UAFS Board hears graduation, funding reports

Graduation rates, a change in higher education funding and more than $1.4 million in savings from changes in operations were part of a packed agenda heard by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Board of Visitors.

The meeting, held Tuesday (Dec. 6) at UAFS, also included comments from UAFS students Cody Holt and Casey Millspaugh.

Expected to soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Millspaugh said his ability through UAFS studies to visit China, tour Baldor Electric facilities and job shadow with Van Buren Chamber President Jackie Krutsch clearly showed that “borders are being eliminated” in the world of commerce.

Holt, expected to soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree in animation technology, said he is confident the instruction gained through UAFS studies and unique study experiences in Peru will give him a leg up in the growing and lucrative industry. Holt is hopeful he will land a job with industry giant Pixar Animation Studios.

GRADUATION
Dr. Ray Wallace, provost and senior vice chancellor at UAFS, said 473 students are candidates for fall graduation. Of those, 287 could receive bachelor’s degrees. But, to hedge his bet, Wallace said if 10% of those eligible fail to complete their course, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded at the fall graduation will be up 26% compared to the 2010 period.

“Either way, it will be a huge increase for us,” Wallace said.

Of those graduating, a 16% increase in student graduation is expected to come from applied sciences, 35% from bachelor’s degree programs, 58% from nursing degrees and 49% business degrees, Wallace explained.

For the 2011-2012 year, UAFS has been approved to add the following curriculum:
• Minors in geology, geography, physics;
• Certificate program in teaching English to speakers of other languages;
• Certificate in coaching endorsement; and,
• Certificate in community leadership.

PERFORMANCE FUNDING
A big change to face all Arkansas public universities beginning in 2013 is a move to “performance funding” models. Act 1203, approved in the most recent Arkansas General Assembly, seeks to create more graduates in high demand fields, focus on success of underserved populations, provide efficient and cost-effective instruction measured by degree completion, and create more collaboration among the state’s two- and four-year higher education institutions.

A key aspect of the program is that in the first year it pulls 5% of a university’s funding aside to be awarded later based on performance. The upfront budget reduction grows to 25% by the 2017-2018 budget year. Performance measures include end-of-course enrollment, student retention, student progression toward credential completion, an emphasis on high-demand STEM courses (science, technology, engineering and math), student transfer activity, and research activity.

Dr. Brenda Mitchell, associate provost for Academic Affairs, has helped represent UAFS during the past several months of meetings to determine guidelines for the new performance funding model. She believes the progress UAFS was making prior to implementation of the model will give the university “a leg up” and will place it “ahead of the goals” of the performance model.

Michael Barr, president of Harry G. Barr Co., and a member of the UAFS Board of Visitors, asked if the model would create a more healthy “competitive environment” among the state’s universities. UAFS Chancellor Paul Beran said the “fly in the ointment” of the formula is that the universities are not beginning the new approach from a “level playing field” in terms of funding. However, he did note that the performance model “will lead to some level of competition for those (state) dollars.”

IMPROVED OPERATIONS
Dr. Kyle Parker, vice chancellor of operations at UAFS, spoke briefly about his efforts in the past few years to modernize as many aspects of the university infrastructure as possible. He said the bottom line to the changes is more than $1.4 million in cost savings for the university.

A detailed written report to the Board of visitors showed $528,178 in savings from lower electric bills as a result of changing lightings systems, using LCD computer screens, switching from physical servers to virtual servers and other equipment changes.

Using “thin client” technology instead of buying the usual personal computers, Parker estimates the UAFS saved $141,680. Switching to “TimeForce” software for electronic time cards saved UAFS at least $100,000.

Nothing appears to be too small for Parker’s cost-cutting programs. UAFS landscape maintenance crews fixed 50 “long-standing irrigation leaks,” and rain sensors are being installed on timers to “substantially reduce water usage” during rainy periods. Savings from the irrigation leaks amounted to an estimated $11,000 a year, according to Parker.

Members of the UAFS Board of Visitors are: Barr; James O. Cox, Sebastian County Circuit Judge; Paul Harvel, president, Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce; Eileen Kradel, attorney, Washington Regional Hospital; J. Michael Shaw, attorney; and Peggy Weidman. There are three vacancies on the board.