The Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees authorized the issuance of revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $29,800,000 during its meeting at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Thursday, Oct. 20.
The bonds will finance a portion of the construction, furnishing and equipping of a new student union and recreation center on the ATU campus in Russellville.
Per the authorization granted by trustees, the bonds shall mature not later than Dec. 1, 2052, and shall have an annual interest rate not to exceed 6 percent.
The new facility will be constructed on the parcel of land currently occupied by the W.O. Young Building, which will be demolished beginning later this year.
ATU’s student union and recreation center will include space for a campus living room/lounge, individual and group fitness activities, two basketball courts, outdoor recreation, a café, events at multiple scales, student organizations, food service, a convenience store/spirit shop, a multi-activity court and multi-purpose meeting rooms.
Miller Boskus Lack of Fayetteville was selected by ATU trustees as the lead architecture firm in the development of plans for the student union and recreation center in 2019. Personnel from the Dallas, Texas, location of SmithGroup have assisted in planning the facility.
The cost of constructing the facility is estimated at $49.3 million. Trustees voted in August to transfer $15.6 million in unrestricted reserves to support the project. The balance of the cost is scheduled to be accounted for by the revenue bonds and private donations.
The schedule calls for construction to begin in August 2023 and continue through December 2024. Substantial completion of the project is scheduled for early 2025 with an estimated grand opening date of between June and August 2025.
Thursday’s meeting also saw trustees approve the addition of a rooftop terrace to the student union and recreation center design schematic they approved in August.
Dr. Julie Furst-Bowe, ATU interim vice president for academic affairs, brought forth a number of changes in academic programming that gained board approval on Thursday.
The following changes proposed by the ATU Department of Communication and Media Studies were approved:
*establish Certificates of Proficiency in broadcast journalism, print journalism and public relations;
*delete the broadcast, print and public relations options under the Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism;
*establish a Bachelor of Arts degree in social media influencing.
The following changes proposed by the ATU Department of English and World Languages were approved:
*establish a Certificate of Proficiency in diversity studies;
*establish a Graduate Certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages;
*delete the communications and fine arts options under the Master of Liberal Arts degree.
The following credentials proposed by the ATU School of Business were approved for establishment:
*Advanced Certificates in data analytics and entrepreneurship;
*Certificates of Proficiency in business administration and Microsoft applications.
The following changes proposed by the ATU Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science were approved:
*change the Bachelor of Arts degree in rehabilitation science to a Bachelor of Science degree in rehabilitation science;
*reconfigure the Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education into a new Bachelor of Science degree in health and exercise science with two options;
*add a kinesiology sport sciences option to the Master of Science degree in strength and conditioning and allow for 100 percent online delivery;
*change the title of the Master of Science degree in strength and conditioning studies to the Master of Science degree in kinesiology, strength and conditioning.
The following changes proposed by the ATU Department of Emergency Management, Professional Studies and Student Affairs Administration were approved:
*change the name of the Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational leadership-industrial/organizational psychology concentration to the Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational leadership-psychology concentration;
*add a military leadership concentration to the Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational leadership;
*develop a new Master of Arts degree in organizational development and learning;
*create a Graduate Certificate in organizational development and learning.
The following changes proposed by the ATU Department of Engineering and Computing Science were approved:
*reduce credit hours in electrical engineering graduate program from 36 to 30;
*reduce credit hours in mechanical engineering graduate program from 36 to 30;
*reduce credit hours in information technology graduate program from 36 to 30;
*delete the computer-based instructional technology option under the Master of Science degree in information technology.
In other business on Thursday, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:
*a one-time payment of $1,000 to ATU faculty, non-classified staff and classified staff;
*an amendment to the ATU Staff Senate by-laws that clarifies the senate’s ability to create a committee structure within the organization;
*a request to satisfy and forgive the obligations of a 2019 internal loan that funded renovations at the Hull Physical Education Building;
*adjusting the classification of instructional programs (CIP) code for ATU’s graduate certificate in curriculum leadership to align with a recommendation from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education and changing the credit hours required for the certificate from 21 to 22 to account for internship hours completed over two semesters, which are required to prepare candidates for the P-12 curriculum program director license;
*requests to offer ATU’s Master of Arts degree in history and its Master of Liberal Arts degree online, effective fall 2023;
*an ATU international travel policy that establishes health and safety-related requirements and measures to support international educational opportunities for and minimize undue risks to ATU students, faculty and staff engaged in official international travel;
*and selection of SCM Architects of Little Rock and Fayetteville as the architecture firm on an upcoming renovation and expansion of the Industrial Control Systems Building at ATU-Ozark Campus.
In personnel matters, trustees approved hiring the following full-time employees:
*Megan Bell, coordinator of civic and community engagement and student leadership, effective Sept. 14, 2022; Dr. Benjamin Garlington, visiting assistant professor of computer and information science, for the 2022-23 academic year; Addie Jensen, assistant softball coach, effective Sept. 6, 2022; Dr. Aditya Limaye, visiting instructor of accounting, for the 2022-23 academic year; Ma De La Luz Montelongo, visiting industry training specialist at ATU-Ozark Campus, effective Oct. 17, 2022; Dr. Johnette Moody, visiting associate professor of computer and information science, for the 2022-23 academic year; Brad Palmer, assistant women’s basketball coach, effective Aug. 9, 2022; Blandy Pedrez, financial aid specialist, effective Oct. 1, 2022; Allen Schaidle, assistant dean for career services, effective Sept. 19, 2022; Veronica Scott, director of teacher education student services, effective Aug. 9, 2022; Kennedy Shelstead, assistant volleyball coach, effective June 10, 2022; Brittany Thomas, disability services administrative analyst, effective Aug. 23, 2022; Tyler Tober, career coach at Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective Oct. 10, 2022; Shaun Wiseman, head women’s tennis coach, effective Aug. 22, 2022; and Richard Wolaver, area coordinator for housing services, effective Sept. 12, 2022.
The board approved the promotions of Stephen Daniel from equipment manager to farm manager, effective Sept. 1, 2022; Drew Dickey from assistant director of facilities management to director of facilities management, effective Oct. 1, 2022; and Nichole Edwards from advisor in the Office of Student Support Services to director of the Office of Student Support Services, effective Oct. 1, 2022.
Samantha Huggins, who previously served as assistant director of admissions for campus visit and experience, was hired as coordinator of alumni relations, effective Sept. 26, 2022.
Trustees accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:
*James Anderson, ATU-Ozark Campus adult education instructor, effective Sept. 30, 2022; Gracie Boortz, admissions officer, effective Aug. 19, 2022; Jana Crouch, associate director of admissions for enrollment, effective Aug. 31, 2022; Stacie Harden, ATU-Ozark Campus project/program specialist, effective Oct. 3, 2022; John Harris, Arkansas Tech Career Center assistant director and student development specialist, effective Aug. 12, 2022; and Rachel Whitman, director of budget, effective Aug. 26, 2022.
The board accepted requests for retirement from Dr. Ruth Enoch, associate professor of mathematics, effective Dec. 10, 2022; and Holly Ruth Gale, associate professor of music, effective Jan. 6, 2023. Enoch has served on the ATU faculty since 2004, while Gale has taught at Arkansas Tech since 1994 and became a full-time faculty member in 1997.
