{"id":5986,"date":"2017-03-13T15:31:30","date_gmt":"2017-03-13T20:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/?p=5986"},"modified":"2017-03-13T16:08:52","modified_gmt":"2017-03-13T21:08:52","slug":"sau-names-new-livinglearning-center-eichenberger-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/2017\/sau-names-new-livinglearning-center-eichenberger-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"SAU names new living\/learning center Eichenberger Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday to adopt a resolution naming a new residence hall for science and engineering majors after Dr. Rudolph and Mrs. Sharon Eichenberger.<\/p>\n

Rudy and Sharon Eichenberger Hall will house about 78 students as the Science and Engineering Living and Learning Center. Work has already begun to transform this facility, which was the former skating rink on campus near the Engineering Building, into one of two new residence halls slated to open for this upcoming fall semester.<\/p>\n

Dr. Trey Berry, president of SAU, read the resolution prior to the board\u2019s vote.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach of the Eichenbergers worked here many years and made a tremendous impact,\u201d Berry said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rudy Eichenberger joined SAU in 1981. He was named professor of physics and chair of the department in April 1988 and retired in June 2007. He received a grant for $11,690 from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to support the Integrated Science, Math & Technology project in November 1999. He was named professor emeritus on May 1, 2008.<\/p>\n

The late Sharon Eichenberger started at SAU in 1983 and retired in 2002. She served as coordinator of annual giving and became director of development and executive director of the SAU Foundation, Inc., in 1984. She was certified as a fund-raising executive professional in 1989.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Eichenbergers have been on the list of Top Five annual donors three times: 2010, 2012 and 2016. They have been generous supporters of Magale Library. They were among the top two donors to the Science Center, and Dr. Eichenberger made a leadership-level pledge to the Engineering Building.<\/p>\n

In other business, the board, after discussion in executive session, voted unanimously to seek a resolution for $1.2 million to build the SAU president\u2019s new home on campus.<\/p>\n

Academic Updates<\/h3>\n

Dr. David Lanoue, provost and vice president of academic affairs, presented the board with a slate of academic program changes, which were approved unanimously.<\/p>\n

Lanoue recommended a new, five-year BS\/MS Computer Science program that will allow students to complete their bachelors and master\u2019s degrees on an accelerated basis and \u201cstart making a living.\u201d<\/p>\n

This new emphasis is the solution to that problem. Students can pursue their passion for art but gain the skills they need in business so they can manage their own career or perhaps someone else\u2019s.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He also recommended a new emphasis to the BFA in Art and Design in Interactive Media and Marketing.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents say, \u2018Our child wants to major in art, but can they get a job?\u2019 This new emphasis is the solution to that problem. Students can pursue their passion for art but gain the skills they need in business so they can manage their own career or perhaps someone else\u2019s,\u201d Lanoue said. \u201cThis will get them out in the job market and help them be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lanoue said similar emphases will be added to musical theatre and creative writing, \u201cmarrying skills to passion. You don\u2019t want to extinguish anyone\u2019s enthusiasm but you do want them successful and employed.\u201d<\/p>\n

He and Berry also informed the board that a doctoral program in educational leadership is being considered for SAU. Such a program would make SAU the only university in the southern half of the state to offer such a program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are few doctoral programs in education in the state,\u201d Lanoue said. \u201cThat has consequences. None are below Little Rock. We need homegrown leaders who will serve our communities in southern Arkansas. We need to grow and deploy those leaders successfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is a gap between the teachers we have and the teachers we need.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lanoue said education is in \u201ca bit of a crisis\u201d and a program at SAU would answer that problem. \u201cThere is a gap between the teachers we have and the teachers we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Such a program would have to be \u201cconsistent with our fundamental purpose and offer something unique to this area, that no one else offers,\u201d Lanoue said.<\/p>\n

It would likely emphasize rural education. \u201cWe think this would be attractive to students across the country and even around the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Courses recommended for modification were Marketing (to include retailing and sales), and Sports Management. Lanoue said the modifications would better \u201cconnect students with their career choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Courses recommended for deletion were: BA in Behavioral and Social Sciences; BA in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Digital Cinema Media Production, and Criminal Justice Certificate of Proficiency.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll three were simply not attracting enough students to remain viable,\u201d Lanoue said.<\/p>\n

Enrollment Forecasts<\/h3>\n

In his report to trustees, Berry said spring enrollment has surpassed 2016\u2019s enrollment. \u201cWe\u2019re very happy about that; that\u2019s not happening everywhere in the state,\u201d he said of SAU\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n

SAU has a total enrollment of 4,343 students, an increase of 150 students over last spring. Graduate enrollment was down slightly, but Berry said he looks for that number to rise this fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cApplications are up, acceptance is up, campus tours are up, and our prospective graduate enrollment is up,\u201d Berry reported. \u201cThe numbers are looking positive for the fall.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe have a goal to reach 5,000 students by 2025, and we are going to get there,\u201d Berry said. \u201cWe might get there before then.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he is optimistic about fall enrollment. \u201cApplications are up, acceptance is up, campus tours are up, and our prospective graduate enrollment is up,\u201d Berry reported. \u201cThe numbers are looking positive for the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, \u201cit\u2019s not just about the numbers,\u201d Berry said. He pointed to the recent accomplishment of Alycya Thomas, a junior theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., who has been hired to work on the Broadway production of The Lion King: The Musical<\/em>, this summer. \u201cShe is over-the-moon excited, and we are excited for her,\u201d Berry said.<\/p>\n

He also praised Morgan Morris, a student who will attend the Disney Leadership Academy in Orlando, Fla., next fall. \u201cAlmost never does Disney select a freshman for the Academy,\u201d Berry said. \u201cShe is the exception.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berry looks forward to seeing this past year\u2019s new course offerings continue to expand, such as cybersecurity (a growing field in which he said students will \u201cbe able to go right to work\u201d),\u00a0 and welding engineering technology.<\/p>\n

Other SAU Updates<\/h3>\n

Another new initiative that is expanding is SAU and Cuba\u2019s Artemisia University collaborations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going forward with our relationship with Cuba,\u201d Berry said, citing several faculty and student trips to the island nation. He said the president of Artemisia University will come to SAU in August to sign a formal agreement and SAU will reciprocate in February, establishing the first academic exchange between universities in Arkansas and Cuba.<\/p>\n

Berry turned to athletic improvements on the campus, particularly the ongoing fund-raising campaign for a new football scoreboard. \u201cThe scoreboard was put up in 1967, it is 50 years old. We\u2019re looking at one that will have a Jumbotron and we are halfway there in fund-raising. We hope to have this up by our first football game.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also said there are plans to build an Ag shop attached the Agriculture Center, and that the program plans to bring back swine production and poultry \u201cfor hands-on application.\u201d Farm operations will also be relocated, he said, to near Story Arena.<\/p>\n

SAU Tech Updates<\/h3>\n

Dr. Jason Morrison addressed the Board of Trustees for the first time as the new chancellor of Southern Arkansas University Tech. He began work on Jan. 3, 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a very quick two months,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are putting ourselves in position to see growth for the fall. We have a plan for what we want the future to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBack in January, we held an executive retreat and we put together a plan for the coming year,\u201d he said. \u201cWe wanted to put together a checklist of things we want to accomplish by the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morrison said there will be a \u201ccomplete review of all academic programs, to make sure they are in line with our local industrial needs and the requests from the students. We are in the process of moving to an RN program, which will be a tremendous boost to Tech\u2019s enrollment and meet the needs of our area in nursing.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said Tech now has a goal of 350 new students \u201cwho were not here last fall \u2013 that\u2019s up 111 over last year. We will be steadfast in growing our enrollment.\u201d<\/p>\n

SAU Tech is also seeking to expand \u201cby 48 beds\u201d by the fall, and will install solar panels to make residence halls more energy efficient and sustainable.<\/p>\n

A new graphic arts instructor will be hired to meet student demand. \u201cWe are bringing that program back; it was highly desired by students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Tech will also introduce a series of evening programs in downtown Camden geared toward non-traditional students. Courses on religion will be among those offered. They will be taught in eight-week blocks, which Morrison said will become more of the norm at SAU Tech.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a true standalone virtual campus for online classes. We will see those classes in shorter segments, shorter blocks, that will appeal to any student who wants to receive an education.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe will be re-doing our schedule to fit more with non-traditional students. We\u2019ll offer eight-week blocks so that students can see more accomplishments in shorter segments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tech has also launched a virtual campus, Morrison said. \u201cIt is a true standalone virtual campus for online classes. We will see those classes in shorter segments, shorter blocks, that will appeal to any student who wants to receive an education.\u201d<\/p>\n

SAU Tech has also \u201ccompletely revised its schedule,\u201d he said. Classes were \u201crecreated into a true block-scheduling format\u201d to accommodate students\u2019 needs. \u201cEverything fits into a block. Classes are not competing against each other. It\u2019s a work of art that we\u2019ve done in a short amount of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

SAU Tech will also start a choir, he said. \u201cWe have a director in place and next week we have our first audition. The singing in Camden is fabulous, it\u2019s amazing. It\u2019s going to be tough to beat the choir we put out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Small scholarships will help support the choir, he said.<\/p>\n

SAU Tech will also start a scholars program to recruit \u201cthe best of the best. We want to be peoples\u2019 first choice. We\u2019re going to raise money to help them go to school to cover their residential expense, $500 per semester for their residential housing.\u201d Leadership training would be included in the program.<\/p>\n

Morrison said SAU Tech will also \u201cbring back basketball\u201d for the community to rally around. \u201cBasketball is a good starting point for us and the community will connect with our institution.\u201d The sport will also provide the opportunity for recruitment, he said.<\/p>\n

SAU Tech Vice Chancellor David McLeane spoke about housing needs. He said Tech wants to increase its total capacity by constructing two new 24-person apartment units by fall of 2018. \u201cWe will have no problem filling those apartments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said he was seeking approval to enter a lease agreement with the SAU Tech Foundation for the construction of the two units, at an estimated cost of $1.7 million. The board approved his request.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday to adopt a resolution naming a new residence hall for science and engineering majors after Dr. Rudolph and Mrs. Sharon Eichenberger. Rudy and Sharon Eichenberger Hall will house about 78 students as the Science and Engineering Living and Learning Center. Work has already begun… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":564,"featured_media":5987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[271,94,308,276,16357,32641,7753,143,126],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5986","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-admissions","9":"category-college-of-science-and-technology","10":"category-community-corner","11":"category-engineering-engineering-physics","12":"category-featured-layout","13":"category-homepage","14":"category-student-life","15":"category-university-housing","16":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/564"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5986"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5986\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}