As a Land Grant institution, The University of Arkansas helps the state in many ways, from research and technological innovation to preparing students for college. The ACT Academy, hosted by the College Access Initiative in the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, is one of those programs that provides Arkansas high school students with a rich and diverse college readiness experience. More than 200 students from dozens of communities across all regions of the state live on campus during the five-day program to learn to better navigate the ACT and earn admission and scholarship for college. The program is facilitated by staff and led by peer mentors, all current U of A students, to create a college-like atmosphere. While not all of the students in the ACT Academy come to the U of A, many of them do. It is near time for students to sign up for the next program, and we have the story.
Both our Staff and Student Q&As this issue feature people who have been part of the ACT Academy on this campus – staff member Sarah Draine is the director of the College Access Initiative in the Multicultural Center, and Antoinette White is a second-year student who took part in the Academy.
It is a new year and the Division of Student Affairs has a number of scholarships now open for students to apply. Our scholarships vary from the Family Housing Scholarship to the Pride in Education scholarship. We have a wide range of awards that we give to deserving students each year.
Finally, I am still in denial, but we recently said a goodbye to Marsha Norvell, my executive assistant and a long-time Student Affairs staff member who retired this month. Marsha Norvell has been with the University of Arkansas for more than 30 years. She will be greatly missed and we wish her the best in her retirement.
We hope you enjoy the January Issue of the Student Affairs Bulletin. If you have story ideas for future issues please contact Scott Flanagin, executive director of communications for Student Affairs, via email sflanagi@uark.edu or phone (479) 575-6785.