EVersity enrollees now number 333
The University of Arkansas System's online-only school has admitted 333 students since its application period opened in September, officials reported Thursday.
Altogether, eVersity officials had received 409 applications by Thursday, and 71 were still being processed, said Michael Moore, the UA System's vice president for academic affairs, who is leading eVersity efforts. Of the students enrolled, 319 are currently taking their first course, the free, credit-bearing Engage class that will collect information from students about hope and motivation and teach them processes like budgeting and financial aid.
A half-dozen are enrolled in a math course, and 20 are taking a life science course.
The online school has been averaging about 100 new applications a month, but more importantly, Moore said, he's most pleased with who the university is reaching -- its target clientele of adult Arkansans who started college but never finished.
The average age of the applicants is 35, and the average number of credits they've earned is 62 from about two institutions, he said. Nearly two-thirds of the applicants are first-generation college students, he said.
And 29 percent are black, compared with the 15 percent of college applicants statewide who are black, he said.
Trustee Rogers' exit leaves 2 slots open
Thursday marked the last meeting for University of Arkansas System Trustee Jane Rogers of Little Rock.
Rogers was first appointed to the board by Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2003 to fill Frances Cranford's term. In 2006, Huckabee reappointed her for a full term, which is now expiring. Rogers served as the board's first female chairman in 2013.
The term expiration leaves two vacancies on the board of trustees. Earlier this week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Trustee Jim von Gremp of Rogers to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, prompting von Gremp's resignation from the UA System board.
The remaining trustees have nominated Reynie Rutledge of Searcy to become chairman of the board starting in March. David Pryor of Fayetteville, a former U.S. senator and Arkansas governor, will serve as vice chairman. Morril Harriman of Little Rock will serve as secretary, and Mark Waldrip of Moro will serve as assistant secretary.
UALR makes offer on home for eSTEM
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock got the go-ahead Wednesday to buy a home in an area in which eSTEM Public Charter Schools is interested.
It marked the first time -- at least in UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson's tenure -- that the university has gone out and sought a property, he said. The university has offered $52,800 for the 6,300-square-foot property at 2701 S. Fillmore St., along with a $1,500 relocation expense to the homeowner.
The university offer was over the appraisal, which was listed between $45,000 and $48,000, because it was a priority, Anderson said. ESTEM will reimburse the university for the purchase, he said.
UALR and eSTEM partnered in August to place part of the charter school system's high school on the university campus.
Trustees OK rules on tenured leaders
Trustees for the University of Arkansas System approved a new policy Thursday, putting into place rules for paying administrators with tenured academic appointments.
According to board documents, the policy "recognizes the distinct and separate natures of administrative and faculty positions." The new policy calls for officials to consider factors including job duties, qualifications and the market rate of similar administrative positions at peer institutions for administrative pay rates.
When a tenured faculty member vacates the administrative position, the teaching pay rate will be "consistent with other faculty members of the same rank within [that] department," the policy states.
The new rule also requires the faculty pay rates for tenured administrators to be established at the time of the appointment and approved by the campus chancellor and the system president.
Metro on 01/29/2016