The University set a record overall retention rate for U of A freshmen from fall 2023 to spring 2024 of 95%. This is an increase of nearly 1% from the previous year, and the biggest increase since 2020. One of the programs that contributed to this success is Freshman Commuter Student Success (FCSS) in the Division of Student Affairs. FCSS retained 544 students in their cohort of 599 for a rate of 91%. This success is in part due to the proactive, one-on-one, academic, and social support that each student gets with their FCSS peer mentors.
Student Affairs recently held a reunion for former staff who retired from their positions or left to pursue other experiences after giving significant time to their roles in Student Affairs. Everyone gathered at the Fowler House Conservatory for a nice lunch and some comradery. They had a wonderful time visiting with each other and current divisional leaders. I had the chance to share our Advancing Student Affairs strategic plan and our ASG and GPSC leadership spoke with the group before they took some tours of different spaces on campus.
Spring Break allowed for a group of students and staff to take a trip to Kansas City, Missouri for a cultural and sporting experience. University Recreation, in collaboration with The Multicultural Center and International Students & Scholars, visited the Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum before catching a KC Sporting soccer match versus the San Jose Earthquakes. The group had a wonderful time, and we have a story by one of the student staff members who went on the trip.
The staff and student Q&As in this issue highlight two people who work in Student Media, which comprise the student news and advertising organizations – The Arkansas Traveler, UATV, KXUA radio, Hill Magazine, Main Hill Media, and the Razorback Yearbook. Cheri Freeland is the business manager for Student Media and has been with the U of A for more than 30 years. She helps maintain the area’s business operations including student payroll, which is a huge job. Our student staff highlight is Addie Jones, a sophomore majoring in Journalism and Political Science. She is a content creator for our Student Affairs social media accounts and is the lifestyles editor for the Traveler.
Our Student Media outlets have been racking up the awards this year at both the regional and national levels. From UATV winning multiple regional Mid-America Emmy awards, including for serious news pieces such as a LEARNS Act update, to Hill Magazine earning second for the Best in Show awards at the 2024 Spring National College Media Conference. The student-run advertising agency, Main Hill Media, came home with seven awards at the same conference. Congratulations to all!
Thanks for checking out the April 2024 issue of the Student Affairs Bulletin. 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.