Arkansas Association of Public Universities

State University Leaders Announce Higher Education Compact

Posted on March 28th, 2011 by Jeremy Langley

SAU President Dr. David Rankin, chairman of the AAPU, makes remarks at a press conference announcing the "Compact with the People of Arkansas."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The presidents and chancellors of Arkansas’ 11 public universities and two university systems Tuesday issued a 16-point pledge to accountability, collaboration and cooperation aimed at addressing the state’s educational, social and economic needs and opportunities.

Speaking at a news conference held in the State Capitol’s Rotunda, the education leaders unveiled their “Compact With the People of Arkansas.” Addressed to the state’s citizens and its political and education leaders, the Compact presents 16 goals intended to guide their individual and collective performance. Printed copies of the Compact were distributed Tuesday to state policymakers and to the news media.

“This compact represents our commitment to provide the people of Arkansas with quality higher education while being mindful of the great responsibility that comes with this task,” said David Rankin, president of Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia. “By having all of the state’s four-year public universities join together in this initiative, there is no doubt we will make tremendous strides in accomplishing these goals over the next several years.”

The document’s 16 pledges include:

transparent and accountable decision making
prudent fiscal management
clear measures of institutional performance
doubling, by 2025, the number of college degrees produced by the Compact’s partners
dramatically increasing the number of Arkansas residents with at least a bachelor’s degree
keep tuition and fees as low as possible without sacrificing academic quality
create a seamless process of transferring academic credits between and among Arkansas’ two-year colleges and its four-year public universities
work with K-12 schools to reduce the need for student remediation in post-secondary education
adopt environmentally and economically sound business practices
expand the diversity of the universities’ student bodies, faculties and staff
effectively address military veterans’ needs to help ensure their success in the academic environment
provide the support and resources to all students to help them achieve success
provide adequate financial aid to help ensure that no student is denied access to one of the universities due to an inability to pay
increase efforts to accommodate the needs and schedules of non-traditional students
pursue entrepreneurial ways to generate the revenues necessary to ensure a high-quality learning environment and experience
Increase the universities’ role and engagement in economic development

Speaking at the news conference, G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas, said institutions of higher education in the state must collaborate to provide an even better educated workforce and a more informed citizenry.

“Our public universities are the state’s most influential social, economic, cultural and educational force,” said Gearhart. “We, as the leaders of those institutions, must make sure that we demonstrate and communicate the ways we can, do and will serve the public’s interests. That means we must work together, operate our universities in a productive and accountable manner, and be good stewards of state resources.”

“The institutions of higher learning in Arkansas today have demonstrated their commitment to working toward Gov. Beebe’s goal of doubling our number of certificate and degree holders in the next decade,” added Shane Broadway, interim director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, who also participated in the news conference. “The staff at ADHE commends their efforts and will support their endeavors to bring about a new workforce with the knowledge and skills to better the economy and quality of life for all Arkansans.”

Along with Rankin and Gearhart, others who signed the pledge included:

Joel E. Anderson, chancellor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Paul B. Beran, chancellor, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
Robert C. Brown, president, Arkansas Tech University
Lawrence A. Davis, chancellor, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
G. Daniel Howard, interim chancellor, Arkansas State University
H. Jack Lassiter, chancellor, University of Arkansas at Monticello
Allen C. Meadors, president, University of Central Arkansas
Robert L. Potts, interim president, Arkansas State University System
Dan Rahn, chancellor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
B. Alan Sugg, president, University of Arkansas System
Charles L. Welch, president, Henderson State University

The presidents and chancellors of Arkansas' public universities gather in the State Capitol Rotunda to announce the "Compact with the People of Arkansas."

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State Economic Leaders Discuss Importance of Higher Education

Posted on January 27th, 2010 by AAPU

Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Maria Haley speaks to state university presidents and chancellors.

MORRILTON, Ark. – Education and economic development are dually joined at the hip, Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Maria Haley told state university presidents and chancellors last weekend.

“Your role as universities is absolutely essential to grow the state’s economy,” said Haley in her challenge to the group of 11 state higher education leaders assembled Friday at the third annual Arkansas Association of Public Universities (AAPU) presidents and chancellors meeting.

Haley was among several presenters at the Friday luncheon who were invited to discuss the role higher education plays in economic development.

Randy Zook, president/CEO of Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, said Arkansas is fortunate that its economy has been driven by major companies such as Walmart, J.B. Hunt, and Baldor Electric, but he is concerned about the challenges they face, how they will grow, and what new companies will surface over the next 10 years.

“We’re pleased with the product you’re providing, we wish you could provide more, we wish that you could be more strategic in your curriculum to make sure we have a good stream of students coming out of your schools to meet the workforce needs,” Zook told the group.

The number one problem with bringing new business and industry to Arkansas is workforce, Haley said. “Workforce, workforce, workforce. I cannot say enough about how important it is, and we need to focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.”

Others involved in the discussion included Janet Roderick, state director of Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center based at UALR; Jim Youngquist, executive director, UALR Institute for Economic Advancement; Kelly Lyon, director, UCA Community Development Institute Center; and Dr. Mark Peterson, extension specialist-community development, UA Division of Agriculture.

Tim Wooldridge, AAPU executive director, said the meeting brought university leaders together at a critical time. “These are the folks who are on the ground figuring out how to manage state budget cuts, interpret lottery scholarship decisions, and improve retention and graduation rates,” he said. “At the same time, they must make decisions that determine the future of the state’s economic development.”

“That’s why it is important to bring these issues to the table for discussion through organizations such as AAPU. We are an advocate for the collective interest of each university that will better serve Arkansas,” he said.

The two-day meeting included a higher education budget review by Dr. Stanley Williams, deputy director, and Jackie Holloway, senior associate director of finance, of Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Wooldridge and the group also discussed 2010-2011 goals for the organization.

AAPU university presidents and chancellors in attendance were Dr. Joel Anderson, UALR; Dr. Charles Welch, Henderson State University; Dr. Jack Lassiter, UA- Monticello; Dr. Milo Shult, vice president for agriculture, UA Division of Agriculture;

Dr. David Rankin, Southern Arkansas University; Dr. Paul Beran, UA-Fort Smith; Dr. David Gearhart, UA-Fayetteville; Dr. Allen Meadors, UCA; and Dr. Alan Sugg, UA System.

Special guests were Dr. Les Wyatt, president, ASU System, and Dr. Robert Potts, ASU chancellor.

AAPU was created by the four-year Arkansas public universities; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Criminal Justice Institute; Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas; Clinton School of Public Service, and the Archeological Survey in 2006 as the Arkansas Association of Public Universities.

The Association is a nonprofit organization engaged in the improvement of higher education and in higher education policy advocacy, representing the collective interests of its member-institutions.

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Connect Arkansas Gets $2 Million to Map State Broadband Access

Posted on October 29th, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

Arkansas Business

Connect Arkansas, an Arkansas private nonprofit created to enhance broadband access, received $2.08 million from the federal government for an accessibility mapping program.

Connect Arkansas, a member of Arkansas Capital Corporation, received the grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s State Broadband Data and Development program.

The nonprofit said the grant will help fund mapping efforts during the next two years that will illustrate where broadband Internet is available in Arkansas, where connectivity is unavailable or unreliable in order to lessen the “electronic divide” statewide.

“Through the NTIA’s funding, Connect Arkansas will build upon initial mapping efforts and expand the information it already has acquired from service providers to show information at a more granular level,” said C. Sam Walls, CEO of Arkansas Capital Corporation, which oversees Connect Arkansas.

Walls said Connect Arkansas has established more than 100 partnerships with both public and private sector organizations throughout Arkansas to assist in the Connect Arkansas stratey.

In 2007, Gov. Beebe signed the Connect Arkansas Act, which seeks to increase the use and availability of broadband Internet within Arkansas. Beebe also designated Connect Arkansas as the lead agency for federal broadband mapping support.

“Today’s announcement will allow the state to continue to make strides in improving broadband availability. Gov. Beebe understands the value of broadband, especially its ability to improve the lives of Arkansans and their access to healthcare and educational opportunities,” said Chris Masingill, Arkansas Recovery Implementation Director.
Walls said Connect Arkansas has secured almost half a million dollars for planning in matching funds.

“We are committed to this program to improve Arkansas’s ranking in broadband and Internet accessibility,” he said.

A 2008 State New Economy Index ranked Arkansas No. 47 in its ability to compete in the new economy. Arkansas ranks No. 49 in deployment of broadband telecommunications.
“According to reports, full broadband deployment in Arkansas may create as many as 8,200 new jobs and generate more than $2.6 billion annually in additional Gross State Product,” Walls said.

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College Students Declared Winners at Conference’s Yearly Poster Competition

Posted on October 29th, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

During the second day of the 2009 NSF EPSoR Annual Conference, Arkansas college students convened at the Doubletree hotel to take part in the annual poster competition highlighting summaries of their work to be judged by science specialists from across the state.

Later in the day, Governor Mike Beebe congratulated each of the winners, shaking hands with them on stage prior to his noon day address.

Winners from the WiNS center included undergraduates Alexandra Anghelescu, Andrew Shepherd and Andrew Hayes of UALR, and Lauren Kegley with the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville.

UALR Graduate student Rabindra Ghimire was awarded for his poster project for the WiNS Center, while fellow UALR graduate students Jing Zhang, and Karishka Silva were awarded for their P3 poster displays.

The University of Arkansas – Fayetteville was also represented as graduate students Pratyush Rai, and Prashanth Shyam Kumar were awarded for the posters representing their work in the WiNS Center, while graduate students Kelly Carruthers, Jose Condori, Milenka Arevalo and R. Louis Hirsch were acknowledged for their work in the P3 Center.

Arkansas State University’s P3 Center was also acknowledged with graduate students Cody Ashby and Shashank Kulkarni being declared winners as well.

The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority would like to congratulate all these students for their fine work in advancing the science of nano and plant-based bioproduction technologies.

To view pictures of the event and individual project descriptions, click here.

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Higher Education Opportunities Grant

Posted on October 27th, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

When: Saturday, November 1, 2009

Agency: Arkansas Department of Higher Education (Financial Aid)

What: Higher Education Opportunities Grant (Spring Term)

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Are Today’s Grads Unprofessional?

Posted on October 23rd, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

Inside Higher Ed

October 23, 2009

Today’s college graduates do not exhibit as much professionalism as their employers expect of them, according to a new study from York College of Pennsylvania.

As part of the small liberal arts college’s effort to rebrand itself as a place where “professionalism” is cultivated, its newly created Center for Professional Excellence commissioned a survey of more than 500 human resources professionals and business leaders to gauge not only what they think “professionalism” means but also how well the recent college graduates they have hired exhibit it.

The results of the survey, released Friday, suggest that colleges need to change how they prepare their students for the working world, particularly by reinforcing soft skills like honoring workplace etiquette and having a positive demeanor.

The survey indicates that “there is a widely held sentiment that not all college graduates are displaying professionalism upon entering the work force.” More than 37 percent of the respondents reported that “less than half of [the recent graduates they have hired] exhibit professionalism in their first year.” The average employer indicated that slightly more than 51 percent of his or her recent hires exhibit “professionalism.”

In clarifying what exactly this means, about 88 percent of the respondents “think of professionalism as being related to a person rather than the position.” To that end, the traits or behaviors mentioned most by the respondents as being characteristic of professional employees were “personal interaction skills, including courtesy and respect”; “the ability to communicate, which includes listening skills”; “a work ethic which includes being motivated and working on a task until it is complete”; and “appearance.”

Similarly, the traits or behaviors most associated by the respondents with “unprofessionalism” included “appearance, which includes attire, tattoos, and piercings”; “poor communication skills including poor grammar”; “poor work ethic”; and “poor attitude.”

To further define the gap between employer expectations and student realities, the study asked respondents “to rate traits according to both their importance when considering a person for a position requiring professionalism and the extent to which they are present in first year college educated employees.” Upon analysis of these on a matrix, the study notes that the quality most prevalent in new college graduates — “concern about opportunities for advancement” — matters the least to employers.

Among the traits or behaviors employers value most, and that they believe are most deficient in the recent graduates they have hired, include “accepts personal responsibility for decision and actions,” “is able to act independently,” and “has a clear sense of direction and purpose.” The study notes that colleges need to put a particular focus on imparting these traits to their students.

Still, there is some indication that not everyone surveyed believes the “professionalism” of their recent graduate hires has significantly declined in recent years. More than 53 percent of the respondents reported the percentage of those exhibiting “professionalism” has remained the same over the past five years. Nearly a third, however, indicate that it has taken a nosedive in recent years. The most popular reasons for this grim outlook include “an increased sense of entitlement,” “new cultural values,” and “a changed work ethic.”

David Polk, the professor of behavioral science at York whose research group conducted this survey, said he was unsure how much the responses indicated some sort of “generational phenomenon,” acknowledging the age-old disappointment adults throughout history have often expressed in the younger generation. He noted with disappointment that the survey failed to ask the ages of those responding. Still, he noted that, generally, those responding were significantly older than the recent graduates they were asked to assess.

“One of the things you’ve got to ask yourself is, are we just a bunch of dinosaurs looking at young people saying, ‘What I’m seeing here is inappropriate,’ ” mused Polk, who made sure to note he was 61. “Are the changes in attitude here generational or are they lifestyle changes? Will you people eventually take on conservative professionalism or have things just changed? We’ll have to do more studies to find out. For instance, the freewheeling baby boomers of the 1960s are the ones who filled out our survey today. We can be sure which it is with just this one study.”

Polk’s students, who have been discussing his research findings in class, are of two minds about what employers are saying about their generation. On one hand, Polk said he has students balk at the notion that certain tattoos or piercings might make them seem “unprofessional.” Conversely, he said nearly all of them admit to having a greater sense of “entitlement.” While Polk said that most students did not think of this as being problematic, he expressed some concern in this attitude.

“We tell our children, ‘You’re all worth something,’ and ‘None of you are losers,’ ” Polk said. “I’ve asked my class, ‘Do you really think you’re all winners in everything?’ I mean, you’ve got to be mediocre in something. This attitude that everyone’s going to play on the team and that everyone is going to be recognized for something is out there. It’s great that people have positive self-esteem, but I can’t help but think that we live in Lake Wobegon [the fictional town of A Prairie Home Companion fame], where every student is ‘above average.’ ”

Despite this, Polk offered a number of suggestions about what colleges can do in the classroom to improve the “professionalism” of their graduates.

“I think if you can get professors to buy into the concept, which is critical, then professors can serve as role models,” Polk said. “For instance, the last thing I would do is wear blue jeans to class. I think that’s unprofessional and not something I’d wear in a position of presumed authority. … Also, some professors will say, ‘Just call me by my first name.’ There’s no way I think that’s proper behavior in my classroom. It creates this wonderfully false impression that professors are less authority figures than they are friends.”

Professors can lead by example in other ways, too, Polk continued.

“Let’s just ignore parents for a second, and let’s call students out on improper behavior in the classroom,” Polk said. “You’ll probably notice from the study, a lot of what people are talking about here is soft skills like attitude, demeanor and respect. As a professor, most of us see our jobs as conveying knowledge and making sure our students comprehend it. I’m not sure how many would respond that it is also their job to help a student develop good behavior. There’s this moral authority that some professors get uncomfortable with. For this to work successfully, when a professor calls out a student’s behavior, the administration should be there to back them up immediately and say, ‘Your behavior is wrong.’ ”

In the meantime, York’s Center for Professional Excellence has gotten in on the act. It will host a number of seminars throughout the academic year with employers talking about expectations of their employees and other workplace issues. Polk said he would like students to be required to attend a certain number of these seminars throughout their college careers. Additionally, he noted he could see the potential for York to create something akin to a general education course focusing on “professionalism.”

“If we can truly embrace this thing, it’ll be a major challenge,” said Polk of York’s effort to rebrand itself. “I can just see me going to faculty and saying to them, ‘Your blue jeans are inappropriate,’ and them telling me where I can go.”

— David Moltz

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Private Borrowing for College Drops Sharply, While College Costs Creep Up

Posted on October 21st, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

The Chronicle of Higher Education

By Beckie Supiano

Even as tuition and fees increased last year, the amount students borrowed in private loans declined by almost 50 percent, according to the first widely accepted estimate of that drop, which was expected to be significant.

In 2008-9, lenders issued about $11.9-billion in education loans not backed by the federal government. Those loans consist primarily of traditional private loans but also include loans made by states. That represents a drop of about $11.9-billion, after adjusting for inflation, according to two reports issued Tuesday by the College Board, “Trends in College Pricing 2009″ and “Trends in Student Aid 2009.”

Private loans represent a small—but until recently, rapidly growing—portion of the education-loan market. Sandy Baum, senior policy analyst with the College Board and an author of the reports, said the shift was “really not surprising at all.”

Because of turbulence in the credit markets, fewer lenders made private education loans last academic year. At the same time, the government raised the loan limits for undergraduates who borrow federally backed but unsubsidized Stafford Loans.

To view full text: http://chronicle.com/article/Private-Borrowing-for-College/48878/

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In Hard Times, It Pays to Increase Benefits, Colleges Are Advised

Posted on October 21st, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

The Chronicle of Higher Education

By Jennifer Ruark

Las Vegas

Now is an ideal time for colleges and universities to increase employee benefits, according to several administrators and consultants speaking here this week at the national meeting of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

Had the bright Las Vegas lights and the ringing of nearby slot machines temporarily made them forget the recession? To the contrary, the tough budget climate was very much on their minds, and they argued that economics make it essential to expand benefits like wellness programs, flexible work schedules, and professional-development training. Not only can institutions save money on health insurance by offering such programs, the speakers said, but they can also attract and retain the best employees, and make them more effective at work.

“Healthy employees are happy and productive,” said Wade Larson, human-resources director at North Idaho College. Mr. Larson described how a wellness program instituted at the small community college had in just one year saved it half a million dollars in employee benefits—a real boon for a college that lost $2-million in state support this fiscal year. At the same time, with salaries frozen, the program increased benefits for the roughly 500 employees eligible for them.

View full text at http://chronicle.com/article/In-Hard-Times-It-Pays-to/48883/

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Entrepreneurship Is On the Rise, Educators Find

Posted on October 20th, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

The Chronicle of Higher Education

By Katherine Mangan

Houston

At a time when finding a job, let alone a secure one, may seem like an elusive goal, a growing number of college students are turning to entrepreneurship to try to create their own. Hundreds of educators gathered at Rice University here over the weekend to discuss how best to train them, and how to sustain their entrepreneurship centers through tough economic times.

The three-day conference, sponsored by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers, was held at Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business. It drew representatives from 240 entrepreneurship programs across 42 states and 15 foreign countries. Attendance, up 50 percent over last year, was the highest in the alliance’s 13-year history.

“Interest is just exploding,” says Brad Burke, managing director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, which cosponsored the conference.

Becoming an entrepreneur used to be considered a risky career move, but with so many big companies freezing hiring and trimming benefits, some students are finding that the relative risks of starting a company aren’t so daunting.

“They’ve seen their parents get laid off, and no one is promising them a job now,” says Michael W. Hennessy, president of the Coleman Foundation, which provides grants to entrepreneurship programs.

Even if they could spend their entire careers climbing the rungs at a single company, many prefer a less predictable trajectory anyway, he says. “These are members of the MTV generation who like projects as long as they hold their interest, and then they move on to something else.”

Full text of this article is available at http://chronicle.com/article/Entrepreneurship-Is-On-the-/48869/

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AAPU Establishes Tip of the Spear Award

Posted on October 6th, 2009 by Jeremy Langley

: Gov. Mike Beebe presents Claiborne Deming with the AAPU’s first Tip of the Spear Award. Also pictured are Elaine Deming and Dr. David Rankin

LITTLE ROCK (Friday, October 2, 2009) – More than 350 college

and university presidents, chancellors and other higher education officials joined Governor Mike Beebe in honoring Claiborne Deming with the first Tip of the Spear Award, designed to recognize those who value the importance of higher education and its direct impact on the state’s future economic development, on the final day of the Arkansas Association of Public Universities’ annual Higher Education Conference Friday.

Deming, the former CEO of Murphy Oil, founded the “The El Dorado Promise,” which guarantees college scholarships to El Dorado high school graduates – increasing enrollment in El Dorado public schools and providing the opportunity of a higher education to thousands of El Dorado High School graduates.

“Education is one of the biggest challenges you have to overcome, but if you meet that challenge – more than likely you’ll be successful,” Claiborne Deming said. “We were able to put the children of El Dorado in position to be successful by giving them the opportunity to go to college. When they continue their education, they win personally and society wins as well.”

The Arkansas Association of Public Universities created the Tip of the Spear Award after the 2008 Higher Education Conference where Governor Beebe coined the phrase “higher education is the tip of the spear with regard to economic development in Arkansas.”

“The mission of four-year institutions is to take our state from where she is now to where she wants to be,” Governor Mike Beebe said. “And our four-year colleges are indeed the tip of the spear in that effort.”

Governor Beebe, a strong supporter of education from pre-K to higher education, had a specific message for the leadership of four-year colleges and universities. “Times are a changing but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed: You’re still the tip of the spear, like you were last year, 10 years ago, and a generation ago. A college education is essential to living the lifestyle we want to live.”

The AAPU Board of Trustees, made up of the presidents and chancellors of member institutions across the state, selected Claiborne Deming from among several finalists as the first to be honored with the award.

“Claiborne Deming understands the importance of higher education to future success and we all have to remind ourselves of that once in awhile,” said Tim Wooldridge, executive director of the Arkansas Association of Public Universities. “We discussed many of the challenges higher education faces at this week’s conference and I can say that the spirit of collaboration is alive and well between the many organizations that are working together on the common goal of educating the future of our state.”

Representatives from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development and the Arkansas Science Technology Authority as well as Miss Arkansas Sarah Slocum also took part in honoring Deming.

The Arkansas Association of Public Universities is a nonprofit organization created to enhance the quality and quantity of educational opportunities for Arkansas citizens in order to derive the many benefits of an educated citizenry while advocating the collective interests of its members and the value of public higher education in serving the public interest and people of Arkansas.

AAPU member institutions are the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Southern Arkansas University, Henderson State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Arkansas at Monticello, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, University of Arkansas Archeological Survey, Clinton School of Public Service, and the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute.

Governor Mike Beebe, Elaine Deming, Dr. David Rankin, and Claiborne Deming at the Tip of the Spear Award presentation

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State University Leaders Announce Higher Education Compact

State Economic Leaders Discuss Importance of Higher Education

Connect Arkansas Gets $2 Million to Map State Broadband Access

College Students Declared Winners at Conference’s Yearly Poster Competition

Higher Education Opportunities Grant

Are Today’s Grads Unprofessional?

Private Borrowing for College Drops Sharply, While College Costs Creep Up

In Hard Times, It Pays to Increase Benefits, Colleges Are Advised

Entrepreneurship Is On the Rise, Educators Find

AAPU Establishes Tip of the Spear Award

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