Sights & Sounds Blog

I’m about 10 days late in saying this, but, Happy New Year! We’re gearing up for the start of a new semester and with that comes plans for all the activities and events that lay ahead this year. As I did last year, I’m going to highlight some of the things you don’t want to miss in 2013.

January

The spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 14. Regular registration closes at 4 p.m. Friday Jan. 11, but late registration runs from Monday, Jan. 14 – Friday, Jan. 18. If you sign up for classes during this window, you’ll have a $100 late fee. Call 569-3110 for more information.

Welcome Back Week kicks off on the first day of class. Don’t miss any of the fun – and free – activities that Campus Life has planned for you.

February

Homecoming takes place at the end of this month. You can visit with the homecoming queen candidates and vote for the finalist around the 21st.

March

Homecoming continues on March 1 with the third annual cardboard boat regatta. Check out the video from last year’s hilarious race.

The Homecoming basketball game is on Saturday, March 2, against Arkansas State.

Students planning to graduate in May should attend Grad Fest held on from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 – Thursday, March 7.  This is a chance to take care of all your graduating needs in one place.

UALR’s Career Fair will be held Wednesday, March 13. This is the time to dress for success and meet with local businesses. You just might find your dream job!
I bet most students will be crossing off the days till Spring Break, March 18 – 24.

April

It’s always fun to check out the Spring Dance Concert. It’s starts Thursday, April 18 and runs through Sunday, April 21 in University Theatre.

May

The last day of classes is May 6 with finals beginning the following day. The biggest event this month is obviously graduation on Saturday, May 18.
Summer sessions I and II begin May 28. Summer classes are a great time to get ahead on your degree or just take a fun elective.

June

This month is typically a little quiet, but there are still plenty of students on campus attending their summer classes. New student orientation for EIT and Donaghey Scholars students will be June 6 – 7. Orientation for AAMI/AAFI/HLI students runs June 17 – 18. New CLC students will have their orientation June 20 – 21. Emails regarding attendance will be sent to the address provided on the student’s application. For more information, contact 569-3308.

July

New student orientation continues this month for the general population with an overnight session July 11 – 12. Contact the Office of Campus Life for more information, 569-3308.

Summer session IV begins Monday, July 8.

August

The last new student orientation will be held on August 2.
It’s back to school time! Entering freshmen must be admitted by the 14th and registered for classes by the 21st. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 19. One of our favorite things this month is to watch – and help – students move into their new homes.

September

This is a great month to check out the Trojan Soccer team at the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex.

October

Big news – UALR will have a Fall Break this year from Monday, Oct. 14 – Tuesday, Oct. 15.

The Music Department will present its annual Halle-Boo-Jah Halloween concert. All the musicians wear costumes while performing, which makes for a pretty interesting concert.

November

More big news – UALR is adding a day to its Thanksgiving Break. Classes will be out Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Friday, Nov. 29.

December

Classes end Monday, Dec. 9, and finals begin the next day. I don’t have a confirmed date for graduation yet but I would bet it’s on Thursday, Dec. 19. We’ll keep you updated of course!

At the beginning of a new semester, we try to make sure students have everything they need to get off to a good start. This includes reminders about where to park, how to track the trolley, and the importance of signing up for campus alerts.

The university uses a real-time messaging system to send alerts to your phone whenever there is a weather-related closing or other campus incident. It is the quickest and most convenient way to stay informed. You can receive text and/or phone alerts – both are free.

So when winter weather hits, there’s no need to get up and look out the window or watch the TV and wait (and maybe hope) and see whether UALR is listed on the screen.

How do you sign up? The Campus Alert site lists the steps involved, but I’ll include them here as well. Just go to the Personal Information section within your BOSS account. Select the last entry called Campus Alert Settings. Here you can enter a cell phone number to receive texts and another number to receive phone calls – those numbers can also be the same.

If at any time you no longer wish to receive alerts, you can select the opt-out box on that same form.

Two other things I want to point out regarding weather-related closings: UALR does not follow the decisions made by LRSD or PCSSD. The university makes its own decision regarding cancellations or closings. Also, if you forget to sign up for the alerts, you can always find out about cancellations or closings on the UALR homepage, on the official Facebook and Twitter accounts, and on local television and radio stations.

I came to UALR in May as the new web communications manager. My first day on the job consisted of the normal paperwork/initiation tasks, but a funny thing happened on the way to HR. It involved contorting balloons into what I now know is a buckytube formation for the next day’s nano building grand opening. Then and there, I realized that this would be no ordinary job. (more…)

This guest post was contributed by Zabelle Stodola, professor of English, emerita. In addition to her role in the classroom, she is fondly known to many as the voice of Speaking Volumes on KUAR.  (more…)

This guest post was written by Dr. John A. Kirk, George W. Donaghey Professor and Chair of History.

Gertrude Jackson once had a gunshot fired at her car. As a child, she walked nine miles to school each day. Jackson, who has lived in the Arkansas Delta for more than 80 years, has seen her share of struggle but it is her giving spirit and tenacity that make her so remarkable. (more…)

We all have that one class. The one that provoked us, opened our minds to a new way of thinking, frustrated us to no end sometimes, but also inspired. (more…)

We often turned to Joan Duffy to write the obituaries of noted campus folks, past and present. She enjoyed digging into people’s history, pulling out interesting parts of their lives that people would want or need to know.

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Back by popular demand, guest blogger Jon Vickers from nursing shares the seasonal fashions our students might be sporting this month.
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Grayson Shelton’s day job is in a dark, quiet office a stone’s throw from campus proper, a far cry from the stages he graces as frontman for a local indie band. (more…)

We have so much to be grateful for at UALR. Today, we’d like to give our thanks to the people who have made a difference. (more…)