UA notebook

University to add new dance degree

MONTICELLO -- Dance students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will have a new degree option beginning this fall.

UALR will continue to offer its Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, said Chancellor Andrew Rogerson, while a new Bachelor of Arts degree will give students a more interdisciplinary option less focused on dance performance.

A billboard advertising dance studies at UALR drew the ire of state Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, earlier this year.

In a social media post, Hester was critical of a "push for dance majors" rather than encouragement for students to study computer science or mathematics. A backlash soon followed, with criticism directed at Hester.

The new degree option was approved by the University of Arkansas board of trustees, but not before Rogerson was asked by trustee Cliff Gibson if the degree option was somehow connected to the billboard remarks.

"Just coincidental," Rogerson said.

UALR eliminating 25 study programs

MONTICELLO -- Twenty-five programs of study are being eliminated at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

No faculty or staff cuts will take place as UALR ends 10 bachelor's and master's degree programs or concentrations, plus various certificate programs.

Included in the cuts are bachelor's degree programs or concentrations in music performance, early childhood education, middle level education, advertising/public relations and general business.

Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said he wants reductions to provide "a meaningful array of offerings appropriate to today's workforce," with the university's faculty senate involved in deciding on the cuts.

Provost Velmer Burton said criteria for the cuts came in part from a review of program viability by the state Department of Higher Education. Data on the number of graduates in a program factored into the review, he said.

UALR also independently looked at historical data, Burton said.

In terms of enrollment, "most of them were in the single digits," Burton said. Those students will be able to complete their studies, according to materials presented to the University of Arkansas board of trustees, which approved the cuts Thursday.

Burton said UALR now offers about 165 programs of study.

UA will sell land donated in 1871

MONTICELLO -- Eighty acres of undeveloped land donated in 1871 to help secure Washington County as the site for the University of Arkansas is now being sold by the UA Division of Agriculture.

David Walker, a lawyer and early Fayetteville settler, gave up land in Johnson County now being offered for sale at a price of $31,500.

The UA Division of Agriculture received approval Thursday from UA trustees to pursue sale of the land for the amount of an appraisal done this year, according to documents presented to the board.

Documents prepared by the UA Division of Agriculture state that while the land is 80 acres, about 55 acres are unusable. An easement granted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers "causes the majority of the property to be either underwater or in a swampy condition the vast majority of the time."

Pryor earns title, addresses stroke

MONTICELLO -- Former U.S. Sen. David Pryor was named chairman emeritus Thursday by his fellow University of Arkansas trustees, then gave a short talk that included remarks about his ongoing recovery from a 2016 stroke.

"Strokes do funny things to people," said Pryor, 83, his voice thin but clear.

He described himself as others see him.

"Some of you noticed that, well, you don't have the strong voice that you used to bring to the board. I say, well, that's probably true. In fact, I don't have much of a voice anymore," Pryor said.

"Then they say, well, you walk differently. You walk like you're walking crooked or something like that," again giving his assent.

To overcome some paralysis, "I've worked hard, I want you to know," Pryor said.

He added: "That part of the program is not fun, and it's not exciting, and it's hard to see progress. But progress has been made."

Pryor, standing throughout his talk, thanked UA board chairman Mark Waldrip and the other trustees. Appointed to a 10-year term in 2009, Pryor said, "This job is a great job. It's the greatest job I think I've ever had."

Trustees approve blockchain center

MONTICELLO -- A proposal for what the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is calling its Blockchain Center of Excellence received trustee approval Thursday.

The technology called blockchain allows for decentralized, encrypted ledgers of events or transactions. UA's Blockchain Center of Excellence, an administrative unit to be housed within an existing building, "would be one of the first in the country," UA Chancellor Joe Steinmetz told trustees.

The technology "may affect the way business does business," Steinmetz said.

Metro on 04/01/2018

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