The Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees approved several updates to the institution’s academic programming as part of its regular meeting at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Thursday, Oct. 16.
Among the changes was the addition of an artificial intelligence track as well as a software development track to the ATU Bachelor of Science degree in computer science.
The ATU College of Arts and Humanities and the ATU Department of English and World Languages received permission to proceed with the creation of a new Certificate of Proficiency in Spanish health and social science translation and a new Graduate Certificate in library studies and instruction.
A proposal from the ATU School of Professional and Community Education to offer a new, 90-credit hour version of the Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational leadership was also approved.
In other updates to academic programming brought forth by Dr. Adolfo Santos, ATU executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, trustees approved:
*changing the name of the Certificate of Proficiency in print journalism to Certificate of Proficiency in digital news;
*changing the name of the Master of Education degree in instructional technology, instructional design and technology option and library media specialist K-12 to Master of Science degree in library media and instructional technology, instructional design and technology option and library media specialist K-12;
*a curriculum revision for the Certificate of Proficiency in applied statistics;
*and deletion of the Certificate of Proficiency in psychology.
A proposal brought forward by Dr. Tina L. Smith, ATU-Ozark vice chancellor for academic affairs and workforce advancement, to replace the ATU-Ozark Associate of Applied Science degree in medical assisting with a non-credit/micro-credential program in that discipline was also approved.
In other business on Thursday, Oct. 16, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:
*selection of AMR Architects, WER Architects and Miller Boskus Lack Architects to provide on-call architectural services;
*releasing requests for proposals for job order contracting (JOC) general contracting services and JOC skilled trades services;
*releasing a sealed bid to sell the property located at 1122 N. El Paso Ave. in Russellville;
*selling the property at 1105 E. 16th St. in Russellville for $675,000, which was the highest bid provided through a sealed bids process;
*a post-tenure review policy and faculty handbook updates that align ATU policies with the Arkansas ACCESS Act of 2025;
*a student disability access policy, which was drafted in accordance with Act 907 of the 95th Arkansas General Assembly, also known as the Arkansas Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act;
*a policy that defines and centralizes ATU’s responsibilities regarding its student veterans, active-duty service members and their dependents;
*facility rental rates for the ATU campus in Russellville, excluding Ferguson Student Union, effective Jan. 1, 2026;
*and adjustments to presidential evaluation policy deadlines to align with changes to the annual ATU board meeting calendar.
In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees approved the following appointments:
*Kyndal Atkinson, GEAR UP advisor, effective Sept. 1, 2025; Breckyn Ballard, assistant director of Ferguson Student Union, effective Oct. 1, 2025; Mariya Branch, administrative specialist III, effective Sept. 1, 2025; James Carter, computer support specialist, effective Oct. 1, 2025; Tonya Chaffin, custodial services, effective Sept. 11, 2025; Carson Davis, associate director of admissions for operations, effective Aug. 15, 2025; Melanie Ewing, interim director of grants and sponsored programs, effective Oct. 1, 2025; Tracey Hale, associate director of student aid, effective Sept. 1, 2025; Braden Jones, admissions officer, effective Sept. 11, 2025; Dr. Wendi Kappers, visiting assistant professor of computer and information science, for the 2025-26 academic year; Lindsay Keeter, counselor, effective Oct. 6, 2025; Pete Kelly, director of campus recreation, effective Dec. 18, 2025; Dr. Jennifer Lewter, visiting instructor of agriculture, for the fall 2025 semester; Dr. Kayla Marsh, assistant professor of agricultural education, for the 2025-26 academic year; Stephey Moon, administrative specialist II, effective Aug. 15, 2025; Susan Morris, administrative specialist III, effective Oct. 1, 2025; Michael Mueller, assistant baseball coach, effective Sept. 1, 2025; Desha Nelson, GEAR UP administrative specialist III, effective Sept. 10, 2025; Robyn Oxford, ATU-Ozark workforce education faculty of adult education, effective Sept. 16, 2025; Sabrina Pacheco, custodial services, effective Sept. 10, 2025; Whitt Piker, coordinator of game day operations and fan engagement, effective Sept. 9, 2025; Avery Sanders, assistant softball coach, effective Aug. 14, 2025; Melissa South, director of development, effective Oct. 1, 2025; Presley Thompson, associate director of admissions for public relations, effective Aug. 15, 2025; Rosendo Trapala, Veterans Upward Bound outreach services coordinator, effective Oct. 1, 2025; Aubrey Viereck, library supervisor, effective Sept. 8, 2025; KaShema Washington, assistant director of testing and disability services, effective Oct. 1, 2025; Dr. Alvin Williams, visiting instructor of agriculture, for the fall 2025 semester; Keith Williams, Arkansas Tech Career Center workforce education visiting instructor of automation, effective Aug. 25, 2025; Meaghan Wilt, associate director of admissions for customer relationship management and analytics, effective Aug. 15, 2025; and Rachelle Yates, ATU-Ozark TRIO Student Support Services records management analyst, effective Sept. 15, 2025.
Trustees accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:
*Guthrie Boyd, ATU-Ozark workforce education instructor of EMT/health sciences, effective Aug. 18, 2025; Rodrigo Campos, academic and career advisor, effective Sept. 22, 2025; Dr. Chantell Corkern, assistant professor of nursing, effective Oct. 8, 2025; Lisa Crider, wellness case manager, effective Sept. 26, 2025; Dr. Ahmed Elkassabgi, associate professor of finance, effective Aug. 13, 2025; Jennifer Griffin, associate director of student aid, effective Aug. 31, 2025; Chloe Hood, records management analyst, effective Oct. 6, 2025; Christopher Hubbard, general maintenance worker, effective Aug. 1, 2025; Cambri Hutchinson, financial aid analyst, effective Oct. 3, 2025; Juan Morales, general maintenance worker, effective Aug. 29, 2025; Jeffrey Snow, electrical lead, effective Sept. 19, 2025; Codi Tedford, accountant, effective Aug. 25, 2025; Kelse Tennison, ATCC workforce education instructor of metal fabrication, effective Oct. 3, 2025; and Janet Wood, director of grants and sponsored programs, effective Sept. 24, 2025.
Requests for retirement by Mary Standridge, administrative specialist III, and Linda “Gail” Jones, benefits administrator, were granted by trustees.
