It is hard to believe I’m starting my 3rd year in the role of Vice Chancellor. It’s been an incredible ride – I’ve learned so much and continue to learn, grow, and expand our commitment to student access, well-being, and belonging, post-graduation success, and building a strong organizational culture. We’ve made progress in these areas of our Advancing Student Affairs Strategic Plan and you can see those specific updates on our strategic plan website under each priority.
It is always exciting when we can transform a space and make it more welcoming and functional for students and staff. The Multicultural Center on the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union just underwent major renovation and expansion and welcomed the campus community with a grand opening on January 29. We also renovated the A6 floor in the Arkansas Union, providing more space for student organizations, and look forward to celebrating this new space in March. If you’re in the Fayetteville area, I encourage you to check out these transformational space changes and see how students have activated their use.
In our department highlight, we learn more about the Offices of Career Connections. The staff in this department weave opportunities to develop lifelong career confidence & readiness into college activities. Career Connections offers many services, programs, and resources. They support building and articulating career-ready skills and self-awareness, and teach students how to identify and pursue those opportunities, navigate the world of work, and advocate for themselves. The Career Connections staff collaborated with 37 departments/student organizations/colleges to offer career events and programs last fall semester.
Our staff Q&A also comes from Career Connections this month. Emerald Hames is the director of Career Education and has been in her current role for 6 months, but has 13 years of experience at the U of A. She works collaboratively across campus to help students articulate how their skills and experiences prepared them for life after graduation.
Being members of professional associations can help staff members learn from their peers and industry experts and allow them to contribute to the field of higher education. Quincy Spencer, assistant vice chancellor for Student Engagement for Student Affairs, has been named a Circle of Excellence Ambassador for the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (NODA). Spencer has been a member of NODA for more than 20 years and has served the association in various roles from Annual Conference Host to NODA President. He is currently serving as faculty for the Orientation Professionals Institute. We congratulate Quincy for this recognition!
I would love to hear from you! If you have questions about what you have read here, or if you have ideas for stories you would like to see in this space, please email me jbattje@uark.edu or give me a call at 479-575-5007.