University of Central Arkansas Annual Report 2019-20

2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0 A N N UA L R E P ORT UNI VE RSI T Y

OF

C E N T R AL

AR K ANSAS

UCA. E DU

|

1

TABLE OF

CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT................................................................... 3 ACADEMICS............................................................................................................... 4 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS........................................................................................... 6 COLLEGE OF EDUCATION........................................................................................ 7 COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION....................................................... 8 COLLEGE OF HEALTH & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES................................................. 9 COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS.................................................................................... 10 COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS............................................ 11 SCHEDLER HONORS COLLEGE............................................................................... 12 GRADUATE SCHOOL................................................................................................. 13 SERVICE-LEARNING................................................................................................. 14 RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES......................................................................................... 15

ACHIEVEMENTS..................................................................................................... 16 GRADUATION........................................................................................................... 18 OUTREACH................................................................................................................ 19 EXPANSION............................................................................................................... 20 CAMPUS LIFE........................................................................................................... 22 ATHLETICS................................................................................................................ 26 ADVANCEMENT...................................................................................................... 30 DAY OF GIVING........................................................................................... 32 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION................................................................................ 33

GOVERNING BODIES........................................................................................... 34 OXFORD AMERICAN............................................................................................. 36 ARKANSAS SHAKESPEARE THEATRE....................................................... 37 LOOKING AHEAD................................................................................................... 38 2

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT It is my pleasure to present the 2019-20 Annual Report for the University of Central Arkansas.

The 2019-20 academic year was marked by exciting growth, remarkable change, and many record-breaking successes. This year, we saw the highest freshman-to-sophomore retention rate and welcomed the most academically qualified freshman class in university history. We also once again broke records in annual giving to the university and in private scholarship dollars awarded to our deserving students. For the fourth consecutive year, UCA exceeded fundraising goals, raising more than $15 million for student scholarships, faculty support, programs, and facilities. The university’s physical landscape changed as well, as we broke ground on the much-anticipated 80,000-squarefoot Integrated Health Sciences Building.

In addition, we saw our UCA family come together in new ways to ensure student success in the midst of a global pandemic. When COVID-19 began impacting the U.S., our faculty and staff worked around the clock to make sure all UCA students could finish the spring semester strong.

In a time when many other colleges and universities were compelled to rush into tough choices related to personnel and academic programs, I am proud of the way our team pulled together and stayed the course. I am equally proud of our students’ commitment to their academic success and their ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

In the following report, you will learn more about the exceptional work of our students, faculty, and staff through highlights of our academic programs, achievements, campus life, experiential learning opportunities, athletics, and more. Many of this year’s accomplishments have been supported by generous donors who are committed to this university, our values, and helping us change lives, one student at a time.

I have a deep sense of pride for all that we have achieved this year, and I am incredibly grateful for the UCA campus community and the many individuals who have made these things possible. As you read the following pages, I hope you, too, will feel a sense of pride in your university and what you have helped us accomplish.

Go Bears!

Sincerely,

Dr. Houston D. Davis President UCA. E DU

|

3

ACADEMICS

10,870

The entering freshman class at the University of Central Arkansas, with an average ACT score of 24.5 and composite high school GPA of 3.57, was the most academically qualified in school history. This year’s incoming class broke the record of last year’s class and makes three consecutive years that new university milestones have been set for academic qualifications.

UCA also experienced significant growth in recently established academic programs. The College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the university’s largest college, grew its graduate program enrollment to 775, an overall 5.5% increase, and continues to see its undergraduate enrollment rise. This growth is led by the relatively new RN to BSN program that now has 54 students enrolled, compared to seven students at its launch in 2016-17.

The total head count enrollment for fall 2019 was 10,870, a slight decrease from the previous year. First-time freshman enrollment was 1,840 and — while still representing the second-largest incoming university class in the state — the number was down from 2,033 the previous year. The freshmanto-sophomore retention rate not only improved for the second consecutive year in fall 2019, but it also set a new university record. Additionally, at 74.7%, the overall retention rate for the fall 2018 student body set a new high for UCA and follows improvements from 74.1% in 2017 and 72.1% in 2016.

FALL 2019 ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT BY COLLEGE

1,601

964

846

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

1,526

1,108

3,372

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

1,452 UNDECIDED

TOP UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS 677 511 505 367 354 246 239 232 230 209

BIOLOGY EXERCISE SCIENCE PSYCHOLOGY BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ELEMENTARY EDUCATION COMPUTER SCIENCE NURSING HEALTH SCIENCES MARKETING ACCOUNTING Source: Office of Institutional Research

4

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

NEW DEGREE PROGRAMS AND CERTIFICATES COMMUNITY NUTRITION

MUSIC EDUCATION

The Bachelor of Science in community nutrition prepares students to interact with the community and public through education and advocacy. Through a community practicum course, students gain the valuable experience needed to enter the workforce.

Other courses include meal management, food economics and life cycle nutrition.

Students who obtain the degree may go on to work in fields such as cooperative extension, business and industry, and school nutrition.

The Bachelor of Music Education in music education prepares students for the field through covering theory, music history, ear training and more. Students in the program also study conducting, education as a profession and how to integrate music technology into teaching and learning.

NUTRITION SCIENCES The Bachelor of Science in nutrition sciences prepares students for post-degree programs such as physical therapy and occupational therapy. Career paths for students who earn the degree include product innovation, health care and research settings. Courses for the program include medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, and nutrition and metabolism.

ENGINEERING PHYSICS Formerly part of the Bachelor of Science in physics, the bachelor’s in engineering physics focuses on robotics and automation.

Mechanical, electrical and computer engineering are focus areas included in the program that help students prepare for the robotics field. Fields where automation is key include transportation automation, modern manufacturing and warehouses, and others.

CYBERSECURITY MANAGEMENT The Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity management prepares students for careers in which they will assess, prevent and oversee cyber threats. While the program explores handling an organization’s vulnerabilities, assessing risk, and applying global and U.S. standards, it also focuses on political, strategic and ethical systems.

ACCOUNTING The Technical Certificate in accounting readies students for accounting careers in government, corporate, nonprofit and private business settings. The certificate is suited for high school graduates, bachelor’s-seeking students and post-baccalaureate students who have an interest in an accounting career.

COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHING AND LEARNING The Graduate Certificate in computer science teaching and learning is housed in the College of Education and helps prepare students to be technology leaders in their work environment.

UCA. E DU

|

5

COLLEGE OF

BUSINESS The College of Business comprises the departments of Accounting; Economics, Finance, and Insurance and Risk Management; Marketing and Management; and Management Information Systems.

The College of Business marked 50 years with several celebratory activities. James Conrad Carroll, the first dean of the college in 1969, was featured in a video that was shared on the college website. The college highlighted alumni from the past five decades through social media and other channels and hosted several programs throughout the year.

JAMES CONRAD CARROLL UCA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS DEAN, 1969-1991

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield President and CEO Curtis Barnett served as the Davis Family Lecture Series keynote speaker. Barnett, a 1986 graduate, also serves as a member of the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees. Shari Natovitz, risk manager for Silverstein Properties and World Trade Center Properties, visited the campus in March for the risk manager-in-residence luncheon.

HIGHLIGHTS

STUDENTS AND COMPANIES INTERACT AT MEET THE FIRMS

6

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

◊

The Master of Business Administration program was named to Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools List for on-campus MBAs.

◊

Graduates of the Master of Accountancy program passed the CPA exam at a rate of 68.8% on their first attempt and 65% on all attempts. The national pass rate is 50% for all section attempts.

◊

The annual UCA/Acxiom IT Careers Camp brought dozens of high school students to campus to learn more about careers in management information systems and information technology.

◊

Professors in the college earned several awards and distinctions. Connie

McKnight, associate professor of accounting, was named Outstanding Beta Alpha Psi Advisor. Anthony McMullen, associate professor of business law and director of forensics, was named the 2020 recipient of the Bennett Strange Coach of the Year Award presented by the International Public Debate Association. Mark McMurtrey, professor of management information systems and MBA director, was named the recipient of the Southwest Decision Sciences Institute Outstanding Educator Award presented by the Federation of Business Disciplines. Ashley Phillips, assistant professor of accounting, was named United Way of Central Arkansas Volunteer of the Year.

$1.3M+

$100,000

Amount raised from 275 donors that supported scholarships, awards, professorships, lectures and faculty endeavors

Total Acxiom donation to establish the IT Career Centers Fund and Acxiom Scholarship Fund

COLLEGE OF

EDUCATION The College of Education comprises the departments of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education; Leadership Studies; and Teaching and Learning. It also houses the Office of Candidate Services, the Mashburn Center for Learning, the Child Study Center and the Technology Learning Center.

The College of Education maintains its role as a leader in providing a premier training environment for those in the education field. The college continued its 1:1 iPad Mobile Learning Initiative in middle level, elementary, literacy and special education, and select secondary education programs, which has contributed to a reduction in the number of textbooks students purchase.

The college also continued its community outreach efforts. The Mashburn Center for Learning collaborated with Education Service Cooperatives and various school districts to provide more than 40 professional development sessions to Arkansas teachers, UCA faculty and other Arkansas educators. The college also conducted Cultural Proficiency Field Trips to schools outside of its placement range to allow candidates to gain field experience. Schools were selected for their diversity and exceptional educational practices.

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

◊

◊

The Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education accepted Leadership Studies’ Instructional Technology Online Teaching Concentration for the Online Teaching Endorsement. This is the first — and currently only — program of its kind in Arkansas.

Graduate Joel Lookadoo was named the 2020 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

A 2013 graduate, Lookadoo is an instructional facilitator at the Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale.

College faculty organized the Media and Literacy Summer Conference held in July 2019. The conference offered

innovative ideas for school media, library and literacy teachers. ◊

◊

Through a generous gift from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, faculty experienced six months of the Disruptive Educational Equity Project, which provided intensive professional development related to race and equity in K-12 schools.

Victoria Groves-Scott, dean of the college, was re-elected to the state’s Professional Licensure Standards Board, whose work includes conducting audits of teacher education programs and overseeing a code of ethics for administrators and teachers.

350+

$5,500

Number of high school students who attended the Impacting Tomorrow Summit for Arkansas high school students taking an Orientation to Teaching or Teacher Cadet class

Amount of money raised for the college’s Student Emergency Fund during the 2020 Day of Giving, shattering previous records

DISRUPTIVE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY PROJECT

|

FRESHMAN WELCOME

UCA. E DU

|

7

COLLEGE OF

FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION The College of Fine Arts and Communication comprises the departments of Art; Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing; and Music; the School of Communication; and Reynolds Performance Hall.

The College of Fine Arts and Communication produced the Empathy Project as a means to bring social change to the University of Central Arkansas campus. The project used dance, music, poetry and visual art to develop empathy in communities on campus and in central Arkansas. It also featured artists-in-residence Berlin-based composer and musician Christian Meyer; French poet Sarah Turquety; Sue Schroeder, artistic director of Core Dance Co.; and artists from Core.

Sponsored by the Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing, the third annual C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference was held in November 2019 with 174 attendees, approximately 50 of them students, hailing from 28 states. Artist-in-residence Camille Dungy, 2019 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient and author of numerous books of poetry, and New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg were the keynote presenters.

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

The Department of Music formed the Faculty Jazz Quintet, the first faculty jazz ensemble in the history of the university.

◊

The Department of Art hosted the 30th annual Arkansas College Art History Symposium. The keynote address was presented by UCA alumna Jessica Harden, director of design and content strategy at the Dallas Museum of Art.

◊

The Vortex, UCA’s award-winning student-produced magazine of literature and fine art, was named Magazine of the Year in the 2020 Arkansas College Media Association competition. Its annual print issue was

| THE EMPATHY PROJECT

174 8

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

2019 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL STUDENT TRIP

Number of attendees at the third annual C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference

completed despite the COVID-19 shutdown of campus. ◊

The UCA Wind Ensemble - along with director of bands Ricky Brooks, assistant professor of trumpet Ross Ahlhorn, and assistant professor of trombone Justin Cook - spearheaded a consortium of universities to commission a new work by international composer Anthony Plog.

The ensemble performed the resulting new composition, “Concerto for Trumpet, Trombone, and Antiphonal Wind Orchestra,” a world premiere, at the College Band Directors National Association’s Southwestern Division Conference at the University of Oklahoma in February.

18

Number of film students who attended the annual Sundance Film Festival in Utah

COLLEGE OF

HEALTH & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES The College of Health and Behavioral Sciences comprises the departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Exercise and Sport Science; Family and Consumer Sciences; Health Sciences; Military Science and Leadership; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; and Psychology and Counseling; and the School of Nursing.

The College of Health and Behavioral Sciences broke ground on its new Integrated Health Sciences Building, which is scheduled to open in fall 2021. The cutting-edge 80,000-square-foot, four-story facility 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 Center that the entire college can utilize. The facility will foster an interprofessional educational environment featuring clinical and simulation experiences.

The opening of the Integrated Health Sciences Building will create room for 50 additional nursing students, helping to impact the nursing shortage in Arkansas.

UCA alumni, friends, the community and UCA Foundation partners have supported fundraising efforts for the facility.

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

William D. Bandy, professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, was named an American Physical Therapy Association Catherine Worthingham Fellow, the association’s highest honor. Bandy is only the second physical therapist in Arkansas to receive the award.

◊

Nina Roofe, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, was appointed to the Ethics Committee of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This organization is the world’s largest organization of nutrition and food professionals and represents more than 100,000 nutritionists, dietetic technicians, registered dietitians and other dietetics professionals.

◊

Duston Morris, Stephanie Rose and Heather Hudson, along with four

students from the Department of Health Sciences, received a grant from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Minority Research Center to develop the first in a series of prevention education story books targeting minority children and youth. The first book, “Adventures of The Health Rap Heroes - Breaking Down the Dangers of Vaping” is being distributed to minority youth and their families through community health care facilities. ◊

Elena Lainez was named the 2020 Richard A. Scott Outstanding Psychology Student Award winner.

Rachel Bearden was named first runner-up, and Christoni Key was named second runner-up.

38%

420,000+

Percentage of the college's faculty and staff who have financially supported the Integrated Health Sciences Building

Number of hours CHBS students spend in clinical, internship and practicum experiences annually

UCA. E DU

|

9

COLLEGE OF |

LIBERAL ARTS

2019 HISTORY DAY

The College of Liberal Arts comprises the departments of English; History; Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures; Philosophy and Religion; Political Science; and Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology.

Through its diverse community of faculty, scholars and students, the College of Liberal Arts offers a variety of opportunities for intellectual and personal development. Public lectures, scholars-in-residence, conferences and other events provide the campus community with numerous opportunities to extend knowledge and advance understanding of different disciplines, cultures and viewpoints.

A UCA delegation traveled to the 60th annual Midwest Model United Nations Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, and won four awards: UN Environmental Assembly Honorable Mention and Delegates’ Choice; Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Delegates’ Choice; and General Assembly Plenary Honorable Mention.

For the 54th year, UCA hosted the Arkansas Model United Nations Conference, with 515 high school delegates participating. UCA also hosted the ninth Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations and the third annual Model United Nations Summer Camp.

HIGHLIGHTS

| GRADUATE LEVEL SPANISH CLASS

◊

The Department of Philosophy and Religion hosted the annual conference for the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World in July. The conference theme was The Future of Inclusion.

◊

Kim Hoffman, associate professor and director of the public administration program, was elected to the National Council of the American Society of Public Administration representing District III.

268 Number of participants in the virtual History Day event

10

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

◊

Students Greta Hacker, Cagney Kilgroe and Matthew Law presented their research at the Arkansas Political Science Association’s annual meeting in March. Kilgroe graduated in May.

◊

Duncan McKinnon, assistant professor of anthropology, was named director of the newly established Jamie C. Brandon Center for Archaeological Research.

NEARLY

300

Number of students enrolled in classes that utilized Reacting to the Past, an active pedagogy method of role-playing

COLLEGE OF

NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics comprises the departments of Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Geography; Mathematics; and Physics and Astronomy. It also houses STEMteach and the STEM Institute.

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics began construction on its new Lewis Science Center Annex. The 6,600-square-foot space will provide additional laboratory areas for the sciences and enable the college to continue its work in offering real-world experiences to students.

The Lewis Science Center Annex will include five state-of-the-art labs. Three of the labs will be dedicated to anatomy and physiology courses, and two will be designed for engineering courses. The engineering labs are planned to allow projects to be performed over multiple lab meetings. The annex is scheduled to be completed in fall 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Stephen Addison, dean of the college, to the Governor’s Task Force on Computer Science and Cybersecurity. Addison is also chairing the subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Data Science.

◊

Department of Computer Science faculty Mark Doderer, Karen Thessing, Mark Smith and Michelle Talley organized the inaugural Computer Science Contest for Arkansas high school students.

◊

For the third consecutive year, the American Chemical Society awarded

the college’s student ACS chapter with a Green Chemistry Award. The award recognized the chapter’s efforts to promote the 12 principles of green chemistry through outreach and public promotion activities. ◊

The Society of Physics Students recognized the UCA chapter of the society as an Outstanding Chapter.

The chapter has earned this honor six years in a row.

◊

The college successfully transitioned its annual Student Research Symposium and State Science Fair to be online events in response to COVID-19.

$650K

$750K

National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics grant amount awarded to chemistry faculty who established a program to attract, support and retain low-income chemistry majors from diverse backgrounds

National Institutes of Health grant amount awarded to computer science faculty Tansel Halic and Sinan Kockara for research titled “Virtual Rotator Cuff Arthroscopic Skill Trainer”

VIRTUAL ROTATOR CUFF ARTHROSCOPIC SKILL TRAINER (VIRCAST)

UCA. E DU

|

11

NORBERT O. SCHEDLER

HONORS COLLEGE Through the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College, University Scholars and exemplary studies programming, the Honors College seeks to develop public scholars whose skills as leaders empower them to fulfill their potential to transform themselves and their world.

The Norbert O. Schedler Honors College was founded in 1982 and was the first honors college in Arkansas. Due to unprecedented interest from qualified students, the University Scholars program was added in 2018 to increase honors opportunities for UCA students.

The Norbert O. Schedler Honors College and the University Scholars program are highly competitive programs that provide an interdisciplinary studies curriculum emphasizing scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Students develop the research and critical thinking skills needed for active involvement in civic life.

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

The Honors College hosted its Challenge Week event that focused on the theme of “Climate Change: Resiliency and Hope.” Hosted in October 2019, six events engaged more than 600 participants and concluded with a series of workshops that focused on creative climate solutions in a partisan environment.

◊

Five faculty and eight students represented UCA as selected presenters during the 54th annual National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in November. Additionally, Lanita Addison, administrative specialist in the Schedler Honors College, received the 2019 NCHC Award for Administrative Excellence.

◊

Sixty-six students completed undergraduate capstone projects that culminated in a written thesis and public presentation of their research. Topics included issues of domestic terrorism, an exploration of mental illness in Shakespearean theater, identity construction, treatments for childhood cancer, vertical gardens and the creation of a nonprofit organization that raised more than $180,000 for children’s health care.

◊

Donna Bowman, professor, was a finalist for the 2018-19 Teaching Excellence Award. Bowman has been a faculty member in the Schedler Honors College since 1999 and is currently serving as the Freshman Year Curriculum coordinator.

1,000+

Number of hours students were involved in servicelearning or community-engaged research

100% Percentage of retention of freshmen for the second consecutive year for the University Scholars program and Schedler Honors College

12

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

KEITH AND ASSOCIATES DISTANCE DIETETIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM STUDENTS

GRADUATE SCHOOL The Graduate School includes doctoral, master’s, specialist and certificate programs across multiple disciplines.

The Graduate School offers students the education and opportunities that equip them to excel in various fields. After obtaining an advanced degree, Graduate School students go on to become thought leaders, academics, educators and more. During the year, the school’s students continue to publish research and present at conferences and meetings, including the Arkansas Society of CPAs, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition, Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education conference and others.

COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS STUDENTS

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

The Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recognized the Master of Arts in Teaching program as an approved pathway to proficiency for the Science of Reading (Pathway Q).

◊

Master of Business Administration students’ research appeared in the proceedings of the 50th annual meeting of the Southwest Decision Sciences Institute. Student topics included The Changing Landscape of Inventory Management, The Cost of Convenience and the Future of Supply Chain Management, and Six Sigma and Reducing Hospital Length of Stay.

◊

The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) awarded UCA’s NSSLHA chapter with 2020 Gold Chapter Honors. Chapter Honors are awarded to chapters that demonstrate an outstanding effort to support the association’s mission to inspire, empower and support students in communication sciences and disorders programs.

◊

Student Katherine Lang won the 2019-20 UCA Biology Graduate Assistant Teaching Excellence Award.

◊

The Master of Science in nutrition program entered into an agreement with the Keith & Associates Distance Dietetic Internship program, allowing dietetic interns from Keith & Associates to matriculate into the Master of Science in nutrition program.

No. 1

68.8%

Ranking of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program among Arkansas institutions by U.S. News and World Report

Graduates of the Master of Accountacy program passed CPA exam sections at this percentage rate on their first attempt.

MBA DIRECTOR MARK MCMURTREY (MIDDLE) WITH MBA STUDENTS

UCA. E DU

|

13

SERVICE-LEARNING

BearsServe LEADERS

The service-learning program again had an increase in the number of faculty and students who participated, as well as a rise in the number of service-learning courses offered. A total of 139 students were recognized for completing the BearsServe Challenge. UCA’s new service-tracking platform recorded that 584 students provided 13,658 hours of service and a total value of $279,852.42 in volunteer service.

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

◊

The Carnegie Foundation awarded UCA with the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation that indicates an institutional commitment to community engagement. UCA became one of 361 campuses nationwide to hold this prestigious classification.

Public administration major Greta Hacker was named a 2020-21 Newman Civic Fellow. This national award recognized Hacker for her dedication to community and economic development.

◊

◊

A total of 41 students earned a community service graduation cord through earning at least 100 hours of community service during their time at UCA. UCA was recognized with a Silver Seal at the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge awards ceremony for student voter participation in the 2018 midterm election.

UCA launched BearsServe Leaders, its AmeriCorps program, which consisted of 16 students participating as quarter-time AmeriCorps members. Students served more than 4,700 hours with community partner host sites.

BearsServe Leaders also organized and participated in a day of service on both 9/11 and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as well as cleaned flood damage at Cadron Settlement Park and sanitized the Conway Ministry Center winter warming station.

AmeriCorps awarded $52,908 to UCA students in living allowances, and the Corporation for National and Community Service awarded BearsServe Leaders an additional education award of about $1,300 per student.

ACADEMIC SERVICE-LEARNING PARTICIPATION 71 faculty 2,636 students 33 programs 160 courses 64 community partner organizations 15,200 estimated hours served, for a value of $311,448 MEMBERS OF UCA'S AMERICORPS PROGRAM, BEARSSERVE LEADERS, AT THE AMERICORPS ARKANSAS OPENING CEREMONY FOR 2019-20 14

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES The University of Central Arkansas’ Residential College program continues to help first-year students navigate the transition to college through providing dedicated faculty, specialized classes and co-curricular programming within residence halls. Recognized by the Association of American Colleges & Universities as a high-impact practice, living and learning communities such as UCA’s Residential Colleges lay the educational foundation for more than 800 new students each year.

Each Residential College has its own theme, and each works closely with academic colleges and Housing & Residence Life to develop environments that contribute to a successful freshman experience. Residential College students take part in undergraduate research, study abroad, service-learning,

personal brand development and experiential learning opportunities that create space for deeper engagement and learning.

UCA’s five living and learning communities and its one commuter learning community include: Business Residential College in Bear Hall (Biz@Bear), EDGE Residential College in Hughes Hall (EDGE@Hughes), HPaW Residential College in Baridon Hall (HPaW@ Baridon), The Stars Residential College in Short/Denney Hall (The Stars@Short/Denney), STEM Residential College in Arkansas Hall (STEM@Arkansas) and the Minton Commuter College in Old Main (MCC@Old Main).

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

◊

STEM@Arkansas completed its eighth year of hosting Science Wednesdays, a monthly gathering featuring interdisciplinary panels of experts discussing topics such as the science of religion, the science of time travel, the science of language and the science of hate. The panels served students and the community at large, and students facilitated the discussions.

EDGE@Hughes continued its tradition of reading the U.S. Constitution to celebrate Constitution Day 2019.

Mark Elrod, lecturer in political science, facilitated the tradition.

◊

HPaW@Baridon’s Video Game Demo Day turned video game playing into meaningful discussions on how games provide a sense of community, help with identity formation and connect to psychology, as well as how video games can enhance personal well-being.

◊

The Student Veterans Resource Center, located in MCC@Old Main, finished equipping a gaming therapy room with assistance from Stack Up, a military charity.

The space allows veterans to attend biweekly group therapy with a certified Veterans Affairs counselor.

BEAR ESSENTIALS FOOD PANTRY Established in 2014, UCA's Bear Essentials Food Pantry is a campus-wide effort to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff experiencing food insecurity. The food pantry receives a significant amount of support. More than 20,000 pounds of food was donated in 2019-20. In February, the Board of Trustees recognized Jacob Christie, student volunteer coordinator and May 2020 graduate, with the Bear C.L.A.W.S. Award for his leadership and dedication. The food pantry will move to a larger, more accessible location in spring 2021.

JACOB CHRISTIE BEAR C.L.A.W.S. RECIPIENT UCA STUDY ABROAD RWANDA

UCA. E DU

|

15

ACHIEVEMENTS University of Central Arkansas students are accomplished scholars and public servants who earn national and international recognition for their research and experiential activities. In many cases, UCA students compete with students from top national universities to earn awards, recognitions and internships.

UCA announced Madeline Brodsky as a Bear Partner Scholarship recipient. She is the first student to be awarded this scholarship. The Bear Partner Scholarship awards a student who transfers from each participating two-year college, including Arkansas State University-Beebe, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton and the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College.

Emma Davis and Layla Holloway were appointed to the Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas. Gov. Asa Hutchinson created the task force to study and analyze the best practices and procedures for recruiting, training and maintaining law enforcement officers in Arkansas.

The UCA Debate and Forensics team finished the season ranked fourth overall in the International Public Debate Association. In addition, Jacob Holland, a public relations and political science double major from Cabot, finished the season as the top varsity debater in the country out of 357 competitors. Holland graduated in May. Greta Hacker was named a 2020-21 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a Bostonbased nonprofit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education. Hacker

16

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

was also honored as the 2020 Intern of the Year during UCA’s 14th annual Internship Banquet in March.

Students Taylor Nguyen and Nato Silue were awarded $5,000 scholarships from Acxiom as part of the company’s Diversity Scholarship Program.

Nguyen and Silue were two of 10 students nationwide to earn the scholarship.

Sophia Ordaz received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for the 2020-21 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. During her Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship, she plans to teach English in Mexico.

Marco Ramirez received a scholarship from The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations to attend its 2019 Summit on Diversity and Inclusion.

Cody Tigue was selected to serve as an associate editor of the National Collegiate Honors Council Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity for the 2020-21 publication cycle.

Seventeen UCA undergraduate students, with the support of 15 faculty members, secured grant funding for in-depth research projects to be completed through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education’s Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). Eleven students received $4,000 awards to conduct two- or threesemester projects; six students received $2,750 awards to conduct one-semester projects.

BEAR C.L.A.W.S. The University of Central Arkansas recognizes outstanding students at Board of Trustees meetings. These students are awarded the C.L.A.W.S. Award, which means Celebrating the Lofty Achievements of our Wonderful Students. This designation is given to outstanding individual students or student groups at UCA. To be considered for a Bear C.L.A.W.S. Award, students must demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence both inside and outside the classroom. C.L.A.W.S. students are often the recipients of prestigious state and national awards, grants, internships or fellowships. They are committed to enhancing the university experience for their peers, as well as bettering their communities, the state and the world.

President Houston Davis presents these students with the award during Board of Trustees meetings.

MINORITY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM BEAR C.L.A.W.S. RECIPIENT

2019-20 BEAR C.L.A.W.S. HONOREES Marco Ramirez October 2019

Jacob Holland May 2020

Minority Mentorship Program December 2019

Greta Hacker May 2020

Jacob Christie February 2020

MINORITY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

UCA. E DU

|

17

GRADUATION The University of Central Arkansas hosts commencement ceremonies in August, December and May each year to confer degrees to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students from UCA’s six colleges and the Graduate School.

The ceremonies for August and December allowed friends and family of graduates to fill the Farris Center on campus to celebrate this momentous occasion, but like at many other institutions, the COVID-19 pandemic forced UCA to cancel its two-day May commencement ceremonies. Commencement had been

18

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

scheduled for May 1 for the Graduate School and May 2 for the additional six colleges.

Although the university could not host May commencement, UCA still wanted to share the moment with students and celebrate their accomplishments. To honor graduates, the university created a series of videos with congratulatory messages from President Houston Davis, Provost and Executive Vice President Patricia Poulter and the deans of each college, as well as a listing of graduates by college. Graduates received an email with the commencement video May 2.

The university also created a special video honoring recipients of the President’s Medallion for Outstanding Student of the University. The award is normally presented at May commencement.

The 2019-20 medallion awardees were Kevin Joshua Knox, College of Business; Sydney Elmore, College of Education; Marley Cash-Powell, College of Fine Arts and Communication; Taylor Nicole Eaves, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; Cagney Kilgroe, College of Liberal Arts; and Randall Reece Rainwater, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

OUTREACH The Division of Outreach and Community Engagement (OCE) connects the University of Central Arkansas to the community through face-to-face and online services and programs.

OCE is home to the Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute, Women’s Leadership Network, UCA Family Network, Arkansas Coding Academy (ArCA), Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and Community Development Institute (CDI). The division also includes UCA’s Service-Learning initiative that integrates meaningful community service with classroom instruction. Through this initiative, the university has partnered with many local organizations and provided thousands of hours in service.

UCA OUTREACH'S CULINARY TEAM BUILDING CHALLENGE WITH ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

The division oversees UCA Downtown and Conference Services, as well as marketing for the division. The division also manages online and in-person classes on professional development, business development, community education and cooking.

HIGHLIGHTS ◊

For the third year in a row, the division won an international award in lifelong learning for Best Brochure Design from the Learning Resources Network (LERN), the largest association in lifelong learning in the world. OCE’s brochure is published each fall and spring to highlight the classes, services and programs available.

◊

ArCA hosted UCA’s first Arkansas High School Hackathon with more than 40 students from four local high schools in attendance. The coding competition was co-sponsored by The Conductor, a public-private partnership between UCA and Startup Junkie.

◊

Nearly 150 individuals from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas attended the 33rd annual CDI. The weeklong institute included keynote speakers Mallorie and Jim Rasberry and Josh Nowell of HGTV’s series “Home Town.” Attendees also participated in several simulations, case studies and leadership development activities.

$5,000 Amount received from Arkansas Center for Data Sciences to fund the data science apprenticeship curriculum

15,609 Participants in events managed by Conference Services

UCA OUTREACH'S CUBS IN THE KITCHEN: COOKING FOR A CAUSE WITH TIFFANY BLOCK

2,337

382

Number of community leaders who attended CCED events and trainings

Participants in culinary events and classes UCA. E DU

|

19

EXPANSION

GREEK VILLAGE PHASE II In fall 2019, the University of Central Arkansas broke ground on Greek Village Phase II, continuing progress on building a community that accommodates the needs of campus fraternities and sororities through housing, chapter room spaces and common-use spaces.

Greek Village Phase I opened in August 2015 and included residences for the five sororities of the Panhellenic Council and a National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Sorority Complex.

Phase II includes Interfraternity Council (IFC) houses for Sigma Tau Gamma, Sigma Nu and Pi Kappa Alpha, along with an NPHC Fraternity Complex that will house meeting spaces and chapter rooms for Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma.

| GREEK VILLAGE PHASE II GROUNDBREAKING

20

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

Each fraternity house will be approximately 7,365 square feet and will include 11 bedrooms, a chapter room, living room, study room and kitchen, with other amenities specific to the current and future needs of the individual fraternities. The NPHC Fraternity Complex will be located adjacent to the NPHC Sorority Complex and will include 4,730 square feet of chapter rooms and other features to support the meeting and event needs of each chapter.

The new IFC fraternity houses and NPHC complex are situated on Donaghey and College avenues, near UCA’s existing sorority houses and NPHC Sorority Complex.

Architects for the project include WER Architects/ Planners and H+N Architects. Nabholz Construction is the general contractor for the project.

UCA will lease the fraternity houses from the UCA Foundation, and UCA will maintain and operate the houses as residence halls. The UCA Foundation, along with private donor support from Greek alumni, parents and students, made this project possible.

Some of the primary areas of focus for Greek organizations include scholarship and service. Currently, more than 1,000 students are members of the Greek community at UCA, with a cumulative 3.24 GPA for the spring 2019 semester.

Last year, UCA Greeks participated in more than 800 volunteer projects, donated more than $42,000 in philanthropic support and logged more than 11,000 hours in community service.

INTEGRATED HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING The Integrated Health Sciences Building will be home to some new additions for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. UCA broke ground on the facility in October.

The new 80,000-square-foot, four-story facility will house the School of Nursing and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, along with the Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation and Interprofessional Teaching Center to be utilized by the entire college.

The integrated design of the building aims to foster an interprofessional educational environment that is most conducive to replicating real-life health care scenarios.

This means students will participate in clinical and

INTEGRATED HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING GROUNDBREAKING

simulation experiences that require collaboration with all majors within the college.

The first floor will be home to the Interprofessional Teaching Center where students will learn and work alongside each other, instead of independently, creating a modern health care team. The third floor of the building will house the Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation. The state-of-the-art simulation lab will more than double the space of the current simulation lab and provide students with carefully programmed lifelike training scenarios. The remaining two floors will contain classrooms and office space for faculty and staff.

The College of Health and Behavioral Sciences is the largest college at UCA, accounting for more than 34%

of undergraduates and 42% of graduate students. The college has more than 1,200 affiliations and contracts with health care entities across the state, while students participate in approximately 420,000 hours of clinical, internship and practicum hours annually.

Located at Western Avenue and Bruce Street, the Integrated Health Sciences Building is scheduled to be open for the fall 2021 semester.

Taggart Architects developed the planning and architecture for the facility. Primary funding for the project is provided through a $37.7 million bond appropriation by the UCA Board of Trustees.

OTHER CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION •

•

Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts (WER Architects and Baldwin & Shell)

•

Lewis Science Center Annex (WD&D Architects and Western Millwright Construction)

Carmichael Hall Renovation (Stocks Mann Architects and Nabholz Construction)

•

Buffalo Hall Addition (Cromwell Architects and Nabholz Construction)

•

Gravel Parking Lots Project (Crafton Tull Engineers and Wooster Construction)

•

Lewis Science Center Paved Parking (Crafton Tull Engineers and Curtis Construction)

•

Bear Village Storm Shelter (SCM Architects and Cline Construction)

•

Bernard Hall Roof Replacement and Brick Repair (Stocks Mann Architects and Kinco Constructors)

•

State Hall Renovation (Stocks Mann Architects and Nabholz

Construction)

UCA. E DU

|

21

CAMPUS LIFE In addition to offering robust academic experiences, the University of Central Arkansas has a vibrant campus climate that allows students to grow as leaders and community builders. More than 200 student organizations, clubs and recreational groups help students get acclimated to college life and grow in their student experience. These organizations include Greek life, academic and cultural clubs, service-oriented groups and others. Students’ engagement on campus contributes to them earning professional development, service and internship experiences.

On campus, students can take part in the services the Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Center provides. The HPER Center opened its Challenge Course in the fall. It features a 10-obstacle high static team course, two climbing walls, four stand-alone high ropes challenges, 17 low team challenges and two dual ziplines.

The university also works with other institutions to ensure their students have access to campus offerings. UCA and the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College entered into a Bear Partners agreement in the fall that allows Pulaski Tech students to, while earning an associate degree, access UCA athletic events, select Reynolds Performance Hall events, access to Torreyson Library resources and an application fee waiver when the student transfers to UCA. UCA also has this partnership with Arkansas State University-Beebe and the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

22

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

10

200+

Number of obstacle courses at the HPER Center’s new Challenge Course

Number of student organizations

OMATSURI FESTIVAL The UCA “OMATSURI” Japanese Festival took place in November in the Student Center Ballroom. The festival provided an opportunity for the community to learn more about Japanese culture. Activities included Japanese food, martial arts, traditional Japanese drum and dance performances, and more.

Bear Boots on the Ground, UCA’s disaster relief group, assists communities at home and abroad. In October, the organization spent a day of fall break volunteering at the Arkansas Food Bank, the largest hunger relief organization in the state. Bear Boots volunteers completed warehouse projects such as labeling food items, sorting and repackaging.

HOME TOWN The UCA Community Development Institute welcomed the stars of the HGTV hit series “Home Town,” Jim and Mallorie Rasberry and Josh Nowell, to the Downtown Comeback event on campus in July. Nowell and the Rasberrys explained how community-wide preservation efforts helped revitalize their hometown of Laurel, Mississippi.

In December, the organization helped Conway Gives support the homeless community through collecting donations for nonprofits that provide services to the homeless. Volunteers were stationed at intersections and given a collection bucket.

LGBT HISTORY MONTH UCA recognized LGBT History Month in the fall with programming that included the UCA Pride Walk, a Core Dance Co. performance, PRISM Picnic, PRISM Pride Drag Show and more. The programming also included sessions for students, faculty and staff, and supervisors and administrators.

UCA. E DU

|

23

REYNOLDS PERFORMANCE HALL The Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall hosts performing arts programming for the central Arkansas community to enjoy. Its programming features concerts, performances from national touring companies, renowned speakers and more. Its seasons include Broadway, Pops, Night Out, Distinguished Lectures and the Main Stage EdUCAtion series.

Reynolds Performance Hall celebrated its 20th season during the 2019-20 academic year.

The “Best of Reynolds” series brought back crowd favorites to the stage. Those performances included Straight No Chaser, The Gatlin Brothers, Georgia on My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles and Cirque Eloize Hotel. Shows in the performing arts series included Sara Evans, “Jersey Boys,” Temple Grandin, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “The Color Purple.”

MAIN STAGE EDUCATION The Main Stage EdUCAtion series familiarizes pre-K through 12th-grade Arkansas students with live performing arts at Reynolds Performance Hall. Main Stage productions are based on books, historical events, math and science, and other educational topics. National touring companies perform each show, and shows include an accompanying study guide for students and teachers. Students build creativity, critical thinking and communication skills through taking part in the series.

BUDDY GUY

| MISS NELSON HAS A FIELD DAY

24

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

This year, the series presented “Miss Nelson Has A Field Day,” “A Very Electric Christmas,” “Walk On: The Story of Rosa Parks,” “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “Catapult.” During “The Diary of Anne Frank,” a traveling exhibit, “Anne Frank: A History for Today,” was displayed in the Reynolds lobby for three weeks. The exhibit used story panels and photographs to present the history of the Holocaust through the persepective of Anne Frank and her family. More than 6,500 people viewed the exhibit during its display.

NOTABLE EVENTS The University of Central Arkansas provides a rich campus life experience that includes offerings that entertain, educate and unite the UCA community. Throughout the year, UCA is home to numerous performances, screenings, concerts and more. ◊

Country music star Sara Evans kicked off Reynolds Performance Hall's 20th season with a concert in September.

◊

The inaugural Big Bear Classic, a cycling event for scholarships, took place in November. The ride included three options: a family ride, a 27-mile route and a 50-mile route.

◊

The Student Activities Board hosted showings of movies such as “Knives Out,” “Harriet,” “Last Christmas,” “Ford v Ferrari” and “Frozen II.”

◊

Award-winning horror author and screenwriter Tananarive Due visited campus as an artist-in-residence in September. Due held a public reading and book signing, along with a craft talk and master class.

◊

The College of Fine Arts and Communication presented “The Empathy Project” from Oct. 10-15. It featured French poet Sarah Turquety and Atlanta-based Core Dance Co. as artists-in-residence. The project included a participatory Planetary Dance and a physical theater choreo-poem to help inspire fundamental social change.

◊

The Student Government Association and Aramark partnered in the fall to provide Go Green containers, reusable plastic containers to cut down on styrofoam in Christian Cafeteria.

◊

Homecoming 2019 had a ’90s theme. UCA Homecoming also crowned the university’s first Homecoming King, Jarrett Counts. Kamoni Manago was named Homecoming Queen.

◊

UCA, The Latino Art Project and the Consul General of Mexico in Arkansas presented art exhibit “Latinos Unidos” at UCA Downtown in September. The exhibit celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month and showcased the rich history of Latino culture.

◊

Comedians and actors Joel McHale and Ken Jeong performed at Reynolds Performance Hall in October.

◊

In January, UCA hosted the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast.

Tamika S. Edwards, former executive director of the Social Justice Institute at Philander Smith College, served as the keynote speaker.

|

BIG BEAR CLASSIC

|

|

JOEL MCHALE

KEN JEONG

UCA. E DU

|

25

ATHLETICS The University of Central Arkansas’ Division of Athletics and student-athletes maintained high performance throughout the year.

The university’s football team, for instance, had 13 All-Southland Conference selections, including Tyler Hudson being named Freshman of the Year. The team was also selected to participate in the Football Championship Subdivision Kickoff event in the first game of the season on ESPN. Women’s cross-country team members Gracie Hyde and Erin Woodward were named to the Southland All-Academic Team.

Freshman softball pitcher Kayla Beaver tossed two no-hitters — making her collegiate debut with a no-hitter against Jackson State in February. Beaver followed that up with a perfect game against Alcorn State in March. Softball coach David Kuhn reached the 700-win milestone in February with the Bears’ 3-0 win over South Dakota.

Academically, student-athletes maintained a 3.20 overall GPA, an increase from last year’s 3.17 GPA. The percentage of A’s and B’s among student-athletes was also higher in spring 2020 than in spring 2019. The men’s and women’s cross-country teams won the Academic Honor Award for highest team GPA. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the division had to respond quickly to the rapidly changing ways the virus was affecting athletics across the country in the spring. In midMarch, the Southland Conference canceled spring sports events, including championship games. Sports affected by the cancellation included basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, baseball, golf and softball.

UCA Athletics remained in communication with conference leadership to act on the best course of action and ensure the safety of student-athletes. Games that were completed this season count toward students’ records, and the seasons are marked as incomplete.

The only other time UCA sports were delayed or canceled occurred during World War II. |

26

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

ROBERT ROCHELL

FOOTBALL

MEN’S SOCCER

◊

The Bears won their fourth Southland Conference championship and second in the past three years, going 7-2 in league play.

◊

◊

The American Football Coaches Association named junior cornerback Robert Rochell a First-Team All-American.

The 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 qualified for NCAA Division I Playoffs for the fifth time in the past nine years, earning the No. 8 national seed, the second time in three years to earn a national seed.

◊

Offensive lineman Hunter Watts signed a free agent deal with the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

The Bears claimed nine All-Sun Belt honors, including Niklas Brodacki winning the third conference Player of the Year Award in his four-year career, and Ross Duncan winning his third Coach of the Year Award in the past four years. The Bears had three First Team All-Sun Belt selections and five named to the Second Team.

◊

Brodacki, who broke the program record with 50 career goals, the most for any active Division I player in 2019, was named to the United Soccer Coaches’ All-Southeast Region team.

◊

The Bears had three players — Brodacki, Soren Jensen and Marc Olsen — combine for five Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week awards.

VOLLEYBALL ◊

Senior Abbie Harry, junior Emily Doss and sophomore Madi Bowles picked up All-Southland Conference honors.

◊

Doss claimed a pair of SLC Player of the Week honors, while Harry was selected for the award once.

◊

Doss and junior Bailey Waddington were both named to the SLC All-Academic team.

◊

The team finished the regular season on a seven-match winning streak to qualify for the eight-team SLC tournament for the 10th consecutive season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER ◊

Freshman forward Emma Hawkins earned All-Southland Conference honors after leading the Bears in both goals and assists with five each, finishing the season with 15 points, just the second UCA freshman in the last decade to finish a season with double-digit points.

◊

Junior midfielder Hadley Dickinson was selected to the Southland AllAcademic team with a 3.35 GPA while pursuing a degree in marketing.

Dickinson was second on the team with four goals and three assists on the season.

BASEBALL ◊

Junior pitcher Gavin Stone threw the third no-hitter in program history while striking out 13 against Southeastern Louisiana in March, earning three different national Player of the Week honors along with the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week Award. It was one of just four nohitters thrown in Division I baseball in 2020.

◊

Senior pitcher Conner Williams led the nation in saves with six.

◊

Stone, from Lake City, Arkansas, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft in June.

UCA. E DU

|

27

|

EMMA HAWKINS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

|

TAYLOR SELLS

◊

The program was featured in the ESPN documentary series “The Last Dance,” which spotlights the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team that featured alumnus Scottie Pippen.

Pippen won six NBA championships, was a seven-time NBA All-Star, a 10-time NBA All-Defensive Team member and seven-time All-NBA performer during his 17-year career.

◊

Junior guard Rylan Bergersen earned All-Southland Conference honors.

◊

Sophomore forward Eddy Kayouloud was named Southland Conference Player of the Week in December.

◊

Junior guard DeAndre Jones broke the program career assists record in January in a win over McNeese and enters his senior season with 452-111 more than the previous record.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ◊

Senior guard Taylor Sells became the program’s first player to be a two-time Southland Conference All-Defensive Team selection and also earned Third Team All-Southland honors after being one of just three players to average at least 10 points, four rebounds and three assists per game in conference play.

◊

The Bears broke the program record for fewest points allowed in a Southland game by defeating Lamar 53-29, holding the Cardinals to 17.2% shooting and out-rebounding the defending league champions 62-28.

◊

Head coach Sandra Rushing eclipsed the 550-win mark for her career, finishing her 31st season as a collegiate head coach with 557 victories.

MEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY/TRACK AND FIELD

|

JARED HAMILTON |

◊

Jaron Hamilton was named Academic All-Southland Conference with a 3.82 GPA. Hamilton also earned SLC Cross-Country Athlete of the Week honors in September.

◊

The Bears won the UCA XC Challenge with five runners finishing in the top 10.

◊

The team had four All-SLC honors during the indoor season, with Zachary Jewell landing on the First Team by winning the 60m at the Southland Championship with a school-record time of 6.75 and finishing second in the 200m with a school-record time of 20.98.

JARON HAMILTON

WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY/TRACK AND FIELD

28

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

◊

The Bears won its first Southland Conference cross-country championship, with three top 12 finishes in a meet hosted at Beaverfork Lake in Conway.

◊

Senior Erin Woodward, sophomore Gracie Hyde and freshman Tamara Reeves earned All-Southland honors, and coach Beau Theriot was named the Southland Coach of the Year.

|

◊

MEN'S SOCCER TEAM

The Bears had four All-Southland performers during indoor track and field season, with Sierra Temple earning First Team honors and being named the league’s Freshman of the Year, senior Ajah Criner and Hyde garnering Second Team honors, and Reeves picking up Third Team honors.

MEN’S GOLF ◊

Sophomore Josh Turnock and freshman Blaine Calhoon tied for second at the LaTour Intercollegiate in Mathews, Louisiana, as the Bears were runners-up, finishing ahead of 10 teams from Conference USA, the Sun Belt and the Southland.

WOMEN’S GOLF ◊

Sophomore Elin Kumlin earned First Team Southland Conference All-Academic honors with a 3.85 GPA and a team-best 75.92 stroke average.

TENNIS ◊

The Bears finished the shortened season on an eight-match winning streak (tied for second best in program’s Division I history) and were one of two teams undefeated in Southland Conference matches at the season’s conclusion, finishing 4-0 in league play.

◊

The team picked up a pair of SLC Player of the Week awards, with sophomores Fuka Nonoyama and Chunxi Xin each claiming one accolade.

◊

Nonoyama was named to the SLC All-Academic team, sporting a 3.81 GPA.

SOFTBALL ◊

Senior outfielder Kayla Crutchmer broke the program record for career steals with 102 and finished the abbreviated season as the Division I national leader in steals with 31 for the season.

◊

The team took home four Southland Conference Player of the Week awards in the shortened season, with Kayla Beaver and Jordan Johnson each claiming a Pitcher of the Week Award and both Lauren Brooks and Crutchmer being voted as Hitter of the Week.

2019 SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP, WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY

2019 SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP, FOOTBALL

BEACH VOLLEYBALL ◊

The team finished the shortened season with a 7-1 record, sweeping six duels and ending the season winning 35 of 39 matchups — and a .897 winning percentage.

◊

Sophomore Faith Hasness was selected to the Southland Conference All-Academic team with a 3.93 GPA and a 7-1 duels record with partner Evelyn Griffith.

UCA. E DU

|

29

ADVANCEMENT For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Central Arkansas exceeded its fundraising goal for the year.

Despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the year’s fundraising total was $15,823,802 for student scholarships, faculty support, programs and facilities. The goal for the year was $10.8 million.

“Our sustained fundraising success reflects the confidence our donors have in the leadership of this institution and the quality of our amazing faculty, staff and students,” said Mary Lackie, interim vice president for University Advancement and president of the UCA Foundation.

$35,000,000

“Because of their commitment and dedication, we have surpassed our fundraising goals for four consecutive years,” said UCA President Houston Davis. “They believe in the transformational power of education and in the difference that our students make in Arkansas and beyond.”

$30,000,000

Endowment growth is one of the university’s primary fundraising objectives. The foundation has 216 fully endowed scholarships, six more than last year. Endowment funds provide ongoing support for students and programs through yearly investment gains.

$20,000,000

The Purple Circle Club, the official annual fund organization for athletics, set a record with membership growth reaching 435 and $509,167 raised in support of student-athletes. Another milestone was the sixth annual Day of Giving, which raised $1,126,580.

More than $7 million in private funding has been raised in support of two major building initiatives: the new Integrated Health Sciences Building and the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

The UCA Foundation’s total endowment is $29,841,837 with net assets of $45,950,875. |

$15,823,802

The university received a total of 11,675 gifts with one gift of $3 million and three others of more than $1 million. The total number of donors was 6,711 with 1,428 of those being new donors.

Scholarship awards from the UCA Foundation totaled $1,533,960, setting a new record for the university with 816 private scholarships awarded, up from 771 the previous year. The UCA Foundation has awarded more than $14.7 million in scholarship support since its inception in 1981.

30

TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

**

$25,000,000

$15,823,802 $15,000,000 $10,000,000 $5,000,000 $0 5

4-1

**

201

6

5-1

201

7

6-1

201

8

7-1

201

9

8-1

201

0

9-2

201

This figure includes a $20 million gift from the Windgate Foundation. This was the largest gift in the history of the University of Central Arkansas and will support the new state-of-the-art Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

GIFTS OF

$1 MILLION AND ABOVE

GIFTS OF

$500,000 - $999,999

GIFTS OF

$100,000 - $499,999

Alice L. Walton Foundation

Bridges - Larson Foundation

Acxiom Corp.

Jim Holcomb*

Conway Regional Health System

Anonymous

Bunny and Carol Adcock

Incite Rehab

Sunderland Foundation

Anonymous

Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas

Kenneth L. Lucas

Anonymous

Cirque du Soleil Nevada Inc. Confucius Institute Andrew and Mary Ann Hiegel*

Nabholz Charitable Foundation Jim Wallis and Pat Becker-Wallis Judith Willcoxon*

GIFTS OF $25,000 - $99,999 Bill and Julie Adkisson

Bioventures LLC

Entergy

Kay Maloney

Denver and Freda Prince

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Elizabeth "Liz" Blankenship

First Security Bank

Delphine and Bryan Massey Sr.*

Todd and Kristie Ross

Centennial Bank

Goff Foundation

Microsoft

Conway Advertising and Promotion Commission

Hu Family

Lavon Morton, Brenda Yelvington and Kameron Morton

Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust

Brandon and Brandi Watkins Adams Aramark Services Inc. Mike and Pam Ashcraft Jimmy Batcheller and Sara Hendricks Batcheller

Conway Corp.

Charlie and Susan DeBoard Carolyn Eidson

Miles and Diane Johnson Richard Jordan and Terri Harper Jordan Landmark PLC, Certified Public Accountants

Simmons Bank

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

Stella Boyle Smith Charitable Trust

Mike and Maria Norvell

Textbook Brokers Inc.

Jamie and Sherri Patterson

Anonymous

GIFTS OF $10,000 - $24,999 Arkansas Trucking Association

Edafio Technology Partners

Halter's Body Shop Inc.

New Life Church

Turner Holdings/Hiland Dairy

Arvest Bank

Eric Rob & Isaac

Shaun and Lori Harms

Peak Sports Management

Ralph Vines

Kyle and Kristin Basham

Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas

Hayden-McNeil Publishing Inc.

Kyle and Amy Reynolds

Visioncare Arkansas

Eric and Donna Hutchinson*

Tom and Joanie Roberts

Weaver-Bailey Contractors Inc.

Gini Ingram and Susan Higgins

Gary and Mala Rogers

Joe and Connie Whisenhunt

Kevin and Alicia Knandel

Fred and Gale Rhodes

Shane and Mindy Lester

Jim and Peggy Schneider

Whisenhunt Investment Group LLC

Nabholz Construction

Charlie and Vicki Strong

Car-Son Construction LLC Conway Behavioral Health Conway Development Corp.

Dillard's Inc. Dixie Band Camp Inc.

Terry and Joyce Fiddler F.O. Williams Advertising Inc. Emogene Fox Roy and Kim Graves Bryan and Roslyn Grimsley

Anonymous

* Denotes planned gift Please note: Gifts listed above are newly established gifts and sponsorships made between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020.

Every effort has been made to prepare this list accurately. We apologize for any omission or error and ask you to inform us accordingly at foundation@uca.edu or (501) 450-5288.

UCA. E DU

|

31

UCA CRUSHES PREVIOUS DAY OF GIVING FUNDRAISING RECORD For the first time in the history of the University of Central Arkansas, the institution raised more than $1 million in a single Day of Giving event.

During the sixth annual Day of Giving held March 5, the university raised $1,126,580, another all-time record for the university.

The university hosted a special Day of Giving celebration March 6 to announce the final tally. The celebratory event featured UCA cheerleaders, members of the UCA band and a cookout for campus partners and donors who helped make Day of Giving a success. UCA President Houston Davis announced the total during the event.

“Setting a record for participants and then reaching, and surpassing, the $1 million

32

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

mark is a remarkable feat! This shows the incredible support of our alumni, donors and community partners,” Davis said.

“They are making a huge difference in the lives of our students, and their generosity will be felt in the state and beyond for generations.”

The Day of Giving theme, Take Your Pick, referenced the numerous funds donors could choose from. By providing multiple funds, donors were able to select and support the areas that most aligned with their specific interests.

During the 24-hour fundraising campaign, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends were challenged to make a gift of any amount to support the campus.

Continuing to outpace itself, the annual Day of Giving drive has raised $2,427,363

for students and programs since its inception in 2015.

This year’s total is a 49% increase over the previous year’s record of $757,939.

A record of 1,668 donors contributed during the event. Donor participants were from 47 states and Puerto Rico, eight countries and also included a constituent in Antarctica.

Funds raised during Day of Giving help provide for numerous student, campus and community needs including scholarships, state-of-the-art equipment, experiential learning opportunities, and first-class exhibits and performances on campus that are available to the larger communities of Conway, Faulkner County and central Arkansas.

$1,126,580 Day of Giving total raised

1,668

Total number of donors

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Established in 1911, the University of Central Arkansas Alumni Association continues to connect alumni to their alma mater and each other.

This year, the UCA Alumni Association launched two initiatives to strengthen the alumni network. Bears Supporting Bears is an online alumni business directory that showcases UCA alumni-owned businesses. The UCA alumni book club, Bears Online Readers’ Den, facilitates a space for alumni to connect with each other while enjoying books from a range of genres. Both initiatives are free to all alumni and friends.

ALUMNI FROM THE CLASS OF 1969 INDUCTED INTO THE HALF-CENTURY CLUB DURING THE 2019 DECADES BRUNCH

Through UCA Alumni Association dues, members have helped endow 17 student scholarships, awarded more than $92,000 in student scholarships annually and sponsored the student ambassador group, the Association of Future Alumni.

|

The association is poised to continue serving the more than 67,000 living alumni guided by the UCA Alumni Association Board of Directors, which assists in advancing the mission of the association. The 20-member board is comprised of members representative of the association. The six new members to the board are Jack Bell, Paul Bradley, Kim Crissler, Wes Dyson, Maria Kramer and Lori Melton.

They will each serve until June 30, 2023.

2,193

Number of UCA Alumni

2019 SCHOLARSHIP RECEPTION

$92,000+

Amount awarded in scholarships

Association members

$1,419,839 Amount UCA Alumni Association members donated

|

2019 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS PARTY

UCA. E DU

|

33

GOVERNING BODIES The University of Central Arkansas is represented by several governing bodies that work collectively and individually to support the university campus and its constituents. The Board of Trustees provides the overall direction and management of the university. The Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and Student Government Association serve as the representative body for UCA faculty, staff and students, respectively.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees has seven members who are appointed by the governor and approved by the Arkansas Senate. Each member must be an Arkansas resident and can be selected from anywhere in the state. Individuals serve for seven years beginning Jan. 15 and ending Jan. 14 of the final year of the term. The board elects its chair, vice chair and secretary each year.

Mr. Everette Cornell “E.C.” Maltbia Chair Conway 2024

Ms. Kay Hinkle Vice Chair Mountain View

Dr. Terry Fiddler Secretary Conway

2025

2026

Mr. Joe Whisenhunt Conway 2022

34

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

Mr. Robert “Bunny” Adcock Conway 2023

Ms. Elizabeth Farris Hot Springs 2021

Mr. Curtis Barnett Little Rock 2027

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION One of the highlights for the Student Government Association was its celebration of 110 years. The weekend celebration was held in February and featured a centennial banquet, as well as a reception, a tour of the updated SGA Senate Chambers and other activities.

The year also included the second annual Diversity Food Night, which allowed students to try dishes from different cultures, as well as the second Red Flag Campaign. This event highlighted sexual and domestic violence prevention. The SGA partnered with other organizations in bringing Brian Buford, a national LGBTQ+ expert, to campus to discuss ways universities can be inclusive to members of the LGBTQ+ community. More than $100,000 in Student Activity Fee Allocation (SAFA) funds supported Recognized Student Organizations (RSO) on campus. SAFA funds are used to support programming, events, travel and other RSO activities.

|

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

|

FACULTY SENATE

|

STAFF SENATE

FACULTY SENATE Faculty Senate serves as the representative body of the faculty of UCA. The organization spent the year working on policies and other activities to promote shared governance across campus, as well as faculty and student welfare. In April, Faculty Senate released two statements in response to COVID-19. One statement was in regard to UCA’s grading policy during the pandemic, and another was in appreciation to the Center for Teaching Excellence, Division of Information Technology, Physical Plant, UCA Police Department and Student Health Clinic. Faculty Senate adopted a mission statement that can now be found on the Faculty Senate website. The organization reimaged the Faculty Senate Scholars Scholarship to designate recipients as a Faculty Senate Scholar, and to ensure scholars receive a graduation cord and recognition at their respective graduation ceremony.

Created in 1983, the scholarship is a one-time award recognizing academic excellence among the student body.

STAFF SENATE Staff Senate focused its efforts on supporting the campus community through volunteerism and professional development opportunities. Staff volunteered nearly 1,745 hours during sporting events, commencement ceremonies and Reynolds Performance Hall events. This means that the staff contributed an estimated value of $35,739.68 in volunteer time. In response to COVID-19, the organization purchased a one-year institutional membership to Academic Impressions, a Denver, Colorado-based company that provides leadership, personal development and skills-based training opportunities to faculty and staff in higher education. Academic Impressions allowed employees to participate in online webinars, conferences and trainings. The organization was able to assist five employees through its Emergency Fund and provide a donation of $500 in support of the campus celebration of Veterans Day.

UCA. E DU

|

35

OXFORD AMERICAN The Oxford American is a nationally distributed quarterly literary magazine that features the best in Southern writing while also exploring the complexity and vitality of the American South.

Over the course of the year, the magazine has also continued to present cultural offerings such as panels, films, readings and concerts.

For the seventh year, music students at the University of Central Arkansas attended master classes at Oxford American's Concert Series conducted by preeminent jazz artists, including Peter Martin, Romero Lubambo, Erin Bode, Jason Marsalis, and multiple Grammy-nominee and Guggenheim Fellow Fred Hersch. In addition, the Oxford American continued its partnership with the UCA Studio Jazz Ensemble, inviting the group to perform at South on Main, a restaurant and performance venue in downtown Little Rock.

In September, the Oxford American launched its “Points South” podcast, hosted by executive editor Sara A. Lewis. “Points South” synthesizes the best of the Oxford American into a compelling 40-plus minutes of reportage, storytelling, conversations with artists and music recorded exclusively for the Oxford American. In

36

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

April, the Oxford American received a $350,000 multiyear grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to fund “The Prologue,” a recurring segment in the podcast that examines underreported moments in Southern history and their reverberations in the present.

The Oxford American’s internship program provides students the opportunity to engage with all aspects of publishing. Additionally, Lewis taught the Oxford American Publishing Practicum class in the Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing in the spring.

This capstone course gave students hands-on experience in the editorial processes of the magazine.

In February, the Oxford American was named a finalist in the American Society of Magazine Editors for a National Magazine in General Excellence — the magazine's third time to be nominated in the category. Work originally published in the Oxford American will be published in the 2020 Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays anthologies.

In May, John T. Edge's column “My Mother’s Catfish Stew” won the James Beard Foundation’s M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award.

The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre (AST) is the only professional Shakespeare company in the state of Arkansas and makes its home on the University of Central Arkansas campus. AST offers full productions of Shakespeare’s works, as well as other plays and musicals that foster AST’s mission to entertain, engage and enrich the community.

AST’s fall tour featured a production of “Romeo and Juliet” and traveled to schools all over Arkansas, as well as to San Antonio, Texas. The tour reached over 4,500 students in communities including Bentonville, Harrison, Hamburg, Little Rock and Conway. In San Antonio, actors performed at the historic Arneson River Theatre on the River Walk. The tour was supported by a grant from Toad Suck Daze.

Additionally, a collaborative grant from the Arkansas Arts Council supported that tour and sponsored workshops for young people participating in the Our Kids afterschool program at Our House, a family housing shelter in Little Rock.

|

|

ROMEO AND JULIET

|

MACBETH

2020 AST BARD BALL

Collaborating with other UCA partners, AST brought actor and educator Jess Prichard to campus as an artist-in-residence. During his residency, Prichard worked on developing his play “Speak Daggers” with the help of UCA students. “Speak Daggers” is a coming-of-age story that is based on real-life events. The story weaves everyday speech with Shakespeare verse. Public performances of the play were held in UCA’s Snow Fine Arts Center.

The 14th season of AST was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In place of the regular season, AST coordinated a series of online and remote experiences featuring social, educational and performance-based projects. The series was created by members of the AST Artistic Collective, a group of directors, actors and designers. The events took place on Facebook and Instagram as well as on the AST website and via mail to audience members’ homes in June and July.

Notable activities included a panel discussion called “From Othello to Hamilton: Race and Black Presence in American Theatre” and the sharing of a new Shakespeare musical adaptation called “VeronaPlays.”

AST had also received a $25,000 grant from the Simmons First Foundation to support the scheduled fall tour for 2020, though that tour is also currently on hold due to COVID-19.

UCA. E DU

|

37

LOOKING AHEAD Thank you for reviewing our 2019-20 Annual Report.

As the report showcases, the last academic year was one of exciting changes, exceptional student and academic success, and record-shattering fundraising. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, our campus community came together and not just survived, but continued to thrive.

All of these accomplishments would not be possible without our outstanding students, friends, partners, and donors. By cheering on our sports teams, joining the UCA Alumni Association, attending an event (virtual or otherwise), donating to your university, or any number of other contributions, you have aided the growth of our university as well as the success of our students. Thank you for supporting us and sharing in our success.

As we look ahead, UCA is more committed than ever to strengthening the future of academics, scholarships, student life, athletic achievements, and facilities. We know that you are ready for what comes next and are excited to help us make a tremendous impact in Arkansas and beyond.

GO BEARS!

Dr. Houston D. Davis President

38

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT

UCA. E DU

|

39

University of Central Arkansas 201 Donaghey Avenue | Conway, Arkansas 72035

40

|

2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT