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Aerial view of the Bell Tower at sunset
ChancellorJuly 16, 2024

Summer Campus Update

Written By: Terisa Riley

Dear colleagues and students,

This morning, I learned that Dr. Don Bobbitt, President of the University of Arkansas System, has announced his retirement. Dr. Bobbitt intends to retire on Jan. 15, 2025, or as early as a successor can be named. UA Board of Trustees Chair Kelly Eichler has announced that the board will conduct a national search to fill the position. Dr. Bobbitt has been a staunch supporter of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, and during his leadership of 13 years our campus has grown and flourished. I appreciate his dedication to education in Arkansas, and I truly will miss him. As more is known about the search for his replacement, I will keep you informed.

I encourage you to review the recent email updates provided by Dr. Blake Johnson regarding our second Mane Event, which will take place on Friday, as well as the update from Meagan Bowling-Fudge about our remarkable progress on Workday implementation timelines. Kudos to the Information Technology team for their hard work to integrate our Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool, Slate, with Workday so that our new applicants’ admissions applications will be in Workday. This is the first of many steps toward fully integrating our campus to use Workday Student Information System.

Congratulations to Vice Chancellor Blake Rickman, AVCs Chris Kelly and Kendall Ross, and Exec. Director Amanda Seidenzahl for successfully writing and receiving a $200,000 grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development (OSD) to create a communication and marketing plan for the Western Arkansas Technical Center — including the programs offered at the Peak Innovation Center — and our workforce development programs offered through the UAFS Center for Economic Development. We will be working with a local firm, King Creative in Greenwood, to create comprehensive communication and marketing plans to increase knowledge and participate in our programs.

MIAA Day at the K: On July 1, UAFS became official members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). On July 21, 2024, the Kansas City Royals Baseball team will host “MIAA Day at the K” at Kauffman Stadium. Individuals representing UAFS will have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets which include a free Royals and UAFS co-branded hat. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, please check out our MIAA at the K website.

Exciting news: Walmart stores in Fort Smith are now selling UAFS t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and sweatshirts. Of course, our UAFS Bookstore always has the biggest selection of UAFS swag; however, you can purchase UAFS shirts at Walmart, Target, JCPenney, and Houndstooth. These are great for Lion Pride Fridays throughout the year!

Last week, I had the opportunity to represent UAFS during a visit with the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base where we discussed the reactivation of the 85th Fighter Group at Ebbing Air National Guard Base for the F-35 Foreign Military Sales Mission. During our tour, a variety of community leaders learned more about the overall mission as well as determining impacts for our River Valley community. This information will be particularly helpful when considering academic program offerings to meet future demands of the pilots and their spouses and families who will make their homes in the River Valley.  For more information on our visit, please see the 33rd Fighter Wing website.

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