Small campus, ‘liberal’ education valued by UofO president

story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg
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Dr. Rick Niece, president of University of the Ozarks and the final 2010 speaker for the 360 Leadership Series, talked about the value of a small campus and a “liberal education.”

The 360 Leadership Series was created by a group of John Brown University graduate alumni whose mission is to provide professional development, networking opportunities and spiritual growth for Arkansas River Valley professionals.

Raised in a small town (pop. 900) in Ohio, Niece attended a school that housed all classes, grades 1-12, in one building. After graduating from high school, he attended Ohio State University where he received a bachelor’s of degree in English and speech. His master’s degree and doctorate are from Kent State University.

Niece began his professional career in education as a high school English and speech teacher, and he subsequently held a variety of administrative positions at the public school level. In 1988, he left public school sector to enter higher education and in 1997 was named president of University of the Ozarks in Clarksville.

The university was Niece’s first topic. While sitting on a “history bench,” he noted a date, 1864, and the notation,“Union forces burn campus down.” He called his wife, Sheree, and asked her to come to the bench. Niece told her, “Our job is to rebuild this campus,” and that is what he said they have worked toward during the past 13 years.

He also related how they get to know the students by having a series of freshmen dinners and then a senior dinner before graduation. In addition, they have about 125 students watch the Super Bowl with them.

Statistically, 630 students attend UofO.

“We don’t want to grow beyond 750,” Niece noted.

Seventy percent of the students live on campus. The average class size is 13 and it only offers undergraduate degrees. There are 90 international students with 60 of those part of the Walton International Studies program. Since 1985, 95% of those students have graduated and returned to their countries to give back.

There are only 10 private colleges in Arkansas and only 10% of all college students attend a private college. However, 20% of all college graduates in Arkansas come from private colleges and 34% of students graduating with a natural science degree attended a private college.

In 1971, College of the Ozarks established the first program in America to educate higher education students with learning disabilities. From a handful of students and a few dedicated faculty members, this program has grown to the fully staffed and equipped Jones Learning Center on the Ozarks campus.

Niece also talked about the value of a liberal arts education. He said the phrase came from Latin and means “arts worthy of free people.” Niece said UofO teaches students how to make a living and also to live bestowing on them values, ethics and principles.

“We were funded as a liberal arts college linked to theological doctrine,” he noted. “As part of the Presbyterian Church, we teach that complex questions do not have simple answers. And we encourage seeing beyond self and self satisfaction. We believe in caring about others in addition to yourself. I have rediscovered a sense of community on this campus.”

Niece is also the author of a recently published book, “The Side-Yard Superhero,” which is the first of a trilogy that drifts back to small town life and simpler times. The book has been described as inspirational and motivational. Niece described the book as “automythology,” a work of non-fiction about what we think we remember and how we remember it.

In the book “Ricky” is a newspaper boy who delivers the paper in a small town every afternoon on his bike. He has 75 customers and saves his money in order attend college. Niece read a section about Bernie Jones who is confined to a wheelchair with severe cerebral palsy. After a rather awkward first meeting, they became great friends. Every day Ricky would start their visits by reading the comic Dick Tracy to Bernie.

Spring 2011 360 Leadership Series will begin Feb. 3 with Rick Schaeffer, host of a call-in show, basketball and baseball color analyst and football game day host on Arkansas radio broadcasts. March 3 will feature Judith Tavano, SPHR, founder of genMatters.