Make Plans to Attend VPAA Open Forums

Students, faculty and staff at Arkansas Tech University are encouraged to attend open forums for the three finalists to become the next vice president for academic affairs at the institution.

The finalists are Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman (photographed, top), professor of electrical engineering and associate vice president for research and graduate studies at Texas A&M University-Kingsville; Dr. James Ermatinger (photographed, middle), dean of liberal arts and sciences at the University of Illinois at Springfield; and Dr. Russell Porter (photographed, bottom), associate provost and associate vice president for graduate studies and research at Texas A&M University-Central Texas.

Below are dates and times when the finalists will be available to particular constituencies:

Dr. James Ermatinger
Monday, Nov. 30
*Dean’s Council, 10:15 a.m., Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center room 316
*Graduate Council, 1:15 p.m., Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center room 316
*Faculty Senate, 3:30 p.m., Rothwell Hall room 456
*Faculty Only Forum, 5 p.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
Tuesday, Dec. 1
*Faculty Only Forum, 9:45 a.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Students Only Forum, 11 a.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Campus Wide Forum (with Q&A), 3:15 p.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Staff Senate, 4:30 p.m., Baswell Techionery room 202

Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman
Thursday, Dec. 3
*Dean’s Council, 10:15 a.m., Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center room 316
*Graduate Council, 1:15 p.m., Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center room 316
*Faculty Senate, 3:30 p.m., Rothwell Hall room 456
*Faculty Only Forum, 5 p.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
Friday, Dec. 4
*Faculty Only Forum, 9:45 a.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Students Only Forum, 11 a.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Campus Wide Forum (with Q&A), 3:15 p.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Staff Senate, 4:30 p.m., Baswell Techionery room 202

Dr. Russell Porter
Tuesday, Dec. 8
*Dean’s Council, 10:15 a.m., Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center room 316
*Graduate Council, 1:15 p.m., Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center room 316
*Faculty Senate, 3:30 p.m., Rothwell Hall room 456
*Faculty Only Forum, 5 p.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
Wednesday, Dec. 9
*Faculty Only Forum, 9:45 a.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Students Only Forum, 11 a.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Campus Wide Forum (with Q&A), 3:15 p.m., Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall
*Staff Senate, 4:30 p.m., Baswell Techionery room 202

The successful candidate will have primary responsibility for the leadership, administration and development of academic programs at Arkansas Tech. The vice president for academic affairs will also promote continued excellence within the faculty.

Additional areas of oversight include the university library, honors program, museum, the Arkansas Tech Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, veterans services, enrollment management, institutional assessment, international student services, the Arkansas Tech Center for Leadership and Learning, academic advising, registrar and information systems.

It is anticipated that the new vice president for academic affairs will take office in January 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Visit www.atu.edu/vpaafinalists2015.php for more information.