Harding University
Rhodes-Reaves Field House
- $2.7 million current estimated cost
- Expanded entrance space with hospitality/meeting room on the second level overlooking reserved seats on the west side of the court
- Additional practice gym
- New basketball dressing rooms
- A total of 13,000 added square feet
Ganus Activities Complex:
- Estimated $4.8 million renovation establishing Suzanne and Rodney Waller Recreation Center
- Primary entrance expansion
- Replaced flooring for raquetball courts and group exercise room
- Two-story weight room on the north end of the gym
- New gym floors, basketball goals and partitioning curtains
- Suspended track at second level
- New restrooms and locker rooms
President Bruce McLarty announced the start of a campus read program called Harding Read beginning fall 2016. The American Studies Institute, Brackett Library and First Year Experience contributed ideas to the creation of the program, which encourages the campus community to read a book together and engage both in and out of the classroom. McLarty has chosen Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Metaxas as the book for the school year.
Arkansas State University
Aspen Prize Award: ASU–Beebe was selected for the third time since 2011 to be included in the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the prestigious Aspen Institute. The university was chosen from among 1,123 community colleges nationwide to compete for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million in prize funds
Safety on Campus: ASU-Beebe has been ranked first among the top 450 colleges in the nation for Safest Colleges and Universities by StateUniversity.com, based on the Clery Act reporting. ASU-Beebe has a University Police Department on its Beebe, Heber Springs and Searcy campuses. The police officers are fully certified and authorized to protect the person and property of students and of the university community. Security awareness and crime prevention programs are conducted by the University Police throughout the year.
Searcy Campus: Whether students need job skills in a year or less to enter the workforce or are looking to complete bachelor's degrees or beyond, ASU-Beebe offers degree options at a very affordable price. At $98 per credit hour, we offer the lowest tuition in Central Arkansas. For students looking to quickly enter the workforce, the Searcy campus offers technical and occupational programs along with workforce and economic development. This past spring, technology programs in auto body and automotive received accreditation from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
New Vice Chancelor of Academics: Dr. Kerry Mix of Houston has been selected as the new Vice Chancellor
of Academics at ASU-Beebe. Mix career spans 16 years in higher education, with
broad experience in multiple areas of community college, particularly
administration of career and technical education. Most recently, Mix served as
Dean of Business and Technology at San Jacinto Community College District in
Houston, which serves more than 35,000 students. Mix replaces Dr. Theodore
Kalthoff, who served as the vice chancellor for Academic Affairs since 2005.
Kalthoff is currently serving as vice chancellor for the Searcy campus until
January, at which time he will retire with more than 40 years of service in
academics.
Searcy Public Schools
Enrollment: 4,070 students; district employees: 244 certified, 166 classified
New administrators: Principal of Sidney-Deener Elementary School Caroline Nail, and Principle of Westside Elementary School
"Community Connections: Celebrating Searcy": Searcy High School's EAST program is kicking off a new project with help from a Beyond the Bell grant. The project, "Community Connections: Celebrating Searcy," will create an interactive web-based map of local businesses to encourage Searcy residents to shop locally. SHS EAST will partner with the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce to develop the map. (exerpt from The Daily Citizen)
EAST Inititative: Ahlf Junior High School received grant and starting the EAST program for the first time. The EAST Inititive benefits the students by teaching them problem-solving skills they will use throughout their lifetime. Students will also have the chance to create solutions for problems in our community utilizing technology. We at Searcy Public Schools are proud our students will have access to state-of-the-art equipment and curriculum at the junior high level as well as senior high.
Health Kids Ambassador: Third grade students at all elementary schools will participate in the Unity Health "Healthy Kids Ambassador" program through a partnership with Unity Health.
Capturing Kids Hearts: Southwest Middle School and Ahlf Junior High School teachers and administrators will practice new strategies for engaging our students after participating in the "Capturing Kids Hearts" program during professional development week.
Riverview Schools
Fine arts center: This fall, Riverview School District will begin the construction for a 25,000 square foot fine arts center that will hold a new auditorium and all fine arts classes.
1:1 School with Apple: Riverview School District is now a 1:1 school with Apple. Each student has their own device they use as a tool to learn with each day. Students in grades K-2 use iPads and students in grades 3-12 are issues MacBook Airs. Students in grades 9-12 have the option to take them home with parent permission. We are renewing our commitment to Project and Problem-Based Learning at Riverview High School and our new technology initiative will allow them to take some broad steps forward.
"Can't Stop This Feeling" Music Video: As a culture building project to start the year, the high school students and staff created a "lip-dub" showing off all the great things happening at Riverview. Click here to watch the music video by Riverview High School students.
Harding Academy
LEGO Club: Robotics program has added a LEGO Club to promote and fulfill interest in STEM (science/technology/engineering/mathematics)
Expansion: Harding Academy has expanded several grade levels in the Elementary School to include three sections of each of those grades.
Building expansion possibility: Harding Academy is currently looking at the possibility of expanding their building to add additional classroom space for the 2018 school year.
