The University of Arkansas System has hired Michael Moore, senior vice provost and dean of undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, as its new vice president for academic affairs.

Moore will join the UA System on Jan. 14, when Daniel Ferritor, current vice president for academic affairs, will transition to vice president for learning technologies, the UA System said in a news release Friday.

Moore will provide leadership for the system in all aspects of academic affairs, including working closely with UA System campuses and divisions to coordinate onlineeducation online education and distance-learning distance learning initiatives.

As senior vice provost at UT Arlington, Moore oversaw the development and expansion of the university’s online education program, which grew rapidly under his leadership. During his tenure, Moore worked with faculty to develop new online courses and programs and saw online enrollment grow to more than 25 percent of the university’s total enrollment.

Moore joins the UA System’s administration as President Donald Bobbitt, whoworked with him in Arlington, encourages leaders of its six universities and five community colleges to add to their distance education offerings.

“Michael’s experience developing online and distance education programs will be vital to our efforts to grow and expand new technologies among our campuses and divisions,” Bobbitt said in a statement. “His expertise in academic affairs will also be critical in our role of supporting the growth and development of academic programming across the UA System.”

An experienced researcher and teacher, Moore earned the Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Award from the United States Distance Learning Association in 2010 for his Introduction to American Government online course at UT Arlington.

Moore was an assistant professor in the department of political science at UT Arlington from 1992 to 1997, and he was promoted to associate professor in 1998. He joined the Office of the Provost in 2000, becoming senior vice provost in 2006. He was given the additional duties of dean of undergraduate studies in 2010.

His salary at the UA System will be $232,000, a spokesman said.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 12/08/2012