or skills for a whole new career. Join us at the

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

AUGUST 2019 5

DR. STEVE COLE, CHANCELLOR DR. STEVE COLE, CHANCELLOR DR. ROBIN E. BOWEN UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS– COSSATOT UNIVERSITY COSSATOT “We youthat haveCOVID-19 choices in has life—choices “Arkansas Tech University em “Weknow know brought about intense about yourtofriends, your music,lives. your As life.weWework together studentstotobeat apply their grit a change our students’ COVID-19, to meet thetheir needs would love to UA-Cossatot be your choiceisforprepared education. livesoffor the better. We students our community.

Weourrefuse for UAand Cossatot to be an old From award-winning Arkansas and among the top online to alove textbook program and stale courses college. We technology and that hasof already colleges and universities n students millions of dollars costs, aresaved alwaysourlooking for ways to make our on textbook providing students with acces we have been reinventing the way education is delivered college fresh. Our textbook program is social mobility after graduati for 50 years. UA Cossatot also invites you to check out the really are the dayswhere wherewe yourhave added more percentand of our more than 12 feel cool;gone of our campuses, books cost more than your tuition. We offer are from more COVID-19 safety measures to help our students Arkansas, learn and appro textbook a small fee we andhave manyadded more of collegiate every four ATU students co withoutrentals worryforand where classroom materials completely free. If athletics diverse We are t activities, such asaremen’s and women’s and background. a you are looking for a job, program. we have many supportive; Student Ambassador We are the only Hispaniccompetitive, yet c Servingoptions Institution in Arkansas, ourInnovative, leadin technical that will(HSI) get you trained which reflects and caring. attentionyoutoare being a diverse learning community, and quickly. If looking for a university forward-thinking—we are Ar we have four campuses Southwest Arkansas, each Learn more at ww college experience, enjoy the in community University. specializing leadtoto real jobs. Welcome college life first in andprograms then makethat the leap to UA-Cossatot, where we are looking a four-year college. We are excited about forward to our next 50 years!” another awesome year and hope to be your choice for higher education!”

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kansas UAPB the yond y want UAPB am— itality ror’s h as an that ent wth

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in our history, we know our greatest assets are our students and our faculty and staff.

JOE STEINMETZ, It is with a student-centered approach toCHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY learning and a steadfast dedication to OF ARKANSAS “The that University of Arkansas is proud to helping our scholars thrive we continue to move FORWARD intohave the students future.” from every county in the

state. Helping them maximize their potential and advancing Arkansas together has been a part of our mission for 148 years. We are also the most academically comprehensive university in the state with nearly 240 different degrees and certificates available. Nowhere else in Arkansas can you find the range of majors, classes, research opportunities and access to world-class faculty. That’s helped more than 300 U of A students win nationally competitive scholarships, DR. TREY BERRY DR. TREY BERRY fellowships, grants and internships over SOUTHERN ARKANSAS SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITYthe last academic year. Our graduates “Over sixsix years, Southern Arkansas “Overthethepast past years Southern Arkansas are state governors, Fortune University 500 CEOs, University has experienced record enrollment has experienced record enrollment and growth.

New scientists and novelists.

They’re nurses, and growth.

New academic programs in cyacademic programs in cyber criminology, public health, teachers, architects, and lawber criminology, publicanimation, health, game designengineers game design and poultry science, musical yers.

We’re routinely recognized onehave of and animation, poultry science,have musical the- studentsasand theater and engineering attracted the best values in higher education, and of transformed SAU into aattracted truly global campus.

The School ater and engineering have students Graduate Studies has dramatically and offers Fayetteville has ranked among the and have transformed SAUalso into grown a truly been global a wide variety both online and Ionencourage campus. campus.

The Schoolof ofprograms Graduatebest Studies nation’s places to live.

Ouralso newest graduate programs is an Ed.D. has grownaddition dramatically and offers youtotoour come see awhy.” in Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership. This fully

wide variety of programs, both online and online program is the first of its kind south of Little Rock. on Ourmission primary mission is students, and our Ourcampus. primary at SAUatis SAU to serve toculture serve students, and our culture of caring of caring has new and current students and alumni has new and current students alumni throughout the state and and nation saying SAU ‘feels like throughout home.’” the state and nation saying SAU ‘feels like home.’”

ments: Arkansas Tech University, John Brown and post-graduate study. NWACC creates an University, the University of Arkansas Sam environment that inspires students and enDr. Laurence B. Alexander, Chancellor M. Walton College of Business,DR. andHOUSTON Evangel DAVIS courages them to maximize their potential.”

OF CENTRAL recently. Internships UNIVERSITY with FedEx UNIVERSITY OF University ARKANSAS Industries AT PINE BLUFF Freight, Tyson Foods and Pace ARKANSAS “Atexperience the University of Central Arkansas, enable “Access and opportunity arestudents the to get hands-on while theyofpursue their education.

We committed to the success of we are foundations of the University Arkansas are a nationally recognized college with a and helping them reach our students at Pine Bluff. Since our inception, UAPB small-town feel.

I’d like to extend a personalgoals. We are proud of our their degree has educated and inspired some of the invitation to you to visit us in vibrant Harrisonand and diverse student body that world’s greatest minds to reach beyond tour Northark for yourself. Weisareexcelling proud toinside and outside of the their circumstances and be who they want be Pioneers!” classroom. UCA students are part of a

from the university’s libe unique high-impact learn which afford valuable pe experiences in their resp 99 percent placement ra and record retention for Ouachita is committed to with a college experienc lives and sets them on a success. At Ouachita, ou known–by the dedicated who take a personal inte the close-knit campus co life with.”

to be. New to our campus this fall, UAPB dynamic and growing university that launches its first engineering program— aims to set students up for success in agricultural engineering—the hospitality their careers and lives after graduation. and tourism management degree proUCA is recognized nationally as the most gram and the associate-to-bachelor’s beautiful campus in Arkansas and when degree program, in partnership with DR. CHANCELLOR HOUSTON DAVIS JOE STEINMETZ, CHANCELLOR you withDR. TERISA C. RILEY, someChancellor of the best CHANCELLOR Dr. combine Laurencethat B. Alexander, DR. TERISA C. RILEY,

JOE STEINMETZ, CHANCELLOR SEARK College. UAPB’s designation as an UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL faculty in the nation, you get a complete OF ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF UNIVERSITY ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – UNIVERSITY ARKANSAS 1890 land-grant OF institution means that AT FAYETTEVILLE that second toSMITH ARKANSAS FORTisFORT SMITH AT PINEexperience BLUFF AT “Themission University ofofArkansas to to havecollegiate our to serve a diverseisstudent “The University Arkansas isproud proud students “The University of Arkansas Smith offers students “AtatSmith theFort University of Central Arkansas, “The University It isand ouropportunity goal that students “Access are the willof Arkansas–Fort have every students from every inHelping the themnone. population and fosterin learning, growth from county thecounty state. maximize from all walks of life aeducational transformational educational we are committed to the success of offers a transformational soon join the outstanding alumni of UCA foundations of Arkansas state.

Helping them maximize their po- together and productivity will never change. their potential and advancing Arkansas have of the University experience.

Highly trained professors in state-of-the-art faexperience, where students learn from our students and helping them reach JASON L. MORRISON, ED.D. who are making a huge difference in our inception, UAPB been a and part of of ourempowerment mission fortogether 149 alsoBluff. Since cilities tential advancing Arkansas Our core values and years. We atarePine prepare students to excel inarthigh-demand field, and highly-trained in state-of-the SOUTHERN their goals.

We are proud the comprehensive in the Arkansas and beyond.

Go Bears!”

DR. ANDREW has educated and inspired some ofprofessors the schools. top-tier graduate UA-FSdegree lives up to the promise ofof ourROGERSON hasmost been academically a part our tight-knit mission forARKANSAS 148 university accountability driveof our comfacilities. UAFS lives up to the promise of diverse UNIVERSITY TECH and certificates state, with nearly 240 different degrees vibrant and student body that OF AR UNIVERSITY providing students deep and rich knowledge in their area world’s greatest minds to reach beyond years. We are also the most academically munity of educators and learners.

What forward providing both a deep andwelcoming, richisknowledge ininside and is moving a fastthe pace available. Nowhere“SAU elseTech in Arkansas can youattheir find excelling outside of the ROCK AT LITTLE of study as well as a engaging community circumstances and be who they want comprehensive the stateofopportunities truly makes UAPBuniversity stand a major area ofthem study to as learn well as with out—strong theinresearch inclusion NJCAA softball and for fall range of majors, classes, that enables toengaging think critically, communicate “As chancellor classroom.

UCA students are part of a of the Un to be.

New to our campus this fall, UAPB with nearly 240 different degrees andfirst support faculty andfaculty. administration students soand thatwork they learn think critically, access tofrom world-class That’s helped moreseason than 2019.

The Rockets’ basketball expertly withtodiverse teams.

We areuniversity committed at Littlethat Rock, I invite st dynamic and growing launches its first engineering program— certificates available.

Nowhere inthe and scholarships, and the atmosphere—create 300 UA familial students win nationally competitive communicate and work education with diverse by offering an went beyondelse expectations we are excited to providingexpertly an affordable excepeducation aims to set students up for success in in the state agricultural engineering—the hospitality fellowships, and internships over last academic Arkansasenvironment cangrants you find thestudent range of teams. Our graduates are optimal tofor gear up forsuccess. another year.theNext summer, tional scholarships andprepared grantstothat allow graduates of access to many re where their careers and lives after graduation. year. graduates state governors, Fortune 500 competedegree jobsdebt in their UA-FS tonationally takeprooutforless thanchosen their peers. UA-FScommunity is truly and employm weare willdesignation be adding an addition toand ourtourism health management majors, classes, research opportunities And ourOur1890 land-grant CEOs, scientists and novelists. teachers, nationally as the most the home access, opportunity and success.” careers, andofgain admission toUCA someisofrecognized care lineup andThey’re this fallnurses, we havegram addedand the associate-to-bachelor’s and access topave world-class faculty.

That’s continues to the way for innovations are just architects, engineers and lawyers.

We’reour routinely beautiful campus in Arkansas andminutes when away. W the world’s top We are non-destructive testing industrial degree program, in partnership withgraduate programs. moreasthan U medicine ofbest A students inhelped technology, agriculture, and intohigher providing an affordable, recognized one300 of the values education, you combine of the best committed to providing an affordable edu- that with some technology areathat ofamong study. continues SEARK College. win Fayetteville has nationally competitive scholarships, business.

UAPB shapes the minds go SAU Arkansas students to ens and been ranked theTech nation’s best UAPB’s designation as an cation, providing students with exceptional faculty in the nation, you get to grow with student housing and extensive 1890 land-grant institution means that with aascomplete little debt as po and internships onfellowships, to reshape the world.” places to live.grants I encourage you toover come see why.” scholarships and grants which allow gradustudent support services.

Our business and collegiate experience that secondeducation. to our mission to serve a diverse student ofis higher Our the last academic year. Our graduates ates of UAFS to take out less debt than their industry partners share our excitement as none.

It is our goal that students will through to a timely grad population and foster learning, growth are state governors,they Fortune 500 CEOs, peers. UAFS: Excellent Education, Affordable are supporting our efforts as soon join the outstanding the alumni of UCAskill sets appropriate andnever productivity willInvestment, never change. scientists and novelists.

Invaluable Opportunities.” beforeThey’re and ournurses, team of faculty and staff who are making a huge difference in they are career-ready.

W Our core values of empowerment and teachers, architects,are engineers and law-to a busy and successful looking forward DR. KARLA HUGHES, CHANCELLOR an engine of social and Arkansas and beyond.

Go Bears!” accountability drive our tight-knit comyers. We’re routinely2019-20 recognized as oneyear. of Be Great! Be Tech!” academic UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS for Arkansas. Come by fo munity of educators and learners. What the best values in higher education, and about all UA Little Rock ATtrulyMONTICELLO makes UAPB stand out—strong Fayetteville has been ranked among the “UAM is a place where opportunity ARKANSAS TIMES support from faculty and administrationA SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF THE ARKANSAS TIM nation’s best places4toAUGUST live. 2019 I encourage abounds. come to UAM for the and the Students familial atmosphere—create you to come see why.” small classes where know who optimal environmentfaculty for student success. they are and care about their success.

And our 1890 land-grant designation Life-long developed while continuesfriendships to pave theareway for innovations students pursue an academic path that in technology, agriculture, medicine and DR. MARGARET A. ELLIBEE DR. MARGARET A. ELLIBEE changeUAPB their shapes future. the We have UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSASwill business. mindsmore that go UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS than 70 distinct programs for PULASKI TECHNICAL on to reshape the world.” students at PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE COLLEGE threededication southeast Arkansas campuses–our “UA Pulaski Tech’s longstanding reputation for “UA-Pulaski Tech’s longstanding reputato student achievement is a direct result of the maindedication campus in Monticello and our techtion for dedication excellence to student achieveand professional our faculty and nical staff campuses bring to in McGehee and Crossett. mentstudent is a direct result of the dedication the experience.

UAPTC’s students digUAM deeper to is a unique university in that we find value and excellence within themselves. Our job is to and professional excellence our faculty DR. KARLA HUGHES, CHANCELLOR offer a broad range of opportunities for give thembring the to tools do it. experience.

Whether a student pursues a and staff the tostudent UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS learning from certificates of proficiency university-transfer degree or needs cutting-edge technical DR. RICHARD DAWE UA-PTC’s students dig deeper to find AT MONTICELLO to find undergraduate degrees to master’s training, it’sCOLLEGE the personal touch he or she will here OZARKA value and excellence within themselves.

“UAM is a place where opportunity that makes the difference.” degrees. With hundreds of scholarship College has been committed Our“Ozarka job is to give them the tools to do abounds.

Students come to UAM for opportunities, an affordable education our students for more thana 40 years it.toWhether a student pursues universismall classes where faculty know who at UAM is a great first step toward your and we continuously strivecutting-edge for ways to ty-transfer degree or needs PROVIDING LIFE-CHANGING they are and care about their success. professional goals.

We’re ready to invest enhancetraining, our students’ and EXPERIENCES THROUGH technical it’s theexperience personal touch Life-long friendships are developed while in you and your success.

Go Weevils!” to offer quality education EDUCATION that makesthethehighest difference.” students pursue an academic path that at affordable rates. We are passionate Learning • Caring • Quality DR. MARGARET A. ELLIBEE will change their future.

We have more about providing excellent educational UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSASResponsibility • Community than 70 distinct programs for students at opportunities to help students succeed in PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE three southeast Arkansas campuses–our A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF THE ARKANSAS TIMES ARKANSASTIMES their careers and in life.”

“UA-Pulaski Tech’s longstanding reputamain campus in Monticello and our techtion for dedication to student achievenical campusesSEPTEMBER in McGehee2020 and Crossett.

Special Advertising Section ARKANSASTIMES.COM 61 ment is a direct result of the dedication UAM is a unique university in that we and professional excellence our faculty offer a broad range of opportunities for

YOUR STORY STARTS HERE

DR. RICHARD DAWE OZARKA COLLEGE “Ozarka College has been committed to our students for more than 40 years and we continuously strive for ways to enhance our students’ experience and to offer the highest quality education affordable rates. We are passionate DR. HOUSTON DR. HOUSTON DAVIS atDAVIS UNIVERSITY OFproviding CENTRAL about excellent educational UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS opportunities to help students succeed in ARKANSAS “At the University oftheir Central Arkansas we are committed careers and in life.”

“Atthe thesuccess University of Central Arkansas, to of our students and helping them reach we aredegree committed the are success of of our vibrant and their goals.to We proud our students and body helpingthat them reach inside and outside diverse student is excelling the UCAWestudents theirclassroom. degree goals. are proudareof part our of a dynamic and growing that aims set them up for success in vibrant anduniversity diverse student bodytothat their careers andand livesoutside after of graduation.

UCA is recognized is excelling inside the nationally as the most beautiful campus in Arkansas, and classroom.

UCA students partsome of a of the best faculty in when you combine thatare with dynamic and growing university that the nation, you get a complete collegiate experience that to settostudents in students will soon isaims second none. Itupis for oursuccess goal that join outstanding alumni of UCA who are making a their the careers and lives after graduation. huge Arkansasas and beyond. Go Bears!”

UCA isdifference recognized innationally the most beautiful campus in Arkansas and when you combine that with some of the best faculty in the nation, you get a complete collegiate experience that is second to none. It is our goal that students will soon join the outstanding alumni of UCA who are making a huge difference in Arkansas and beyond. Go Bears!”

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

PAYING FOR COLLEGE

While it is a fact that college degree holders earn more money over their lifetime than non-degree holders, it’s also a fact that paying for higher education is a challenge. Fortunately, there are a variety of financial aid options available for students and their families to consider.

ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE

Over 88 percent of the student body received some form of aid in the fall 2018 semester. In addition to federal and state aid, the college maintains various financial aid programs.

The Board of Trustees Academic & Technical Scholarships award students who excel during high school and are nominated by their high school counselor. They are based on class rank or test score of 24 and above on the ACT. The ANC Foundation provides need-based scholarships. Recipients must meet SAP requirements of 67 percent completion and GPA standards to maintain the scholarship. The Career Jump Start Scholarship program targets students without a high school diploma who are dually enrolled in Adult Education and ANC while pursuing a GED.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY-THREE RIVERS

The ASU-Three Rivers Academic Scholarship covers 75 percent of tuition and may be awarded up to four consecutive quarters with a qualifying courseload and college GPA. The Honors College Scholarship is awarded to high school graduates with a minimum ACT composite score of 23 and accepted into ASUTR Honors College. The award covers 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees for up to four consecutive semesters, provided coursework requirements are met.

Scholarships are also available specifically for law enforcement personnel, GED graduates and Career Center State Completers, among others.

In addition, the university maintains working relationships with various scholarship programs, a few of which include Edwina Crippen Memorial Scholarship for Nursing Majors, Single Parent Scholarship, American Indian Grant, 4-H Scholarships, Arkansas Rehabilitation Grants for students with disabilities and Walmart Scholarships for students with financial need.

Students can also take advantage of campus employment in the form of Federal Work Study positions as well as employment with the institution. Currently ASUTR offers 10 Federal Work Study positions to students each academic year.

62 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia offers multiple ways to pay for college.

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

All Arkansas Tech University freshmen academic scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. The application for undergraduate admission serves as the scholarship application; admission status is required. Scholarship consideration begins with an ACT composite score of 17.

Athletic and music scholarships are among the specialized types of financial aid that are offered to Arkansas Tech University students with a particular talent in those areas. In addition, each ATU student who participates in the Miss Arkansas competition receives a $1,000 award per semester.

Arkansas Tech students may also avail themselves of other scholarship opportunities through the ATU Foundation. Learn more at atu. edu/scholarships and atu.edu/finaid.

Tech $ense (atu.edu/finaid/techsense) is a one-stop shop for financial literacy and helps students plan for college, pay for college and make sound financial decisions. Information about federal financial aid, scholarships, student loans and helpful hints about how to read a paycheck, what goes into credit scores and how to avoid identity theft are all available through Tech $ense.

HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

Henderson State University offers a wide variety of academic scholarships for incoming and transfer students. The Distinguished Freshman Scholarship awards $11,000, plus $1,000 per year of residence hall/campus housing credit.

Eligible students must have a 3.5 or higher high school cumulative GPA and an ACT score between 31 and 36.

The Presidential Scholarship awards $9,500 plus $500 per year residence hall/campus housing credit in Tier One. Applicants must have A 3.5 or higher high school cumulative GPA and an ACT score of 28 to 30. Tier Two awards $9,000 plus $500 per year residence Special Advertising Section

hall/campus housing credit and requires a 3.25 to 3.49 high school cumulative GPA and ACT score between 28 and 36.

LYON COLLEGE

All admitted Lyon College students are eligible for institutional aid, based on academic record; generally, a 20 ACT score or its SAT equivalent is required for admission for incoming freshmen.

Lyon College also encourages and welcomes applications from students with standardized scores of less than 20, where special circumstances are prevalent. All applications are reviewed and considered in the admissions process.

Scholarships are available in a number of areas including academics, athletics, art, music, theatre, Scottish Heritage, band, choir and even eSports, among many others.

The Financial Aid Award Letter has been carefully crafted and continually updated in order to clearly present the financial aspects of a Lyon College education. Additionally, Lyon has a net price calculator that has been developed to provide students and their families an accurate estimate of the net cost of attending Lyon College.

NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE

National Park College’s tuition and fees are less than half the cost of the average university. The college disbursed over $8.6 million in scholarships and aid last year to about 95 percent of the student body.

NPC offers scholarships for students who display the potential to excel in college beyond their test scores. The Academic Achievement Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for two semesters; it requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA, a 19 or higher on the ACT and enrollment within one year of high school graduation. A 2.75 cumulative GPA and enrollment in a minimum of 12 credit hours each term is required to maintain the award.

For those who demonstrate exceptional aca-

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demic performance, NPC offers the President’s Scholarship, a full-tuition and fees award renewable for up to four semesters. It requires two of the following criteria: 3.0 cumulative GPA, 22 or higher on the ACT, and/or rank in the top 25 percent of the student’s high school graduating class. To maintain the scholarship, students must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each term.

Nighthawk Leadership Scholarships are available for students who take an active role on campus in student government, student ambassadors, Phi Theta Kappa and other student organizations. Nighthawk Athletic Scholarships are available for some student athletes according to NJCAA guidelines.

NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

Among the financial awards available through North Arkansas College is the Presidential Scholarship. This award requires an ACT score of 21 or higher and is available for high school graduates of Arkansas and Missouri contiguous counties beginning the fall semester immediately following high school graduation.

Students are eligible for this award for up to four semesters.

There are four tiers of award amounts based on ACT scores: Bronze (ACT 21-22, awarding $500 per semester); Silver (ACT 23-24, awarding $1,000 per semester); Gold (ACT 25-29, presenting $1,500 per semester) and Platinum (ACT 30-plus, covering all tuition and mandatory fees up to 18 hours per semester).

In addition, athletic scholarships are awarded in men’s and women’s basketball as well as more than 90 scholarships via the college’s foundation with various eligibility criteria.

SHORTER COLLEGE

Awarding financial aid to 99 percent of its students, Shorter College has an open admission process with no minimum ACT or SAT score required. To be considered for scholarships, students must maintain at least a 3.0 gradepoint average. Students who have not taken the ACT or SAT are required to take the Accuplacer Test.

The Pathway to Possible scholarship is a full academic scholarship and comes with additional benefits such as a tablet, laptop, mobile hotspot and unlimited access to food services provided by the dining hall.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY • One of the Lowest Tuition Rates in the State • Academic, Technical, Vocational and Allied Health Programs • Core Classes Transfer to Other Arkansas Public Universities • Admissions Assistance, Financial Aid, and Career Counseling Available!

• Flexible Course Options

Visit 64 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

EACC.edu for more information.

1-877-797-EACC

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Various departmental scholarships are available to those students majoring in specific disciplines as well as performance scholarships for students interested in art, band, choir, theater and eSports. The SAU Foundation has a wide range of scholarship opportunities available for students based on specific criteria, area of study, interest, involvement, hometown and more. SAU works proactively in its effort to help families afford the cost of higher education.

The list of academic scholarships includes Presidential Distinguished, awarding $11,000 per year for eight semesters, and the Presidential Scholarship, awarding $10,000 per year for eight semesters. University excellence and university scholarships are also available for up to eight semesters and are worth $9,000 and

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$8,000 per year, respectively.

Other scholarships are available, ranging from $600 to $6,600 per year, also renewable for up to eight semesters. Each scholarship has separate criteria to qualify for and maintain the award.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

The University of Arkansas offers new freshman scholarships, transfer student scholarships and currently enrolled student scholarships as well as awards for military, athletics, band/music and college and departmental scholarships.

The majority of scholarship funding is merit-based and competitively awarded based on written applications, special talent, test scores, high school GPA and/or college GPA, and considers the entire applicant pool. Other scholarships might require recipients to be members of an underrepresented community, such as first-generation college students, or students who reside in an underrepresented county in Arkansas.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FORT SMITH

In addition to one of the most affordable tuition rates in Arkansas, UAFS has greatly expanded its scholarship program to ensure more students have the opportunity to pursue a higher education. Exclusive opportunities are also offered to veterans and nontraditional students.

To see a full list of scholarships along with eligibility and application information, go to admissions.uafs.edu/financial-aid.

Students who transfer to UAFS are now offered additional scholarship opportunities with the launch of the Helping Hand Transfer Scholarship. This program provides $1,000 for all eligible transfer students.

The UAFS Foundation maintains a Student Emergency Fund to provide immediate support to students who encounter unforeseen financial emergencies that may otherwise prevent them from continuing their education.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

Once a student has applied for admission, the UA Little Rock Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will use a student’s admission application and match them to the most beneficial scholarship for which they are eligible.

Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit such as grade point averages, high test scores or other outstanding achievements and areas of interests such as the arts and sciences.

During the previous academic year, UA Little Rock awarded millions of dollars in scholarship funding. This year, UA Little Rock received an anonymous donation of $25 million, the largest in the university’s history, with $15 million of

this donation set aside for scholarships.

UA Little Rock students who are looking for scholarship opportunities can now apply for several different types of UA Little Rock scholarships by submitting a single scholarship application. By applying, students will be considered for all awards. This makes the scholarship application process easy and hassle-free.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

The UCA Student Financial Aid Office has a web page devoted to college costs. This page includes calculators and budgeting tools to help students and their families plan ahead: uca. edu/financialaid/college-costs/.

UCA has a number of performance-based scholarships available to entering and continuing students in athletics, cheer, dance, band, music and more. In addition, the UCA Foundation has scholarship opportunities for students based on specific donor criteria such as field of study, hometown, volunteerism or special interests. Information regarding UCA Foundation scholarships may be found at uca.edu/foundation/scholarships/.

In addition, there are federal, state, institutional and private funding opportunities for students; visit uca.edu/financialaid/financial-aid-programs/ to learn more.

A UNIVERSITY

EXPERIENCE

AT HALF

THE COST np.edu 66 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

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ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 67

2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

TWO-YEAR SCHOOLS OFFER VALUE, PERSONAL ATTENTION

BY DWAIN HEBDA

The small class size at Shorter College guarantees individualized attention.

T

wo-year schools have never been more relevant for Arkansas students thanks to their lower cost, the quality of their programs and the applicability of job skills their programs provide, earned in half the time or less of a fouryear degree.

“Our best-kept secret is that there’s always more to the college than meets the eye,” said Tim Jones, director of public relations and marketing for UA Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock. “Because of our multiple locations and diverse offerings, it’s not uncommon for a student to dig deeply into their particular discipline at a particular location, not realizing everything else that’s going on.

“A student in a transportation technology program at the Little Rock-South Campus may never have a reason to visit the Main Campus. A culinary student may not know anything about our health care programs across town. That’s a direct result of the fact that students at UAPTC can find specialties that are personally relevant and beneficial and immerse themselves in life-changing education that suits them best.”

According to data from the Community College Research Center at the Teacher’s College of Columbia University, 8.5 million students, or 38 percent of all college undergraduates, were enrolled in public two-year colleges in 201718. While two-year colleges have traditionally been thought of as serving primarily nontraditional students, Jones said that picture is changing.

“Our traditional student is nontraditional; in the past, the average age at UA-PTC has been as high as 29,” he said. “But, while we still have a large number of students for whom the ‘nontraditional’ label is apt, we are seeing a trend toward younger, traditional college-aged students attending UA-PTC.” Cost is always a consideration when discussing higher education and it’s one of the most 68 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

compelling reasons to attend a two-year school.

The 2018 Trends in College Pricing report released by the College Board showed community colleges charge about $3,660 per year on average for in-state students, a far cry from the average cost of attending public or private fouryear institutions. U.S. News and World Report figures place those costs at $35,676 per year at private colleges, $9,716 for state residents at public colleges and $21,629 for out-of-state students at state schools during the 2018-19 school year.

“Northark affords students an opportunity to graduate without a ton of college debt,” said Micki Somers, head of public relations and marketing for North Arkansas College in Harrison.

“Our in-county tuition is $74 per credit hour and we also provide internet hot spots and laptops for students to check out for the semester at no cost to them.”

Lower cost doesn’t mean sacrificing quality of instruction, Somers adds, with smaller class sizes that provide students extra help when needed.

“Our health professions degrees are highly respected for their academic rigor and high test scores. Employers who hire Northark nurses report a 100 percent satisfaction rate,” she said.

“Over 80 percent of Northark classes have fewer than 20 students in them. Small class sizes provide more individual attention, and Northark offers tutoring on top of that in many different academic areas.”

Practical skills training is another attractive element of two-year schools, offering courses that move students from high school to career quickly and efficiently.

“There is a growing trend in the state and nation to support more workforce credentials and quick, meaningful industry training,” said Dr. Wade Derden, vice president for academic affairs at National Park College in Hot Springs.

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“The workforce training component of higher education has always been a focus of two-year institutions. National Park College, like many of the colleges in the state, works diligently to meet that demand, and we have developed strong community support in the past few years to increase the number of students in these programs.”

Two-year schools are also proving to be a cost-effective springboard to a bachelor’s degree thanks to partnerships with Arkansas’s four-year institutions. These 2+2 programs allow students to seamlessly transfer their credits within the state and earn a four-year degree at a reduced cost.

“UA-PTC maintains close relationships with four-year institutions where our students transfer.

Almost two-thirds of our students opt for transfer degrees,” Jones said. “Our 2+2 transfer agreement with UA Little Rock ensures students can map out their educational journey from start to finish, thereby saving time and money.

“Last year, UA Fayetteville began offering the Arkansas Achievement Transfer Scholarship, which will allow students from the UA System’s two-year institutions to attend their junior and senior years at Fayetteville for the same tuition cost they paid where they received their associate degree. This is an enormous cost savings to UA-PTC students as they continue their education.”

North Arkansas College signed an agreement with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Somers said.

“That agreement allows Northark medical laboratory technology graduates to transfer to a corresponding online bachelor of science degree program through UAMS without leaving their hometown. This is the first 2+2 partnership between the two institutions and the first MLT online bachelor degree option offered in the state, and it will increase the number of skilled

we Take

in INNOVATION. We also take PRIDE in discovery, curiosity, determination and courage.

Since 1873, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has educated and inspired some of the world’s greatest minds to reach beyond their circumstances and become who they want to be.

We are a family of educators and learners, and our tight-knit community shapes the intellectual and social development of students who go on to reshape the world. Don’t take our word for it, just ask the countless number of Fortune 500 companies that look to UAPB to help them fill their ranks.

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workers to help meet increasing demand.”

Two-year schools have also become known for their online learning programs, something that has served these schools particularly well during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Everything these days is defined by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Derden said. “While we were already very successful in delivering online courses, National Park College has invested greatly in technology to assist faculty in delivering content in the most flexible manner possible. We have delivered over 25 percent of our coursework in full-online format and all of our on-campus courses, traditional and blended, have had online resources available for many years. It is a strength of our college.

“With the pandemic, we are investing in added technology to allow students to attend classes on campus or online synchronously. If a student happens to miss a class, they will be able to watch the class meeting asynchronously at a later time because we can now capture those lectures, upload them to our online Learning Management System and have it captioned for accessibility purposes. We are hoping these flexible classroom options, along with social distancing and other safety measures, will help students feel safe and will aid retention in the long run.”

What many two-year students find particularly meaningful about their educational experience are the relationships they are able to develop with classmates and faculty. Being part of a smaller community, many students feel they have the opportunity to connect in ways that are difficult if not impossible in a large college environment.

North Little Rock’s Shorter College, one of the state’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), is one primary example of combining cultural heritage and a future-facing education.

“College is vital to the community because it increases the earning potential of its constituents, which in turn improves multiple sectors of societal issues. It also inspires or promotes a sense of self-confidence,” Paisley Boston, Shorter’s director of communications, said. “Two major trends today are distance or online education and computer analytics and coding. We offer both.”

Founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1886, Shorter College served the mission of helping recently freed slaves overcome the many disadvantages and deprivations of slavery and racial discrimination. That pioneering spirit to provide equal opportunity survives even to this day.

“HBCUs offer a sense of family and cultural connections, which foster life-long relationships 70 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

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and networking opportunities,” Boston said.

“Institutions such as ours are not simply institutions of higher learning, but also institutions of life experiences and spiritual journeys.”

That’s not to say HBCU institutions are entirely focused on the past. Shorter College provides students modern technology, real-world amenities and cutting-edge instruction that prepares them for any number of careers.

“We currently offer degrees in computer analytics, church leadership and ministry, child development, criminal justice and entrepreneurial studies,” Boston said. “Shorter College also has the Alexander Turner Childcare Center, which serves as a teaching facility for our students majoring in childhood development. In addition to the aforementioned amenities, we also provide our students with tablets, laptops and mobile hotspots.

“Our open admission process services the needs of the traditional and nontraditional student, and we are one of the leading providers of adult education in Central Arkansas. This makes Shorter College a vital educational component in the area and the state.”

HBCUS COMBINE HERITAGE, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Among institutions of higher learning, none stand taller on the shoulders of history than historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU).

On the basis of cultural identity and social change, these colleges and universities stand in a class by themselves, having played a seminal role in uplifting communities of color.

HBCU designation indicates a college or university that was established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, chartered with the intention to serve primarily the African American community. Prior to that landmark federal legislation, many institutions of higher learning were completely segregated, especially in the South, thereby barring Black students from enrolling.

HBCUs emerged as one of the leading societal institutions to help former slaves improve themselves through education.

Given this, HBCUs enjoy a long and distinguished history of academic achievement, a reputation for promoting social change and spotlighting cultural identity. They boast a litany of famous alums far too lengthy to mention, across all areas of business, entertainment, higher education and politics.

There are 101 HBCUs in the United States, including both public and private colleges and universities; the four in Arkansas include Shorter College in North Little Rock, Philander Smith College and Arkansas Baptist in Little Rock, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

Skilled career training at North Arkansas College is in high demand.

CAREERS For all of the attention paid to enhancing the college experience, the true payoff comes after graduation and how well education translates into a rewarding career. Arkansas’s colleges and universities have devoted tremendous resources to provide job search assistance and create partnerships in the community to help graduates network and gain exposure in their chosen fields.

ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE

ANC supports a nationally recognized Customized Workforce Training Department Solutions Group, which provides flexible training tailored specifically for local industry. ANC provides internship opportunities, some of them paid.

Some of the high-demand fields for which Arkansas Northeastern College is preparing students are construction trades and emergency medical technician, each of which requires a one-semester certificate of proficiency and pays an average yearly wage of more than $56,000. A one-semester certificate of proficiency in welding is also a good investment, paying an average yearly wage of $48,000.

Nearly nine out of 10 welding graduates are employed within 12 months of graduation.

Paramedics, LPNs and HVAC technicians are also in demand and all require just a one-year technical certificate. These roles pay on average between $31,000 and $57,000 and 83 percent of graduates find work within a year of graduation. In just two years, students can earn an associate’s degree to be an RN and earn an average of $53,000. A degree in steel industry technology earns an average of $93,000 with 92 percent of grads employed within 12 months.

Combined, Arkansas Northeastern College leads all colleges and universities in Arkansas in average full-time wages for associate’s degree graduates: $51,624 in the first year of employment. This is higher than that earned by any four-year degree in the state except for medical school.

lated programs in computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, emergency management, information technology and mechanical engineering.

Arkansas Tech’s bachelor of science and associate of applied science degrees in cybersecurity, which debuted in fall 2017, were developed by the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Department of Computer and Information Science. Cybersecurity graduates from ATU will be prepared for rewarding career opportunities that identify and prevent threats and how to recover from a breach.

In the ATU College of Business, the business data analytics program is the first baccalaureate degree program in Arkansas that approaches data analytics from a business perspective.

Graduates from the program are prepared to analyze data in a way that allows firms to determine strategy and solve problems.

ATU students in the disciplines of fine arts, game and interactive media design and graphic design may now pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree in their chosen field, as opposed to the bachelor of arts degrees previously offered by the institution.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that art and design occupations nationally will grow 5 percent between 2016-2026. Median salaries are projected to be around $44,000. Graduates with bachelor of fine arts degrees have average salaries $5,000-$10,000 more than graduates with bachelor of arts degrees.

Students receive career services through Norman Career Services at Arkansas Tech University, including a career advancement academy, peer career advising and workshops.

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE

Arkansas Tech University is a leader in STEM education in Arkansas, as demonstrated by Arkansas Department of Higher Education data showing more graduates from Arkansas high schools choose to major in STEM at Arkansas Tech than any other university in the state.

Degree programs offered through the Arkansas Tech College of Natural and Health Sciences include biology, biology with a biomedical option, chemistry, engineering physics, environmental science, fisheries and wildlife science, geology, mathematics, nuclear physics and nursing. The Arkansas Tech College of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers STEM-re72 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

Baptist Health College Little Rock is dedicated to working directly with the Baptist Health System and other health care systems in Arkansas to stay current in health care trends and produce quality graduates ready for the workforce.

Through hands-on activities called clinicals, students get a real-life view of their future career and better contacts in the field.

Nurses are an integral part of the health care team. The job market for nurses is expected to increase by an estimated 15 percent by 2026 for registered nurses and by 12 percent for licensed practical nurses.

Licensed practical nurses work under the suSpecial Advertising Section

pervision of a registered nurse, providing direct patient bedside care such as personal hygiene, treatments and medication administration. Baptist Health College Little Rock offers a one-year program with two prerequisites for students interested in practical nursing. At the completion of this program, graduates will receive a diploma and be eligible to apply to take the National Council for Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).

Registered nurses provide care and direct others in the provision of nursing care in acute care settings and a variety of other health care agencies. They work closely with physicians and other members of the health care team.

Baptist Health College offers a three-semester program with nine required prerequisites for students interested in registered nursing. Graduates of the Traditional Nursing track receive an associate of applied science in nursing and are eligible to apply to take the National Council for Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

An accelerated two-semester track with nine required prerequisites is also available for individuals currently holding an unrestricted Arkansas LPN or LPTN license. Graduates of the accelerated nursing track will receive an associate of applied science in nursing degree and are eligible to apply to take the National Council for Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

Another rapidly growing health care specialty is sleep medicine thanks to advancements in medicine, technology and a growing public awareness into the health consequences of sleep disorders. Sleep Technology, also called Polysomnographic (PSG) Technology, is an allied health specialty focused on diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. PSG techs operate a variety of electronic monitoring devices, record brain and cardiac activity, breathing, blood oxygen levels, muscle activity, eye movement and other physiological events during a sleep study.

Baptist Health College Little Rock offers a oneyear program, with no college prerequisites, for students interested in sleep technology. At the end of this one-year program, graduates qualify to sit for certification and begin working in the health care field with a flexible schedule and steady career advancement.

HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

Henderson State continues to see healthy demand for teachers, nurses and pilots. HSU

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Baptist Health College Little Rock does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, physical challenges, gender, marital status, race, national origin, or religion. Gainful employment and consumer information can be found at bhclr.edu/outcomes. All BHCLR programs are certified by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. BHCLR-Schools of Nursing are approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

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Arkansas Tech University students have their pick of several computer science degrees.

is experiencing especially high demand for its aviation program, which includes tracks for professional pilots as well as aviation management and maintenance. Henderson offers the only aviation degree in the state.

Graduates of the HSU Nursing Department have a 100 percent employment rate within three months of graduation, a rate that’s remained constant for the past five years. HSU partners with CHI St. Vincent in a program that assists students in completing nursing degrees.

The graduates work at St. Vincent for two years upon graduation.

The university also maintains a network of connections within the local business community, including the Business Advisory Council, made up of alumni representing a variety of industries who provide advice and assistance.

HSU’s career development office provides resources to aid students in finding the proper degree that results in a rewarding career.

LYON COLLEGE

Psychology, business administration and biology are the most popular fields for Lyon College graduates, accounting for 50.3 percent of alums.

Lyon College places particular emphasis on business elements within its curriculum, equipping students of all majors with the critical thinking and communication skills necessary to navigate any industry and enabling them to make sound, ethical decisions that benefit all.

The business department was named a College of Distinction Business College again for 201920.

The Lyon College Career Center offers customized individual career coaching appointments for students at all levels and hosts a number of career and networking events throughout the academic year, including the annual Lyon College Career EXPLO and the annual Summer Experience Fair (SEF).

Career Services will be available to students in fall 2020 through remote options.

NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

Northark enjoys an overall employment rate of 97.75 percent among student reporting, measured six months after graduation.

Over the past five to seven years, allied health and nursing careers have remained the high-demand job fields. This includes registered nurse, practical nurse and certified nursing assistant as well as jobs in radiologic technology, surgical technology, medical laboratory technology, paramedic and emergency medical technician (EMT). These health and medical fields will continue to be in demand as the number of aging 74 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

and elderly populations increase.

The college also utilizes partnerships with area businesses and industry to offer students internships and off-campus work-study opportunities, which assist the college in maintaining the latest machinery, equipment, robotics and simulators. Industry leaders also contribute employees to train graduates in applicable programs and provide real-world training environments for practicals and observation roles in local schools, hospitals and clinics.

Available career services for Northark students include annual career fairs. These events include industry-specific events for health care, manufacturing and more, as well as a campus-wide job and internship fair. The college also provides group career literacy lessons and workshops as well as individual career coaching addressing things like planning a career path, job search, employment interviewing, skills coaching and strategies for re-entering the workforce.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY

Several high-skill careers have been consistently in high demand in Arkansas. A few of those are registered nursing; elementary, middle and secondary education; accounting; marketing and marketing research; and management analysis. SAU offers educational programs to prepare students in each of these fields by providing specialized courses, a robust academic schedule and classes with real-world experience.

The school’s nursing programs offer specialized courses in leadership, management and evidence-based practice that help focus their training. The College of Education offers programs with a variety of degree options for students wanting to concentrate on elementary or middle school careers. In accounting, SAU offers specialized instruction in fraud examination and prevention, and governmental and nonprofit accounting.

SAU maintains a robust curriculum of relevant fields to meet the needs of the community.

For instance, the exercise science and sports management program includes a full semester internship with professionals in the student’s career field. The department also maintains an extensive list of internship sites in physical and occupational therapy, cardiac rehab, fitness, athletic programs and public schools. Athletic trainers have multiple partnerships with local physicians, pharmacies and rehabilitation centers as part of their clinical experiences.

SAU’s newly established Career Services office prepares students to transition from the classroom into a career, offering workshops Special Advertising Section

and training that aid students in perfecting soft skills. The office also provides assistance with resumes, cover letters, interview skills, appropriate work attire and more. A new mentorship program connects current students with alumni working in the student’s desired career field.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Technological advances in all the fields of engineering are driving enrollment in the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, where the most popular majors are computer science, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering. The aging population of baby boomers and the general regional population growth are leading to subsequent job needs in the health care industry, such as nurses, physical therapists and doctors. The College of Education and Health Professions offers a wide variety of majors to fill those needs.

Nearly 90 percent of Walton College of Business graduates have jobs lined up before graduation. MBA graduates’ median salary is $69,000, and 85 percent of them land a job within three months of graduation. Teaching continues to be a career choice in high demand, and the College of Education and Health Professions has expanded its offerings in teacher education, which is one of the highest enrollment areas on campus.

The University of Arkansas Career Development Center provides a variety of career education and career resources, services and events for undergraduates, graduate-level students and recent alumni, including career fairs, internship search preparation, resume and cover letter reviews and a robust repertoire of online career resources.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FORT SMITH

UAFS blends academic theory with real-world applications to deliver a true experiential learning environment. As a result, students graduate with both the knowledge and skill sets necessary to succeed in today’s competitive workplace.

The Babb Center for Student Professional Development, located on campus, takes this experiential learning to the next level, offering students access to workshops, mentoring and internships that complement the university’s outstanding academic programs. Students who complete this advanced program earn a Distinction in Professional Development Certificate, which gives them a head start in their professional career.

UAFS recently launched its Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCP) to help nontradi-

tional students earn a degree through a streamlined and personalized process. College credit can be awarded for experience from previous or current jobs, military education and training courses. The ADCP program offers a wide selection of online and evening classes to deliver maximum flexibility for working adults.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

UA Little Rock’s School of Business graduates have strong employment opportunities, with data-oriented fields such as business analytics in high demand. The School of Business maintains strong ties to the business community through an advisory council and holds many career events at the school. Faculty review the curriculum based on their own research and hold focus groups with industry leaders before formulating any changes.

The school also requires students to complete career-related learning tasks and experiences through the Career Catalyst program.

Students earn badges through workshops and events hosted by business partners to include interviewing skills, resume writing, etiquette luncheons, salary negotiations and completing online job applications. Other career skills provided through UA Little Rock include providing a photographer for professional photos, using LinkedIn as social media for networking, internship markets and career fairs, as well as inviting businesses to visit the school through classroom presentations and power lunches with students.

UA Little Rock recently unveiled a bachelor of

science in cybersecurity degree, to be offered in Fall 2021. This curriculum will cover technology, data, human behavior and procedural operations necessary for assurance of computer systems. Combining both theory and application of cybersecurity, the program will be one of the most innovative in the world. Students will have the opportunity to work in UA Little Rock’s Emerging Analytics Center and new Cyber Gym. UA Little Rock’s Emerging Analytics Center and Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences provide world-class laboratory spaces for students to collaborate with faculty in engaging, multidisciplinary research. The Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMO) is the university’s newest research center, harnessing social computing and web analytics for use in cybersecurity, cyber campaign coordination, disinformation dissemination across social media, cyber threat monitoring, data mining and privacy. COSMOS has developed social media mining tools Blogtrackers and YouTubeTracker, used during NATO military exercises.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2020 reports business, engineering and computer and information systems are top career choices in demand, due to an improved economy, company growth, anticipated retirements and a focus on early talent/succession planning. NACE’s Sala-

ry Survey lists the following projected salaries for bachelor’s level graduates in these fields as $57,939 in business, $69,961 in engineering and $67,411 in computer and information systems.

UCA offers degree plans to prepare students for careers in these fields, including computer science, cybersecurity, business, information systems, management information systems, engineering, physics and nursing. For the 201819 fiscal year, 1,714 UCA students obtained bachelor’s degrees. Of those, 883 reported their post-graduate status and more than 90 percent of respondents classified themselves as either employed, self-employed or in graduate school. Advisory boards and other business leaders routinely advise and review curriculum changes to ensure continued merit and applicability. College leaders and faculty maintain productive relationships with businesses in their fields of study, querying for specific employment needs and ways to incorporate those suggestions into meaningful learning opportunities for students.

UCA’s office of career services cultivates and maintains partnerships with employers in the area through a robust community outreach program. From mid-July through August, UCA staff meets with managers in Conway to encourage them to list part-time jobs and internships for students. The Office of Career Services transitioned to a new career platform, Bears4Hire powered

by Handshake, allowing for enhanced services and increased job opportunities for all students and alumni. Last year, 7,390 job applications were submitted through Handshake.

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has proudly delivered high-quality academics and real-world experience to the River Valley for nearly 100 years, graduating students who are prepared to succeed in the workplace. At UAFS you can enjoy the complete university experience at one of Arkansas’ most affordable tuition rates. Become a Lion, and join our Pride today!

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

DIGITAL EDUCATION

The U.S. Department of Education reports 6 million college students took at least one online class in 2015. Of these, more than 3 million were completing their degree exclusively online. These numbers illustrate how distance education continues to redefine higher education. With the continued challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, quality online learning options are more critical than ever to a quality higher education experience.

Even before the pandemic, University of Central Arkansas students were ahead of the digital learning curve.

ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE

Arkansas Northeastern College offers many online classes as well as several fully online programs. These include Associate of Arts, Associate of General Studies and curriculum in criminal justice, steel industry technology, business, criminology, early childhood education, elementary education (K-6) and mid-level education.

Recognizing the changes in the classroom and the workplace, ANC has increased its nontraditional courses, including the number of internet classes. Zoom Optional and Zoom INet classrooms offer students greater flexibility for taking classes. Zoom Optional offers a live classroom and the student has the option to attend the live classroom or attend the class remotely using Zoom teleconferencing. Zoom INet is a digital classroom students access via Zoom teleconferencing from a remote location.

Students taking Zoom classes who wish to participate remotely must have a computer with a webcam and internet access or a smartphone capable of using videoconferencing technology. Students simply click into the Zoom class at the specified time.

Beginning in August 2020, ANC will offer an on-campus Zoom Room, providing a space for students who wish to attend a class in person but that, due to social distancing guidelines, has reached its seating capacity. Or, students may go to any other remote area they wish as long as there is internet access. ANC provides free Wi-Fi in many of its parking lots, so students may even sit in their cars to attend a class.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

With 14 different undergraduate programs and 19 different graduate programs, ASU’s online program is one of the oldest and most 76 SEPTEMBER 2020

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robust among Arkansas institutions of higher learning. Launched in 2008, the program has grown to include more than 5,400 students during the spring 2020 semester.

Typically, online learning has been attractive for nontraditional students or students already working in a field. However, since the expansion of technology, more traditional students are taking advantage of the accessibility that online programs offer. Students maintain a more flexible balance between their personal, professional and educational life with online coursework and can control their educational pace and learning environment.

ASU’s strategy of High-Impact Learning has fully evolved from the simple regurgitation of terminology to a more critical thinking and application experience type of learning. Coursework gives real-life, practical experiences allowing students to master skills and content before entering their professional fields.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY-THREE RIVERS

ASU-Three Rivers has long offered a variety of distance education options. Traditional online classes center around asynchronous learning whereby students engage with learning materials combining flexibility with the accountability of weekly deadlines. Live online classes, or simulcast classes, are broadcast live from the classroom; online students simply log in and join the class live from their computer in real time. Additionally, ASU Three Rivers offers hybrid learning, blending campus-based and online instruction. In this format, students might do coursework online but come to campus to complete hands-on labs.

Instructors have participated in extensive training with distance education equipment and software as well as course design geared to Special Advertising Section

enhance student engagement. ASUTR uses the Blackboard learning management system and video conferencing through Blackboard Collaborate that allow students and instructors alike to join the class live. Students also have free training available to them on the College’s YouTube channel.

Online classes are designed following standards set forth by Quality Matters, which establishes a logical progression of course materials and gives a degree of consistency among the college’s online classes. More than 30 instructors have earned the Quality Matters Teaching Online Certificate as participants of ASUTR’s Title III program.

COLLEGE OF THE OUACHITAS

College of the Ouachitas offers live online classes, which are lectures simulcast to a mixed live and online student audience. Also offered are traditional online-only classes and hybrid classes, which require periodic class attendance as well as online work. COTO’s distance education program provides convenience and flexibility as well as a lower cost of $102 per credit hour. COTO students have online access to 24/7 tutoring through Tutor.com.

COTO strives for all students to gain pertinent technology experience. Its Fundamentals of Information Technology course gives students the basics of real-world, practical experience. Students planning a career in teaching get handson experience with the same technology used to teach COTO’s simulcast classes and professional development by COTO’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

COTO’s Division of Health Sciences also relies heavily on technology. Instructors record lectures using classroom technology, then make the recordings available online to students as study aids. The Division of Health Sciences uses

live online technology to teach from the Malvern campus to students in COTO’s Sheridan satellite campus.

HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

Online classes are a great option for working adults who want to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree on a more flexible schedule. Henderson State University offers online classes for undergraduate and graduate students as well as concurrent enrollment for partner high schools.

Specific applications of technology by departments include the Innovative Media Department, giving students hands-on opportunities to develop products in new and rich media. Aviation students gain valuable experience in the two-seat cockpit of the Redbird FMX simulator as part of their prelude to live flights with an instructor.

HSU’s Nursing Department is introducing Nursing Anne and Sim Baby simulators thanks to a $140,447 grant from Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas. This technology will allow students to experience treating a full range of medical scenarios in a realistic health care environment. The department also added SimMom, an advanced full body birthing simulator, thanks to a $149,265 grant, also from the Blue & You Foundation.

NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE

A majority of NPC students take one or more e-learning courses during their educational career so the school offers a wide variety of these courses and has done so for more than a decade.

Most of NPC’s general education courses are available to be taken on campus, via e-learning or through a blended approach. There are also two fully online programs available: associate of applied science, available on-campus, fully online or blended; and AAS Health Information Technology, to be offered fully online.

All courses use the Brightspace by D2L learning management system. Students have 24/7 access to support; remote tutoring and Ask a Librarian library assistance are also available. All on-campus resources are available to e-learning students as well.

NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

College students often have busy schedules, and North Arkansas College’s online program is designed to help students get the flexibility they need to go to college without sacrificing quality. The college offers delivery of courses in four different formats: online, blended, face-toface and site-to-site.

Online course delivery are classes taken entirely through the internet; students are not expected to attend classes on campus. Faceto-face delivery is just the opposite, delivered on campus in a classroom setting. A combination of online and face-to-face delivery systems are referred to as blended courses. Site-to-site involves synchronous course delivery from one Northark campus to another satellite campus or partner site.

For assistance, faculty and students can visit

or call the Center for Teaching and Learning, located in the college’s Learning Resource Center, to ask about tutoring, deal with connectivity or other technical issues and to find other resources to ensure their success.

SHORTER COLLEGE

Shorter College offers distance and online education, enabling the college to service the educational needs of traditional and nontraditional students alike. Distance and online learning enable students to communicate, study, learn and receive a high-quality education while on the go or from the comfort of their own homes.

All majors utilize the latest technology, but Shorter’s Entrepreneurial Studies program teaches students the fundamentals of what comes next, preparing graduates to function in a technologically complex world. Every Wednesday, invited professionals and community leaders provide information to students about a number of programs and career fields. Students are thus able to connect with entities they may not have otherwise known existed.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY

SAU offers several graduate degrees and certificates, including a recently announced Ed.D. in Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership.

SAU has offered online programs since 2006 and leverages technology to challenge students to think critically. And, SAU’s online courses are among the most affordable in the region.

Online enrollment at SAU includes all of the advantages of on-campus students, including exceptional faculty, campus staff and well-developed student support systems. Online students receive academic advising and have access to faculty during office hours, both remotely or via a campus visit. SAU also provides 24/7 support for all of its online courses.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FORT SMITH

In spite of the challenges presented by COVID-19, UAFS continues to expand and improve the technology and resources offered to students, faculty and staff.

Many classrooms on campus are in the process of being outfitted with equipment to allow students opting for online instruction to participate via synchronous delivery in discussions and lectures during specific meeting times. Resource guides have been created on the university’s webpage (uafs.edu) to assist all students who may be navigating digital learning for the first time. These include online tutoring service through Brainfuse, databases and eBooks through the university’s Boreham Library, and tech support from the university’s IT Department.

UAFS students also have access to Microsoft Office 365 at no cost.

Students returning to campus this fall for faceto-face instruction and hybrid courses (a blend of in-class and online) will be able to utilize the consistent, cutting-edge technology UAFS has always offered. Health science students respond to real-life clinical situations on hightech manikins designed for lifelike simulation.

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Robotics courses, also available to concurrent high school students, develop hands-on skills in programming, implementing and maintaining industry-leading robots. Majors in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics conduct research and experiments alongside expert faculty members in advanced laboratory settings.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

UA Little Rock’s suite of more than 60 fully online programs, called UA Little Rock Online, provides high-quality college education without students ever stepping foot on campus. Students participating in fully online programs receive a reduced rate, yet have the same access to academic resources online and on campus. There are currently more than 1,600 students enrolled in UA Little Rock Online and that number grows each semester.

Resources include the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, home to the Emerging Analytics Center, a research center for virtual reality, visualization and interactive technologies. The Department of Applied Communication hosts a Leadership Lecture series bringing in thought leaders from the field of communications. UA Little Rock’s School of Business hosts an Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center where students use the latest business technology in entrepreneurial ventures.

The School of Criminal Justice has an Inside/ Out course located in prison consisting of university students and current inmates. The course seeks to address ways to make Arkansas’s communities more inclusive, just and socially sustainable.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

As more and more students seek online courses, UCA has expanded its online offerings. In 2015 the university launched UCA Online to develop and market high-quality, online degree programs, and today the university offers six online undergraduate degree completion programs in general business, health and safety, addiction studies, insurance and risk-management, nursing (for RNs), and general studies.

In addition, the school supports 32 online graduate degree and certificate programs in business, education, geographic information systems, health sciences, family and consumer sciences, nursing and sports management.

Online instruction has taken on greater significance in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. At the end of the 2020 spring term, all UCA courses shifted to online instruction to prevent the spread of coronavirus and that effort has continued through the summer of 2020. UCA’s Center for Teaching Excellence rose to the challenge by training faculty with little experience teaching online, developing technical and pedagogical skills needed to deliver quality online instruction. Similarly, student support units have worked hard to move more services online. As UCA prepares for the fall term, nearly all courses will be offered fully or partially online.

2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

SCHOOL LIFE BALANCE ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Tech Fit provides a workout space and indoor walking track for Arkansas Tech University students, faculty and staff. The outdoor Tech Connect trail on the western boundary of campus provides members of the ATU community with access to a network of bicycle and pedestrian trails that includes Bona Dea Trails and Sanctuary. There are also multiple waterways within an hour of campus that ATU students explore using free outdoor equipment available through the Arkansas Tech Office of Campus Recreation.

Chartwells, food service provider at ATU, partners with members of the campus community to meet specific dietary needs.

There are about 170 registered student organizations at Arkansas Tech University, representing a wide variety of academic, professional and social interests. The academic year typically begins with events that help orient new students and re-engage returning students.

COLLEGE OF THE OUACHITAS

College of the Ouachitas has partnered with Healthy Connections to provide both medical and behavioral health services to students, faculty, staff and community on the Malvern campus. These services are provided by a nurse practitioner and a licensed social worker. The college also partners with the Henderson State University Counseling Center to provide additional behavioral health services through a counseling intern program.

The college has a Student Government Association that provides social activities, relaxation and stress-relieving opportunities for students.

Faculty and staff have professional development opportunities and training in suicide prevention.

Through the college’s Parents as Teachers Program, parent educators focus on family well-being and make referrals to agencies as needed.

HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

The Student Health and Counseling Center promotes students’ quality of life by offering prevention and early treatment or referral for physical, developmental, emotional or interpersonal difficulties that arise during the educational process.

The University Counseling Center is available to help students with a variety of concerns. Professional counselors provide one-on-one consultation, and group therapy is also available to provide peer support. The University Counseling Center’s staff refers students, faculty and staff to specialists if there is a need for extra psychological support.

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A diverse student body and cutting edge technology are two attributes of National Park College.

The Charles D. Dunn Student Recreation Center is a hub of student activity and campus life.

The facility features an elevated jogging and walking track, 12-foot climbing/bouldering wall and state-of-the-art weight training, cardio and fitness equipment as well as an outdoor recreation program.

LYON COLLEGE

The campus has a disc golf course, hiking and biking trails, a rock wall, a ropes course including high and low elements, tennis courts and more for students to stay active. For outdoor enthusiasts, the college offers the Lyon Education Adventure Program (LEAP), which provides students with information and access to the many activities available in the Ozarks such as paddling, camping, caving, rock climbing, fishing and hunting.

Lyon has partnered with Creative Dining Services to provide fresh and healthy dining experiences to its students, from the Vegan and Vegetarian Kitchen to The Zone’s allergen-aware selection.

To help students address mental and emotional stress, the Lyon College Counseling Center has a full-time licensed professional counselor to provide services in a safe, supportive and confidential environment at no cost to students.

The center has books, pamphlets and local community resources available by referral.

For the fall 2020 semester, student services such as counseling and health services will be offered remotely.

NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE

National Park College employs a full-time Behavior Intervention Specialist who is also a licensed clinical social worker. The office offers training in SafeTalk Suicide Prevention. NPC employs a campus nurse who documents immunization records, offers training and support for general health and wellness and assesses students with illness.

NPC offers a fully equipped Wellness Center for credit-based physical education classes as well as for walk-in workout options. The center is staffed by a full-time fitness coordinator and student workers. Healthy options are offered in the Commons Market. Students with special dietary needs can contact the market manager to request off-menu items.

NPC’s residence hall — Dogwood Hall — opens in fall 2020 and will provide orientation and training to all resident assistants and residents of the hall.

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NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

Northark provides a workout room that includes treadmills, free weights and other exercise equipment for student use. Northark also offers sports such as basketball, softball and baseball. In addition to competitive sports, the college offers physical education courses designed to increase activity and provide instruction on correct technique in weight training, walking and jogging.

Healthy food options are a priority, so a campus food pantry is maintained for students who are struggling with food insecurities. The pantry is stocked with food from the North Central Food Bank. Northark also partners with the Arkansas Department of Health to provide flu immunizations each year for students, faculty and staff on Northark’s South Campus to ensure convenience for students.

Students have a range of options for participating in campus organizations, student activities and student success strategies. Northark currently hosts 26 student organizations with a streamlined process for students with specific interests to create additional groups.

Northark also subscribes to an online mental health website that students may access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to learn more about mental health issues, therapies, referrals and more.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY

SAU’s University Health Services Department is staffed by a nurse practitioner and two registered nurses to meet the mental, emotional and physical needs of the SAU student body. They provide health promotion and disease prevention services for students, faculty and staff.

The SAU campus provides a wide variety of ways for students to work out, exercise, get outdoors and enjoy intramural sports or leisure activities. Sand volleyball can be played as an intramural sport, the disc golf course winds through the beautiful campus and last fall, a golf driving range was made available for recreational activity, managed by the SAU golf team. The SAU Mulerider Activity Center provides open recreation, intramural sports, equipment checkout and special events.

SAU’s residence halls and apartments offer a family-like atmosphere to the fullest with each hall offering specific programs and activities catered to its residents. Students can reside with peers who share interests.

The Saddle Up program provides training and awareness activities throughout the school

year as well as follow-up support for students in addition to their formal therapy. Additional services have included workshops, classes, skill building groups and support groups.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

University Recreation offers two facilities for student exercise and recreation. The Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building offers comprehensive fitness and recreational opportunities for all students, including club sports and intramurals. Outdoor activities and inclusive recreation activities are also offered.

The second facility is a smaller, exercise-intensive center in the Arkansas Union. During the coronavirus pandemic, all programs have been physically reconfigured or scheduled to meet physical distancing and safety standards.

The Pat Walker Health Center offers health care services to all students on campus. The center also offers counseling and psychological services. During the pandemic, the health center is providing testing services for students, faculty and staff.

There are more than 400 registered student organizations at the University of Arkansas, and if students can’t find one to their liking, they can start their own. In addition, University Programs plans more than 200 entertainment events and distinguished speakers for the campus community.

START HERE. GO FURTHER.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

The UCA Counseling Center provides a wide range of mental health services, including teletherapy (video counseling) sessions, in-person sessions, consultations and crisis response. The Office of Student Wellness and Development hosts awareness campaigns and programs throughout the year on a variety of topics, including mental health, bystander intervention, stress management and alcohol and drug abuse prevention.

The Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center is outfitted with a 10,000-squarefoot weight room, six-lane indoor lap pool, large group exercise classrooms, racquetball courts, treadmills and other equipment. UCA also operates the Campus Outdoor Pursuits and Activities (COPA) program. With this, students can check out kayaks, canoes, bicycles and other equipment. The recently added UCA Ropes Challenge Course offers climbing walls, zip lines and obstacle courses.

UCA is also home to a Student Health Clinic offering patient-centered health care, staffed by a physician and nurse practitioners who diagnose, treat and monitor students’ medical needs as well as prescribe medications. Services include lab, X-ray, immunizations, women’s health services and more. Most services provided are included in the student health fee.

During the 2020-21 academic year, the Student Activities Board will continue to provide enjoyable events that meet COVID-19 safety restrictions.

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE INNOVATIVE, ALL-ONLINE EVERSITY CHANGES THE COLLEGE LANDSCAPE IN ARKANSAS

W

hile many colleges and universities in Arkansas were scrambling to take their curriculum online last spring, one university was taking it all in stride. The University of Arkansas System’s eVersity, the state’s first all-online university, has been helping students achieve their dream of a college degree since 2014 without setting foot in a classroom.

In the process, eVersity is changing the way people think about college and about what’s possible at any stage of life.

“So many schools are now embracing online learning that had strongly opposed it in the past,” said Dr. Michael Moore, eVersity chief academic and operating officer. “Most institutions are hoping to use remote learning as a bridge to get to the other side of COVID-19, so they can return to the business they were in, which is delivering education face-to-face. “eVersity is different; we’ve been online since the very beginning. You could say we were online before it was cool.”

The program was created with the utmost of flexibility in mind. Primarily targeting working adults with some college who never got the chance to finish their degree, eVersity combines robust subject matter and cutting-edge technology to move people to graduation at a fraction of the time and cost of other live, online and hybrid programs.

“The biggest difference between what we do in an online environment versus what is happening with traditional schools’ remote learning is ours is a complete soup-to-nuts learning experience,” Moore said. “eVersity classes are far more robust and far richer because they were designed to be online courses. Our courses have won national awards because of the way the material is presented, with built-in interaction with other students and with faculty that creates a sense of community.”

Unlike other online programs, eVersity requires students to take one six-week class at a time to help ensure completion and keep students from becoming overextended. The institution supports a liberal credit transfer policy and it’s a far more affordable option than most at the all-in price of just $165 per credit hour with no additional fees or book charges.

“There are obviously some well-known brands out in the marketplace that have been online for a long time, largely in the for-profit space,” Moore said. “They are very robust, but they also tend to be quite a bit more expensive than we are, charging upwards of $1,500 a class, not including books and fees. Our classes are $525, meaning you can take at least two and a lot of times three eVersity classes for the price of one of theirs.

“We’re also one of the only programs I know of that makes use of faculty currently teaching at brick-and-mortar institutions. Almost all other schools rely on part-time faculty or backup faculty. We take the 15 institutions of the UA System and we pull faculty members from those institutions. Then, each faculty member completes a training course before we ever put them in an online classroom because teaching online is different than teaching face-to-face.”

“The student gets the best of both worlds: the quality control expected from the UA System trained specifically to teach online through eVersity.”

Getting started in eVersity is fast and easy; students are paired with an engaged adviser who helps guide them through course selection, transferring existing college credit and troubleshooting any issues for as long as the student is enrolled. Learning assistance is also available for those students who need it.

The program has proven so popular, it’s having a marked impact on Arkansas’s degree completion rate, which has traditionally ranked near the bottom in the U.S. “We are constantly looking on the horizon to try to find those innovative practices out there that can continue to bring value and support to our students,” Moore said. “The tagline we like to use a lot is ‘College should be hard, but going to college shouldn’t be.’ What we mean by that is, classes ought to be demanding and rigorous; you ought to be proud of the degree you earn, because you’re really going to have to work hard for it in the classroom.

“But the process of going to school should not be difficult. It ought to be easy. What you need is a way to finish your degree with as few obstacles as possible. That’s what we’re all about.”

“We’ve been online since the very beginning.

You could say we were online before it was cool.”

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

CAMPUS NEWS

Collegiate Athletic Association announced ATU student-athletes donated 5,706 volunteer hours during the fall 2019 NCAA Team Works community service competition, the most among the more than 300 members of NCAA Division II. The university is one of 31 institutions of higher learning from around the United States that will participate in the inaugural cohort of the First Scholars Network, an initiative of the Center for First-Generation Student Success and the Suder Foundation.

BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE

Baptist Health College Little Rock is turning 100! In February 2021, BHCLR will celebrate 100 years of health care education. Specific anniversary plans and activities marking the occasion will be announced at a later date.

HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

A student research team from Henderson State University was one of just 60 across the United States chosen to present at the Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill conference in Washington, D.C. The team’s project included an analysis of a unique cave system in Tennessee that functions with no dependence on photosynthesis.

Henderson’s esports team joined the Peach Belt Conference and became one of the first universities in Arkansas to offer esports scholarships.

Henderson State University will become the seventh member institution of the Arkansas State University System by Jan. 1, 2021, pending approval by the Higher Learning Commission.

Henderson will retain its name, Reddies mascot and “The School with a Heart” slogan as it joins the ASU System.

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

The 2019 Almanac of Higher Education lists Arkansas Tech as the 10th-fastest-growing public, master’s degree-granting university in the country. Arkansas Tech achieved the distinction with 58 percent growth in enrollment between 2007 and 2017. ATU was also recognized by the 2019 Almanac of Higher Education as a national leader in increasing its African American student population, growing it by 64 percent from 529 students in 2010 to 870 students in 2017.

A new cybersecurity lab, designed to help prepare the online security experts of the future, has opened on the ATU campus. The cybersecurity lab was built in pods that enable team-based activities such as hackathons and programming contests and features a dedicated server room that allows students to engage in more project-based activities.

Arkansas Tech University was among approximately 90 higher education institutions from around the globe that qualified for the 2020 VEX U Robotics World Championship.

Arkansas Tech University is the NCAA Division II national leader in community service for the second consecutive year. The National 82 SEPTEMBER 2020

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SHORTER COLLEGE

The Little Rock school announced a new academic program. Students can now pursue a degree in computer analytics with an emphasis in coding.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY

Lyon College approved the addition of a data science major, the first private college in Arkansas to do so. The data science major focuses on algorithms and how they apply to data, combining mathematics and computing. The interdisciplinary program can be combined with a range of other majors, including business, psychology and English.

Lyon is the first and only Arkansas college to offer archery as a sport and provide archery scholarships.

Cara Butler, ’16, received the highest score on the Arkansas Bar Examination in 2019. Butler is clerking for Chief Judge Lavenski R. Smith of the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. She is the only one in her class to receive a federal appellate clerkship.

Angelica Holmes, ’15, was named the new executive director of Black Outside Inc. in 2020. The nonprofit organization aims to expand outdoor access, programming and relevancy to communities of color across Texas.

Phase I enhancements to SAU’s baseball facilities were completed with the addition of the Johnson-Dawson Player Development Facility located inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.

The Great American Conference’s All-Decade Team included six Muleriders. Barrett Renner (QB, 2014-18), Tanner Hudson (TE, 201417) and Mark Johnson (RB, 2011-13) make up the offensive selections, while Davondrick Lison (DE, 2015-18), Elgin Moore (DB, 2014-17) and Antonio Washington (DT, 2017-current) are the Muleriders’ defensive representatives.

Southern Arkansas University is now approved to offer Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in rural and diverse educational leadership, according to the Higher Learning Commission.

SAU’s first cohort of doctoral students will be offered fully online and admitted for fall 2021.

The Southern Arkansas University engineering program has been awarded a $291,000 research grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation to study improved methods for manufacturing the asphalt used on the state’s roads and highways.

SAU has added a game animation design major, esports teams and a new gaming hub to its offerings. SAU will also offer a game design minor to provide a more well-rounded education.

NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

LYON COLLEGE Lyon College is the first school in the state to offer a competitive archery team.

their hometowns. This is the first 2+2 partnership between the two institutions and the first MLT online bachelor degree option offered in the state.

In June 2020, Northark was ranked fourth on the Best Online Community Colleges in Arkansas rankings released by the Guide to Online Schools. Last July, the Northark RN program was selected Best Value in the State of Arkansas by NursingExplorer.com. In addition, the LPN program was recognized as the second best of 34 LPN programs in the state.

Northark garnered national attention for being selected a Best Community College in the Nation (ranked 45th) and a Best Community College in Arkansas (ranked eighth) according to WalletHub’s list of Best & Worst Community Colleges. Northark’s ranking was based on evaluation of 19 key indicators of cost and quality.

Last November, Northark curriculum was recognized as a Best Online Small Business Management Course by Intelligent.com. The student-focused comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,604 accredited colleges and universities.

Northark has added a new 2+2 partnership agreement to increase transfer options with four institutions. A new online transfer agreement with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) allows Northark Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) graduates to transfer to a corresponding online Bachelor of Science degree program through UAMS without leaving Special Advertising Section

The University of Arkansas kept its tuition flat for the 2020 fall semester, the third time since 2008.

The Razorback women’s track and field team won the triple crown of NCAA Division I track and field, with championships in indoor and outdoor seasons as well as cross country.

The University of Arkansas added a new interdisciplinary undergraduate major in data

science, with 10 concentrations and faculty support from three colleges. Six new master’s degrees were added, including five in the Sam M. Walton College of Business and one in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Three new graduate certificate programs have been added: Educational Measurement, School-Based Speech-Language Pathology and Nursing Education. The university’s undergraduate program in supply chain management was named No. 1 in North America by the global research firm Gartner.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FORT SMITH

On July 20, UAFS Chancellor Terisa Riley released “Protecting the Pride,” a comprehensive plan to return the UAFS community to campus for the fall 2020 semester.

Students will have the option to attend classes online, on campus or in a hybrid modality based on which option they feel most safe.

Campus-wide mandates regarding face coverings and social distancing have been issued, along with increased cleaning and sanitation in high-traffic areas and additional safety measures for food service.

Faculty and staff are receiving additional training to improve the delivery of online course material and addressing the individual needs of students who choose to attend classes virtually.

All classes will move to an online-only format following the Thanksgiving break and continue through finals week.

Despite the many changes required by the COVID-19 pandemic, UAFS remains a vibrant

educational community. Many events such as Cub Camp — a three-day immersion orientation for incoming freshmen — will still be held while adhering to the new safety guidelines. Campus housing remains open, and dining services will continue under a new partnership between the university and Chartwells Higher Education.

UAFS launched its second graduate program, a master’s of education, in the spring of 2020. Offering flexible courses, and taught by experienced faculty, this 30-hour program is the perfect choice for teachers seeking an advanced credential. Licensed teachers, or those eligible for licensure, can choose an emphasis in curriculum and instruction or English.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

UA Little Rock began the 2019-20 year with the debut of the first collegiate wrestling program in Arkansas. The men’s basketball team was the 2020 Sun Belt Conference champ and head coach Darrell Walker was named the Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year.

Professor Brian Mitchell worked with U.S. Rep French Hill (R-Ark.) to honor Black World War I soldiers. The collaboration was the inspiration for Hill’s introduction of the World War I Valor Medals Review Act, which reviews the military records of all minority service members during World War I to determine if they received proper recognition.

The School of Nursing celebrated the 50th anniversary of its accredited degree program, begun in 1970. Over the past five decades, UA Little Rock has graduated more than 4,100 reg-

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istered nurses.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

The University of Central Arkansas’s Division of Athletics and student-athletes maintained high performance in both competition and the classroom. UCA student-athletes maintained a 3.20 overall grade-point average, an increase from last year’s 3.17 GPA. The football team had 13 All-Southland Conference selections and won the conference championship, their second in three years.

Freshman softball pitcher Kayla Beaver tossed two no-hitters, one in her collegiate debut against Jackson State in February. Softball coach David Kuhn reached the 700-win milestone. Senior outfielder Kayla Crutchmer broke the program record for career steals with 102 and finished the abbreviated season as the Division I national leader with 31 steals.

The men’s soccer team won the Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship in the program’s first season in the league, its third straight season to win a conference regular season or tournament championship. The Bears claimed nine All-Sun Belt honors, with Niklas Brodacki winning the third conference Player of the Year Award.

In women’s soccer, freshman forward Emma Hawkins earned All-Southland Conference honors after leading the Bears in both goals and assists, finishing the season with 15 points, just the second UCA freshman in the last decade to finish a season with double-digit points.

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE The first year of college is an exciting time and a milestone in any young person’s life.

But it can also be overwhelming, which is why today’s college campuses offer a variety of amenities and programs to help first-year students get off on the right foot.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

ASU has a comprehensive First Year Experience program that is a required three-credit course, Making Connections, along with extracurricular programs and activities. All first-time college students enroll in this course in their first semester. The course covers campus policy and procedures, study skills, major-to-career information and campus resources. Other FYE courses are strategically designed to be discipline-specific, embedded in students’ majors and taught by faculty from their academic program. ASU’s FYE program is a two-time recipient of the Apple Distinguished Program award for success in preparing students for digital learning. The university has a robust support network for students, including academic advising, tutoring, career services, campus life, multicultural affairs and an Office of Access and Accommodations.

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

The APEX Tutoring Center at Arkansas Tech University offers free one-on-one peer tutoring in more than 50 subjects on the Russellville campus. Tutoring is available in biology and math, while the APEX Tutoring Center coordinates with academic departments to offer assistance in accounting, music, statistics and writing at additional locations on campus. Group study sessions for courses such as Calculus I, Calculus II and Quantitative Business Analysis are also available. TECHConnect is a comprehensive orientation experience for all incoming students and includes online pre-orientation, virtual summer workshop series and a four-day on-campus orientation held just before classes begin in August.

LYON COLLEGE

Lyon College’s relationship with new students starts long before their first class begins. Becoming a Scot, an online experience, guides new students through common expectations and required paperwork. That leads to Scot Week, an in-person orientation that takes place just before the start of class, giving incoming freshmen the chance to interact closely with peers and learn how to find and use all of the resources that Lyon College has to offer to get the most out of their education from Day One. Morrow Academic Center (“The MAC”) is the center of academic assistance on campus, hosting the campus writing center, subject-specific tutoring and specific study halls for campus groups.

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The numerous activities held at North Arkansas College help freshmen feel welcome.

NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE

NPC hosts mandatory Freshman Orientation for all new students. Every academic division, student organization, student club and student services office is represented on the agenda, explaining their respective areas and what is offered there. This fall, NPC Orientation is offered virtually, using the course management system D2L Brightspace. In addition, the college offers Welcome Week activities. These social activities are designed to offer students an in-depth look at the college’s numerous connection points for students. Every student organization, student club and service program is represented during Welcome Week.

NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

Northark hosts a Welcome Week for freshmen each fall, featuring fun events to provide students with the opportunity to meet each other and form friendships that will last for years.

New Student Orientation also helps ensure student success; students can access videos on how to apply for student aid, learn about credit hours and search courses. The campus Learning Resource Center is the hub for students to take advantage of a wide variety of tutoring.

Tutoring is offered in English and mathematics as well as lab sciences, social sciences, business and allied health courses. Tutors also offer study skills assessments and exam preparation services delivered both in-person and virtually.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY

SAU offers a two-part program designed to help acclimate freshmen to the college environment. The first program is called BAM, which stands for Becoming a Mulerider. This program allows students to visit the campus and complete all tasks necessary to become a freshman.

The second part of the orientation program is called Mulerider Round-Up. This allows freshmen to meet with their Freshman Seminar class and learn about SAU’s guidelines, policies and traditions. Due to COVID-19, these orientation programs are transitioning to an online environment to keep students and staff safe. Visit web. saumag.edu/Orientation/BAM for the latest information on BAM and Mulerider Round-Up.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FORT SMITH

UAFS offers more than 100 registered student organizations, including academic societies, a dynamic Greek life system, intramural sports Special Advertising Section

and cultural/special interest groups. Students also receive free tickets to all Lions home games for volleyball, baseball and men’s and women’s basketball. UAFS helps ease the transition through Cub Camp, a high-energy educational experience that promotes positive relationships and university pride. Cub Camp is a three-day, immersive program led entirely by upper-class UAFS students who show the incoming students the how-to’s of college life and introduce them to the campus, faculty, university traditions and each other.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

UA Little Rock offers academic help and tutoring through the Communication Skills Center, the Language Resource Center, the Mathematics Assistance Center and the Writing Center.

TRIO Student Support Services also provides individualized tutoring for qualified students, and the Disability Resource Center and Military Student Success Center assist applicable student populations with academic and non-academic concerns. UA Little Rock works to make new students feel welcomed, informed and connected to their new life as a Trojan with live sessions on orientation, campus living, financial aid and scholarships, including new scholarships announced over the summer to help students affected by COVID-19. Videos created by students, faculty and staff across campus were made to help students transition virtually at www.ualr.edu/newstudents.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

New freshmen begin their orientation to UCA through events such as Bear Facts Day, Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) and Welcome Week, which is held the week before classes begin. Freshmen are also required to enroll in a First-Year Seminar course that fulfills a UCA core requirement. All new freshmen attend SOAR, during which students meet with an academic adviser as well as peer mentors (SOS Leaders) and classmates. Welcome Week in August includes both academic preparation sessions as well as many social activities and a Recognized Student Organization Fair each fall. Many first-year students also choose to live in one of UCA’s Residential Colleges their first year, which provide additional support and co-curricular activities for freshmen. In addition, all students have an assigned academic adviser.

I’ve worked with real students in a real classroom since I was a freshman. Majoring in elementary education has allowed me to create lesson plans, tutor and gain lots of classroom experience. I’m so excited to be an educator, and thanks to Henderson State University, I’ll always

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUS

The new Hull building will transform student life at Arkansas Tech University.

ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE

This summer, the college unveiled its new Zoom Room, an educational resource that augments the quality live classroom learning ANC is known for. The newly furnished, comfortable space gives students access to Zoom Optional classes, which give learners the choice of attending class live or connecting remotely using teleconferencing.

Arkansas Northeastern College’s new Center for Allied Technologies celebrated its grand opening last summer, just in time for the start of fall classes. The $14.4 million, 90,000-squarefoot center houses the headquarters for the college’s customized training programs. Amenities include general purpose and specialized classrooms and lab space for electrical, mechanical, safety and HVACR programs as well as computer classrooms and large multipurpose rooms. A world-class welding laboratory is also on-site.

The facility also houses the aircraft complex, combination nondestructive testing/composites laboratory and general-purpose classrooms to fully accommodate ANC’s Federal Aviation Administration-certified aviation maintenance program. Other related facilities include an aircraft apron, paint booth and tool room.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITYTHREE RIVERS

ASU-Three Rivers has begun work on Phase I of restoring the historic Ritz Theatre in downtown Malvern. In June, the college received a $663,000 grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council to help fund the project.

The extensive restoration will be done across several phases. Phase I will involve renovating and stabilizing the exterior envelope of the Ritz, as well as the installation of a new roof, restoring the entry to that of the 1948 configuration, reinforcing exterior walls and removing the interior walls.

Work is expected to be completed on Phase I next spring. When finished, the Ritz Theatre will serve the wider community as well as the 86 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

college for promotion of the arts in the city’s historic district.

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Arkansas Tech University is investing $4.9 million to renovate the former swimming pool area in the Hull Physical Education Building, converting it into a student union space. Funding for the project will come from dedicated student fees, ATU’s educational and general unappropriated fund balance and the university’s food services reserve.

Construction on the Hull Building remodel began in spring 2020 with completion anticipated during the fall 2020 semester. Once finished, the student union will include a banquet hall, gaming area, student lounge and catering kitchen. The university is remodeling 17,000 square feet of interior space during the renovation.

NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

The college is developing plans in conjunction with the North Arkansas College Foundation for a new 64-bed residence hall. The $3 million facility is expected to open in 2021 or 2022.

Northark is also adding 11 new Zoom Rooms on campus to expand online learning.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY

This November, Southern Arkansas University will begin renovation of Bussey Hall. The residence hall will receive a new roof, restored rooms and fixtures. The plans call for modernization while still maintaining the unique features of one of the campus’ oldest dormitories, at a cost of $700,000.

The College of Education is getting a new home to house all faculty and staff and provide model classrooms for students to use. Classrooms will feature current technology used in a typical K-12 class setting, including smartboards, projectors and laptops. The $2.1 million building will also house an office suite for the new doctoral program in the College of Education.

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By year’s end, the university’s band will move into an expanded new space. Completed at a projected cost of $1.3 million, the space includes a new rehearsal hall with the existing rehearsal hall renovated to include additional practice rooms to accommodate the university’s growing number of musicians.

A new poultry house has been completed in time for the fall 2020 school term. The $300,000 complex is segmented into learning modules that will take the students through the entire poultry life cycle, from hatch to ready-toprocess. The new facility is part of the university’s Agriculture Department and will house SAU’s new Poultry Science degree, addressing the growing need for a skilled workforce in the poultry industry.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

A new $79 million residence hall, Adohi Hall, features two five-story residential wings with a common space connecting them. The hall includes 200,000 square feet of total space, 368 residential rooms, kitchens on each residential floor and a variety of specialized spaces, including a recording studio, art and maker studio, classroom and gallery spaces, and dance and yoga studio.

The hall, which opened in fall 2019, is the first residence hall in the United States to use cross-laminated timber for its construction, representing the university’s commitment to Arkansas’s timber industry. “Adohi” is a Cherokee word meaning “woods” or “timber.”

The new $45 million Student Success Center is being built just north of Old Main on campus to house all student success programming and initiatives. The center will have 77,000 square feet of space, including a variety of advising studios and tutoring and mentoring spaces.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

During the 2019-20 school year, UA Little Rock celebrated the grand opening of the Greg L. Hatcher Wrestling Center. Home to the Trojans, the first collegiate wrestling team in Arkan-

sas, the facility is considered to be one of the best in the nation, covering more than 16,000 square feet and featuring four wrestling practice areas. Coaches’ offices, locker rooms, a lounge for players, a training room and a weight room are all housed within the facility.

In 2020, UA Little Rock opened a state-of-theart Building Information Modeling Lab for construction management and engineering students in the Engineering Applied Technology Applied Sciences building. The lab was named the AGC of Arkansas BIM Lab thanks to a $30,000 donation from the Associated General Contractors of Arkansas to establish a fund to support the lab.

During the fall semester, the university will welcome the addition of a Starbucks and continue renovations to the former student union building at a total cost of about $915,000.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

UCA has several significant construction and renovation projects in the works or nearing completion.

In December 2018, the university began renovating space in Donaghey Hall for a new Campus Welcome Center. Opened in summer 2019, the center is an easy-to-find, convenient location for prospective students and their families to meet for campus tours and discussions.

Since August 2019 the Welcome Center has hosted 5,372 individuals, including 3,248 prospective students and 2,124 guests, across 343 regularly scheduled campus and group tours.

In September 2019, UCA broke ground on a new 80,000-square-foot $37.7 million Integrated Health Sciences Building. It will be home to the School of Nursing and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, along with the Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation and an interprofessional teaching clinic to be utilized by the entire college. Highlighting the building is the Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation, a state-of-the-art simulation lab that will more than double the space of the current simulation lab.

Another major project, the new state-of-theart Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, will break ground in October 2020. The world-class facility will include a 175-seat black box theater and experimental lab; a scene shop; a 450-seat concert hall designed for orchestra, choir, band and ensemble performances.

UCA received $975,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to build a tornado-proof, stand-alone safe room for residents of Bear Village and those living in surrounding apartments and homes. The building will provide protection for 516 people in the event of a catastrophic storm. Construction began in spring 2020 and was expected to be completed in August 2020.

A recent technology upgrade expanded 10G bandwidth to the entire campus, resulting in internet speed 10 times faster than before, while providing enhanced security, redundancy, monitoring alerts and more.

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2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

SAFETY Students enjoy a beautiful safe campus at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY– THREE RIVERS

The ASU-Three Rivers campus is very safe overall. The local police department conducts regular patrols on campus at all hours of the day and night; average response time in case of emergency is less than 4 minutes.

The university security force consists of one full-time employee during business hours and one part-time employee in the evenings until all classes are concluded. Security conducts patrols in and around the buildings and parking lots and responds to requests for assistance.

In case of emergencies or severe weather, campus employees use the Rave Panic Button mobile alert system and Blackboard mobile, text and email alerts for all students and employees.

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Quality and adaptability are focal points of the Arkansas Tech University pandemic recovery plan for fall 2020. The plan is being created by members of the ATU faculty and will be put into motion with involvement from personnel in the ATU Office of Information Systems, the ATU Office of the Registrar and ATU’s Roy and Christine Sturgis Academic Advising Center.

Plan provisions include converting a portion of existing face-to-face courses to 100 percent virtual delivery, protecting faculty with known vulnerability to COVID-19, ensuring classroom spaces are reimagined to provide adequate social distancing and allowing students who are quarantined due to exposure to the virus or a positive test to continue coursework through distance technology.

An additional pandemic recovery plan has been developed by the ATU Department of Residence Life. Entrances and hallways at ATU student housing facilities will be one-way traffic in and out of the building. Inside campus housing facilities, occupancy limits will be posted in common areas and computer labs and study rooms will either have physical dividers or will be closed in cases when social distancing is not possible.

All ATU students, including those who live on campus, are required to complete a daily health screening at the outset of any day that brings them to campus and to wear a mask when in a public space or where social distancing of 6 feet or greater is not possible.

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HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

Henderson State University uses Alertus and Rave notification systems to provide notification in the event of emergencies. This includes notifications via an outdoor warning system, text messaging, mobile app, email and desktop notifications. The university also provides Reddie Rides, an on-call ride-home service. The campus has installed 10 outdoor emergency call phones across campus to connect students to assistance should the need arise.

Student Support Services also provides academic tutoring, support groups, workshops and academic advice to help students navigate the challenges and stresses of college life.

Henderson State University is ready to transition between in-person and remote instruction depending on local COVID-19 conditions and guidance from the Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even in the midst of a pandemic, the university continues to provide a quality educational experience for students through a flexible combination of in-person, remote and hybrid classes. Visit hsu.edu/campustour for information about Reddies Online: Virtual Visit Series and on-campus tours.

LYON COLLEGE

Lyon College made the decision to continue remote instruction for the fall 2020 semester in order to keep students and community members safe. Students will remain home this semester to participate in remote instruction. The college will offer on-campus arrangements for international students and students with a compelling need.

Students will not be charged for fall room and board unless they are eligible to stay on campus. In addition, Lyon is issuing a grant to all students’ accounts to acknowledge their resilience. The Perseverance Grant will reduce each student’s remaining balance for fall tuition by 15 percent, and the college will continue the grant into the spring semester with a 7.5 percent reduction to students’ remaining spring balance.

NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE

The college has taken several steps to mitigate risk due to COVID-19 in learning environments.

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classrooms have been outfitted with additional technology to aid in virtual delivery. Several delivery options will be available to students, including on-campus learning, virtual learning using D2L Brightspace and recorded lectures.

Cloth facial coverings will be required at all times indoors, including the classroom. Faculty are required to wear cloth facial coverings, and face shields are being made available as well.

The library will remain open with reduced capacity, following social distancing guidelines.

Student Affairs offices will also remain open with reduced capacity following social distancing guidelines.

For other emergencies, NPC maintains an allcall intercom system as well as a phone call/ email/text blast system used for all threats, including security and weather.

NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

Northark has a Campus Police Department and, in the last year, has upgraded its camera system to provide enhanced surveillance in parking areas and on campus. The college uses Rave alerts for important emergency messages.

New Student Orientation prepares new students with the information and tools they need to become familiar with the college environment.

For the latest in COVID-19 guidelines, visit the Northark coronavirus website, northark. edu/coronavirus. The college’s Healthy Campus Fall 2020 Reopening Plan may be viewed at northark.edu.

SHORTER COLLEGE

Shorter College is committed to doing what’s necessary to protect the safety of all faculty, staff and students in the era of COVID-19. The janitorial staff deep-cleans and sanitize frequently vistied areas of our campus. Shorter College is vigilant in following safety guidelines issued by the CDC. Upon entry of any building on campus, faculty, staff, students and visitors are required to wear masks and report to multiple temperature check stations.

Some of the measures to be practiced daily include wearing masks when in public and on campus, frequently washing hands with soap or sanitizer, and practicing social distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from other individuals.

Students, faculty and staff are urged to stay home if they present symptoms such as a cough, fever or sore throat. Immediate notification is

required for those who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive or is experiencing symptoms. A student, faculty or staff member who does test positive is to call in immediately, but not come on campus.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

The University of Arkansas Police Department recently added a campus security patrol separate from the law enforcement division to provide an extra layer of safety. UAPD pursues a strategy of prevention and education to help students recognize things they can do to increase their own safety and deter crime.

The university provides emergency notification through RazAlert, which sends key messages by text, email and voice whenever an imminent threat is posed. The university also offers the Rave Guardian app for smartphones, which offers several safety features. The Associated Student Government operates a safe-ride program for students, and campus escorts are available for any student who is out at night.

All freshmen take orientation before the start of their classes and also take a course called University Perspectives during their first year.

It provides a variety of strategies for staying healthy and safe while in college. The Pat Walker Health Center coordinates several peer-topeer groups in which students work to educate their fellow students about health and safety, including awareness on sexual assault, wellness, nutrition and mental health.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FORT SMITH

A campus-wide mask mandate is in effect requiring face coverings indoors and out when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Additional signage, markers and barriers have been placed to remind everyone to follow social distancing protocols. Students and employees alike are asked to self-screen and monitor their individual health conditions daily.

Custodial teams have prepared enhanced daily cleaning and disinfecting routines based on CDC and Department of Health guidelines.

Personal protective equipment of reusable face coverings, disinfecting wipes and spray, hand sanitizer and face shields have been ordered for all faculty and staff, while centrally located offices throughout campus will be equipped with disposable masks, no-touch thermometers, disposable gloves and gowns and first-aid kits.

Hand sanitizer stations and disinfecting wipes are also available in each building.

Student health care is also available in many free services provided across campus, including the Powell Student Health Clinic, the Student Counseling Center, the Dave Stevens Lion Pride Food Pantry and the weekly Grab-and-Go Sack Lunch Program.

In May, online safety resource YourLocalSecurity.com named UAFS the safest university in Arkansas. UAFS reports drastically lower crime rates than the national averages.

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

The UCA Police Department has 25 full-time officers, all with arrest authority. The department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has a 911 communication center. The UCAPD offers multiple services to UCA and the wider Conway community, including safety escorts across campus, motorist assists and numerous education and safety classes.

During the fall 2018 semester, UCAPD launched the Safe@UCA app, which helps all students, faculty and staff stay safe on campus. Key features include Friend Walk, which allows users to send their location in real time to a friend; Report a Tip, which allows individuals to report a crime or Title IX tip and access the confidential reporting hotline; and real-time chat with UCA Police.

Throughout the year UCAPD also provides training for the community on different topics. Situational awareness, self-defense, active-shooter and alcohol and drug awareness are just some of the classes offered.

The University of Central Arkansas has created a webpage with information regarding COVID-19 response guidelines: uca.edu/ coronavirus/students. UCA recently announced an important partnership with Conway Regional Health System, Central Baptist College and Hendrix College for testing and health services related to COVID-19. More info can be found here: uca.edu/ news/conway-regional-health-system-central-baptist-college-hendrix-college-and-the-university-of-central-arkansas-announce-covid-19-partnership.

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

SEPTEMBER 2020 89

2020 COLLEGE GUIDE

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY THE PREDOMINANT TRENDS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN 2020-21

BY DWAIN HEBDA

T

he coronavirus pandemic has already fundamentally changed American society in every conceivable aspect of daily life.

Higher education is no exception, and the main trends leading into the academic year 2020-21 reflect that.

It’s a trying time for students and colleges alike, but one that officials are confident they are up to the task to handle.

“Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the major trend facing higher education right now is content delivery,” said Dr. Wade Derden, vice president for academic affairs at National Park College in Hot Springs. “NPC invested in online instruction long ago. Our college faculty are all required to go through online instructional training. The director of online resources has a doctorate in online instructional design and is a resource for faculty.”

“When the pandemic hit, we switched to online quickly. It wasn’t perfect, but we were ready.”

to a digital format last spring without sacrificing the high-touch approach of faculty, ATU students said.

“Every faculty member in the ATU Department of Behavioral Sciences has gone above and beyond to make sure students have the help and resources we need during this time,” said Brianna Robinson of Little Rock. “It was nice to have my professors assure me that everything would be fine and I would still finish the coursework needed for graduation.”

Alyssa Dougan, a secondary education social studies major from Hope, said she particularly appreciated the flexibility offered by her faculty members during this period of adjustment.

“My professors have been rock stars,” she said. “They all have been so understanding of the situation and have done everything in their power to help us succeed. One of my professors allowed for more time on online tests, sent out a survey asking how he could help and extended due dates on assignments. Another professor

Students and their families have other expectations from their college of choice, things that supercede even covid-19 response.

Derden said trends in technology and advancements in online curriculum design mean high- quality online study.

“The national debate over the quality of online instruction versus face-to-face instruction was resolved well over a decade ago,” he said.

“In many general education courses, there is no debate. Online delivery can be even more robust, but it requires a different approach, a different curriculum design and a well-trained faculty member.

“These are areas that NPC has invested in for years now. Every course, even the so-called traditional on-campus courses, are required on campus to include online, at a minimum, the course syllabus, the grade book, library and information literacy resources and attendance records.

“More and more faculty use the online shells attached to their classes to provide extra content, deliver quizzes and exams, and to provide the class lecture materials for later review. If students are looking for quality online instruction, they can find it at NPC.” Arkansas Tech University in Russellville met the monumental task of shifting all coursework 90 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

has set up times that he will be on Zoom every week just so we can ask him questions.

Caring for the whole student has also been the norm at North Arkansas College in Harrison.

“Northark faculty, staff, administration and students comprise a family environment,” said Micki Somers, director of public relations and marketing. “We have long focused on providing holistic student support services that focus on the entire college experience, not only academics.

“For the upcoming year, the college is committed to balancing campus health and student success with delivering the high-quality educational experience Northark is known for.”

To accomplish this, Northark has invested in several new features to help students succeed.

Among the additions are Zoom Rooms and expanded Wi-Fi, provided at no cost to the student. Students can also check out laptops and internet hotspots for the entire semester to overcome lack of appropriate internet service in many areas of Northark’s service areas. And there’s more.

“Northark is working diligently on a system Special Advertising Section

to grant prior learning credit for students to attain high-quality, post-secondary credentials and get in and out of programs quicker and enter the workforce,” Somers said. “We’re accomplishing this while still providing a high-quality education that’s affordable.”

One Arkansas college has set itself apart from the field in providing for student safety.

Lyon College of Batesville announced over the summer that it would open the 2020-21 academic year 100 percent virtually.

“After the mid-semester pivot to fully online instruction in March 2020, Lyon College began planning for a number of different scenarios for the fall 2020 semester,” said Dr. Melissa Taverner, provost and dean of faculty.

“We had to consider the impact of bringing over 600 people from around the world to our small community and whether this influx of people would increase the spread of the virus and the pressure on our health care providers. As July progressed and the regional caseload continued to increase rapidly, we made the decision to migrate fully online for the fall semester to make sure that the Lyon and the Batesville communities would stay safe.”

Taverner said the college has continued to look for creative ways to keep students engaged and connected to the campus, albeit remotely.

“We seek to develop and to maintain a curriculum that is relevant and forward-thinking,” she said. “Our goal is to continue to provide the outstanding liberal arts education for which Lyon College is known.”

Su-Ann Tan-Brown, director of communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, said students and their families have other expectations from their college of choice, things that supersede even COVID-19 response.

“College students today expect universities to provide a more personalized advising and registration experience so they don’t feel like they are just a cog in a machine,” she said.

“Additionally, they also look forward to starting or continuing their college career at their convenience. Students today are more in tune with how their college degree will fit into their current lifestyle.

“SAU is continuing to capitalize on these trends by providing personalized advising sessions, direct communication with professors and deans, and by ensuring that enrollment remains easy and convenient.”

Tan-Brown said the challenge for all institutions of higher learning is to balance providing a true collegiate experience with keeping people safe.

OPENING FALL 2021

UCA

is equipping our students to provide outstanding health care in Arkansas and beyond. As a leader in

health care education, we’re thrilled to expand our training capabilities with our new state-of-the-art Integrated Health Sciences Building – one that will help our students build a brighter future for health care.

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“While COVID-19 has certainly set the stage for a new normal, SAU is steadfast in its mission to continue providing the complete college experience, with some modifications,” she said.

“SAU continues to meet the needs of our students by incorporating ever-changing academic and co-curricular advancement.”

Kurt Boniecki, associate provost for academic success at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, identified two major trends in the underlying pedagogy, or philosophy, of how courses are structured and delivered.

“Faculty and institutions are examining the impact of more traditional forms of instruction on our students across distinctive student subpopulations such as gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, first-generation students and nontraditional students,” he said. “They are exploring new methods of inclusive instruction to ensure greater and broader success.

“UCA’s Center for Teaching Excellence is providing training and leading discussions on anti-racist pedagogy and creating inclusive classrooms. UCA’s Torreyson Library, in collaboration with UCA’s Faculty Senate, have created an online library guide that lists resources for faculty to learn more about inclusive teaching and the history of inequality in higher education.”

Another major teaching trend, experiential learning, is also in high demand, Boniecki said.

“As students continue to expect a college degree to improve their future employment oppor-

92 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

tunities, institutions are working to ensure that their graduates leave with not only knowledge but with the skills and hands-on experience needed for a fast-changing, competitive employment environment,” he said.

“UCA has long offered a wide range of experiences to students, and has more recently sought to coordinate, support and document these activities.”

Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs with UA Little Rock, said many of the same goals students and institutions had pre-pandemic are still important.

“Nationally, the value of a traditional fouryear degree is under debate,” she said. “Despite this, college graduates still make, on average, $1 million more in lifetime earnings than those with only a high school degree. Data also shows college graduates enjoy better personal health, greater civic engagement and a higher quality of life.

“Students today, however, are looking for a return on investment. They seek scholarships and grants to avoid college debt. They look for shortened time to graduation through concurrent education, credit for prior learning and learning that leads to gainful employment.”

David Montague, UA Little Rock executive director of online learning and faculty mentoring, said the university is already looking to what’s next in technology as it pertains to content delivery.

“An increasing number of our students use

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their mobile devices to access their learning management system content,” he said.

“At a diverse, metropolitan institution like UA Little Rock, student retention and completion present difficult challenges, as a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. UA Little Rock is committed to providing access and support to all students pursuing higher education and opportunities for success in central Arkansas.”

Students at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville are particularly interested in educational and socially relevant experiences that transcend the classroom, said Charlie Alison, an editor in the University Relations Department.

“More students are coming to college with the desire to build relationships outside of class that are tied into their major field of study,” he said. “The university began developing Living Learning Communities in the various residence halls earlier this decade to meet that desire.

For instance, Holcombe Hall is an international learning community and houses both international students and American students interested in international studies.”

Community service is another element of higher education that today’s college student values greatly. Alison said the university has taken steps to accommodate this trend as well.

“We’ve seen growth in the number of students who want courses that incorporate service to the community in their curriculum,” he said. “The University of Arkansas Service Learning program helps faculty develop courses that

STAYING HOME? ATTEND COLLEGE ANYWAY.

Nationally award winning classes that have always been online.

eversity.edu Special Advertising Section

CITY

PHONE

HRS/SEM

TUITION/SEM

HOUSING/SEM

ARKANSAS BAPTIST COLLEGE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Little Rock Jonesboro

501-420-1200 870-972-2100 800-382-3030 (instate only)

878 14,085

12-18 15 (full-time undergraduate)

$4,380 $4,450 (in-state)

$4,412 (double occupancy: 16 meals/week) $5,011(room & board)

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Russellville

11,829

15

$4,792.50 (15 hours, includes mandatory fees)

starting at $3,320 (includes meals)

CENTRAL BAPTIST COLLEGE CROWLEY’S RIDGE COLLEGE HARDING UNIVERSITY HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

Conway Paragould Searcy Arkadelphia

605 200 5,122 3,600

15 12 or more 15 12-15

$7,800 $6,325 $9,570 $4586 (15 hours)

$3,750 $3,200 $3,502 $4600 (room & board)

HENDRIX COLLEGE

Conway

479-968-0343 1-800-582-6953 501-329-6872 870-236-6901 800-477-4407 870-230-5000 800-228-7333 501-450-1362 800-277-9017

1,120

4 courses/sem

$24,745 (including fees)

$6,410 (including meals)

JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY

Siloam Springs

12-18

$14,144

$4,777

Batesville

877-528-4636 479-524-7157 870-307-7000

2,316

LYON COLLEGE

700 est. *census date Sept. 1, 2017

12-17 (including tuition costs)

$14,395

$4,565 (for freshmen)

OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

Arkadelphia

870-245-5000 800-DIAL-OBU

1,574

up to 18

$13,640 (including fees)

$4000 (room & board)

PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE

Little Rock

501-375-9845

800

12-16

$5,902

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COSSATOT UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

Magnolia De Queen

870-235-4040 870-584-4471 800-844-4471 800-482-8892

4468 (Fall 2018) 1,550

15 12

$3,210 72/hr (in-county)/$102/hr (out of state)

1st/2nd-yr $2,596/upperclass suites $2,954; board/sem $1,528; room reservation $235 $3,208 N/A

9,000 (Fall 2020)

12

4764.30 (tuition & fees, 15 hours)

$3,502.50 (including room & board)

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT MONTICELLO UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Monticello

870-460-1026 800-844-1826 870-575-8000

3,643

15

$150/credit hr

$1,320-$2,260

2,579 (Fall 2018)

15

$2,565 (AY 2019-20)

$4,236 (20 meals)

479-575-5346 800-377-8632 501-450-5000 479-788-7000

27,559

15

$4,692 (including fees)

$5,665 (room & board)

10,869 6,626 (Fall 2017)

15 15

$3,777 $2,208-$3,506/sem + meal plan

479-979-1227 800-264-8636 800-722-4434 870-759-4120

825

12-17

$4,669 $166/credit hr (in-state); $461/credit hr(out-ofstate) $12,475

500

12-17

$8,334

$4,013

Little Rock

Pine Bluff Fayetteville

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS Conway UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FORT Fort Smith SMITH Clarksville UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS

To compile this, forms were sent to every qualified college and university with instructions to return by a specified deadline.

Those schools not meeting the deadline were repeated from last year. Every attempt is made to gather and verify the information.

ENROLLMENT/ SEM

SCHOOL

$3,900

WILLIAMS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

Walnut Ridge

ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY BEEBE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MID-SOUTH

Blytheville

870-762-1020

1,562

15

$72/hr

N/A

Beebe

1-800-632-9985

2,250

15

$102/hr

$2,800(double); $3,225 (single)(including meals)

West Memphis

870-733-6722 866-733-6722

1561 (2018-2019)

1-18

$95/hr (in-county); $115/hr (out-of-county/instate); $155/hr (out-of-state)

N/A

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY AT MOUNTAIN HOME ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITYNEWPORT ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY OZARK BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE LITTLE ROCK BLACK RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY THREE RIVERS EAST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE

Mountain Home 870-508-6100

1,345

15 to 18

N/A

Newport

870-512-7800

2,362

15

$2,304 In-State Plus Books and Fees/ $3912 Out-of-State Plus Books and Fees $96/hr

Ozark

479-667-2117

2097 (Fall 2019)

15

$1935 ($129 cr hr), (fees $161 cr hr)

N/A

Little Rock

501-202-6200

700

Varies by program

Varies by program

No Campus Housing

Pocahontas Malvern

870-248-4000 501-337-5000 800-337-0266 870-633-4480

1476 (Fall 2019) 1,151

12 12

$160 Instate per credit hour with fees $1,530

N/A N/A

1047 (Fall 2017)

12

3,327 1,786

12 12

$85/credit hr (in-county); $95/hr (out-of-county); $113/hr (out-of-state) $90 per credit hour $888 (in-county)

N/A

NORTH WEST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OZARKA COLLEGE

Bentonville

501-760-4159 870-743-3000 800-679-6622 479-986-4000 800-995-6922 870-368-2300 800-821-4335 870-338-6474 501-812-2200

8000

15

N/A

1,139

12-15

$1,125 in-district ($75/credit hr); $2,025 out-of-district ($135/credit hr) $90/hr

1,540 5591 (Spring 2019)

15 Varies

$73 $134/credit hr, in-state

N/A N/A

Mena

479-394-7622

938

15

$1,215

N/A

North Little Rock El Dorado

501-374-6305

N/A

12

$2,052

N/A

870-862-8131

1,450

15

$1,245/$1,440/$2580

N/A

Pine Bluff

1,400

3-18

$96/hr

N/A

Camden

870-850-8605 888-SEARKTC 870-574-4500

1,800

15

$108/hr (in-state); $156/hr (out-of-state)

Batesville

870-612-2000

1,479

15

$75/hr (in-district); $87.50/hr (out-of-district)

$1200-$1400/sem double (on-campus); $1400sem double (off-campus]. Meal plans are additional.

N/A

Hope & Texarkana

870-777-5722

1,500

12

$66/credit hr (in-district); $74/hr (out-of-district)

N/A

Morrilton

800-264-1094

1,838

12

$92/hr (in-district); $102/hr (in-state)

N/A

Forrest City Hot Springs Harrison

Melbourne

Helena PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PULASKI North Little Rock TECHNICAL COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS RICH MOUNTAIN SHORTER COLLEGE SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS COLLEGE SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY TECH UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT BATESVILLE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT HOPE-TEXARKANA UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT MORRILTON

94 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

Special SUPPLEMENT Advertising A SPECIAL ADVERTISING OFSection THE ARKANSAS TIMES

N/A

N/A N/A

N/A

FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE

June 30th June 30th

None ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER Scholarship offers made monthly beginning ACT/ASSET/SAT Oct. 15th 2020 thorugh July 1st 2021. Exception: ASTATE Scholar has Dec. 1, 2020 deadline

$8,112.50 (not including books)

Open

Nov. 15 Priority, Feb. 15 Final

ACT/SAT

Open Enrollment CLEP 1st day of classes/$30-Undergraduate; AP/CLEP $50-Graduate/Masters Specialist; $50-International Students; $50-Doctoral Open/No Fee AP/CLEP

$11,550 $10,750 for boarding students $13,527 $9,186

July 31st Open Aug. 1st Apr. 15th

N/A Aug. 1st Aug. 1st Dec 1st Priority

ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER ACT/SAT ACT/SAT ACT/SAT

10 days prior to first day Aug 16th Open/$50 None

AP/CLEP CLEP/AP AP/CLEP/IB AP/CLEP/IB

$31,155

Mar. 1 Priority

Early Action I - Nov. 15, Early Action II - Feb. 1

AP/IB

$18,921

Feb. 15 Priority

Feb. 1st for most scholarships, however schol- ACT/SAT arships are awarded through all application deadlines.

Feb. 15 Priority ACT/SAT/CLT/test optional

Rolling/$25

AP/CLEP/IB

$18,960

Rolling, but priority consideration

by Feb. 1st

Rolling, but priority consideration by Mar. 1st

AP/IB

$17,950

Rolling (Awards are made on an ongoing basis. The priority deadline for fall entry is May 1, for spring entry Nov. 1).

Mar. 1st

Rolling (Awards are made on an ongoing basis. ACT/SAT Fall Priority Deadline: May 1, Spring Priority Deadline: Nov. 1)

Early Action 1 - November 15, 2018, Early Action 2 - February 15, 2019, Regular Decision - April 1, 2019 Open/No Application Fee

Rolling Deadline

ACT/SAT

Open/$25

AP/CLEP/IB

Mar. 1st Apr. 1st

AP/CLEP AP/CLEP

Mar. 1 Mentor Programs, Aug. 2 Merit and Need-Based Scholarships

ACT/SAT ACT/ASSET/COMPASS/SAT/ACCUPLACER ACT/SAT

Open/No Fee Open/No Fee

$9166.80 (est 15 hrs tuition/fees, rm/brd, books/supplies), $9166.80

May 1st Fall- None, Spring- None, SummerApril 15 February 1 (Priority), July 1st (Preferred) November 1 (Final Deadline)

$8,503 including campus room & board

Rolling

Mar. 1st Priority

$8,268 (based on 15 hrs/sem)

Rolling Basis

$10,357

$10,459 $7,698 $1100-$1500

REQUIRED EXAMS

ACT/SAT

APP DEADLINE FEE

CREDIT EXAM ACCEPTED

TOTAL SEM COST $9,033 (Tuition + room & board) $9,461

AP/CLEP

AP/CLEP/PEP/Regents College Exams

Mar. 1st/ April 1st

Freshman admission and credential deadline is one week before classes begin. July 15 International Students ACT/ASSET/SAT/COMPASS/ACCUPLAC- Rolling/No Fee - Except for internaER (for placement) tional applicants ACT/SAT Open

Mar. 1st

Feb. 1st (Freshmen), Apr. 1st (transfers)

ACT/SAT

Aug. 1

AP/CLEP/IB

$8,446 Varies

Open June 15th

Jan 25th Nov. 15

ACT/SAT ACT/COMPASS/SAT

None Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP/IB AP/CLEP/Challenge

$16,875 (not including books)

Feb. 15 Priority

April 1st Priority

ACT/SAT (Test Optional)

May 1st Priority

AP/CLEP

$12,347

May 1st

None

ACT/SAT

Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP

1270/15 hours

Open

Apr. 15th Priority

ACT/ACCUPLACER

N/A

N/A

$1,830 tuition/fees

Priority dates June 1/Nov. 1/Apr. 1

June 1st

ACT/ACCUPLACER

Open/No Fee

CLEP

Approx. $2,675 but varies depending on academic/technical program (does not include transportation, personal expenses, housing).

Open Fall 2019; Spring 2020 Priority, Oct. 30

Nov. 1 (Spring 2020); May 1 (Fall 2020)

ACT/ASSET/COMPASS/SAT/ACCUPLACER

Open

AP/CLEP/Prior Learning

Priority Consideration Deadline June 1st Open

Mar. 15

Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP

June 1st

ACT/COMPASS/SAT/ACCUPLACER CLASSIC/ACCUPLACER NEXT GEN ACCUPLACER/

Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP

$1935 (not including books or applicable course fees) Varies by program

Open

June 15 (Fall)/Nov. 15 (Spring)

ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER

Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP

May 1 / Oct 1

June 1st/Dec. 1st

ACT/SAT

Varies By Program/No Fee

CLEP/AP

Varies $1,530 plus books & fees

Open Open

Mar. 1st May 1st/ Dec 1st

ACT/ACCUPLACER ACT/ASSET/SAT/ACCUPLACER

Open/No Fee Open/No Fee

AP AP/CLEP

N/A

July 1st

Varies

ACT/ACCUPLACER

Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP

Varies N/A

Open Varies

February 1st May 1st

ACT/ACCUPLACER/SAT ACT or ACCUPLACER/COMPASS

Open/No Fee Open

AP/CLEP/IB/Accuplacer AP/CLEP

$2,164 in-district, $3,054 out-of-district (tuition/fees/books) Varies

N/A

March 1st

ACT/ACCUPLACER/SAT

Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP/DANTE

Priority deadline June 1

Apr. 1st

ACT/ASSET/ACCUPLACER

Open/No Fee

AP/CLEP

$1,510 The average cost of tuition and basic fees for a full-time student taking 15 hours is $2,835 per semester. $2,130 including fees & books

Call 870-338-6474.

Fall-May 15, Spring-Oct. 15, Summer-Mar. 15

Call 870-338-6474.

Open

ACT/ACCUPLACER ACT/ACCUPLACER

Open/No Fee Open/No Fee

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SEPTEMBER 2020 97

THE OBSERVER

ENDORSEMENTS 2020

I

t will be September by the time you read this, Dear Reader, the long and terrible summer when plague swept the land coming to a close at last, hopefully to be only a memory by the time the dogwoods flower again, each of us with any sense having received a needle stick and a lollipop along with the vaccine that will be, by then, helping protect our most vulnerable if the universe is kind and science is true. The Observer is still mired in August and still adjusting to this dastardly monthly schedule after years of pumping out Observers one a week, rapid fire, so the gears didn’t have time to get so rusty. The next Observer you receive from this old pen will be delivered in October, the month of pumpkins and darkness.

For that one, The Observer plans to spin you a horror story of all the things that will come to pass if every damn one of us who still has breath and faith in mankind doesn’t agree now to crawl over a mile of broken light bulbs, if need be, to vote out this pig of a man who, in a moment of national insanity, we voted into an office where he has the power to make his delusions kill.

This month, therefore, The Observer must set aside some time for our yearly slate of endorsements. They are as follows: FOR PARKS STAYING PARKS: We have no idea what swirl of glittering dollar signs our local developer class has blown into the head of our young Mayor Frank Scott Jr. over martinis downtown, but they’ve clearly got him seeing the pristine former War Memorial Golf Course land in midtown as a side of beef to be carved up and fed to circling, over-fattened sharks instead of a city, county and state treasure that should be kept in public trust forever. It’s already a park, mayor.

Just mow it, leave it alone and let people find its joys, as they already are. Luckily, the city’s vulgar “golf entertainment” come-on for our parkland found no corporate sailors drunk enough to give it a go. Let’s keep it that way. Stay frosty, citizens.

AGAINST THE OBSERVER’S NEW GLASSES: After 15 years of buying the same frames from 98 SEPTEMBER 2020

ARKANSAS TIMES

the same website, we returned there this year and found to our horror that our frames had been discontinued. Having learned from several painful lessons to take Spouse’s advice into careful consideration, at her urging, we chose a different, more modern pair. Only after the UPS truck pulled away did we find that the black faux-eyebrows above the lenses make us look like a cross between a Victorian whaling ship captain and Groucho Marx. A friend later informed us that, to him, we now look like: “The Nerd Who Can Still Kick Some Ass.” Thanks? This aggression will not stand, man.

Next stimulus check, Yours Truly will take our chances with the most-similar-to-Old-Faithful wire frames and hope for the best.

FOR “POLLY PLATT: THE INVISIBLE WOMAN”: The Observer has long been a film junkie, a fan of strong women and a podcast addict, so we have been enjoying the hell out of the new 10-part podcast “Polly Platt: The Invisible Woman” from “You Must Remember This.” Platt, if you don’t recall the name, was a pioneering female production designer who got her start designing “The Last Picture Show” when she was director Peter Bogdanovich’s first wife. As heard in the podcast, which draws on Platt’s unpublished memoir, it suuuuure seems like Platt — who also worked on/reworked Bogdanovich’s “What’s Up, Doc?” and “Paper Moon” — was the real brains behind the director’s early success and maybe his career as a whole. Whatever the case, it’s great stuff about a true visionary who literally changed the course of Hollywood history. And it’s also a great excuse to rewatch “The Last Picture Show” and “Paper Moon.”

FOR THE 1961 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT: Cars today are just too damn fancy, with screens and backup cameras and lane-change alert to keep you from coasting under the wheels of a passing semi while trying to fix your lipstick at 80 miles an hour. On the farm growing up in the darkest heart of Saline County an age ago, The Observer’s Pa had a 1961 International

Scout that served as the all-purpose get-around.

Styling by Boxy Rectangle. Standard shift. On the dash: a speedometer as big as a melon, a temperature/fuel gauge (broken), a key switch and an AM radio that sounded like the stations were broadcasting from the bottom of a steel drum. The seats were premium Naugahyde, the military-tread tires would chew through any muck, and if it rained you better hope you brought your hat because the Scout’s removable top didn’t come with it when he bought it. One summer, Yours Truly found a rat snake curled around the floor shifter that was six feet long when The Observer and cousins stretched it out in the sun. Now THAT was an automobile.

AGAINST THE KIDS GOING BACK TO INPERSON SCHOOL: What madness is this? What foolishness? What ignorance? No, your child probably won’t die of it, but they can spread it.

They can bring it home. Here’s a story for you: When The Observer was 7 years old, we dropped one of the most precious things in our mother’s life — a crockery pitcher that once belonged to her beloved grandmother — and smashed it to irreparable bits. The Observer, all these years later, still feels terrible about that from time to time. So we hope that everybody proudly sending their children back to in-person school takes the time to think very deeply about what they will say when a child comes to them and says: “Is it my fault that [loved one] died?”

Because we promise you that kids will make the connection. They will carry that guilt for the rest of their lives. And a person who died when they didn’t have to is no crockery pitcher.

Sorry to go so bleak on you there at the end, Dear Reader, but The Observer has been tied in knots of anguish over the idea of these Trump-haunted fools forcing the kids back into crowded classrooms. If Junior was still a lad, we guarantee you we’d be teaching him at home like a proper Duggar, letting our ignorance of math be his cross to bear for a change. Stay safe, friends, and keep your loved ones safe. Until we meet again, The Observer smiles upon you.

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