UPC looks at raises for faculty, staff
The University Planning Committee met this afternoon with Dr. Les Wyatt giving updates on employee raises; the $5 class drop charge; and the latest legislative issues affecting higher education and ASU. Dr. Wyatt stated that he hoped the upcoming special session planned by Gov. Huckabee for Sept. 8 would allow consideration of budget issues for higher education. He added that there is some doubt as to whether the special session will even occur in September; it may be in October or November.
     Dr. Wyatt said the primary purpose of today’s meeting was to discuss raises for ASU employees.   The administration has identified $2.1 million from various sources which can be allocated to raises.  He will recommend to the ASU Board of Trustees at the next meeting, Friday, Sept. 12, that classified employees receive a 2.7 percent salary increase, and non-classified employees receive a 3 percent increase (based on merit), retroactive to July 1.  Also, $250,000 will be designated for the CLIP program.
     He also stated that the $5 drop fee had become obsolete, since the university had gone “paperless” when students dropped classes. The recommendation to the Board of Trustees will be to discontinue the $5 fee. Also, the name of the “Hiring Freeze Committee” has been changed to the “Hiring Review Committee.”

New master’s degree program makes strong start
ASU is the first institution of higher learning in the state to offer a master of science in nurse anesthesia. There has not been a program in the state since the 1970’s! The first group of ASU students began the program this summer, following completion of a few core courses this past spring. The nurse anesthetist program at ASU is a 28-month program with 71 credit hours required for completion. There are 11 students enrolled, according to Sue Campbell, coordinator of the program for the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
     Nurse anesthetists are one of the 10 most heavily recruited healthcare specialties among hospitals and healthcare institutions. Critical shortages for nurse anesthetists occur all over the nation as well as in Arkansas. Until now, Campbell said, students attended nurse anesthetist programs at either Charity Hospital in New Orleans, or in Birmingham, Ala., or in Texas. The cost of the entire program is $27,000, which includes all fees to complete the program. It is a special fee program, unique to any other graduate level degree in the university.

New exhibit at the Museum: Indian Wars
A new permanent exhibit on the Indian Wars has been completed at the museum. Artifacts on exhibit include a McClellan saddle, a buffalo coat, an 1826 map showing the westward expansion and more.  Some weapons on exhibit are a Tower of London 1862 musket which was probably a trade rifle, a Model 1878 Sharps-Borchardt “Old Reliable” single shot rifle, pistols, arrows and an 1860 Staff and Field Officer’s sword.  The ASU Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.  Admission is free.  For more information call the museum at (870) 972-2074.

MSE in curriculum and instruction offered at Beebe
ASU–Beebe has announced that ASU-Jonesboro will offer a master of science in education in curriculum and instruction at Beebe, beginning this fall. The MSE in curriculum and instruction prepares individuals to be licensed as a curriculum specialist, as a director of special education or as a director of gifted and talented programs in K-12 schools. Other ASU-Jonesboro graduate programs available at ASU-Beebe include the master of science in educational leadership, master of science in nursing, and the master of business administration.

Wilson Hall: Closed on Aug. 17-18
ASU will be participating in a community-wide disaster drill on Monday, Aug. 18, in Wilson Hall. Beginning at approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17, Wilson Hall will be closed to all faculty, staff and students. Emergency personnel, fire and police officials, along with many individuals from across the campus will be working on the mock disaster, according to Lori Roach ASU safety administrator.

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