UAPB applications surge for fall 2015
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff saw a sizable increase in freshman applications this year, according to a news release.
UAPB received 2,343 new freshman applications through April 2014 for fall 2014, while it got some 3,477 new freshman applications through April 2015 for the fall 2015 semester. Administrators at the 2,513-student university say focused recruitment efforts and better opportunities for students helped contribute to the increase.
The new opportunities include more academic scholarships, the Neighbors of Arkansas tuition assistance program -- which covers the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for students who meet certain criteria and are from neighboring states -- and the summer LIONS program.
That program, also known as the Learning Institute and Opportunity for New Students, began in 1998 as a way to help high school students improve test scores and reduce the need for remediation. It's since been expanded to allow all high school students to get started earlier.
"The University has put together a very strong recruitment and admissions staff to attract and admit new freshmen," Linda Okiror, UAPB's associate vice chancellor for Enrollment Management, said in the news release. "Departmental faculty and staff have been empowered to reach out to applicants who have already chosen a major offered at UAPB, and have provided additional opportunities to those students to make a positive connection to the department and academic major."
Tech hosts sign-up for marrow donors
Faculty members at Arkansas Tech University are coordinating a community service drive to get more bone marrow registrants.
Julie Mikles-Schluterman, an associate professor of sociology, and Jason Warnick, an associate professor of psychology, are running the Be the Match registry event. The event will begin 9 p.m. today and continue to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the W.O. Young Ballroom and Baswell Techionery. Tents will be set up across the campus Wednesday as well.
"There is a strong culture of community service that exists at Arkansas Tech," Mikles-Schluterman said in a news release. "It is our hope that this event will help spread that culture both on campus and in the surrounding area in a way that will show the power that we possess to affect positive change when we work together."
The registry event will allow for the 6,500 Americans with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood diseases to have a better chance at receiving a bone marrow transplant, the news release said. Some 1,000 people with a blood disease die annually because they could not find a matching donor, the release said.
About 1 in 540 registrants are contacted by email about donating bone marrow.
To register, a person completes some paperwork and provides a cheek swab. Registration is free for 18- to 44-year-olds, the age group that is most likely to provide a successful bone marrow transplant.
UAM saddles up for annual rodeo
The University of Arkansas at Monticello is hosting its ninth annual Boll Weevil Stampede to be held Thursday through Saturday.
The rodeo will feature more than 250 competitors from 14 colleges and universities, including East Mississippi Community College, Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee at Martin. Events start each day at 7 p.m. at the Drew County Fairgrounds.
Adult admissions are $10, while admission for UAM students with an identification card and children ages 6 through 12 is $5. Children under the age of 5 will be admitted for free.
Competitions include bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping, according to a news release. The competitors are vying for prize money and championship points to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., in June.
Metro on 04/14/2015