ASU restructures enrollment management division

Arkansas State University’s Enrollment Management division will take the lead in providing services to transfer students as well as management of the Registrar’s Office, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Dr. Bryan Terry said.

Adrian Everett will be the director of transfer services within Enrollment Management. Everett had a similar role within Academic Affairs, where he was an associate director and the transfer student services coordinator.

“A-State has a strong commitment to working with students who want to transfer to our campus here in Jonesboro to complete their degree programs,” Terry said. “By consolidating areas that were in separate divisions we can give a new focus to supporting all our transfer students.”

The Registrar’s Office also transfers into Enrollment Management as a part of this reorganization.

“Our goal is to streamline the process of admission, from the moment we encourage a student to go to our ‘Apply Now’ link on our website or to choose A-State in the Common App, to when that student is admitted to when that future Red Wolf comes onto campus as a first-year student,” Terry said. “Bringing all the steps under one roof makes it easier for our prospective students, and is an important part of our holistic approach to admission.”

Everett, a McGehee native, completed his bachelor’s at ASU in 2011 and his master’s in 2013. He was A-State Student Government Association president during his undergraduate years.

ASU’s current registrar, Tracy Finch, and her staff will now become members of the Enrollment Management area.

In other university business, ASU has received a $25,000 gift from the Rea Charitable Trust for the Bradbury Art Museum’s educational programming.

This brings the trust’s total giving history to $70,000 in the last four years in support of the museum’s increased emphasis on educational opportunities for youths.

“We are very appreciative for our education partners in the arts,” Dr. Carl Cates, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication said. “The critical thinking and analysis skills developed in the programming supported by the Rea Charitable Trust will positively impact countless students,”

Jacqueline Brightwell, director of BAM, commented, “We are truly grateful to the Rea Charitable Trust for their continued support of Bradbury Art Museum. Since 2016, their generosity has been pivotal in developing and enriching our educational outreach.”

Support from the Rea Charitable Trust will allow BAM to continue offering this public outreach, which has successfully engaged thousands of participants.

“The Rea Charitable Trust’s generosity has facilitated the development of BAM’s new summer program,” added education coordinator Haley Voges. “Our first art camps were a tremendous success, and growing interest suggests that trend will continue.”

An exhibition space adjacent to the museum is dedicated to display participants’ artwork created in BAM workshops, after-school programs and summer classes.

Classes for local youth are provided throughout the year. These include artmaking sessions, museum tours, and conversations about how to view and interpret works of art. Staff has found that continuity is a significant factor in program success. Accordingly, BAM now offers this after-school programming during summer months.

Each fall, high school students visit the museum, select an artwork, and in response create a new work and a written statement with their thoughts about that piece. This year, high schools from 11 local counties will be invited to participate. The program culminates in a competitive exhibition, “Inspired,” held at BAM at the end of each year.

The Rea Charitable Trust was created in 2009 with its primary purpose being the promotion of the arts.

Isabel McClintic Rea, born December 31, 1917, into a well-known Midland, Texas, ranching family, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. McClintic. After completing high school in Midland with the class of 1935, she majored in music at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va.

She married Bryce Rea Jr. and had one son, Charles Bryce Rea. Isabel Rea, who became known as one of Midland’s most talented pianists, died in 2004.