Curriculum changes were a primary focus of the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees during its meeting at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Thursday, Oct. 24.
As a result of board action, the ATU Bachelor of Science degree in health and exercise science will add a new option in coaching athletics and physical activity as well as a new option in public health.
Trustees approved a program title change that will re-name the ATU Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education teacher licensure to the Bachelor of Science degree in coaching athletics and physical activity.
The ATU Bachelor of Science degree in tourism will add a natural resource management option, while the ATU Bachelor of Science degree in rehabilitation science will add a therapeutic recreation option. The ATU Master of Arts in Teaching degree will grow to offer a special education option for those pursuing careers in middle and secondary education.
The board approved new Certificates of Proficiency in coaching strength and conditioning, coaching travel team and recreational sports, early childhood education and sports media.
Trustees also voted in favor of creating new Graduate Certificates in college athletic advising, educator development and exploration, history and instructional technology/library media specialist K-12.
The board granted requests for a reduction in the number of credit hours necessary to earn several degrees and credentials through ATU:
*Graduate Certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages, from 15 credit hours to 12;
*Graduate Certificate in P-12 building level administration, from 27 credit hours to 24;
*Graduate Certificate in advising, from 15 credit hours to 12;
*Master of Education degree in teaching, learning and leadership, from 34 credit hours to 31;
*Master of Science degree in emergency management and homeland security, from 36 credit hours to 30;
*and Master of Science degree in higher education and student affairs, from 36 credit hours to 30;
The board voted to delete the teaching English as a second language option within the ATU Master of Arts degree in English, the environmental, petroleum and professional options within the ATU Bachelor of Science degree in geosciences, the actuarial science and data science options within the ATU Bachelor of Science degree in applied science, the environmental option within the ATU Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and the Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics education for teacher licensure.
Trustees also voted to inactivate the ATU Master of Science degree in kinesiology, strength and conditioning as well as the ATU Graduate Certificate in coaching, strength and conditioning.
For programs offered through ATU-Ozark Campus, the board approved the creation of Certificates of Proficiency in fundamentals of project management and small business management as well as an expansion of the paramedic/emergency medical technician program that will allow it to be offered at ATU’s Morton Hall in Russellville.
In other business on Thursday, Oct. 24, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:
*selection of Entegrity to provide energy conservation consultant services for ATU;
*adoption of the latest National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator financial aid code of conduct policy as ATU policy for matters related to student financial aid;
*the current admissions policy for ATU, which reflects changes that have been implemented since the last formal board review and approval of the policy in 2013;
*the current admissions policy for ATU-Ozark Campus;
*continuation of the ATU undergraduate test-optional admissions policy;
*an updated ATU service and assistance animal policy;
*naming of the ATU School of Business as the LeMoyne Smith School of Business in recognition of Mr. Smith’s long-time financial support of the school, including a permanent endowment that will support its ongoing operations into perpetuity;
*an updated presidential evaluation policy;
*reallocating a portion of unused ATU-Ozark reserve funds to cover the insurance deductible and any cost incurred that will not be covered by the insurance claim for recent flood damage in the ATU-Ozark Health Sciences and Wellness Building;
*a transfer of $42,170 in unappropriated Arkansas Tech Career Center funds to provide curriculum needs of textbooks, online access and exam resources;
*and to change the board calendar to move the meeting previously scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025, to Feb. 28, 2025.
In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees approved the following full-time appointments:
*Mary Billings, assistant registrar, effective Oct. 1, 2024; Amy Brenner, ATCC administrative specialist III, effective Aug. 19, 2024; Lucy Caro, visiting workforce education faculty of practical nursing at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 22, 2024; Alix Copsy, workforce education faculty of health science technologies at Arkansas Tech Career Center (ATCC) in Paris, effective Aug. 12, 2024; Katherine Davidson, institutional services assistant, effective Sept. 9, 2024; Alexandra Flores-Lumes, graduate and international admissions administrative assistant, effective Sept. 3, 2024; Dustin Freeman, institutional services assistant, effective Sept. 2, 2024; Clarissa Holcomb, admissions officer, effective Sept. 9, 2024; Timothy Holmgren, computer support specialist, effective Sept. 16, 2024; Chloe Hood, records management analyst, effective Sept. 3, 2024; Dr. Wendi Kappers, visiting assistant professor of computer and information science, for the 2024-25 academic year; Jerry Kinder, workforce education faculty of computer information systems at ATCC, effective Aug. 26, 2024; Martha Morgan, administrative specialist II, effective Oct. 17, 2024; Stacy Morton, ATCC fiscal support analyst, effective Aug. 19, 2024; Jenna Ott, institutional services assistant, effective Sept. 3, 2024; Dr. Matthew Overduin, visiting assistant professor of mathematics, for the 2024-25 academic year; Brandie Paz, financial aid analyst, effective Oct. 7, 2024; Flor Ramirez, adult education English as a second language coach at ATU-Ozark, effective Sept. 3, 2024; Lauren Robertson, administrative specialist II, effective Oct. 1, 2024; Ishmam Solaiman, visiting assistant professor of computer and information science, for the fall 2024 semester; Shirley Stewart, ATCC assistant director, effective Oct. 1, 2024; Kaylin Telford, administrative assistant III, effective Aug. 1, 2024; Diana Trahan, institutional services assistant, effective Aug. 15, 2024; Rosendo Trapala, assistant director of disability services, effective Sept. 1, 2024; Kathleen Turner, assistant director of human resources, effective Nov. 1, 2024; and Paige Warren, archives assistant, effective Sept. 3, 2024.
The board accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:
*Courtney Barnes, institutional services assistant, effective Aug. 30, 2024; Richard Blackburn, assistant registrar, effective Sept. 13, 2024; Amandalyn Boen, workforce education faculty of licensed practical nursing at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 9, 2024; Deidra Dillard, coordinator of first-generation student experience, effective Oct. 14, 2024; Derrick Ennis, skilled tradesman, effective Oct. 31, 2024; Dr. Delton Gordon, associate dean for residence life, effective Oct. 25, 2024; Jessica Holloway, procurement director, effective Oct. 31, 2024; Melanie Paterak, university photographer, effective Oct. 18, 2024; Blaine Snyder, workforce education faculty of practical nursing and program chair at ATU-Ozark, effective Aug. 7, 2024; Andrea Strickland, financial aid specialist, effective Aug. 23, 2024; Codey Trzeciak-Reuter, public safety officer, effective Oct. 7, 2024; Ryan Watson, career support services facilitator at ATU-Ozark, effective Sept. 19, 2024; and Dr. Kaiman Zeng, associate professor of electrical engineering, effective Aug. 15, 2024.
Trustees granted requests for retirement from:
*Patricia Fernandez, computer support technician, effective Oct. 31, 2024; Dr. Marcel Finan, professor of mathematics, effective May 10, 2025; and Lisa Nufer, institutional services assistant, effective Aug. 12, 2024.
