Hard to believe that we are through Spring Break and it is already April. We’ll turn around and it will be Reading Day, finals, and then Commencement. Spring is always a busy and exciting time on campus. This past Thursday, March 30, marked the first Grateful Hogs Day – a day for us to thank those who have generously supported the university over the years. So, from myself and the Student Affairs staff, thank you for all you have done to support our students, programs and services. Your gifts help our students remain at the U of A and progress toward their degree and into their careers.
One way alums and friends of the university can help show their support of students is by connecting with them through the Razorlink platform.. Addie Jones is a current freshman and even though she is a Sturgis Fellow, runs her own non-profit, works for Student Media, and is part of Greek Life, she still has concerns about her future. Addie decided to take the platform for a spin, and signed up to use Razorlink to connect with alums, friends , faculty and staff who have similar interests and career goals. She appreciates the connections that Razorlink gives her and knows that even though the future may be a bit scary, she has connections with those who have been here before to help her succeed.
In this issue’s Q&As we visit with a staff member and graduate assistant working in UA Cares, helping our students who may be in crisis, or just having a difficult time in general. Kaitlyn Riggin is the case manager for UA Cares and has been in her position almost 2 years. She has helped many students navigate tough times and says she loves that interaction and connecting students with resources when they are in need. “I love higher education, and being able to provide a safe space for students to come for support when they’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck is so fulfilling,” Riggin said. Seraye Jones is one of the graduate assistants working with Riggin to help students find their way. Jones is working on her Master of Social Work degree and plans to graduate in May. She finds her GA work very fulfilling. “From a young age, I have known that my main goal is to help others,” Jones said. “I decided that the best path for me to achieve this goal was through the social work profession. I am beyond grateful that my graduate assistantship at the UA Cares enables me to help people just as I had hoped.”
University Programs, which is part of Student Activities, is always putting on events that are fun, informative, and reach a broad audience. The 24-Hour Film Festival, which was held just before Spring Break, allowed students to create a film in a single day. There were several students who made films, from creating the concept, writing the script, shooting the movie, and then editing to make the final product. It’s a lot to do in 24 hours. The films were then shown on the big screen in the Arkansas Union Theater, and we have the story.
Student Media is a program unlike any other on campus. Students involved with the Student Media outlets – the Arkansas Traveler newspaper, UATV, Hill Magazine, Main Hill Media Agency, the Razorback Yearbook, Strategic Media and Collaboration, and KXUA radio station – get hands on experiences in real-world professional settings. Robyn Starling-Ledbetter, director of Student Media, has set up scholarships for the managers of these outlets, and there is a fundraising competition going on right now with the College Media Madness. The funds raised are used to support the student managers of the various Student Media outlets.
Thank you for checking out the Student Affairs Bulletin for April 2023. If you have ideas for stories or would like more information on anything you read here, please email Scott Flanagin, executive director of communications at sflanagi@uark.edu.