Below are a few important reminders for the Arkansas Tech University community in preparation for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.
(1) Eclipse glasses for ATU students, faculty and staff are available free of charge at the research help desk located on the first floor of Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center. Please be prepared to present your ATU identification card when picking up eclipse glasses. Details about eye safety during the eclipse are available at https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety.
(2) There will be an eclipse roundtable discussion featuring officials from NASA, a team of French astronomers and a representative from the Arkansas Air National Guard beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in Witherspoon Auditorium. Admission will be free and open to the public.
(3) Also on Thursday, April 4, NASA representatives will host a session about STEM careers for ATU students at 10:30 a.m. in the Hull Building Student Union.
(4) ATU will shift to remote classes and operations beginning at noon Friday, April 5. Remote classes and operations will continue on Monday, April 8, and Tuesday, April 9. Standard operations will resume the morning of Wednesday, April 10.
(5) ATU students, faculty and staff will be able to enter and exit campus during the period of remote operations and will be able to park on campus at no extra charge. ATU students, faculty and staff will be asked to display their parking hangtag and present their ATU identification card at the checkpoints that will be established at each entry point to campus during this time.
(6) As the time for the total solar eclipse draws near on Monday, April 8, ATU students, faculty and staff are invited to congregate near Doc Bryan Student Services Center and Tucker Coliseum to experience the eclipse as a university community. Textbook Brokers at ATU will sell eclipse merchandise outside the Doc Bryan Student Services Center from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The eclipse will begin in Russellville at 12:33 p.m., with the period of totality from 1:50-1:54 p.m. The eclipse will end in Russellville at 3:10 p.m.
(7) Additional details concerning ATU’s eclipse preparations are available at www.atu.edu/eclipse.
(8) The Russellville Tourism and Visitors Center has planned additional activities for the period from April 5-8. For more information, visit https://eclipserussellville.com and look under “Events.”
