QUARTERLY
FALL 2018
STUDENT FEATURE: JACKIE LEE
The company you keep The company that you keep has the ability to influence you both positively and negatively. Jacqueline Lee, one of SouthArk’s Student Ambassadors, can testify to that. Lee, who often goes by “Jackie,” is 27 and in her second year at SouthArk. Before entering college as a non-traditional student, she was working hourly jobs—doing well enough to get by, and not necessarily trying to achieve more than that. She’d never been in college before. Then she found herself in some social settings where those around her had attained graduate degrees—even doctorates. Suddenly a light bulb went on. “I started building friendships with people who were doing more,” she said, which inspired her to live up to what she describes as her “full potential.” “I started to retrain my mind from negative thoughts of what I couldn’t do,” Lee said. “Many of us who grew up in poverty sometimes feel like we are in bondage, but I am here to say that you can overcome that anxiety of oppression.” Lee enrolled at SouthArk, and jumped into her education with both feet. She joined clubs and organizations, moved into student leadership roles (including the aforementioned Student Ambassador position) and even became
Jackie Lee.
a math tutor. She said that she no longer is the same person that she was when she first entered SouthArk’s doors. “In my experience here at SouthArk, I have accomplished many things that have boosted my confidence,” she said. “Being a part
of these organizations has helped me get out of my comfort zone. Going for something that is out of the norm is a big step for me, but striving for a better life is a challenge that I will persevere through and conquer.”
NEWS & NOTES FROM AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER SouthArk learned in August that it would receive a grant in excess of half a million dollars for domestic violence awareness and prevention from the U.S. Department of Justice. In recognition of September as National Library Card Sign-Up Month, the SouthArk and Barton Public Libraries switched directors the morning of Sept. 19. The college library staff and associate of arts program director Jennifer Baine were awarded the LaNell Compton Prize from the Arkansas Library Association at the association’s annual conference in September. SouthArk’s adult education center in Union County joined other adult education centers across the state in participating in the second annual Arkansas’ Adult Education Open House in September. The college was awarded a Susan Harwood Training Grant, its second in as many years, from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for $117,816. The funds are for workplace safety training and will be run through the Workforce and Continuing Education Division. SouthArk’s process technology program learned in October that it had received an official endorsement from the North American Process Technology Alliance. The entertainment and media arts department held 15 Seconds of Horror, an Instagram-based video
contest, throughout October. Rudy Ruettiger, the Notre Dame football player who was the subject of the hit 1993 film “Rudy,” spoke on Oct. 11 as part of the SouthArk Lecture Series.
Union County College Night was held at the El Dorado Conference Center on Oct. 15. The Great War: Arkansas in World War I, a public traveling exhibit from the Arkansas State Archives that tells the story of Arkansas’ role in the war, was displayed at the library Oct. 18-24. The marketing and public relations department, in conjunction with Upward Bound, hosted The Big Break, a carnival-type soft recruiting event for students who took the ACT on campus, on Oct. 27.
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, SouthArk hosted the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Clothesline Project on Oct. 31. Student services also hosted Fall Fest on Oct. 31.
SOUTHARK FOUNDATION
The annual SouthArk Outdoor Expo, the foundation’s largest event and biggest fundraiser, was held on Sept. 8.
FROM THE PRESIDENT L
ooking out across our grounds, you can see that summer’s greens are transitioning into the blazing yellows, reds and oranges of autumn. This is a transformational time, and a favorite time of year for many—me included! This also is the time of year that our students go through a transition from the feverish rush of the first days of the fall semester into a more steady routine. By now, they’re preparing for a nice break for Thanksgiving, and finals week after, before the semester comes to its conclusion. Some, of course, will graduate in December. Faculty members are making the same preparations. Across the rest of our campus, we’ve been busy with plans for the road ahead. We’re looking at ways to improve student satisfaction, and to reach new prospective students. We’re preparing to launch a new culinary arts program. We’ve been awarded several grants to implement in multiple areas, and we’re still seeking additional funding for other projects. A primary focus continues to be reconstruction of our Administration Building, which suffered major damage from a fire in April. The mitigation of the building was complete in early September. We’ve been meeting with architects on design plans, and are pleased to say that the renovation project is expected to begin soon. The historical nature of the building will be preserved, but administrative offices and The Learning Center will have functional, modern amenities. We hope to be settling back into the building by this time next year. So, whether it be the crisp autumn mornings following a long, hot summer; leaves that change colors
and finally, fall; students who are experiencing both personal and educational growth; or a college that is adapting to meet shifting needs, this is a time of transition and transformation. In part, that’s why we selected the theme “Transformational Journey” to describe our strategic plan, enacted last year. The world around us is changing, as are the needs of our students, businesses and industries, and community. We are responding to those changes, and working to meet and anticipate future needs that lie ahead. Our four strategic initiatives center on student success, forging partnerships, expanding campus culture and enhancing student experiences. •Pathways: We will strive to foster student success through pathways to completion •Connections: We will strive to strengthen connections through communication and partnerships •Campus culture: We will broaden a campus culture of respect and awareness of individual needs, abilities, and potential •Student experience: We will enhance the student experiences We recognize our changing student population and desire to offer courses, programs, and activities that will lead to a full, enriching college life and prepare our graduates for professional careers. College is intended to be a transformational experience for a student; and, just like the changing seasons, the college itself is experiencing wonderful transformations of its own. Have a terrific autumn!
COMING EVENTS NOVEMBER 20 Board of Trustees meeting 22-23 Thanksgiving (closed)
DECEMBER 13 Commencement 20- Winter Break (closed) Jan. 2
JANUARY 15 Board of Trustees meeting 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (closed)