Archivist needed for Beebe papers
Arkansas State University is looking for an archivist to digitize former Gov. Mike Beebe's papers.
The initial archivist left the post after a year organizing the collection of the two-term governor's materials, said Jeff Hankins, vice president for strategic communications and economic development at the Arkansas State University System. Most of the archiving has yet to be done, he said, adding that papers from previous governors also haven't been fully archived.
Beebe, a graduate of ASU, announced in 2014 he would donate his gubernatorial papers to the university at Jonesboro, which already houses his work as state attorney general and as a state senator.
Initially, the plan called for exhibits in both the Kays House and the Dean B. Ellis Library, but the library exhibit is contingent on available funds, Hankins said. The Kays House, which includes a replica of Beebe's office, is scheduled to open this summer.
The project has been funded by grants and donations. Hankins said the university set a "pretty aggressive" goal of raising $650,000 and has raised $114,000 of that.
UAPB will expand chemistry options
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will offer new bachelor's degree concentrations for fall 2017.
Both concentrations are within the university's department of chemistry and physics and have been approved by the state's Department of Higher Education, according to a news release. The two concentrations are forensic chemistry and biochemistry.
The forensics option, offered in conjunction with the department of criminal justice, will include criminal justice and forensic chemistry courses. The biochemistry option is for students interested in the health professions or biomedical research and includes more biology coursework, the university said.
Funds proposed for food pantries
A state representative has filed a bill that would allow the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to provide matching grants to public colleges or universities that want to establish on-campus food pantries.
Rep. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, wants the department to disburse the grants if funds are available. The grants -- which cannot exceed $5,000 -- would call for a dollar-for-dollar match from each public college or university that wants to start a new food pantry. The funds cannot be used for operating expenses.
Food pantries have sprouted up on college campuses across the nation, including in Arkansas, as the cost of attendance continues to increase. The hunger-fighting organization Feeding America found that about 10 percent of the adults they served were college students and that 31 percent of its 46 million clients had to choose between paying for education or food each year.
At least nine of the state's 11 universities and 22 community colleges already have food pantries.
Campus official to lead nonprofit
An administrator at Arkansas Tech University's Ozark campus has been picked to lead a nonprofit.
Regina Olson, the director of adult and continuing education for the Ozark campus, is now the president of the Arkansas Association of Continuing and Adult Education. The nonprofit seeks to bolster educational opportunities for adults and to help educators and other organizations grow.
Olson has been with the Ozark campus since 2012 and helped the program earn the "most improved adult education program" award for the 2012-13 school year, according to a news release.
The Ozark campus has adult education centers in Booneville, Charleston, Clarksville, Ozark and Paris. The centers offer a general education diploma program, English as a second language, and workplace classes and refresher classes to allow adults to transition into a higher education institution.
NW News on 03/07/2017