We experienced another year with a multi-day week under inclement weather operations. Snow events never seem limited to 1 day anymore and our Student Affairs operations never close. We had staff on campus opening facilities such as the Arkansas Union and HPER (for participation with UREC), feeding students in dining halls, and ensuring residence halls and walkways were safe and accessible. And other staff were working remotely meeting virtually with students to address concerns, provide mentoring, and keep the business functions of the campus moving forward.
We held the first Division of Student Affairs Supervisors’ Summit on February 13, a program that aligns with our priority to Build a Strong Organizational Culture. The agenda included engaging presentations focused on supervisor best practices, from having difficult conversations to supervising across generations. Dr. Adam Stoverink, executive director of Walton M.B.A. programs, gave a dynamic keynote address on resilience and leadership. It was a great event, created by our Supervision & Leadership Committee, that provided intentional learning and networking opportunities for our staff to share best practices and develop new skills.
Student Affairs supports students in ways that others on campus do not, but it takes friends and resources to do the best work. We are excited to announce our part in the University of Arkansas’ inaugural One Day, One U of A — 24-hour giving day on April 10, 2025! This unique event is your opportunity to directly support grassroots projects that make an immediate and lasting impact on the University of Arkansas and the communities we serve. The Division of Student Affairs will have two projects that directly support students in their time of need – Meal Plan Scholarships and the UA Cares Student Emergency Fund. Stay tuned for more about this exciting day in April!
Our Department Highlight this month is UA Cares in the Dean of Student’s office. This group supports students experiencing barriers to their educational pursuits. For some students, personal, medical, or external barriers can range from having a minor impact to major disruptions as they work toward earning their degree. UA Cares provides our students resources and support as they navigate some of their most challenging circumstances.
Our Staff Q&A features Andrea Allan, director of UA Cares. Allan has been working in Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas for 14 years, starting in University Housing as a hall director. Allan has been in her current role for the past 6 years and said she enjoys helping students overcome barriers to their academic pursuits and getting to be part of their success.
Please help us welcome Robyn Starling-Ledbetter to her new role in Student Affairs as the senior director of communications and marketing. Ledbetter brings more than 20 years of experience in communications, marketing, and media to this position. For the past eight years she has served as the director of Student Media. As senior director she will oversee a shared services team and work to implement processes and guidelines that will address the division’s communications and marketing needs.
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.