Academic Program Changes Highlight Board Meeting

Arkansas Tech University took a step toward offering a 90-hour Bachelor of Arts degree in accelerated workplace learning during the ATU Board of Trustees meeting at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Trustees approved a letter of notification concerning the establishment of the program. If the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board gives its approval, Arkansas Tech intends to begin offering the program in summer 2027.

A memorandum from Dr. Adolfo Santos, ATU executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, explained that the proposed program “is a workforce development focused degree program designed to prepare students to meet emerging organizational needs across industries by developing durable, transferable skills.”

Santos went on to write that the program “offers a focused curriculum emphasizing industry‑expected knowledge, skills and abilities, while intentionally omitting the breadth of elective coursework typically found in traditional bachelor’s degree programs.”

The proposed program consists of 36 credit hours of general education, 51 credit hours of core leadership coursework and a three credit hour capstone course.

“Through this model, students build competencies grounded in practical application in their place of employment, enhancing their immediate and long‑term value to current and future employers,” wrote Santos.

In other business on Thursday, Oct. 15, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:

• a one-time bonus for eligible ATU Russellville campus faculty and staff in the November 2026 payroll in the amount of 2.5 percent of their base pay;
• a letter of notification stating Arkansas Tech’s intention to begin offering concurrent high school education at Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock beginning in spring 2027;
• letters of notification concerning the establishment of a Certificate of Proficiency in competency in music performance, a Certificate of Proficiency in marketing, an accelerated 90-hour degree option for the Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational leadership, a Graduate Certificate in mental health, a Graduate Certificate in project management and a Graduate Certificate in applied artificial intelligence, as well as a letter of notification concerning the ATU general education core, as requested by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education;
• an intellectual property policy that establishes the principles governing the ownership, protection and commercialization of intellectual property developed at ATU;
• a grant writing policy that establishes guidelines for grant development, submission and administration on the ATU campus in Russellville;
• creation of a new provisional position through ATU-Ozark Campus that will seek to increase the number of English as a second language (ESL) adult students in the Clarksville area;
• a request to repurpose an existing, funded position within the Career Pathways Initiative at ATU-Ozark from an advisor position to a full-time administrative assistant position;
• a letter of notification changing the name of the Associate of Applied Science degree in human service at ATU-Ozark to the Associate of Applied Science degree in human service and behavioral health;
• a letter of notification concerning the establishment of a Technical Certificate in logistics management at ATU-Ozark;
• an adjustment to the ATU-Ozark programs in automation technology, computer information technology, cardiac sonography and occupational therapy assistant such that the social science elective course in those programs be United States History and that an additional course be added for an American Government requisite core requirement, thus increasing the total number of credit hours to complete those programs from 60 to 63;
• adjustments to the Associate of Applied Science degree in practical nursing at ATU-Ozark that will allow the program to comply with a new requisite core and will increase the total number of credit hours to complete the program from 63 to 68;
• adjustments to the Technical Certificate in practical nursing at ATU-Ozark that will increase the total number of credit hours to complete the program from 48 to 50;
• a request by ATU-Ozark for authorization to develop and offer short-term, non-credit industry training in response to documented employer and workforce needs without requiring separate board approval for each individual training course;
• a request to enter into negotiations to purchase a property tract adjacent to ATU-Ozark Campus, to authorize appropriate ATU personnel to negotiate on behalf of Arkansas Tech and, if the university elects to proceed with the purchase, to execute the documents necessary to complete the acquisition of the property;
• a new high school merit scholarship structure beginning with the 2027-28 award year;
• a plan for ATU to market its high school merit scholarships in conjunction with the ATU Honors scholarship program beginning with the 2027-28 award year;
• and a Level-Up Award program that will be piloted at ATU during the 2027-28 award year and will seek to reach high-need students who are not receiving other forms of need-based financial aid;

In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees approved the following appointments:

• Chad Adams, assistant football coach, effective July 1, 2026; Millie Allgood, assistant volleyball coach, effective Aug. 1, 2026; Brianna Arrington, executive assistant, effective July 1, 2026; Cathryn Bass, instructor of health and physical education, for the 2026-27 academic year; Hannah Joy Bennett, admissions officer, effective Sept. 1, 2026; Laura Blasdel, nursing simulation technician, for the 2026-27 fiscal year; Amy Brenner, coordinator of operations and workforce engagement at Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective July 1, 2026; Noah Burdine, part-time enrollment verification assistant, effective July 7, 2026; Dr. Merk Cakmak, visiting assistant professor of computer and information science, for the 2026-27 academic year; Erin Callahan, instructor of accounting, for the 2026-27 academic year; Kimber Campbell, TRIO academic advisor at ATU-Ozark, effective May 15, 2026; Greg Chenault, assistant men’s basketball coach, effective Aug. 3, 2026; Cindy Cargile, career and technical specialist at ATU-Ozark, effective Sept. 14, 2026; Joseph Cecil, visiting instructor of automation at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 12, 2026; Hannah Cherb, fiscal support manager at ATU-Ozark, effective Oct. 5, 2026; Taylor Cozzens, visiting instructor of history, for the 2026-27 academic year; Jessica Crabaugh, administrative assistant III at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 3, 2026; Eli Cranor, instructor of English, for the 2026-27 academic year; Maggie Davis, head women’s cross country and track and field coach, effective July 15, 2026; James Di Naso, instructor of health and physical education, for the 2026-27 academic year; Dr. Satyavan Digole, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, for the 2026-27 academic year; Thomas Dodds, visiting instructor of electrical engineering, for the 2026-27 academic year; Amanda Dunn, instructor of biology, for the 2026-27 academic year; Madison Elias, administrative specialist, effective Aug. 14, 2026; Karen Fernandez, training specialist and business consultant in the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center regional office at ATU, effective Aug. 3, 2026; Allicen Fight, assistant director of Ferguson Student Union, effective Aug. 3, 2026; Mallory Ford, EPIIC BUILD project coordinator, effective July 6, 2026; Gary Gray, instructor of welding at Arkansas Tech Career Center-Paris, effective Aug. 4, 2026; Amanda Guizar, emergency manager, effective Sept. 14, 2026; Armando Harper, coordinator of graduate student engagement and success, effective June 1, 2026; Jonna Holder, academic and career advisor, effective Sept. 8, 2026; Dr. Kaethe Hoehling, assistant professor of rehabilitation science, for the 2026-27 academic year; Arielle Holloway, assistant professor of nursing, for the 2026-27 academic year; Katie Hook, visiting instructor of marketing, for the 2026-27 academic year; Kellie Hopkins, instructor of business and industry at ATU-Ozark, effective Sept. 1, 2026; Zoe Julian, public safety officer, effective Oct. 1, 2026; Dr. Akram Khattab, assistant professor of management, for the 2026-27 academic year; Dr. Carey Ellis Laffoon, professor of nursing and experiential clinical learning coordinator, for the 2026-27 academic year; Lindsey Lawrence, administrative coordinator for academic advising and career services, effective Sept. 1, 2026; Bruce Lee, workforce training facility manager and welding instructor, effective Aug. 7, 2026; Donna Lowrey, workforce instructor of adult education, effective Aug. 12, 2026; Philip Loyd, assistant athletic trainer, effective July 13, 2026; Amy Manning-McNabb, administrative analyst, effective June 1, 2026; Lane Mathews, program chair and instructor of welding at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 12, 2026; Brianna Minton, administrative specialist II, effective June 1, 2026; Stacy Morton, fiscal support manager at Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective July 1, 2026; Emilie Newsom, visiting instructor of health science at Arkansas Tech Career Center-Paris, effective Aug. 4, 2026; Dr. Mohammad Nine, assistant professor of computer and information science, for the 2026-27 academic year; Corey Nolan, student success and academic services coordinator at Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective Aug. 13, 2026; Deborah Preissinger, administrative specialist III, for the 2026-27 fiscal year; Hunter Rainey, instructor of digital communication, for the 2026-27 academic year; Shannon Reed, administrative specialist II, effective July 15, 2026; Hailey Rofkahr, visiting instructor of health science at Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective Aug. 4, 2026; Kara Rohr, GEAR UP site coordinator, effective Aug. 3, 2026; LaDora Smith, visiting instructor of cosmetology at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 12, 2026; Lee Swanson, visiting instructor of air conditioning and refrigeration, effective Aug. 12, 2026; Rosendo Trapala, public safety officer, effective Oct. 1, 2026; Aaron Walton, coordinator of student recruitment at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 17, 2026; Dr. Maartje Van Den Bogaard, director of academic innovation, effective Sept. 1, 2026; Mario Varela-Pecina, assistant director of residence life, effective May 15, 2026; Logan Warren, public safety officer, effective July 6, 2026; LaDonna Watts, instructor of nursing, for the 2026-27 academic year; Kelly Wiggains, assistant librarian, effective Aug. 3, 2026; Gavin Wilson, administrative specialist III, effective Sept. 3, 2026; Janet Winn, visiting instructor of mathematics, for the 2026-27 academic year; Emily Wyles, program chair and workforce education faculty of cosmetic science, effective Aug. 12, 2026; Dr. Qingdongfang Ying, instructor of music, for the 2026-27 academic year; and Marium Yousuf, visiting assistant professor of mathematics, for the 2026-27 academic year.

Trustees approved the following changes in assignment:

• Tim Caldwell, from computer support coordinator to computer support services manager, effective July 16, 2026; Sylvia Cooper, from executive assistant to assistant director of graduate student success and academic operations, effective July 15, 2026; Tammy Dougan, from assistant chief of public safety to chief of public safety, effective Sept. 14, 2026; Dr. Ernest Enchelmayer, from professor of English to professor of English and head of the ATU Department of English and World Languages, effective July 1, 2026; Alexandra Flores-Lemus, from administrative assistant to graduate admissions officer, effective Aug. 1, 2026; Belinda Hilliard, from administrative specialist III in the ATU Department of Music to administrative specialist III in the ATU College of Arts and Humanities dean’s office, effective July 1, 2026; Dr. Emily Hoffman, from professor of English and head of the ATU Department of English and World Languages to professor of English, effective July 1, 2026; Christie Kellar, from coordinator of broadcast production to instructor of journalism, effective Aug. 17, 2026; Dr. Cathi McMahan, from professor of recreation and park administration to professor of rehabilitation science and head of the ATU Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science, effective July 1, 2026; Tanda Morrison, from coordinator of articulation and technology to associate registrar, effective July 13, 2026; Julia Pope, from assistant registrar to associate registrar, effective July 13, 2026; and Will Summitt, from computer support specialist to computer support coordinator, effective July 16, 2026.

The board accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:

• Lucia Aguero, administrative specialist III, effective June 26, 2026; Julie Auterson, workforce education master instructor of cosmetology, effective July 1, 2026; Breckyn Ballard, assistant director of Ferguson Student Union, effective May 26, 2026; Justin Baumgartner, public safety officer at ATU-Ozark, effective June 24, 2026; Brandon Bennett, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life, effective Sept. 29, 2026; Dr. Siddharth Bhambhwani, assistant professor of accounting, effective Aug. 10, 2026; Debbie Blalock, fiscal support analyst at ATU-Ozark, effective June 19, 2026; Harrison Burton, assistant men’s basketball coach, effective July 6, 2026; Michan Chowritmootoo, graduate student support services coordinator, effective June 2, 2026; Kurt Corbin, assistant football coach, effective June 23, 2026; Sydney Dale, administrative specialist III, effective Aug. 31, 2026; Hayden Darr, student success and academic services coordinator at Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective July 30, 2026; Bridget Duke, visiting workforce education faculty of health science technology at Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective June 30, 2026; Matt Fraser, budget director, effective Sept. 30, 2026; Cody Harkness, workforce education advanced instructor of automation technology at ATU-Ozark, effective July 2, 2026; Kylie LaRoe, registered nurse, effective Oct. 2, 2026; Dr. Kayla Marsh, assistant professor of agricultural education, effective July 23, 2026; Joshua McMillian, chief of public safety, effective June 30, 2026; Dr. Adam Miller, assistant professor of music and associate director of bands, effective July 27, 2026; Sarai Mora, career and technical specialist at ATU-Ozark, effective June 30, 2026; Chris Moss, information security officer, effective Sept. 30, 2026; Dr. Jeannine Myers, professor of mathematics, effective June 8, 2026; Desha Nelson, GEAR UP administrative specialist III, effective June 30, 2026; Troy Norton, senior instructor of health and physical education, effective Aug. 10, 2026; Emily Riggs, student development specialist, effective July 22, 2026; Jon Dylan Riley, assistant volleyball coach, effective July 30, 2026; Lydia Rogers, administrative specialist III, effective June 30, 2026; Gabriel Sams, head women’s cross country and track and field coach, effective June 30, 2026; Wendy Sierra, administrative specialist III, effective Sept. 29, 2026; Mackenzie Taylor, academic and career advisor, effective June 30, 2026; Brittany Thomas, administrative specialist III, effective May 29, 2026; Sophie Ward, fiscal support analyst, effective May 15, 2026; and Taylor Young, counselor of Career Pathways Initiative at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 9, 2026.

Trustees granted requests for retirement from the following ATU employees:

• Stephen Blackford, library specialist, effective Nov. 30, 2026; Jessica Hogan, university instructor of mathematics, effective July 13, 2026; and Susan Morris, administrative specialist III, effective Sept. 30, 2026.