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The educaTion issue U of A Chancellor

Gearhart’s Annual University Report

Success Highlights From NWA Colleges

and Universities

also:STYLISH PEOPLE: Tiffany Dykes

PROFILE: Razorback Women’s Basketball Coach Jimmy DykesEATS & DRINKS: Traditional Taquerias in NWA

2014RazoRback

FootballPReview

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FeatuRe | PHOTOS By RuSSEl l COTHREn/un IvERS I T y OF ARk AnSAS REl AT IOnS

uniVERsitYstAtE of tHE

2014

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To better serve its students, the U of A is

working to raise the graduation rate from

60 to 70 percent.vice Chancellor Charles Robinson and his team have greatly

increased our campus diversity in recent years, with an 80 percent increase in minority student enrollment since 2008.

nursing students in the College of Education and Health Professions practice their skills in a simulation lab.

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An open-letter update from

University of Arkansas Chancellor

G. David Gearhart

I’m pleased to report that this spring saw the graduation of more than 4,200 students, our biggest graduating class ever. In recent years, I’ve mentioned the extraordinary enrollment growth the U of A has experienced, and this fall we anticipate enrollment topping 25,700 students. Enrollment growth, however, is meaningless unless it’s measured in graduates, which is why we are doing our utmost to ensure we are graduating more students at higher rates.

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Currently, we are first in the state among public colleges and universities with a graduation rate of 60 percent. As part of our goal of becoming a top 50 public research university by 2021, we want — and need — to raise our graduation rates to 70 percent. Top universities retain and graduate their students at higher rates, providing more value to their states and to their students. They do it not by lowering their standards, but by better understanding their students and providing the advisors, mentors and program support needed to ensure success. In addition to graduating students at higher rates, top 50 public research universities also generate more research funding, which stimulates economic development and innovation, and can lead to the commercialization of research in the form of new businesses and products. They also stimulate social, artistic and cultural achievement, which profoundly enhances our quality of life.

In addition to increased retention and graduation rates, what are some other goals that will be crucial to the U of A reaching top 50 status?

u Increase research funding and scholarship;

u Increase the number of top-ranked graduate programs;

u Increase the university’s reputation;

u Increase the number of classes under 20 students.

Though rankings can be a bit of a beauty contest and must be taken with a little healthy skepticism, if we can make headway on our five goals, we will be a much more efficient, influential and productive university, maximizing state and private funding to create an environment in which our students and faculty thrive.

It bears mentioning that reaching top 50 status isn’t just about getting better, but also doing more to let people know what we’re already doing well. Not everyone realizes how good we already are. For instance, the U of A had another great year with our students earning nationally competitive awards. In 2013-2014 alone, we had a Marshall Scholar, a Truman Scholar, a Goldwater Scholar, 12 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships and five Fulbright Scholars.

In fact, our all-time total of 49 Goldwater Scholars ranks us first in the SEC and 15th nationally among public universities. And our total of 18 Truman Scholars also ties us for first in the SEC and 13th nationally among public universities. Under the direction of Dr. Suzanne McCray, our Office of Nationally Competitive Awards is doing a tremendous job of helping our students win the most prestigious awards in the country.

We also saw impressive gains in U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 edition of Best Graduate Schools. The College of Education and Health Professions’ graduate education programs moved up nearly 50 places in the overall rankings, from 132nd to 86th. The Sam M. Walton College of Business M.B.A. program moved from 66th to 55th

while continuing to lead the nation in the number of full-time Master of Business Administration graduates employed at graduation. Finally, the School of Law improved its overall ranking by seven places

Doctoral student J.D. Adams, center, and Matthew ganio, right, director of the Human Performance laboratory,

demonstrate equipment in the environmental chamber with the help of student Sean Salazar, a competitive cyclist.

2014 goldwater Scholar Hailey Dunsworth • Photo credit unknown

The university’s Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies is the premier research center in

the world for geo-spatial imaging.

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over last year, now at 61st nationally, and has climbed an astonishing 47 spots since the 2008 rankings. Strong graduate school programs are a hallmark of a great public research university, and these rankings demonstrate that the word is getting out about the quality of our graduate programs. I am most grateful to Provost Sharon Gaber for the leadership she is providing all these programs.

High-performing students need high-performing faculty and opportunities to stretch themselves. We’ve got them. Jingyi Chen, assistant professor of physical chemistry, was included on the 2014 list of the world’s most highly cited researchers compiled by Thompson-Reuters, as was Walton College distinguished professor Viswanath Venkatesh. To make the list, scientists must rank among the top 1 percent most cited for their subject field and year of publication – no easy feat.

University researchers were also awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The goal of the grant is to develop new molecules and biopharmaceuticals to help clinicians attack spreading tumors and prevent cancer recurrence. David Zaharoff, an assistant professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department, will collaborate with Suresh Kumar, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Zaharoff will focus on delivery systems and biomaterials while Kumar will focus on protein biochemistry. This work has the potential to be an important tool in the fight against cancer.

The Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), the premier research center in the world for geo-spatial imaging, was also featured in a new documentary series on PBS, Time Scanners. The show took researchers from CAST all over the world, including the pyramids in Egypt, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and the ancient city of Petra. CAST researchers collected and analyzed billions of measurements through high-speed laser scanning. These scans enabled them to create a point cloud, or a three-dimensional model of the surface, providing the most accurate and complete pictures of these structures yet.

These are just some of the ways we are leading the SEC, the nation and the world. The accomplishments of these students and faculty give me confidence that we are well on our way to top 50 status.

As recipients of a grant from the National Institute

of Health, associate professor Suresh kumar will

collaborate with assistant professor David zaharoff

to develop new molecules and biopharmaceuticals to help clinicians attack

spreading tumors and prevent cancer recurrence.

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Our more than 4,200 graduates were not the only ones to wrap up their careers on campus. Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Don Pederson stepped down after 42 years with the university. The 29 years he spent as a vice chancellor makes him the longest serving vice chancellor in university history. Bev Lewis also retired in June. In her more than 30-year career with the university, Bev was a highly successful coach, athletic director and associate vice chancellor and executive associate athletics director for men’s and women’s sports. In that time, she has made an indelible mark on this university, women’s athletics in Arkansas, and on athletics across the country. Vice Chancellor of Government and Community Relations Richard Hudson also concluded a 20-year career with the university, and Dean Bob McMath, the first and only dean so far of the Honors College, retired as well, having helped create one of the most prestigious honors colleges in the country.

All of these campus leaders contributed greatly to the university’s current academic and athletic success. Simply put, we would not be where we are without them. While I am sorry to see them go, I feel blessed to have worked with them, and am most grateful for their longstanding and exemplary service.

As leaders step down, others must step up. Dr. Todd Shields, dean of the Graduate School and International Education, was named dean of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Kim Needy, former chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering, has been named dean of the Graduate School and International Education. Peter MacKeith has been named the new dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture, and Bumpers College professor, Dr. Curt Rom, will be acting as interim dean of the Honors College. Also, Randy Massanelli will replace Richard Hudson as vice chancellor for government relations, and Tim O’Donnell will serve as interim vice chancellor for finance and administration.

Under the leadership of Vice Chancellor for Advancement Chris Wyrick, fundraising continues to be robust, as we recorded our fourth consecutive year of more than $100 million in private gift support – another first. This bodes well as Campaign Arkansas enters its third year. In fact, we only exceeded the $100 million mark two times during the last campaign, so this is a tremendous start. In the face of reduced lottery scholarships, fundraising also remains a critical tool in continuing to diversify our campus, providing access to low income and underrepresented students as well as merit-based scholarships. Vice Chancellor Charles Robinson and his team have greatly increased our campus diversity in recent years, with an 80 percent increase in minority student enrollment since 2008. We must ensure that trend continues, whether it’s through increased outreach, scholarship support or new programs.

My update wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some major construction projects underway. They include the new Basketball Performance Center, the Student Athlete Success Center, Champions Hall (a new general-purpose class and lab building) and the renovation and transformation of what will become the Jim and Joyce Faulkner

Performing Arts Center. It’s a testament to the unprecedented scale of construction in recent years that four major projects seems modest, but once completed they will add greatly to our ability to meet the needs of our students for years to come.

Finally, the university will be making a concerted attempt to promote health and wellness this year as part of a larger U of A System initiative. While we want our employees to enjoy health and wellness for their own benefit, we also think a healthier campus community will lower our insurance rates and allow us to use those savings more responsibly elsewhere. A campus kickoff event will take place Oct. 8.

Ultimately, I want you to know that we are ambitiously pursuing our goal of becoming a top 50 public research university, and I have no doubt that we will succeed. As always, the support of our campus community and stakeholders across the state will be critical to achieving that goal.

Thank you so much for your continued support. ■

unIvERSITy OF ARkAnSAS CHAnCEllOR

g. DAvID gEARHART

This fall, the u of A will kickoff a campus-wide health and wellness initiative.

Computer rendering, courtesy Heery and Maxwave Media, of the completed Student Athlete Success Center.