Quarantine housing
deals not renewed
FAYETTEVILLE -- Quarantine housing agreements have not been renewed between the university and providers of emergency services, a UA spokesman said.
"I don't believe any first responders ended up needing emergency housing this summer. An extension was considered but ultimately it was deemed unnecessary," UA spokesman Mark Rushing said in an email.
The Fayetteville City Council in April approved an agreement for the university to provide through June 30 housing to city police and firefighters potentially exposed to the coronavirus. The memorandum of understanding called for on-campus University Housing facilities to be used. Per-person housing costs were estimated to be about $50 daily under the agreement, including a decontamination fee.
Central EMS, a provider of ambulance services in Washington County, had a similar agreement with UA running through June 30.
Waller honored by
supply-chain group
FAYETTEVILLE -- Matt Waller, dean of the business college, has received the top honor given out by a supply-chain industry group.
Waller has been named the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Service Award by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.
The council gives the award annually to "an academic, consultant, or practitioner who exemplifies significant, consistent, and career-long contributions to the development of the logistics and supply chain management disciplines," according to its website.
The award "is considered by supply chain management professionals throughout the world as the highest honor bestowed upon an individual," Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of the supply chain council, said in an email. "Matt Waller's impact on and leadership of our discipline, and the great people within it, demonstrates why he was selected this year."
Waller was appointed in 2016 as dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business after first serving as interim dean.
"I am shocked, honored and thrilled to receive CSCMP's Distinguished Service Award," Waller said in a statement. The award dates back to 1965, according to the council's website. Past winners include former Walmart CEO H. Lee Scott.
Grant to aid study
on gear disinfecting
FAYETTEVILLE -- A $299,963 National Science Foundation grant will help UA researchers study ways to disinfect personal protective equipment used by medical professionals.
Samir El-Ghazaly, an electrical engineering professor, and Yuchun Du, a biological sciences associate professor, will study how microwaves and plasma can kill viruses such as the one that causes the covid-19 disease, so that equipment can be reused rather than thrown away after being worn.
Health and governmental officials have described a shortage of protective equipment during the ongoing pandemic.
"We wanted to focus on this research to improve the personal protective equipment shortage and develop a versatile and environmentally friendly decontamination approach," El-Ghazaly said in a statement, adding that the researchers' approach does not use chemicals or cause toxic gases to be emitted.
Personal protective equipment generally includes gloves, masks, protective eyewear, face shields, and protective clothing such as gowns, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Testing is set to occur this summer at the Engineering Research Center in south Fayetteville. The testing will involve influenza A viruses, according to the university.
"The effective destruction of influenza A virus would guarantee the system's capability to destroy COVID-19," El-Ghazaly said.