Students majoring in e-commerce at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Benton Center will work with the Saline County History and Heritage Society (SCHHS) to redevelop its website and enhance its digital presence.

Students enrolled in the Project Development and Portfolio Defense course are providing their services as part of their senior projects.

The senior projects employ service learning, an approach that integrates community service with academic study not only to enrich the student learning experience, but also teach civic responsibility and strengthen their community, according to UALR E-Commerce Program Coordinator Bruce Bauer.

“The students in this course are highly motivated because they see their efforts truly strengthening and making a difference in Saline County,” he said.

Bauer said the revamped SCHHS website has several goals, including to increase visibility and attract new membership.

Additionally, the students will help put historical collections online, market existing genealogy and heritage books, and highlight points of interest in the community. This includes highlighting area museums, other historical societies in Saline County, historical events, and the buildings in the Benton Commercial Historic District.

A section of downtown Benton has been designated a Downtown Historical District by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The society has many documents pertaining Benton’s downtown buildings.

Since the SCHHS website will house and maintain historical information about buildings in that district, the students will develop a walking tour of the downtown area using QR codes affixed to stickers at the entrance of buildings in the historic district, said Bauer.

“The walking tour will strengthen the sense of community in Saline County by promoting an awareness of the community history and directing walkers to a safe, level route,” he said.

Bauer said the walking tour could increase foot traffic in the downtown area and promote business there, while also promoting a fun, physical activity for the community.

“All of these efforts increase the ambiance and livability of the Saline County community,” said Bauer.

UALR launched its e-commerce degree in 2012. It is the only degree program of its kind in Arkansas and one of only five in the nation. It was also the first four-year degree program offered at the UALR Benton Center.

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