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| Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences VISION eXtra is e-mailed weekly to faculty and staff of Bumpers College and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Agriculture. This service is primarily for timely announcement of news and events for the AAES and Bumpers College. Submit items to hmedders@uark.edu. You may also wish to submit items to headline@uark.edu for posting on "UA Daily Headlines" for campus-wide distribution. |
Sept. 15, 2008 |
1. Bumpers College and campus post record enrollment
2. Grant funds Atlantis Program for dual Arkansas-EU master's degrees
3. Entomology presents Distinguished Alumnus Award
4. Poultry Science Graduate Association sponsors seminar - Tuesday
5. Forestry and Wildlife Field Days at Hope and Colt, Sept. 18 & Oct. 11
7. Career development / 'Going Green'
8. Ozark Regional Transit adds campus stops
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1. Bumpers College and campus post record enrollment
Bumpers College enrollment increase for the 12th straight year to a new record total of 1,674 students, an increase of 3.7 percent over fall 2007, based on a preliminary count on the 11th day of classes.
Campus enrollment exceeded 19,000 students for the first time, with an increase of 2.9 percent over last fall to 19,191.
The state of Arkansas requires institutions of higher education to report enrollment figures for students who are registered on the 11th day of classes. The enrollment numbers are not officially reported to the state until Oct. 17, and there are often differences between the 11th day "snapshot" and the final enrollment numbers.
A total of 3,010 full and part-time degree-seeking freshmen are enrolled this year, the largest freshman class in university history. Minority enrollment also hit an all-time high in every category, with Hispanic American, Asian American and international students showing the largest percentage increases.
"It is encouraging to see a healthy growth in student enrollment, especially freshmen enrollment. These are tough economic times, and we know many of our students and their parents are making financial sacrifices to get a university education," said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. "It's our job now to see that these students come first in everything we do, that we give them the education they deserve and the support they need to graduate.
Campus wide, the number of degree-seeking undergraduate students is up by 2.9 percent, to a total of 14,857. Graduate student enrollment is up 1.8 percent, to 3,192 degree-seeking students, while School of Law enrollment declined by 1.2 percent to 398 degree-seeking students.
In-state students make up 73.5 percent of the undergraduate population, but the total number of in-state undergraduate students was down by 0.9 percent, with 10,922 degree-seeking students enrolled. The number of out-of-state undergraduates grew by 14.6 percent, however, to a new record of 3,538 students.
Out-of-state enrollment has increased steadily since 1999. International student enrollment is also up substantially, 19.9 percent to 397 undergraduates. The number of in-state graduate students also showed a slight increase, 0.8 percent over 2007, with a total of 1,862 degree-seeking students. Non-resident graduate students showed a 4.9 percent increase, 752 students, while there was a 1 percent increase in the number of international graduate students, to 578 students.
Freshmen. The incoming freshman class set an enrollment record while maintaining high standards of academic achievement. The 3,010 degree-seeking freshmen represent a 3.8 percent increase over last year. An average ACT score of 25.7 is just 0.1 point below last year's record high average. Their grade point average is 3.59, which matches that of last year's freshman class.
Freshmen entering as Honors College students maintained the same academic levels as last year's freshman class, averaging 30.8 on the ACT and posting a grade point average of 3.99.
In-state enrollment dropped slightly for incoming freshmen, down 1.1 percent from last year, a total of 1,898 degree-seeking students. A steady trend of increasing non-resident freshmen enrollment continued with a jump of 14.3 percent, to 1,074 students. However, only 38 international students enrolled in the freshman class, one fewer than in 2007, a drop of 2.6 percent. In-state students make up 63.1 percent of the new freshman class.
Diversity. The University of Arkansas showed a 4.4 percent gain in minority students, with the minority population now making up 13 percent of the degree-seeking students on campus. Minority freshman enrollment increased by 9.6 percent; minority students are 14.1 percent of this year's freshman class.
Total enrollment of African American students reached the highest level in at least nine years, 1,025 students, but this represented an increase of only 0.2 percent over last year. African American students now make up 5.3 percent of the total enrollment, down from 5.5 percent in 2007. In the freshman class, however, African American enrollment jumped by 20 percent over last year to 168 degree-seeking students, the largest number since 1999. African American students make up 5.6 percent of the freshmen class.
Hispanic American enrollment increased by 10.6 percent overall, to a record total of 583 students. Hispanic Americans now make up 3 percent of the student body. In the freshman class, however, Hispanic American enrollment dropped 7.1 percent; Hispanic American students now make up 3 percent of the degree-seeking freshmen.
Asian American enrollment also increased, showing a 7 percent gain overall, and a 5.8 percent increase in the freshman class. Asian American students make up 2.6 percent of the student body, and 3 percent of the freshman class.
American Indian students posted a 3.9 percent increase in total enrollment, and a 17.7 percent increase in the freshman class. American Indian students make up 2 percent of the student population and 2.4 percent of the freshman class.
In terms of gender diversity, the University of Arkansas remains almost equally divided between males and females. Men make up 51 percent of the student population, while 49 percent are women.
Colleges. The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences continues to have the largest enrollment, with 7,206 undergraduate and graduate students, but the college also showed the smallest gain in students, with an increase of 1.4 percent from last year.
The Sam M. Walton College of Business has a 4.6 percent increase and the second largest enrollment with 3,593 students.
The College of Education and Health Professions has a total enrollment of 3,304 students, a 4.4 percent increase over last year.
The College of Engineering has 2,264 students enrolled, a 3.1 percent increase.
The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences enrolled 1,674 students, an increase of 3.7 percent.
The School of Architecture has a total enrollment of 422 undergraduate students, a 6.3 percent increase over 2007.
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2. Grant funds Atlantis Program for dual Arkansas-EU master's degrees
The department of agricultural economics and agribusiness has received a U.S. Department of Education grant to lead a new trans-Atlantic master of science degree program named the Atlantis Program. Program coordinator Lucas Parsch said students can earn an M.S. degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas and an M.S. degree in rural development from a consortium of six universities in Europe.
Arkansas is the lead institution on the U.S. side with the University of Florida as the subcontractor. They will exchange students and faculty with a consortium of universities in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Slovakia and Italy. Arkansas and Florida are receiving $448,000 from the DOE, and the European consortium is receiving 428,000 Euros from the European Commission to fund the program for four years.
The Arkansas-Florida partnership was the only one selected in the competitive grant process for the agricultural economics major, Parsch said. Only eight were funded for all majors nationwide.
Students selected for the program will receive $1,000 a month for up to one year for travel and living expenses while attending European universities, Parsch said. Arkansas and Florida students will pay tuition only at their home campus and will spend up to one year in at least two of the European universities. Requirements for the two degrees can be met in about 21 months.
Two to four Arkansas students per year will be selected for the program, and the U of A will host two to four European students per year, Parsch said. Interested students should contact Parsch through the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness in Bumpers College.
The program will also pay expenses for European and U.S. faculty members to spend time at the host universities.
Two to three agricultural economics graduate students per year have already been participating in a Trans-Atlantic Master's Degree Program since 1998. The Trans-Atlantic exchange is with the University of Ghent in Belgium, which organized the European consortium for the new Atlantis Program.
The Trans-Atlantic program, which is still available, is for only one degree and can be completed in 12 to 15 months.
"This is great opportunity for students to add an international perspective to their education, which will certainly improve their career prospects in our global economy," Parsch said. "Faculty members will be able to develop relationships with European colleagues for research projects, and the experience will also make us better teachers."
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3. Entomology presents Distinguished Alumnus Award
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| DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS -- Ronald B. Davey and his wife, Carolyn, pose with Max Meisch and the Distinguished Alumnus plaque presented by the Department of Entomology Friday afternoon during a reception at the University House. |
The 2008 recipient of the Department of Entomology's Distinguished Alumnus Award is Ronald B. Davey, Ph. D. He is the Laboratory Leader at the USDA-ARS Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory in Edinburg, Texas
Davey received a doctoral degree from the Entomology Department in 1977, under the direction of Professor Max Meisch. His was one of the first two doctoral degrees awarded by the U of A in entomology.
Davey is a nationally respected expert on ticks as vectors of diseases of cattle, as well as methods to control tick populations. His research at the USDA laboratory over the past 30 years has included the use of sterile-male hybrid ticks to manage ticks, as well as the role of deer and exotic antelope as reservoirs for cattle-fever ticks.
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4. Poultry Science Graduate Association Sponsors seminar - Tuesday
The Poultry Science Graduate Association is sponsoring a seminar by Hector Cervantes, DVM, MS, Dip. ACPV. He is manager, poultry technical services, North American region, Phibro Animal Health Corp., Watkinsville, Ga.
Cervantes will speak on the topics of Antibiotic Feed Additives for the Poultry Industry, Virginiamycin (Stafac) for Poultry, and Spiking Mortality Syndrome of Broiler Chickens.
The seminar is set for Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 1:30 to 5 pm., in the Poultry Science Auditorium, A-211.
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5. Forestry and Wildlife Field Days at Hope and Colt, Sept. 18 & Oct. 11
Forestry and wildlife field days are scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope and on Oct. 11 at the Pine Tree Branch Station, Colt.
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| INFESTIVALATION -- A poster designed by Entomology graduate student Jon Zawislak provides all the details on the 2008 Insect Festival. |
The annual Insect Festival, which never fails to draw hundreds of visitors of all ages, is set for Thursday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Pauline Whitaker Arena on Garland Avenue. The Department of Entomology sponsors the festival, which is free and open to everyone.
Festival coordinator Don Steinkraus said the event will feature a live insect and arthropod zoo, the beautiful and exotic specimens of the University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum, live cockroach races, children's crafts, a cotton patch with working cotton gin, honey bee exhibits, insects in the arts and aquatic insects, among other exhibits and activities.
Entomology faculty and graduate students will be on hand to visit about insects and answer questions about any insect issues people might have.
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7. Career Development / 'Going Green'
Events scheduled in September by the UA Career Development Center are listed below. Visit the Web site at http://career.uark.edu/events.asp to view the full-semester events calendar
Sept. 16 - 6:30-9:00 p.m. (ARKU 312 NW). Information Session: Kiewit Power Company.
Sept. 17 - 6:00-8:30 p.m. (ARKU 308 SW). Information Session: Chesapeake Energy.
Sept. 17 - 8:00-9:00 p.m. (ARKU 312 NW). Information Session: Schlumberger Oilfield.
Sept. 17 - 2:00-7:00 p.m. (Bell Engineering Center). Engineering EXPO. All majors are encouraged to attend.
Sept. 18 - 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. (Bud Walton Arena). EXPO On-campus Interviews.
Sept. 18 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. (ARKU 308 SW). Information Session: National Oilwell Varco.
Sept. 23 - 11:00a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Willard J Walker Hall). Business Career Fair. All majors are encouraged to attend.
Sept. 23 - 4:00-6:00 p.m. (Arkansas Union 4th Floor Theater). Going Green 9-5.
Charlotte King, of Snowden & King Marketing Communications, which specializes in environmental marketing, will present a "Going Green 9-5" seminar. She will discuss employment trends, growth industries and corporate policies related to the environment.
Sept. 25 - 3:00-5:00 p.m. (ARKU 503). Information Session: Sea World.
Sept. 25 - 10:00a.m.-2:00 p.m. (Arkansas Union Connections Lounge). Graduate School Fair. All majors are encouraged to attend.
Sept. 25 - 10:00 a.m-2:00 p.m. (Arkansas Union Ballroom). Job Fair for All Majors.
Sept. 29 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. (ARKU 305). Information Session: Southwestern Energy.
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8. Ozark Regional Transit adds campus stops
Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) will begin two new Commuter Express routes with stops on the University of Arkansas campus. Route 50 from Lincoln, Prairie Grove and Farmington will service the university as will Route 54 from Bentonville and Rogers. A map and schedule for each route are available on the ORT Web site at www.ozark.org.
AAES and Bumpers College Web sites:
http://aaes.uark.edu/
http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/