Campus Talk: UCA Receives $3 Million Award To Support Truck Safety Program
by June 23, 2015 7:30 am 148 views
Editor’s note: Each Tuesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Campus Talk,” a recap and deep-dive into education topics in our email newsletter, which you can sign up to receive daily for free here.
UCA RECEIVES $3 MILLION AWARD TO SUPPORT TRUCK SAFETY PROGRAM
The University of Central Arkansas has been awarded $3 million from the Arkansas Highway Commission to fund the university’s Commercial Truck Safety and Education Program. The funds will endow a chaired faculty position in the UCA College of Business to support and expand the Supply Chain Logistics Management program, beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year.
The program will train students in motor carrier operations, regulation, safety, risk management, transportation policy and labor relations, while also providing a well-rounded logistics and supply chain education.
The Arkansas Commercial Truck Safety and Education Program (ACTSEP) was enacted in 2013 to advance Arkansas interests in roadway safety primarily through increased regulatory compliance, industry training and education programs. The Highway Commission recently announced the award, along with awards to the Arkansas Highway Police and the Arkansas Trucking Association. UCA was the only higher education institution to receive funding.
INTERIM DIRECTOR NAMED TO HEAD PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION PANEL
The Commission for Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation selected Terry Granderson as the interim director of the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation. He replaces Dr. Charles Stein, who retired June 19.
Granderson, who will begin his new role immediately, currently serves as assistant director for the division, which ensures Arkansas public schools provide adequate and safe facilities and transportation for students.
The division inspects school buildings and buses, reviews building plans, provides bus driver training, and conducts license checks for bus drivers. The division also oversees the Partnership Project Program, which has provided $1 billion in state funding in seven years as part of a $2.5 billion construction program for school districts.
STUDY: TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS OUTPACE CHARTERS IN FUNDING
Traditional schools received an average of $2,706 more per pupil than charter schools in 15 states in fiscal year 2011, a gap caused by traditional schools receiving more public funding, according to a study released June 17 by the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform. Read more here.
MORE PARENTS OPTING OUT OF PAYING FOR CHILD’S COLLEGE EDUCATION, SURVEY SAYS
The vast majority of parents continue to see the importance of their child obtaining a college education, yet fewer are planning to help pay for it compared to just three years ago – down from 81% in 2013 to 75% in 2015, according to a recent survey by Discover Student Loans.
“Parents want their children to earn a college degree; however, paying for that education can be difficult. Nearly a quarter of parents surveyed said they cannot afford to help pay for any of their child’s college education,” said Andrew Hopkins, vice president of Discover Student Loans.
When asked how much responsibility their child should have in paying for college, nearly half of parents, 46%, said their children should fund at least some of the cost, while 45% of parents said they expect their child to pay for most or all of their education.
The price of college also appears to be affecting the decision-making process when choosing schools. Forty-eight percent (48%) of parents said they were limiting which college their child attended based on price, an increase from 44% in 2014. To see the full survey results, click here.
NATIONAL TEACHERS’ GROUP ANNOUNCES CODE OF EDUCATOR ETHICS MODEL
The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) recently announced the first Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE) to empower P-12 educators with a framework for the countless ethical decisions they must make in schools every day. The code will be released at a noon luncheon on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the National Press Club’s Zenger Room in Washington, D.C. To learn more, click here.