Tech to offer 1st doctoral program
Arkansas Tech University has received accreditation for its first doctoral degree in its 106-year-history, according to a news release.
The Higher Learning Commission, a national accrediting agency, has awarded the accreditation to the university's Doctor of Education degree in school leadership. The program will have its first students this fall, the news release states.
"The greatest beneficiaries of this news are the children of our state," Arkansas Tech President Robin E. Bowen said in the news release. "As a result of this doctoral program, leadership capacity in our K-12 schools will be enhanced, teachers will be more empowered to advance in their careers and students will receive a more meaningful education."
The accreditation process for the program began in July 2010, when the university's board of trustees sent a letter of intent to the state's Department of Higher Education. The program, led by professor of educational leadership John Freeman, is for elementary through high school educators who aspire to district-level leadership, the news release states.
Ouachita Baptist to seek new chief
Ouachita Baptist University will soon begin the search for a new president at the Arkadelphia campus.
Its current president, Rex Horne, plans to leave the 1,501-student university this summer to head Arkansas' Independent Colleges and Universities. The new job will include responsibilities related to governmental affairs, public affairs and fundraising.
As the head of the organization, Horne, 61, will represent 11 private colleges and universities, including Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas Baptist University in Little Rock and University of the Ozarks in Clarksville.
Jay Heflin, OBU's board of trustees chairman, said the trustees will develop a search committee in the next few weeks. The search committee will be in charge of advertising the position and vetting the candidates, he said.
Horne has told the board that he would likely leave toward the end of July, Heflin said, adding that he doubted the board would fill the position that quickly.
"It would be great if the good Lord will drop somebody in our lap like that," he said. "We want to be mindful of the decision that we have. We want to fill the position as quickly as possible but don't want to fill it just to fill it."
UA System signs search consultant
The University of Arkansas System can move forward with its search for a chancellor at the Fayetteville campus after state legislators approved a contract with an out-of-state executive firm.
The system has partnered with Greenwood/Asher and Associates Inc., based in Miramar Beach, Fla., for an estimated $155,000. Of the total, $90,000 is for three of the firm's consultants, while the remainder is for reimbursable expenses, including research, travel, advertising and any telecommunications, according to the contract.
The firm was among five who responded to a request for proposal to help search for a replacement for Chancellor G. David Gearhart. Gearhart, 62, is stepping down from the post July 30 after some seven years at the helm of the 26,237-student university.
UA System President Donald Bobbitt has named Dan Ferritor, a former chancellor at the flagship university, as the interim leader for the campus.
Metro on 05/17/2015