Higher education notebook

UCA to buy tract for development

CONWAY - The University of Central Arkansas plans to buy property on Bruce Street for development.

The board of trustees voted unanimously Friday to approve the acquisition of the property, which is about 1,445 square feet, at 1903 Bruce Street.

The university has signed an offer and acceptance with the sellers of the property for $142,000, the school said in a news release.

The property sits on the south side of Bruce Street and is about three blocks from the corner of Donaghey Avenue and Bruce Street, an area the university plans to develop.

Professor at Tech to teach in Nigeria

RUSSELLVILLE - An Arkansas Tech University professor will teach at a Nigerian business school this summer after he was selected as a Fulbright scholar through the U.S. State Department.

Efosa Idemudia, assistant professor of business data analytics at Arkansas Tech, will teach at the Lagos Business School in Lagos, Nigeria, thanks to a grant from the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program.

“I want to use this experience to help establish faculty-student study abroad exchange programs between Arkansas Tech University and leading universities in Africa,” Idemudia said in a news release issued by the Russellville-based university. “Lagos Business School is ranked with the world’s top 100 business schools in the area of open enrollment executive education.”

The program, founded in 1946, was named in honor of J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, a Democratic U.S. senator from 1945-75.

“This appointment offers me the opportunity to market Arkansas Tech University in Africa, most especially in Nigeria,” Idemudia said. “Thus, I hope to significantly increase the recruiting of students from Africa to study at Arkansas Tech University.”

Idemudia said he also hopes, among other things, to build relationships with scholars in Lagos.

UCA appoints four to dean positions

CONWAY - The University of Central Arkansas has announced the appointment of four academic deans.

They are Michael Hargis for the College of Business, Terry Wright for the College of Fine Arts and Communication, Stephanie Bellar for the Graduate School, and Stephen Addison for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The appointments, announced Friday, will take effect July 1.

“These individuals will help to lead UCA forward as we meet our strategic goals and develop programs of distinction,” said Steve Runge, provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Hargis, Wright and Addison have been serving as interim deans for their respective colleges. Bellar is now the interim dean of the Graduate School at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

UCA spokesman Christina Madsen said Hargis will make $163,000 annually with an additional $7,734 from private sources. Wright will make $145,000; Addison, $145,000; and Bellar, $131,000.

2 schools get OK to take out loans

The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board on Friday gave the go-ahead for two state colleges to pursue loans for campus improvements.

The University of Central Arkansas was approved to issue bonds of about $13.5 million with an annual interest rate not to exceed 5.75 percent for up to 30 years. The debt service on the bond will be supported by tuition and fees.

Proceeds will be used to fund the design and construction of the Lewis Science Addition, including the replacement of the Lewis Science Center roof. The college is expected to break ground on the project this fall.

The UCA board of trustees approved the financing at its February meeting.

The College of the Ouachitas will pursue a 15-year, $1 million loan from the College Savings Bond Revolving Loan Fund at a rate of 0.24 percent. Proceeds will be used for the purchase and renovation of a workforce training facility.

The College of the Ouachitas board of trustees approved the loan financing at its February meeting.

Spa City campus of HSU approved

The proposed Hot Springs campus of Henderson State University received a unanimous stamp of approval Friday from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Sally Carder of National Park Community College told the board that students who still live with their parents and work in Hot Springs are expected to make up the student body of the future campus.

Carder said that more than 3,000 Henderson State alumni and supporters live in Hot Springs, and the local campus had been discussed for several years.

Henderson is leasing the Landmark Building at 201 Market St. in Hot Springs and will offer business and education classes as early as this fall.