Campus News

President’s Concert soloists announced

— From left: Casey Williams, Aaron Schaefer, Hunter Mabery, Josiah Burns, Bobby Humphries, Kenneth Harris, Zaquary Hale.

Henderson State University’s Department of Music will present its annual President’s Concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Russell Fine Arts Harwood Recital Hall.  The program features student soloists selected as winners of a competition in November.

“The opportunity for some of our best students to perform solo works accompanied by an orchestra, including members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, is one of the highlights of our entire year,” said Dr. Steve Becraft, coordinator of the competition. 

Soloists include: Bobby Humphries, a percussionist from Everton, who will perform a marimba transcription of the Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso; Casey Williams, a tenor from Malvern, will perform “Una furtiva lagrima” from Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore; Hunter Mabery, a pianist from Murfreesboro, will perform the first movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor; Kenneth Harris, a tubist from Texarkana, Texas, will perform a transcription of Capuzzi’s Concerto for Double Bass; and Aaron Schaefer, a tubist from Navasota, Texas, will perform The Carnival of Venice. 

Competition judges also awarded honorable mentions to Josiah Burns, a baritone from Van Buren, and Zaquary Hale, a flutist from Bryant.

The concert will honor Dorothy Morris of Hot Springs, CEO of the Morris Foundation, and a supporter of the arts.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Becraft at 230-5412 or becrafs@hsu.edu.

Henderson, NPC, COTO form alliance

— From left: Dr. Glen Jones, Dr. Steve Rook, Dr. John Hogan, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Dr. Maria Markham

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the Southern Arkansas Regional Alliance (SARA) Wednesday between Henderson State University, National Park College (NPC), College of the Ouachitas (COTO).

The institutions collaborated to form the alliance in response to the governor’s Closing the Gap 2020 master plan for higher education. The goal of the regional alliance is to create an innovative and collaborative delivery model for higher education and workforce development initiatives in Arkansas that will prioritize student success, degree attainment and workforce development ahead of tradition and turf. The agreement also includes strategies for creating institutional efficiencies through shared resources.

“Our partnership will create greater opportunities for the students in our region,” said Dr. Glen Jones, Henderson State president. “We will establish more seamless degree options and increase student degree attainment throughout south Arkansas as we simplify transfer pathways between our institutions.

“We look forward to serving as a catalyst for economic development in south Arkansas as we work with leaders and communities to promote stronger cooperation, industry engagement and branding throughout our region.”

Dr. Maria Markham, director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE), noted a number of initiatives have been announced in response to the governor’s call. The Higher Education Productivity Funding Model is a productivity-based approach that emphasizes student success, as well as access.

She explained that Wednesday’s announcement, which includes two of the state’s community colleges and one four-year university, will allow these institutions to prioritize student success, degree attainment and workforce development in Arkansas.

Dr. Steve Rook, COTO president said, “Alliances of this type are fairly common within community colleges but not necessarily with a mixture of both two-year and four-year institutions. The alliance allows the three schools to set up a framework that will promote student success and workforce development in our region.

“While the two-year schools focus on meeting our primary mission within our service areas, the additional help from Henderson State will be instrumental to the alliance’s success. The MOU will be the center of the relationship for the three of us as we work together in higher education and economic development promoting the student success in our area.”

NPC President Dr. John Hogan said, “Our main goal is to increase degree completions for our service areas by compressing time to degree and eliminating wasted coursework which will result in keeping quality graduates in the area. NPC has prioritized expansion of transfer agreements for Garland County students.

“We believe this alliance will help strengthen our efforts in that area.” He noted, “This alliance is not a merger and it is not exclusive to NPC, COTO and Henderson State. We look forward to welcoming other institutions who may contribute to the group’s mission.”

State Sen. Bruce Maloch said, “Alliances between our state-funded universities and colleges are an excellent way for these valuable members of our communities to utilize resources most efficiently. In addition, they will work to help students reach their career goals and our communities to remain vibrant.”

Society of Physics Students honored]]>]]>

The National Chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has named Henderson State University’s SPS chapter a 2015-2016 SPS Outstanding Chapter. This is the highest level of distinction given by the national organization and is awarded to less than 10 percent of all chapters each year. This year, only 61 of 781 chapters from across the nation received the designation.

 The SPS Outstanding Chapter Award selection process is conducted by the SPS National Council. Rankings are based on a rubric measuring the level of SPS activities conducted by the local chapters in areas such as research, outreach, tutoring, involvement in physics meetings, providing social interaction for chapter members, and participation in SPS regional and national programs.

 Dr. Shannon Clardy, associate professor of physics, is Henderson’s SPS faculty advisor.

 

Henderson State completes migration to Blackboard Learn

In fall 2014, Blackboard Learn announced that support for the ANGEL 8.0 Learning Management System (LMS) platform would end in October 2016. Clients on the ANGEL platform were offered Blackboard Learn as a replacement.

The Office of Instructional Technology used the migration as an opportunity to implement suggestions and requirements set forth by the Higher Learning Commission, other accrediting bodies and Henderson’s strategic plan. 

Staffing resources shifted, and the migration plan provided faculty development training workshops that included the basics of creating content in Bb Learn, creating tests and assessments and migration sessions.

The plan also implemented a new workflow. Courses are created in development shells and then reviewed by department chairs before the courses are released to live production courses. The workflow provides faculty members with a place to create clean copies of their courses. It also draws colleagues and chairs into the creation of online course content. The new workflow brings into focus the practice of copying content from development courses to semester production courses rather than copying from semester production courses to subsequent semester production courses. This action means that courses start out fresh and new each semester. 

The migration officially kicked off in fall 2015 with a group of faculty member pioneers who had advance access to Bb Learn. The feedback received from this group was invaluable for fine-tuning the Henderson State site. Some of the pioneers used Bb Learn in the spring of 2016 to deliver content to students, and this practical experience helped with the migration.

During the spring semester, Instructional Technology launched a comprehensive training program. Five workshops ranging from basic to advanced were offered; workshops were held an average of 20 hours per week from spring to summer II. The two summer sessions saw an increase in delivering content through Bb Learn. During this time, Henderson delivered content through both ANGEL and Bb Learn.

The Bb Learn platform is more responsive to a wide variety of devices.  It is possible for students to use mobile devices to check due dates, read material, watch videos, and more within the online environment. Students can easily see upcoming assignments and notifications without needing to access each course. In fact, they can get phone notifications for new information if the mobile app is installed.  It is also easier to find grades.  Faculty members have found the creation of content to be more intuitive and easier to use in Bb Learn.  Bb Learn allows for numerous features that were either unavailable or cumbersome to use in Angel, like rubrics, YouTube videos and the calendar. 

The creation and management of courses and accounts is less labor intensive.  The use of Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integration and Building Blocks allows faculty members to seamlessly integrate textbook publisher sites and content into their courses, many of which offer grade return to their Bb Learn courses.

As of Sept. 1, Henderson became a Blackboard Learn campus.

Flutist to present alumni recital

Flutist Brian Luce will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 in Henderson State University’s Russell Fine Arts recital hall.

Luce’s performance is part of Henderson’s 125th Anniversary Alumni Recital Series. He is a 1991 graduate of Henderson where he studied flute under David Etienne. Luce will be accompanied by May Tsao-Lim on piano. The recital is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature selections from Jeux (Sonatine) by Jacques Ibert; Chansons de “Bilitis” by Claude DeBussy; “Caprice No. 24” from Trans. Lambros Demetrios Callimahos by Niccolo Paganini; Sonatine by Henri Dutilleux; and Sonata No. 12 “The Hungarian Sonata” by Christopher Caliendo.

Luce is professor of flute at the University of Arizona and a Yamaha performing artist. He has performed as principal flute of the Champaign-Urbana, Midland-Odessa, and Johnstown symphony orchestras, and has performed with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Bach Society, Dallas Wind Symphony, Keystone Wind Ensemble, and the Tucson Chamber Orchestra.

As a soloist, Luce has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Korea, Japan, and China. He has been featured at numerous music festivals, his performances have been broadcast throughout the U.S., and his recordings are recommended references by music education associations.

Luce previously taught at universities in Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

Henderson is celebrating its 125th anniversary by presenting a performance series showcasing some of the university’s best alumni musical talent. Other upcoming concerts include: organist Kay McAfee & Friends, March 4; pianist Andre Duvall, March 11; and trumpeter Tom Strait, March 31.

For more information about Henderson’s 125th anniversary and special events, go to hsu.edu/125.

Professor to bring 3D printers into classroom

As technology continues to evolve, so does its integration with education. A professor at Henderson State University will soon bring 3D printers into K-12 classrooms to help turn students’ ideas into reality.

Dr. Matthew Sutherlin, assistant professor and chair of curriculum and instruction for Teachers College, Henderson, used a $5,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Education to purchase three 3D printers, along with handheld 3D scanners, and other supplies.

Sutherlin will provide professional development for teachers, but he also plans to introduce the technology to students in public schools through an afterschool program.

“This technology will start to permeate the curriculum,” Sutherlin said. “It’s really based on that concept of project-based learning. These are tools that can be used to facilitate the process of doing research, looking at a real world problem, and developing solutions.”

3D printing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file using a printer similar to a common inkjet printer. A 3D object is created through an additive process by laying down successive layers of material until the entire object is created. Instead of ink, a plastic filament is used.

“You have a filament and a heated element at the top,” Sutherlin said. “The melted filament comes out through a nozzle, and just like a hot glue gun, it lays out a strip of plastic and keeps adding layers on top of each other.”

Virtual designs are created using computer-aided design (CAD) software, or with special scanners to make a 3D digital copy of an object. “Our handheld scanners will allow students to scan in their designs and print them out,” Sutherland said. “It can even scan a person’s entire body.”

Sutherlin said the goal is to integrate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with the arts to give students a hands-on experience.

“It’s a theory of learning that involves taking an idea and making something physical out of it,” he said. “I see it as being more of the ability to understand, from a conceptual and practical standpoint, where they can make their own ideas a reality. Maybe they want to make a cell phone cover. From a skills-based standpoint, they have to know the math and understand the engineering components.”

Sutherland said the process goes far beyond the notion of being able to print something that’s physical based on an idea. “We have to understand how it works,” he said. “And when we’re working with the students, it’s about stressing those components as much as it is about the ‘wow’ factor of the printers.”

The 3D printers vary in size and capabilities and can produce a wide range of products, ranging from utensils and replacement parts to musical instruments, automobile parts, and even human tissue.

An afterschool program at Arkadelphia and Fountain Lake public schools will start this fall.

“The students will work with different concepts – everything from green architecture to design thinking – to produce different inventions or ideas they have for architectural structures,” Sutherlin said.

The program will target grades 3-6. “We want to get them using this early so by the time they get to high school, they will have already had some experience with the technology,” he said.

At Henderson, professional development sessions with the printers will start this fall. They will also be used in arts integration and creative arts course, and will be a component of Henderson’s STEM Center. Sutherlin worked with Henderson’s STEM Center and Education Renewal Zone in writing the grant request.

Henderson’s physics department already uses two 3D printers for student projects in its Engineering Design course. A third printer will be purchased this summer.

“Our project this past spring was to design an autonomous robot capable of intelligently navigating a maze to extinguish a candle,” said Dr. Rick McDaniel, professor and chair of physics. “Many of the parts, including the wheels, were 3D printed.”

Gala raises more than $83,000 for Henderson

Henderson State University celebrated its 125th Anniversary with a spectacular gala April 23 at the Hot Springs convention center. Almost 600 guests attended the event that raised more than $83,000 for scholarships awarded through the Henderson Foundation.

“We exceeded our expectations,” said Jennifer Boyett, vice president for university advancement. “This is something unlike we’ve ever done at Henderson. I think the response was so overwhelmingly positive that numerous alumni and friends hope we’ll make this a tradition.”

Boyett said the generous financial support will enhance Henderson’s general academic scholarship endowment designed to provide aid to students with great financial need and who demonstrate a propensity to succeed.

Henderson alumnus James Barnes and his wife Terry pledged $1.25 for every living Henderson alumnus in commemoration of the university’s anniversary, Boyett said.

“James came up with a great idea, and we are very grateful,” she said. “Their contribution alone totaled $30,000.”

Entergy Arkansas Inc., Summit Healthcare Providers, and Southern Bancorp provided platinum sponsorships for the event. Gold sponsors were BBA Solutions and Huffman & Co., Charles and Anita Cabe, Horizon Capital Partners, and SCM Architects. A total of 58 tables were sponsored.

Shannon Curtin, a 1999 Henderson graduate, served as master of ceremonies. Curtin is an accomplished business executive who created a consulting firm specializing in assisting retailers, manufacturers, and private equity firms with strategic planning.

The gala program included a 125th Anniversary tribute, donor perspectives, student stories, a message from Henderson President Glen Jones, and a variety of entertainment performed by Henderson students.

“I just can’t say enough about our students,” Boyett said. “Our music, dance, and theatre students, along with the art students who shared their works, were second to none.”

Boyett also commended alumni donors Larry Williams and Matt Vines for their inspirational presentations and for challenging alumni to “give back” to Henderson.

Student speakers Itzela Cruz and Elijah Sullivan were “shining examples of the types of students we want to support,” Boyett said.

The Henderson Foundation continues to accept donations.

“We want to keep building the general academic scholarship endowment, and we welcome any other way that alumni and friends of the university would like to contribute,” Boyett said. “Several have reached out with a desire to start a scholarship to honor a family member or a friend.”

Contact the Henderson Foundation at 870-230-5347.

“Our students need the support,” Boyett said. “We are very grateful for everyone who gives back.”

As Henderson anticipates less support from the state in meeting the educational needs of its students, the university’s strategic plan is focusing on alumni giving and other sources of revenue including a comprehensive fundraising campaign and doubling the university’s endowment.

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