Scalia set for visit to Mountain Home
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will visit Arkansas State University-Mountain Home on April 16.
The event will be open to the public and take place at 6:30 p.m. at The Shield, 1600 S. College St. Admission is free, but tickets will be required, according to the university.
Retired U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Charles Pickering and U.S. District Judge David Bramlette will join Scalia, according to the university. It will hold the event in conjunction with a constitutional law political science course. Pickering served on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Bramlette is a federal judge in the Southern District of Mississippi.
More information is available at (870) 508-6199. Tickets are available at http://www.itickets.com/events/339245.html.
Arkansas Tech OKs reimbursement rules
Arkansas Tech University's board approved its first travel policy Thursday.
The board requested a formalized policy during its January meeting "as a course of best practice," university spokesman Sam Strasner said. The policy defines university events as those sanctioned by President Robin Bowen, continuing education events for the board, graduations, and alumni or development events.
The new policy allows for in-state travel reimbursement for board of trustee meetings and functions, along with duties "in connection with the official business of [the university.]" Out-of-state, university-related travel will need approval by majority vote of the board in advance, the policy states.
A board member's spouse can go along during out-of-state trips -- and can also be reimbursed by the board's majority vote before the traveling, the policy says.
State officials set reimbursement rates and what items can be reimbursed.
Delayed race talks take place Tuesday
The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service has rescheduled its first community conversation about race and economics.
A round of discussions was to be held last week, but it was postponed because of inclement weather. The first of the three discussions on race and economics now will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce at 200 E. Markham St., Little Rock.
The community events are beginning after a panel discussion earlier this year on being young and black in today's society. The events will feature round-table discussions to develop strategies for the support and involvement of the area's youths and their institutional barriers to economic success.
ASU-Newport fuses medical programs
Arkansas State University-Newport will combine its nursing and phlebotomy programs after a request from a local hospital, Chancellor Sandra Massey said Friday.
With the merger, students in the program will be eligible for financial aid, she said. Students who earn the new certificate of proficiency in patient care technology can be employed as a certified nursing assistant, a phlebotomist or a patient care technician, according to the resolution approved unanimously by the Arkansas State University board of trustees Friday.
About 60 students are enrolled in either program, Massey said. The new program -- which came at the request of St. Bernards Regional Medical Center -- will be in place by fall.
Those who have graduated from the nursing or phlebotomy programs can enroll again to take the extra classes.
Metro on 02/22/2015