SAU Guide to Resources 2021

 Use the information below as needed.

REMEMBER: You may always contact Ed Kardas (epkardas@saumag.edu or 870 904-8897) or David Wingfield (dlwingfield@saumag.edu) when you have any problems.

Student Emergencies

• SAU Foundation (SAUF) has emergency assistance resources; call (870) 235-4078 for information.

• An emergency loan fund is available through the office of Financial Aid; call (870) 235-4023 for information.

Scholarships

• SAUF offers a variety of scholarships, including summer school and fifth year/retention scholarships. Visit www.saufoundation.org/ scholarships to apply or call (870) 235-4078 for information.

• Arkansas’s Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program assists students with financial need in continuing their education. For more information, call (870) 234-4030.

• Through Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC), single-parent scholarships are available for single-parent students. These scholarships can be used for household, daycare, and commuting expenses while in school. For more information, please visit https:// www.cadc.com/single-parent-scholarship.

  Textbooks/Resources for Classes/Testing/Proctoring Fees

  • SAUF may assist students with the purchase of textbooks as well as other items needed for classes. Funds to support certification and examination fees are also available through SAUF and some academic departments; call (870) 235-4078 to learn more.

• Magale Library offers textbooks for general classes for students’ use. Testing resources are also available to help students prepare for licensure and graduate exams; visit the library to learn more.

• Mulerider Market provides basic classroom supplies to students; visit https://web.saumag.edu/mulerider-market/ for more information.

• Waivers are available through some testing companies for students with financial need for testing fees. Students are encouraged to apply through the testing companies for this assistance.

  Food/Hygiene/Misc. Items

  • Mulerider Market offers food and/or personal hygiene items; visit https://web.saumag.edu/mulerider-market/ for more information. SAU VISTAs may aid students in enrolling in programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Contact SAU VISTAS at sauvista@saumag.edu.

• The Stewpot provides free hot meals every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Location: First United Methodist Church - 320 West Main Street, Magnolia.

• Body and Soul Cupboard Food Pantry distributes food monthly on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Location: Asbury United Methodist Church – 1300 East University, Magnolia.

• University Housing may assist students that live on-campus with basic necessities. Contact University Housing at (870) 235-4047 for details.

  Medical Visits/Medical Referrals/Medication Assistance

  • SAU VISTAs may aid students in enrolling in programs such as Medicaid. Contact SAU VISTAS at sauvista@saumag.edu.

• University Health Services offers a variety of services to meet the mental, emotional, and physical needs. Visit https://web.saumag.edu/ health or call (870) 235-5237 for additional information.

• University Health Services also works with local medical providers that provide reduced or no cost appointments and assist in acquiring medications, etc., when necessary. Visit Reynolds Center 215 or call (870) 235-5237 to learn more.

• Interfaith Clinic provides low-cost medical care and medication assistance to residents of Union County, Arkansas. The clinic is located in El Dorado; contact the clinic by calling (870) 864-8010.

• The Counseling Center provides a wide-range of counseling services. For more information, please visit https://web.saumag.edu/ counseling/, call (870) 235-4911, or visit Reynolds Center 211.

• South Arkansas Regional Health Center offers mental health treatment and services. Fees are based on an income-based sliding fee schedule. Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. call (870) 234-7500 or 1 (800) 825-1554 after hours.

  Transportation

  • International Student Services provides a local shuttle. For more information, call (870) 235-4245.

  Pregnancy

  • Pregnancy resources are available through Hannah Pregnancy Resource Center. Hannah provides support every step of the way, with guidance and information on parenting, adoption, abortion and abortion alternatives to help you make the best decision for yourself. Call (870) 234-8070 to learn more about this free, confidential service.

• University Health Services provides pregnancy testing. Call (870) 235-5237 for details. A Pregnancy Resource Guide is available from the Counseling Center and University Health.

Childcare

• Magnolia Early Head Start provides comprehensive early childhood education and high-quality services for children. For more information, call (870) 234-3447.

Coats/Professional and Job Interview Clothing

• The Career Closet provides professional attire for interviews, internships, career fairs, presentations or employment. Men’s and women’s clothing is available free of charge. Complete the appointment request form https://web.saumag.edu/business/career-closet-appointment- request-form/ to select items.

Employment

• Career Services connects students to on-campus and off-campus job opportunities, career fairs, and internships. Resume development and feedback is also available. Call (870) 235-4357 or visit https://web.saumag.edu/career-services/ to learn more.

 

Honors Arkansas 2021 Minutes

The meeting was held at Mt. Magazine Lodge in Paris, AR.

Honors Arkansas July 30, 2021

Morning Session

1. I  Welcome and Introductions of New Members. Lynda Coon (UAF)

2. II  Dissent Recap Whitney and Patricia Smith (UCA)
   Taught by Whitney Barringer (UCA) Retooled a Power and Resistance class, truncated to post 1960. There were 26 students, 7 from outside of UCA. One and three hour credit structure. One hour for the community college partners. Syllabus shared with group (copy will be placed in Honors Arkansas Annual Meeting Folder on Sharepoint).

3. III  Governor’s Research Scholars Course – Jennie Popp (UAF) and Louise Hancox (UAF)
   The governor’s research scholars course will focus on food insecurity in the state. All schools are welcome to participate. There is still time to develop project plans. Course will meet this fall Tuesdays 5:00-6:15 as a group for lectures and discussions. Individual institutions will meet another time during the week to work on projects.

4. IV  Joint Workshops Experience and Tailgate Plan Annette Williams Fields (UAPB) and Reynelda Augustine Robinson (UAF)

   A couple of collaborative efforts between UAPB and UAF. First effort: session called “Talking White” where students had a safe space (virtually) to discuss what they are experiencing to help close the gaps of division. Second effort: tailgate and events at the UAF-UAPB football game in Little Rock, October 23. All schools welcome. Will also do a community service project- Feed the Funnel party in the morning, create a competition across schools. Even if you don’t participate in the game can do community service project. There will also be a design the t-shirt contest with a deadline in September, winner will get a prize.

5. V  NCHC 2020 Recap Xochitl Delgado Solorzano (UAF)
   UAF had two sessions at NCHC : 1) Path Program – overview and how our management of the program has changed since we have received funding, a reassessment of needs and wants of the students; 2) Purposefully addressing DEI in the UAF Honors College – we formed committees associated with our priority areas in honors and looked how we can be more inclusive. Information learned was used to inform our strategic plan to purposefully address DEI in UAF honors. UAF hopes to present an update (how things are going) at the National Society for Minorities in Honors conference in a couple of years with an update.

   UCA also presented at NCHC. Leah Horton partnered with a historian (Dr. Smith) on zine making. UCA uses zines to reflect on experiences at the end of Challenge Week...UCA also had a presentation at the National Society for Minorities in Honors conference – three parts: 1) Introduction to Standpoint theory and Social location. 2) Racism in medicine and 3) What we can do in Honors to be more inclusive in Stem.

6. VI  Honors Arkansas Classes at Community Colleges

   Mountain Home has set up honors courses being taught through Honors Arkansas so they count as honors for 1 credit hour (keeps students from getting too many credit hours and allows them to pay for 1 hour in summer when scholarships are rare). Also helps for transfer into four year institutions.

   National Park – Honors shows up as zero credits so students can have it on their transcripts but then step away from other classes and examine an issue (with no tuition cost) in a relaxing environment.

7. VII  Institutional Updates
   UAF – has new Path cohort coming in under a new NSF grant. Partnership with college of engineering. Goal is to expose them to innovation and the creative process. UAF will hold a bridge program where students will visit the McMillion Innovation Studio and The Brewer Hub for Social Innovation and get introduced to project development. Then students will take a three credit hour course in fall and spring where engineering and business students will work on projects and get prepared to do internships and work in industry.... UAF has also reorganized many of its student success efforts under the GREAT – Global, Research, Engagement, Academic, Trajectory – framework.

   UCA – This is the 39th year of UCA Honors College. They are now prepping 40 yr celebration. They are creating a historical documentary and Whit Barringer will run an Oral History class to capture the stories from alumni of the early days.... UCA is also in the process of investigating a new academic space.

   Williams – Is experimenting with the idea of updating their scholarship plan to not front load money but will give more money each year to students who remain in honors. Reward those who they retain.

   Harding – Is under new leadership and are in the process of cultivating change throughout the college as well as improving faculty mentoring. Some of the things undertaken in the new leadership: 1) HURC - Harding Undergraduate Research Conference; 2) strengthening the quality of capstone projects. Started an honors thesis program. Had their first three completed honors thesis. Ten more in process; 3) Introduced engagement requirements, involved through coursework in leadership or service. “Engage units” include a list of possible activities but students can also do other equivalent things for approval (e.g., peer mentoring program; Honors Council; leadership in social clubs; discipline specific organizations). Students write up experience. One leadership/service academic unit a semester.

   JBU – Shared one challenge and one success. Challenge: university reorganization from mix of divisions/colleges to colleges only. Honors is a “program”. As such JBU has no direct representation in higher level decision making. Has been unsuccessful in creating a true Honors College but now has a seat on the dean’s council. Success: JBU has enhanced DEI focus on their program. Honors Exec council (students) have developed partnerships with international student groups and progress in highlighting diversity on campus. Student from Honduras translated all of their recruitment materials into Spanish. Honors students, who are native Spanish speakers, have been hired into admissions and give tours in Spanish.

   UAPB – shared the lack of honors scholarships makes it a challenge to recruit Honors students. Students do receive a cord at graduation. Therefore, starting this fall, a new policy is being put into place that requires students to be actively engaged in honors throughout the years in order to get the cord at commencement. They are trying to engage students in things they want to do, such as a virtual book club with student facilitators. Efforts now are focused also on encouraging study abroad (Ghana and Costa Rica) by sharing experiences, helping students become more competitive for national study abroad scholarships.

Honors Arkansas Forums

Afternoon Sessions Recap of Breakout Sessions

Looking towards May 2022 with a topic of Ethics in STEM. Feature talent from across the state. There will be 11 to 15 sessions and possible topics include (but not limited to): Gene editing; Transplants; Reproductive technologies; Health care/disparities; Ethics of space exploration; Ethics of triage in medicine (UAMS);Industrial Farming; Patents in agriculture; Immigration law and credentials; Land soil water conservation – land use issues; Good science/bad science scary science; Ethics of nuclear energy, plastics ; Artificial intelligence ; Chemical cocktails that put people to death; Zoos and animals in captivity, etc. For one credit hour students participate in the lectures. For three hours, students also participate in breakout sessions to discussion. Next step, make a proposal and then will send out to everyone with a call for faculty experts. A volunteer to serve as the institutional host is needed.

Food Insecurity Class

The planning group finalized the nine lecture topics and course schedule. All-institution group sessions will be Tuesdays at 5:00-6:15. Institutions will also meet individually to work on projects (Thursdays at 5:00-6:15 or another time of their choice). The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance has offered to help institutions find projects if they don’t have one yet. We hope to have students present their work at NCHC and have instructors publish the work through NCHC or other higher ed journals. Join us on Wednesdays at 4:00pm in early August to learn more. Please see materials and zoom links send to all HA members. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Multi Institutional Workshops and Events

The group explored lots of ways that students/faculty/staff from all HA could interact. These include: Research symposium where students could present together (invite parents and families); Leadership conference – virtually or in person in summer where they stay in dorms to reduce costs; Networking and goal setting workshops; Honors Fair for high school honors students; Undergraduate fellowships opportunities. UAC is doing some things already that might fit into this. They will share with the group.

Future National Presentations

The group talked about different topics that may be suited for presentation at NCHC and/or the National Society for Minorities in Honors. Some presentation ideas: mission of Honors Arkansas; Statewide forums; Food Insecurity class; Holistic Admissions. While the Great Plains group is really student focused (no presentations for faculty staff), JBU will share information about HA in the business meeting. Also discussed a possible faculty mentorship program match across institutions.

Next steps

Session leaders will reach out to the entire HA membership with more information and call for participants.

Meeting adjourned.