Suzanne McCall, Arkansas Tech University vice president for administration and finance, announced a plan on Thursday, Aug. 21, to invest $7 million to address deferred facilities maintenance on the ATU campus in Russellville.
The announcement was made during the August meeting of the ATU Board of Trustees, which took place at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room.
As a result of the $7 million investment, Arkansas Tech will pursue previously identified opportunities for improvement to Baswell Techionery, Corley Hall, Norman Hall, Tucker Coliseum and the second floor of Witherspoon Hall.
“Due to operating efficiencies at the university during the 2024-25 academic year, Arkansas Tech is in a strong financial position and is able to re-invest in itself by making needed improvements in several buildings,” said Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president. “As it relates to facilities, my focus is on providing students, faculty and staff with the best spaces to learn, teach, work and live we can. This investment of $7 million in savings from 2024-25 will make a big difference in the future of Arkansas Tech.”
The August meeting of the ATU Board of Trustees also included the board voting to approve a proposal brought forth by Jones that will provide a one-time longevity pay bonus to eligible full-time ATU faculty and staff members.
The one-time longevity pay bonus for eligible employees will be processed as part of the September 2025 payroll. Eligible ATU faculty and staff members with 25 or more years of service as of June 30, 2025, will receive $1,500, while those with 20-to-24 years will receive $1,200, those with 15-to-19 years will receive $1,000 and those with 10-to-14 years will receive $800.
ATU staff members who have already received their career service bonus for this fiscal year or are scheduled to receive it within this fiscal year will still be eligible for this one-time bonus.
In other business on Thursday, Aug. 21, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:
*an asbestos survey and demolition of the ATU-owned structure at 513 West L Street;
*putting the ATU-owned warehouse facility at 1105 E. 16th Street in Russellville up for sale and utilizing the funds from that sale to construct an addition to the on-campus warehouse near the ATU Office of Facilities Management offices on the north end of the Russellville campus;
*awarding a contract to Wagner General Contractors of Searcy to perform a renovation of Hughes Hall, a project that will utilize $1,756,905.65 in grant funds from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council to prepare the building to host offices for the ATU Division of Administration and Finance beginning in fall 2026;
*establishment of a 2025-26 provisional project coordinator position for the ATU Innovation Hub and ATU Center for Community Engagement and Academic Outreach, an initiative that is funded as part of an $8 million National Science Foundation grant that ATU is participating in to create the Arkansas Nexus for Excellence in Technology, Workforce, Outreach and Research Knowledge (AR-NETWORK) alongside higher education partners from across the state;
*updates to the ATU student handbook in compliance with recent amendments to the Arkansas Student Due Process and Protection Act and the implementation of Act 721 of the 95th Arkansas General Assembly;
*implementation of a new officer wellness policy designed to provide additional resources to protect and improve the mental, physical and financial fitness of ATU Department of Public Safety officers;
*updates to ATU equal opportunity, harassment (sexual misconduct) and non-discrimination policies and procedures to ensure compliance with evolving legal requirements and to align with best practices, including updates recommended by the Association of Title IX Administrators;
*a request to establish a provisional, grant-funded career and technical education specialist position for the 2025-26 fiscal year within the ATU-Ozark Campus Office of Student Services;
*a request to assign authority to the university president to sign contracts concerning health, dental and vision insurance benefits services for ATU employees after review and calculation of request for proposal submissions;
*and the 2025-26 ATU Board of Trustees meeting calendar, which sets scheduled meetings on Oct. 16, 2025, Dec. 18, 2025, Feb. 19, 2026, and May 21, 2026.
In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees approved the following appointments:
*Brandon Bennett, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life, effective Aug. 1, 2025; Guthrie Boyd, Arkansas Tech Career Center workforce education instructor of emergency medical technician and health sciences, for the 2025-26 academic year; Savannah Burden, coordinator of student success and instructor in the ATU College of Education and Health, effective July 16, 2025; Erin Callahan, visiting instructor of accounting, for the 2025-26 academic year; Dr. Taylor Cozzens, visiting instructor of history, for the 2025-26 academic year; Lacy Cross, ATU-Ozark workforce education visiting instructor of licensed practical nursing, for the 2025-26 academic year; Keith Day, ATCC workforce education faculty of pre-mechatronics, for the 2025-26 academic year; Thomas Dodds, visiting instructor of electrical engineering, for the 2025-26 academic year; Slade Dupuy, human resources generalist, effective July 1, 2025; Katelyn Eblen, residence life coordinator, effective June 1, 2025; Marc Ellis, assistant women’s basketball coach, effective Aug. 11, 2025; Brandy Ellison, ATU-Ozark workforce education faculty of health sciences, for the 2025-26 academic year; Dr. Wayne Fawcett, ATU-Ozark director of adult education, effective Aug. 1, 2025; Benjamin James Foster, GEAR UP program professional development, effective Aug. 1, 2025; Blane French, public safety officer, effective Aug. 4, 2025; Dakota Gordon, ATU-Ozark student support specialist, effective July 1, 2025; Landon Growns, instructor of mathematics, for the 2025-26 academic year; James Guhl, director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center regional office at ATU, effective July 1, 2025; Randall Gunter, ATU-Ozark workforce education faculty aide, effective Aug. 14, 2025; Dr. Lauren Hightower, assistant professor of nursing, for the 2025-26 academic year; Timothy Holmgren, information systems security analyst, effective Aug. 1, 2025; Samantha Huggins, coordinator of alumni relations, effective Aug. 1, 2025; Morgan Keeling, instructor of nursing, for the 2025-26 academic year; Dr. Angela Knight, ATU-Ozark workforce education visiting faculty of licensed practical nursing, for the 2025-26 academic year; J.T. Lewis, assistant professor of anthropology, for the 2025-26 academic year; Bethany Lucius, ATU-Ozark director of TRIO Student Support Services, effective July 1, 2025; Benjamin Macy, ATU-Ozark workforce education visiting faculty, for the 2025-26 academic year; Dr. Brittany Marshall, assistant professor of nursing, for the 2025-26 academic year; Kimberly McKown, assistant director of human resources, effective April 15, 2025; Bill Mizaur, ATCC director, effective Aug. 4, 2025; Jymme Moore, ATU-Ozark academic and career counselor, effective June 1, 2025; Makenzi Morgan, administrative specialist III, effective July 1, 2025; Peytan Nepivoda, GEAR UP program advisor, effective July 1, 2025; Steven Nieken, general maintenance worker, effective July 1, 2025; Dr. Divya Nimma, assistant professor of computer and information science, for the 2025-26 academic year; Dr. Matthew Overduin, assistant professor of mathematics, for the 2025-26 academic year; Sandra Patterson, ATU-Ozark human resources and Title IX officer, effective July 1, 2025; Flor Ramirez, Franklin County career coach for adult education, effective July 1, 2025; Dr. Abdul Razaque, assistant professor of computer and information science, for the 2025-26 academic year; Rebekah Redman, ATU-Ozark workforce education instructor of occupational therapy assistant and academic fieldwork coordinator, for the 2025-26 academic year; Emily Riggs, residence life coordinator, effective Aug. 4, 2025; Cassandra Rowbotham, ATU-Ozark administrative specialist III, effective Aug. 11, 2025; Dr. Graycen Russell, ATU-Ozark workforce education instructor and program chair of occupational therapy assistant, for the 2025-26 academic year; Lisa Snow, ATU-Ozark workforce education faculty and program chair of health and information technology, for the 2025-26 academic year; Whitley Stewart, workforce education visiting instructor of licensed practical nursing, for the 2025-26 academic year; Kristain Thompson, director of athletic enhancement, effective Aug. 1, 2025; Courtney Tuley, network support analyst, effective July 1, 2025; Mario Varela-Pecina, ATU-Ozark TRIO Student Support Services advisor, effective July 1, 2025; Alisa Waniewski, gift processing specialist, effective Aug. 1, 2025; and Blake Williamson, landscape supervisor, effective Aug. 1, 2025.
Dr. Syed Meerza, associate professor of agriculture, was named head of the ATU Department of Agriculture and Tourism effective July 3, 2025.
Hunter Bramlitt was promoted from counselor to associate dean for student wellness and director of the ATU Health and Wellness Center effective Aug. 2, 2025.
Two members of the ATU Division of Advancement received changes in assignment. Caroline Kitchens is now executive director of alumni relations and university events, and Pam Cooper is now executive director of development and executive assistant. Both changes in assignment were effective July 1, 2025.
Trustees accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:
*Lyn Brands, associate professor of art, effective June 30, 2025; Kristen Crites, associate director of admissions for communications and public relations, effective July 25, 2025; Dr. Indira Dutta, assistant professor of computer and information science, effective Aug. 11, 2025; Orrin Dyson, ATU-Ozark maintenance specialist, effective July 14, 2025; Jonathan Estes, assistant baseball coach, effective July 30, 2025; Randall Eubanks, machinist in the ATU College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, effective July 22, 2025; Susan Furr, ATU-Ozark administrative specialist III, effective June 17, 2025; Sarah Garner, post award grants manager, effective July 11, 2025; Dr. Bhaskar Ghosh, assistant professor of computer and information science, effective July 7, 2025; Sarah Henry, financial aid analyst, effective June 30, 2025; Kailey Hilderbrand, assistant softball coach, effective June 25, 2025; Christopher Hubbard, residence life custodial staff, effective Aug. 5, 2025; Angela Linden, computer support manager, effective July 25, 2025; Nathaniel Lutz, ATCC workforce education instructor of automation and advanced manufacturing instructor, effective Aug. 5, 2025; Michael May, public safety officer, effective July 22, 2025; Evan Mino, instructor of music, effective July 1, 2025; Chrystal Morrison, custodial staff, effective June 27, 2025; Brad Palmer, associate head women’s basketball coach, effective July 3, 2025; Chris Pearson, public safety supervisor, effective July 30, 2025; Eric Raible, ATU-Ozark assessment coordinator, effective Aug. 8, 2025; Misti Shankle, ATU-Ozark records management analyst for student services, effective July 3, 2025; Bennie Washington, custodial staff, effective July 11, 2025; and Ernest Yang, network support analyst, effective June 30, 2025.
A request for retirement by Shannon Shen, administrative specialist III in the ATU Office of Admissions, was granted effective June 30, 2025.
