Campus Talk: Lynda Coon To Lead UA Honors College

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LYNDA COON TO LEAD UA HONORS COLLEGE
Lynda Coon, a professor of history in the University of Arkansas Honors College, has been named as the new dean of the college, following a national search to replace Bob McMath, who retired in August 2014. She will begin her new duties on June 1.

Coon is currently associate dean of fine arts and humanities in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Religious Studies Program in the college. In 1995, she helped launch the Honors Humanities Project in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The project is an interdisciplinary four-semester sequence of courses taught by teams of top professors.

Coon earned a bachelor’s degree in history at James Madison University, and her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Virginia. She joined the University of Arkansas faculty in 1990 and became a full professor in 2011.

HOUSE APPROVES REPEAL OF COMMON CORE TEST
House members overwhelmingly approved a bill to end the state’s participation in a national Common Core test on Friday.

The House voted 86-1 to approve House Bill 1241, which now heads to the Senate. Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, who sponsored the bill, said it was needed to help students, teachers and parents throughout the state.

If signed into law, the bill would end the state’s participation in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a Common Core test, by June 30, 2015.

ADVERTISING ON SCHOOL BUSES
On Monday, the Arkansas House voted 80-3 to approve House Bill 1495, sponsored by Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville. The bill would allow school boards to have an option of putting advertising on school buses as long as it meets state requirements.

If approved, the money raised from the advertisements could only be used for school transportation needs including paying for trips, Douglas told the House.

LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP BILL REVIVED
The Senate also reversed course Monday by approving a bill to modify the eligibility requirements for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Senators approved Senate Bill 5 by a 22-12 margin after the bill narrowly failed last Thursday by a 17-9 vote. Under the bill from Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, a student would have to have a minimum 19 ACT score to receive the scholarship. The funding for the scholarship comes through proceeds from the state’s lottery.

WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION NAMES NEW DIRECTOR
Karen Minkel will succeed Rob Brothers as the Home Region director for the Walton Family Foundation upon his approaching retirement in April. Minkel joined the foundation in 2012 and has served as senior research officer providing analysis and evaluation of grants. Her past experience in the classroom and in leading urban planning projects, along with public policy education “uniquely equip her as director,” according to Buddy Philpot, executive director for the foundation.