Trustees authorized Arkansas Tech University to begin the process of identifying financing for approximately $16 million in fiscal year 2024 capital improvement program projects during a meeting at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Thursday, Oct. 19.
Projects included in the proposed capital improvement program for fiscal year 2024 include an elevator replacement and a new chiller at Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center, renovation and improvement of the shop on the ATU farm, replacement of the chiller and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls for Doc Bryan Student Services Center, replacement of the boiler and cooling tower for Hull Physical Education Building, replacement of the boiler for Tucker Coliseum, an elevator replacement in Nutt Residence Hall, refurbishment of the campus recreation facility on West L Street and an HVAC infrastructure project serving multiple facilities.
The proposed fiscal year 2024 capital improvement program projects would also encompass interior painting and floor covering replacement in the Technology and Academic Support Building at ATU-Ozark Campus as well as in McEver Hall, Witherspoon Hall and University Commons Apartments on the ATU campus in Russellville.
Additional improvements included in the proposed fiscal year 2024 projects are repairs to the parking lot at Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex on the Russellville campus and the northeast parking lots at ATU-Ozark Campus.
The proposed plan also includes provisions to replace a forklift, two vehicles utilized by the ATU Department of Public Safety and the scoreboard at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium as well as to purchase three 15-passenger vans.
As part of longer-term planning associated with the capital improvement program developed by the ATU Division of Administration and Finance, trustees also reviewed a list of projects proposed for fiscal years 2025-28. That list includes 176 projects with an estimated cost of $55,585,583. Those projects will be prioritized based upon board feedback and will be included in ATU budgeting for future years.
Trustees also engaged in a conversation about the planned ATU student union and recreation center. The board reviewed options for a possible change in scope for the project, but no action was taken.
In other business on Thursday, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:
*program proposals for a new Master of Music Education degree and a new Master of Science degree in counseling;
*letters of notification concerning the establishment of Certificates of Proficiency in game and interactive media design, graphic design, sports media, cyber resilience, emergency management, global security, non-profit leadership, project management, small un-manned aerial systems, training and organizational development, workplace supervision, mathematics, chemistry technician and instrumental analysis;
*letters of notification concerning the establishment of Graduate Certificates in K-12 dyslexia therapist, coaching, strength and conditioning, business continuity, cyber risk management, leading in crisis, cybersecurity, data science, electric circuit design and analysis;
*letters of notification concerning the establishment of Advanced Certificates in secondary education and pre-health profession in biology;
*letters of notification adjusting the number of credit hours required to earn the Certificate of Proficiency in technical and professional communication (from 21 to 12), the Certificate of Proficiency in teaching English to speakers of other languages (from 18 to 12), the Bachelor of Science degree in middle level education (from 126 to 120, inclusive of the options in English and language arts, mathematics, science and social studies), Graduate Certificate in curriculum and leadership (from 21 to 19), the Graduate Certificate in P-12 building level administration (from 25 to 27), the Master of Arts degree in Teaching (from 36 to 33), the Master of Education in educational leadership (from 34 to 30), the Master of Education degrees in K-12 literacy and K-12 special education (from 36 to 30), the Master of Education degree in teaching, learning and leadership (from 38 to 31) and the Master of Science in Nursing degree in nursing administration and emergency management (from 39 to 33);
*a letter of notification establishing options for biostatistics, ecology and evolution and environmental studies within the Bachelor of Science degree in biology;
*a letter of notification reconfiguring the Bachelor of Arts degree in music and the Bachelor of Music Education degree and combining them to create the Bachelor of Music Arts degree;
*a letter of notification reconfiguring the Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality administration and the Bachelor of Science degree in recreation and park administration to create the Bachelor of Science degree in tourism and the Bachelor of Science degree in tourism with therapeutic recreation emphasis;
*letters of notification deleting ATU’s Master of Arts degree in multi-media journalism, Master of Education degree in Teaching, Learning and Leadership non-traditional licensure option, Bachelor of Arts degree in world language with concentration in Spanish education for teacher licensure, Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies, Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science, Bachelor of Science degree in medical laboratory science, Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear medical technology, Certificate of Proficiency in Spanish for medical interpretation and Certificate of Proficiency in musical performance;
*amendments to the ATU Staff Senate by-laws and constitution, as presented by Kristian Thompson, ATU Staff Senate president;
*an offer to sell four easements to the City of Russellville that will allow for Prairie Creek improvements on property owned by ATU with compensation of $138,250 from the city to ATU;
*requests to establish a rental fee schedule, adopt revenue and expense eclipse budget appropriation and authorize the university president to amend fee schedules as part of ATU’s special planning for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse;
*a proposal to make inclusive textbook access, which was launched at ATU with a pilot program during the fall 2023 semester, a permanent offering intended to make instructional materials more affordable for ATU students;
*entering into a land development master plan real estate consulting services contract with Hayat Brown;
*and adoption of the Pope County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees approved hiring the following full-time employees:
*Collette Bishop, physical science lab coordinator and stockroom manager, for the 2023-24 fiscal year; Madison Boyles, administrative specialist III at ATU-Ozark, effective Oct. 2, 2023; Dr. Valerie Breashears, director of admissions and enrollment communications, effective Sept. 19, 2023; Chloe Clifton, ATU-Ozark coordinator of student recruitment, effective Oct. 2, 2023; Elijah Drain, maintenance specialist at ATU-Ozark, effective Oct. 2, 2023; Billie Jones, administrative specialist III, for the 2023-24 fiscal year; Austin “Lane” Mathews, visiting workforce education faculty of welding technology at ATU-Ozark, for the 2023-24 academic year; Malik McBride, assistant dean of multicultural students, effective Aug. 14, 2023; Ryan Mikles, ATU-Ozark chief business and community outreach officer, effective Oct. 16, 2023; Jymme Ann Moore, ATU-Ozark student support specialist, effective Sept. 14, 2023; Sandra Patterson, ATU-Ozark fiscal support specialist, effective Aug. 14, 2023; John Riggins, visiting instructor of marketing, for the fall 2023 semester; Bradlee Treece, web operations specialist, effective Aug. 23, 2023; Kimberly Turner, special projects coordinator, effective Oct. 2, 2023; and KaShema Washington, coordinator of disability services, effective Oct. 2, 2023.
Trustees approved the following changes in assignment:
*Sylvia Cooper, from administrative specialist III to executive assistant for the ATU Graduate College and international studies, effective Sept. 23, 2023; Ilona Davidson, from administrative specialist II to administrative specialist III, effective Sept. 1, 2023; Marana Fulmer-Gale, from financial aid specialist to academic and career transfer advisor, effective Sept. 1, 2023; Samantha Huggins, from coordinator of alumni engagement to associate director for recruitment, effective Oct. 9, 2023; Melissa South, from coordinator for family engagement and admissions events to coordinator for alumni engagement, effective Nov. 1, 2023; Elizabeth Underwood, from director of publications and creative services to director of marketing, effective Sept. 1, 2023; and Meaghan Wilt, from administrative specialist III to interim associate director for admissions operations, effective Sept. 24, 2023.
The board accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:
*Sabrina Billey, coordinator for concurrent enrollment, effective Sept. 1, 2023; Bryan Bramlett, institutional research associate, effective Sept. 22, 2023; Mary Bryant, institutional services assistant, effective Aug. 14, 2023; Joey Davis, institutional services assistant, effective Sept. 14, 2023; Laura Griffin, instructor of accounting, effective Aug. 21, 2023; Holly Haynes, coordinator of disability services, effective Aug. 8, 2023; Baron Higgs, institutional services assistant, effective Aug. 30, 2023; Alisha Nix, human resources generalist, effective Sept. 5, 2023; Blandy Pedrez, financial aid specialist, effective Aug. 11, 2023; Myra Rollans, grants and contracts accountant, effective Aug. 9, 2023; Allen Schaidle, assistant dean for career services, effective Sept. 29, 2023; Lisa Sturdivant, ATU-Ozark administrative support specialist III, effective Oct. 13, 2023; Kerri Threlkeld, associate director of admissions operations, effective Sept. 22, 2023; and Jamie Young, executive assistant for the ATU Graduate College and international studies, effective Sept. 22, 2023.
Trustees granted a request for retirement to Philip Parker, professor of music, effective May 11, 2024.
A specialist in percussion and composition, Parker has served on the ATU faculty since 1977. He composed “Celebration,” which was commissioned as part of the centennial celebration of Arkansas Tech and was later performed by the ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in December 2021. Parker received the ATU Faculty Award of Excellence for scholarly activities in 2001 and 2010.
