University of Arkansas notebook

New requirements in graduation draft

FAYETTEVILLE -- Gaining familiarity with concepts of diversity and demonstrating principles of ethical reasoning would be among new, formal requirements for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students as a draft proposal from faculty members moves closer to possible approval.

Ten learning outcomes developed by the General Education Core Curriculum Committee will be discussed at a meeting Wednesday open to UA faculty and staff members, and students.

The outcomes would have to be met by all undergraduates, regardless of major. Existing state minimum core requirements -- 35 semester hours in English/communication, mathematics, science, fine arts/humanities and social science -- would remain in place, with the new learning outcomes used to guide the content of courses considered as satisfying requirements.

Faculty senate chairman Kevin Hall said at a Thursday town-hall-style meeting that the proposal would likely be considered for approval by the faculty governance group this spring. David Jolliffe, chairman of the core curriculum committee, said that, if approved, the requirements would be in place no earlier than the fall of 2019.

Science ed award goes to McComas

FAYETTEVILLE -- A University of Arkansas, Fayetteville science education professor has been honored with a national mentoring award.

Bill McComas received the 2018 Outstanding Science Teacher Educator Mentor of the Year award from the Association for Science Teacher Education.

The nonprofit professional organization describes itself as having more than 800 members from various countries.

A former student, Peggy Ward, now a clinical assistant professor at UA, nominated McComas for the award, with other former students also writing in support of him.

In 1998, McComas, at the time a professor at the University of Southern California, was named the association's outstanding science teacher educator.

2 engineers now academy members

FAYETTEVILLE -- Ajay Malshe, a University of Arkansas, Fayetteville mechanical engineering professor, and Carolina Cruz-Neira, a University of Arkansas at Little Rock computer scientist, have been named to the National Academy of Engineering.

The organization's membership votes to bestow the honor, and potential members must be nominated for consideration.

Malshe's specialty involves nanomanufacturing, and he is the founder, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Springdale-based NanoMech Inc. Cruz-Neira studies applications for virtual reality and leads UALR's Emerging Analytics Center. She joined the UALR faculty in 2014.

Six living Arkansans are academy members, according to the organization's website. Former UA Chancellor John White said he believed Malshe is the first Fayetteville faculty member to be honored based on work done while at UA, according to a UA statement. White is also a member of the academy.

Grant to aid study of terrorist attacks

FAYETTEVILLE -- A $716,000 National Institute of Justice grant will support work by University of Arkansas, Fayetteville researchers studying where terrorist attacks are planned and carried out.

"With the case information we have, we can start to identify the spatial patterns that show terrorists' preferences," Grant Drawve, a UA assistant professor, said in a statement.

Brent Smith, director of UA's Terrorism Research Center, is the lead investigator for the project, which is focused on terrorism in the United States.

$75,000 to assist student mentors

FAYETTEVILLE -- A $75,000 grant from the Suder Foundation will support a scholarship for mentors taking part in a new University of Arkansas, Fayetteville program.

The First Scholars Mentoring Incentive Scholarship will be awarded to eight student mentors each year who are taking part in UA's Arkansas Student Talent Enrichment Program (STEP) to Success program.

The program uses data models that predict student outcomes to decide who receives help. Last fall UA notified first-year students of their selection to receive either need-based financial awards up to $10,000 or mentoring.

The Suder Foundation is based in Plano, Texas, and was founded in 2008 by Eric Suder, according to the organization's website. Suder is a technology entrepreneur who founded Estech Systems Inc., a business communications company.

Ex-chancellor gets Ohio alumni award

FAYETTEVILLE -- John White, former chancellor of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, has received a distinguished alumni award from Ohio State University.

White earned a doctorate from the university, which honored him for his efforts in engineering education.

Nominations for university's distinguished alumni awards are judged by a faculty committee.

White served as the UA's top administrator from 1997-2008 and is a UA industrial engineering professor.

Metro on 02/18/2018

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