Higher Education Notebook: New scholarships available at ASU System, Fay Jones school | Arkansas Democrat Gazette (original) (raw)
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UA receives $1.5M to start scholarship
Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design alumnus Dan Tate, and his wife, Terry, have made a $1.5 million gift to the University of Arkansas architecture and design school.
The contribution establishes the Daniel Roger and Terry L. Tate Endowed Scholarship in Architecture, which covers full tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate architecture students in the professional-track program, according to the university. Recipients must demonstrate financial need, with preference given to students from the St. Louis area, where Dan Tate grew up and now serves as senior design architect with TR,i Architects.
Dan Tate said he hopes to help alleviate the financial concerns of students through the scholarship.
"Today, many students graduate with so much debt that it weighs them down from the very beginning," he said in the news release. "They're mortgaging their future just to create one, and that burden can limit their opportunities.
"I've always thought St. Louis is a place where more students should consider the University of Arkansas," he added. "Part of the idea behind the scholarship is to help expand the school's reach in that region and strengthen the connection between the Fay Jones School and the St. Louis design community."
Ecke named UALR dean of humanities
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has removed the "interim" label from Jeremy Ecke, who has been interim dean for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education since last year, following a national search.
Ecke's appointment will begin July 1, and his annual salary will be $197,270, according to the university. He replaces Sarah Beth Estes, the founding dean of the college, who departed last year.
Ecke, who previously served as associate dean for college operations and chair of the Department of English, graduated from the University of California at Davis, and he has a Ph.D. in English with Linguistic Emphasis from the University of California at Berkeley, according to UALR. He joined UALR in 2012 as an assistant professor of English.
1st-generation aid funds given to UCA
The University of Central Arkansas is one of five institutions to receive the TIAA Innovation Award, provided by FirstGen Forward with support from TIAA. The award provides institutions with $10,000 in unrestricted funds to put toward promoting success for first-generation college students.
UCA's award will allow students to work alongside faculty and staff who are assisting first-generation students in their academic careers, according to the university.
"This award will allow UCA to create the First-Gen Innovation Fellows program, a paid fellowship opportunity for first-generation students that will help identify, design and implement programs and opportunities that enhance the first-generation student experience and empower all students' success," said Robin Williamson, UCA vice president for student affairs, in a news release from the university.
FirstGen Forward is the center for first-generation student success, while TIAA provides secure retirements and outcome-focused investment solutions to people and institutions like UCA.
Stephanie Bannister, president of FirstGen Forward, said 54% of current undergraduate students identify as first generation. "College completion is a significant contributor to education, workforce and life success for the families of graduates," Bannister said in UCA's news release. "UCA has displayed a commitment to creating solutions that advance the success of their first-generation students."
ASU system offers adult scholarships
The Arkansas State University System is offering new, privately-funded scholarships for all of its institutions statewide.
Adults who are U.S. citizens, have been Arkansas residents for at least 13 months and have at least three years of life experience post-high school without attending college are eligible to apply, according to the system. Full-time or part-time students who want to attend classes either on an ASU System campus or through online courses are eligible.
"These funds are designed to assist adults who have reached a stage where they are ready to pursue college after previously experiencing challenges that made it impossible earlier in life," said Robin Myers, interim president of the ASU System, in a news release. "Applicants might also be adults who are ready for a career change or need certain certifications or degrees to advance in their career. Individuals who have served in the military since high school and are ready to pursue postsecondary education would also be possible candidates."
The scholarship amounts, and the number available, will be determined based on the number of qualified applicants for each institution, according to Jeff Hankins, a spokesman for the system.
Ryan Anderson covers higher education across the state. He joined the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in August 2022 after covering education — and other topics — for a decade at four newspapers in three states. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ryan attended DePaul University in Chicago and now resides in Fayetteville.