Every year about this time I am reminded of how much I love working at UALR.

It’s not just the two-week break we get around the holidays, although that ranks high on the list. Imagine all the baking and gift-buying without the stress, not to mention getting to jump back in bed after coffee in the morning to finish a book or watch the Today Show.

It’s much more than that.

Today a co-worker, Robin Mizell, and I were discussing the wrap-up of UALR’s United Way campaign. Our Communications Office was in charge of it this year, or rather Robin was. We’re very close to meeting our goal. That’s something I love about UALR. Our employees have big hearts, even in years when we get no raises.

Also, every year the Staff Senate sponsors a food drive for families in need over the holidays. Last month, employees donated a record amount of food and money to ensure that 125 families received food baskets and grocery gift cards before Christmas. Fortunately, one basket was still available when a family called at the last minute with an emergency request.

About 45 percent of our employees have also already pledged gifts this year to the university’s campus fundraising campaign, and many have volunteered for other campus causes.

I also wish someone had told me earlier in my career about the giant benefit of working at a state higher education institution: TUITION DISCOUNT. Employees get a 90 percent tuition break at UALR. Their kids get a 50 percent discount. My youngest son was enrolled here when I joined the university five years ago; what a money-saver during his last two years.

His adviser helped him find two valuable paid internships in Little Rock; the second one turned into a great job as a construction engineer at VCC (the internship-turned-job experience happens a lot at UALR).

Not to sound cheesy, but what I really like most is working at a place where people are the bottom line. Students who get jazzed about learning or thinking more, who seek knowledge to graduate, get a job or a better job, or who want to find a way to make a difference in society. This makes coming back to work after two weeks off completely worth it.