December 4, 2023 To the Members of ASMSA’s Community of Learning: Specialized high schools like ASMSA possess a unique blend of resources, expertise, and nationally recognized programs that position them as catalysts for broader educational advancement. Leveraging these attributes to develop curricula for increasing the capacity of teachers and expanding STEM opportunities statewide is not only a strategic move with multifaceted benefits but also a central component of our legislated mission. Since the earliest years of ASMSA’s history, distance education and digital learning have been a part of the school’s work. The reasons are simple: by expanding STEM opportunities beyond the boundaries of our campus helps bridge the gap in access to quality education. Not all students have the privilege of attending such institutions, but by disseminating specialized curricula, resources, and programs, we contribute to to leveling the playing field, thus fostering a more equitable educational landscape. For years, ASMSA’s Office of Distance Education provided turn-key live coursework through compressed interactive video. When the Arkansas Department of Education announced plans last decade to streamline its digital learning efforts through the creation of Virtual Arkansas, ASMSA saw both a need and opportunity to reapproach how we could make a difference in the state. Instead of simply offering courses, we could scaffold those experiences with ongoing professional development for teachers. In turn, the program is more than just filling short-term gaps year by year; instead, we are building exceptional capacity in local educators to provide meaningful and rigorous experiences in AP Computer Science, AP Biology, and AP Statistics. This year alone, just shy of 4,000 students and educators across Arkansas will benefit from STEM Pathways. Creating specialized curricula tailored to train educators enhances the overall standard of STEM teaching, benefiting students in schools across the state. This initiative doesn't just augment educational quality but also cultivates a network of proficient teachers capable of inspiring future generations of innovators and problem solvers. By taking a leadership role in disseminating educational best practices, ASMSA reinforces our own expertise as well as that of our exceptional faculty. It presents an opportunity for continuous improvement through feedback and collaboration with educators statewide. This two-way exchange of knowledge not only benefits the broader educational community but also enhances ASMSA’s own programs, ensuring they remain at the forefront of educational innovation. This strategic initiative isn't just about extending influence; it’s about enriching the entire educational ecosystem for the collective benefit of students and teachers across the state. Sincerely,
Corey Alderdice ASMSA Director
Office of the Director December 2023 Quarterly Report Corey Alderdice, ASMSA Director By the Numbers • 26% (62 out of 237) of school districts statewide are benefiting from ASMSA’s STEM Pathways program this year. • Since 2017, the STEM Pathways initiative has seen a 275% increase in the number of students enrolled in the program annually. • The ASMSA Foundation Fund will host a 30th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The theme for the event is “Ignite, Illuminate, Inspire”. Facilities and Campus Master Planning Construction continues on the new Campus Administration Building. All structural framing as well as the outer shell have been completed on the facility. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work has progressed over the last month floor-by-floor. As of early December, the roof system has arrived on site, and installation work will begin shortly. Window installation will begin this month as well. The project remains on schedule for a spring 2024 completion. A live feed of the construction site is available at https://cab.asmsa.org. Discussions on the transition from the hospital space will begin in earnest in January as campus units finalize details for relocation of faculty from the Pine Street Wing of the former hospital complex into the current Academic and Administration Building. Art classroom spaces will also be relocated. ASMSA leadership has been in discussion with City of Hot Springs officials on the transition of the Maintenance Department from the Cedar Street Wing to the structures behind the Student Center. Nominal renovations will be necessary on those spaces to provide a secure office space. Trustees, Stakeholder Visit Highlights Facilities Growth and Student Success A special convening of members of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, local legislators, campus officials, and other ASMSA stakeholders in October presented an opportunity to highlight the school’s progress on two key fronts. Director Alderdice led an overview session of ASMSA’s growth over the past decade along with highlights of the $35 million to date in the physical transformation of campus. Faculty and staff conducted additional sessions on three key elements of ASMSA’s “Student Success Framework.” The systems of support help ensure the academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted and talented adolescents are met through ASMSA’s residential experience for talented and motivated young Arkansans. Slides from both sessions are available at the following link: https://asmsa.me/oct23trusteesslides. Two feature articles from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette summarized both topics: ASMSA continues campus transformation from hospital to school https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/oct/14/asmsa-continues-campus-transformationfrom/ Student support key to success at ASMSA https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/oct/16/student-support-key-to-success-at-asmsa/
STEM Pathways Program Sets Record Enrollment for Third Consecutive Year For the third year in a row, the STEM Pathways program at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts set an enrollment record. The hybrid online learning and teacher professional development program is serving 3,863 students across the state through its Computer Science Plus, Advanced Biology Plus, and Advanced Statistics Plus cohorts as well as by providing curriculum for additional educators during the 2023-24 academic year. The program set a record last year with 3,315 students enrolled throughout the three cohorts. The Computer Science Plus program is serving 3,124 students and 62 teachers across the state. There were 2,912 computer science students statewide enrolled during the 2022-23 academic year. The Advanced Biology Plus program is serving 323 students and 24 teachers as well as an additional 312 students and 31 educators who use the program’s curriculum in their classroom. The Advanced Statistics Plus initiative is in the second year of its pilot program. It is providing curriculum and support for six instructors and approximately 100 students. The STEM Pathways program began in 2015 with the creation of the Coding Arkansas’ Future initiative. That program offered high schools across the state the opportunity to expand their computer science curriculum while receiving guidance and professional development from ASMSA staff members. While ASMSA instructors taught some computer science courses for schools through digital learning, the main emphasis was preparing educators to gain licensure in computer science through the Computer Science Plus program. That includes offering summer boot camps to introduce teachers to computer science. Those teachers receive guidance throughout the school year from ASMSA, including continuing professional development through weekly video meetings and a follow-up camp at the conclusion of the academic year. The goal is to prepare those educators to earn their license to teach computer science while also becoming the primary computer science teacher at their school. The program expanded in recent years to offer a middle school coding block and the Advanced Biology Plus program. In the Advanced Biology Plus program, instructors around the state receive professional development from ASMSA’s life science specialists in the instruction of AP Biology. ASMSA’s biology teachers guide camps prior to the beginning of the school year and then help educators prepare their curriculum for the year as well as provide unique lab learning activities that the individual schools may not be able to offer otherwise. STEM Pathways is made possible in part by an annual grant from the Arkansas Department of Education. Schools and educators interested in participating in STEM Pathways can begin enrolling for the 2024-25 academic year by contacting Kagebein at kagebeinl@asmsa.org. Additional details are available online at https://asmsa.me/digitallearning. ASMSA Offers Online 2024 Solar Eclipse Professional Development for Educators ASMSA is offering online workshops for Arkansas educators on how to lead a safe and effective eclipse viewing session of the 2024 solar eclipse for their students. Portions of Arkansas will be
in the viewing path for the April 8, 2024, total eclipse. To help teachers prepare for the event, ASMSA physics and astronomy instructors will lead the workshop, which are open to any public, private or charter school educator in Arkansas. Home school educators are also invited. All grade levels are welcome, and each workshop is limited to 20 educators. The sessions are not open to students. Sessions are set for Dec. 2, 2023; Jan. 20, 2024; and March 9, 2024. Topics include: When to schedule your viewing session; How to choose a viewing site; Constructing safe viewing devices for the partial phase of the eclipse; Sources for safe solar viewing glasses for the partial phase of the eclipse; and Citizen science projects your students can participate in during the eclipse. Every educator who attends a session will be given access to training materials to use in their classes and will be mailed a starter pack of 20 eclipse glasses. For more information or to register for a workshop, visit https://asmsa.me/eclipsepd. Six ASMSA Seniors Named Questbridge Finalists, 2 Earn College Matches Six seniors at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts have been named 2023 QuestBridge National College Match Finalists. QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that connects exceptional low-income youth with leading institutions of higher education. QuestBridge works with top universities across the country to offer four-year, full scholarships to deserving students who may otherwise be unable to afford to attend those institutions. ASMSA students selected as a Finalist include Parker Hance of Conway, Elizabeth Show of Bismarck, Tim Palmer of Mena, Ivy Hong of North Little Rock, Xander Napier of Lamar, and Shea Stabila of Pangburn. QuestBridge partnered this year with 50 colleges and universities to offer scholarships at institutions such as Duke University, Rice University, Stanford University, and others. Students apply for the scholarships through QuestBridge’s free National College Match application. They may list up to 15 of the partner schools at which they would like to be considered for admission. Finalists who receive a match will be notified on Dec. 1. Finalists who do not receive a match for a scholarship will still be eligible to be considered for regular admission to partner schools and may still receive financial aid in the future. In 2022, more than 1,700 Finalists were matched with a participating institution. Match Scholarship recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth more than $200,000. The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses. All Match Scholarship packages have no parental contribution or student loans. Napier received a match with Grinnell College. Stabila received a match with Amherst College.
Chemistry Instructor, Alumnus Publish Academic Paper Dr. Burt Hollandsworth, a chemistry instructor at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, and Blayne Griffin, a member of ASMSA’s Class of 2021, recently published a research article in an international academic journal. Hollandsworth and Griffin are among the co-authors of an article included in the current issue of Polyhedron, an international journal for research in inorganic chemistry. It publishes original, fundamental, experimental, and theoretical work that focuses on the areas of inorganic chemistry. The paper shares findings of research about the synthesis of highly colored iron coordination complexes with interesting magnetic properties that are of interest as sensors for small molecules, Hollandsworth said. Visit https://asmsa.me/bhpaper23 to read the paper. Griffin and Hollandsworth are set to have a second paper published in December in Mendelleev Communications, another chemistry journal. Hollandsworth is in his second year as an ASMSA faculty member. He previously served as a chemistry instructor at Lyon College in Batesville. It was there that Griffin, who is in his final year of study at the college, served as a member of Hollandsworth’s research team. The two met while Griffin was a senior at ASMSA. Student Artists Chosen for NWA Exhibition Seven Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students have been selected to participate in the 5th Annual Arkansas High School Artists Competition and Exhibition sponsored by Historic Cane Hill and the University of Arkansas School of Art. Students who had artwork selected for the exhibition include: Yared Belete, a senior from Marion, “Self portrait as a villain,” acrylic painting; Avery Binuya, a senior from Lamar, “Lavender Spring Ware Rice Bowl and Saucer,” two wheel-thrown ceramic pieces; Lilly Hardin, a senior from Hot Springs, “Individuals,” pen and ink drawing; Lyla Hill, a senior from Hot Springs, “Lazy Clown,” digital painting; Natyleigh Jenkins, a senior from Benton, “Moth,” charcoal portrait; Gwen Oliver, a senior from Jonesboro and Oxford, Miss.; “Reflection,” sculpture, and “You’re So Beautiful,” oil painting; and Ciara Stephens, a senior from Cherry Valley, “North Winds,” acrylic painting. The students’ pieces will be on exhibition at the Historic Cane Hill Museum Gallery in Canehill from Nov. 18 through January 20. The exhibition will open with an artists reception at 2 p.m. on Nov. 18. Participants in the exhibition were chosen through a competition for any Arkansas high school student currently in the 10th through 12th grades. One senior will be awarded the Historic Cane Hill Young Artist Scholarship, a $10,000 scholarship to help cover one year of tuition and fees to attend the University of Arkansas School of Art. Historic Cane Hill is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the historically significant structures of Cane Hill as well as western Washington County in Northwest Arkansas. The organization seeks to build on the legacies of architecture, education, and the arts by providing programs and a venue to experience art and culture rooted in the history of the region and the Ozark Mountains. To learn more about the organization, visit historiccanehillar.org.
Academic Affairs December 2023 Quarterly Report Stuart Flynn, Dean of Academic Affairs Closing the Fall Semester involves collaboration across the academic units as we prepare for final exams while also planning for Spring Semester. From the concurrent course drop date on November 10 to the Christmas holiday, the academic leadership and support staff are engaged in academic interventions for students in grade jeopardy, Spring Semester course scheduling and course registration, college planning, and identifying research and internship opportunities for students. November and December are also important months for Capstone courses as students start preparations for the February Science Fair and demonstrate progress on Arts & Humanities projects that students will present in May during Symposium. By the Numbers • 7 student artists selected to participate in the Arkansas High School Artists Competition and Exhibition. • 3 concerts presented by Dr. Tom Dempster and Dr Nathan Groot and their wind, string, and jazz ensembles and 5 concerts involving ASMSA Choir students. • 9 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. • 14 students earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy. Since the program began a few years ago, 86 ASMSA students have earned the Seal of Biliteracy. Academic Job Searches In December and January, we will post for three instructional positions: computer science, music, and math. Student interest in computer programming has never been greater, and we will hire a second computer science instructor to teach foundational courses as well as higher level programming. Our music program continues to grow as we now feature wind, string, and jazz ensembles as well as Choir, and we look to hire a music instructor to help manage wind ensemble, teach music theory, assist with Capstone programming, and give lessons to brass students. Our Math Specialist, who taught residential classes to ASMSA students while mentoring math teachers statewide, left to return home out of state, so we are looking to fill a similar role for the Fall 2024 school year. Project 75 A reference to the state’s number of counties, this learning model would potentially offer virtual AP courses to students across Arkansas. With that in mind, last summer, seven ASMSA instructors earned AP certifications in physics, math, and english. The initial COVID outbreak demonstrated the importance of virtual learning alternatives, and as educational choice expands, it is crucial that students have varied opportunities to study with experts in all academic fields no matter where the student lives. ASMSA’s Teaching & Learning Committee is developing a proposal for a pilot program that could begin in Fall 2025.
Course Catalogs Over the last six months, with final edits completed in November, academic leadership has revised, reformatted, reorganized, and expanded the ASMSA course catalog to reflect all ASMSA course offerings, including prerequisites set by the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) for each concurrent course, and the course catalog is available for viewing on the ASMSA website. This work has also included a thorough review of the UAFS course catalog, the Memorandum of Understanding between ASMSA and UAFS, which articulates the formal arrangement between the two campuses, and collaboration with UAFS academic staff to ensure alignment on all course descriptions, course objectives, and prerequisites.
Office of Student Life December 2023 Quarterly Report Rheo Morris, Ph.D., Dean of Students The ASMSA office of Student Life is currently in recruitment season for live in staff. We have recently wrapped up Graduation Regalia. By the Numbers • The Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Masters Social Worker have conducted ninety-six individual counseling sessions and one family therapy session for the month of September. • The Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Masters Social Worker have conducted one hundred and five individual counseling sessions, three group therapy sessions, and three crisis interventions for the month of October. • The Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Masters Social Worker have conducted one hundred and nine individual counseling sessions, four group therapy sessions, and three crisis interventions for the month of November. • Ninety-eight students have received counseling services thus far this semester. Residential Programming The focus this semester has been on community building. Since the pandemic, we have seen decline in relationship building efforts amongst students. As a result, we have focused on lots of building-wide programming. There was a BBQ held during the month of September, where staff provided hot dogs and hamburgers for students. There was music, karaoke and other entertainment. The objective was to create a space where students could socialize and get to know each other in a social setting. During September, there was also a floor Olympics programs where students competed against each other in activities like volleyball and Tug-o-war for bragging rights. The goal for this program was to create/nurture floor pride while teaching friendly competition. In the month of October, the building-wide programs focused on Halloween. There was a pumpkin carving program using cardboard pumpkins. It was a lower impact program that was tailored to our creative students, but also our introverted students who desired less interaction. Additionally, there was a Halloween dance that included a costume competition. In November, SGA sponsored a Fall Fest where registered clubs were given the opportunity showcase their club and fundraise if they desired. It had a great turnout. Staffing Residence Life staff lost two female staff members who left for other opportunities. Although all floors have at least one staff member currently, we are in the season of recruitment. We have plans to expand our search by utilizing placement exchanges. The main placement exchange will be the Oshkosh Placement Exchange (OPE) in Wisconsin.
Office of Admissions and Outreach December 2023 Report Jason Hudnell, Director of Admissions Fall 2023 has been a busy time for the office of Admissions and Outreach. Dr. Hicks, ASMSA Outreach Coordinator led a group of ASMSA students and staff to Osaka, Japan in October. ASMSA Admissions staff have visited several schools across the state as well as hosted several admissions events on campus. We have seen great response from seventh graders across the state in our first year of ASMSA-TIP. By the Numbers (Data from October 1-December 1) 27 Personal Campus Tours were given 13 Shadow Stays 317 Reply Cards submitted 16 families attended September Preview Day 35 students participated in October and November MASH-up events 32 students have submitted applications and will receive an ACT voucher in accordance to the Upward Promise. (Deadline has been extended to December 11) 165 students have registered for ASMSA-TIP Trip to Osaka, Japan In October, 12 ASMSA students and 3 faculty traveled to Osaka, Japan as part of our Sister School program with Tennoji High School attached to Osaka Kyoiku University. Students lived with host families for 6 days, experiencing both the cultural highlights of the Osaka and Kyoto prefectures and the day-to-day life of Japanese high school students. Students returned to ASMSA eager to continue studying Japanese and anticipating April 2024, when ASMSA will welcome the Tennoji delegation to campus for their own homestay experience. November Preview Day ASMSA hosted a Preview Day on November 11th. 16 families from all across Arkansas spent a half day on our campus learning more about our community of learning. We have already seen many of those students take the next steps of registering for a shadow stay or a personal tour of campus. ASMSA MASH-up On Saturday, October 14th, 13 students in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade explored mystery literature and the mysteries of the universe. Dr. Mary Leigh, Humanities Instructor and Chair of Humanities, helped students learn to identify the mystery elements in Sherlock Holmes and analyze their own Encyclopedia Brown mystery to solve the case. Dr. Jack Waddell, Physics Instructor, took
advantage of the annular Solar Eclipse to teach the students about solar eclipses-- including a viewing session from the Student Center Courtyard. On Saturday, November 4th, 22 students in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade crawled headfirst through a virtual tour of the Paris Catacombs while practicing their French with Mr. Bryan Ieamsang (French Instructor). Students learned quickly while experiencing what an immersive language class is like at ASMSA. After a brief break, Dr. Allyn Dodd (Biology Instructor) broke down the benefits of low-waste living and taught students to make their own deodorant and beeswax food storage wraps. The next MASH-up is Saturday, February 2nd, 2024. ASMSA-TIP 165 seventh graders from across the state have registered for the inaugural year of ASMSA-TIP. Being a part of this program allows high achieving seventh graders to take part in “above level testing” by taking the ACT exam. Participants also can take advantage of monthly newsletters and quarterly webinars. The ASMSA-TIP initiative is seeking to provide a sense of community among these students and parents. To that end the first ASMSA-TIP webinar which will be held on December 11th will focus on the idea of building community among gifted students and families. 2024 Admissions Application Update The admissions application is now open and applications are coming in daily. As of December 1st, thirty-two students had submitted their application while another 102 students had started the process. We look forward to admitting another quality class of incoming students for Fall 2024.
Office of Institutional Advancement December 2023 Report Ashley Bennett, Director of Institutional Advancement It’s been an exciting first semester at ASMSA. As I immerse myself in the community, I am diligently working on cultivating a network of individuals who are deeply committed to the growth and success of ASMSA. One of my primary objectives is to establish meaningful relationships with our valued community partners, alumni, and dedicated parents, both past and present. While nurturing these connections requires time and effort, I am pleased to report that our initial meetings have been met with success and connecting me to others within the community through the referral process. This is incredibly helpful. In addition, I have taken proactive steps to introduce myself to our current parents, well in advance of any solicitations for Giving Tuesday or End of Year giving campaigns. By furthering these relationships, we aim to create a solid foundation for future philanthropic endeavors. As we transition into the spring season, our focus will shift towards securing more sponsorships for our Gala event. Simultaneously, we will continue to nurture relationships with parents, alumni, and friends who generously contributed during the fall season. While there is much work to be done, and it takes time to build a substantial portfolio, I do feel positive about its direction.
By the Numbers Quarterly FY24 Funds Raised: $43,043.95 ● Pipeline ○ $28,608.95-UA Foundation ■ Ross Grant-$5,000 ■ Shell Oil-$2,000 ■ Campaign Page-$7,435 ASMSA Giving The ASMSA Foundation (IA) is supporting the Office of Admissions in its pursuit of the ASMSA TIP (Talent Identification Program) for the state of Arkansas to provide ACT vouchers for low-income families, which was launched this September. We have received $1,700 from the Arkansas Community Foundation and $5,000 from the Ross Foundation in support of this effort. We will continue to pursue other grant opportunities to help support this initiative. We have awarded several ACT vouchers to students to alleviate the financial burden from parents. We have also awarded our Helen Selig grant to instructors working on expansion of their pollinator garden, used to help teach students. Additionally, we have supported our student body through the wellness grant we received from United Way, awarded 15 gift cards through our Happy Endowment for students that need the extra funds around the holidays, helped another student with additional music lessons, and much more.
Network for Good Our new giving page launched on October 25th, and has provided us with opportunities to reach constituents in easier ways. It is still a work in progress but it does seem to be more user friendly, allowing tax receipts to be distributed upon donation automatically. I have made significant efforts to create contact reports for individual donors. This is significant information to have when meetings are held with individuals and/or companies. Previously, it does not seem that contact reports were a priority. I want to shift this in my office. This creates electronic written records for discussions held and information significant to the school for development. In tandem, trying to actively update data in our donor platform has been an ongoing tedious process. There are many constituents with little to no information, or outdated contact details. Though this can be a time consuming process, it’s important to maintain accurate data in order to pursue relationship building and donations. I have updated somewhere in the range of 180-200 contact details since October. Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation ASMSA is preparing to submit its first grant proposal to the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation in support of STEM Pathways, which is significant to the success of advanced placement courses in Arkansas. STEM Pathways is offered to high school’s across the state to expand their computer science, biology, and statistics curriculum. Pathways offers professional development from ASMSA instructors through guide camps offered before the school year begins. They then help the educators prepare their curriculum and provide lab activities that these schools may have not been able to offer previously. Some of these schools have little to no resources for this kind of learning, making ASMSA a pioneer of educational equity for Arkansas. We are continuously looking for ways to expand this program, and it will require significant investment to be able to offer courses such as Chemistry, which has a huge need in the state, Precalculus, and Physics if we are able to do so. End of Year Giving End of year giving is often coupled with Giving Tuesday for annual giving pipelines, not major gift prospects. I sent my first introduction email to parents in October, which was important for establishing a name with constituents that I have never engaged with previously. This was paramount for attempting to build relationships and a new portfolio. My first direct mail appeal is going out in December. Approximately 30% of annual giving comes from year-end giving pushes for most institutions. This is based on a number of factors. Size of institution, timing, do you have a good end of year campaign, is this something your institution does on a regular basis. FY24 trials are great for establishing FY25 goals.
ASMSA Giving Tuesday The national Giving Tuesday was hosted on November 28th, 2023. As this was my first Giving Tuesday with ASMSA, I did not have a goal in mind for the day. We raised a total of $6,360 from 42 individual donors, 19 of which were brand new donors, and a few were in lapsed status or SYBUNT status of giving. The average donation for this day was $142. This is encouraging news for ASMSA, and particularly for me as the new director where I am working on building my portfolio and relationships with constituents at ASMSA. Our approach to the day was strategic with email follow up from the parent introduction reminding everyone that it was Giving Tuesday. Then text messages were sent out day-of to parents, alumni, and friends. Followed by a final email at the end of the with a match offer. This is data that can be used to prepare for FY25, and helps to start building a foundation of annual givers. Next year I plan to incorporate more phone calls from both me and the student ambassadors. ASMSA 30th Anniversary Gala The Gala will be held on May 4th, 2024 at ASMSA to honor the 30th anniversary of the school. Ticket prices and table sponsorship prices have been set with a reduced price to encourage employees to attend. The website where sponsorships and individual tickets have officially launched. I will be contacting the city and the Chamber to have them added to their calendars for the community to be aware.
Human Resources December 2023 Quarterly Report Nia Rieves, Director of Human Resources & Campus Culture The ASMSA Office of Human Resources continued with recruitment efforts and began preparation for FY24 recruitment efforts, hosted the annual employee recognition and wellness day, engagement events, coordinated the timeline and submission for faculty advancement applicants, and continued work with the 30th anniversary committee to plan and schedule spring events. By the Numbers • Recruitment for six positions will begin in December • Five instructors applied for the FY24 Faculty Advancement Plan • Eight employees were recognized for years of service in October Recruitment Recruitment efforts continued during the fall semester and the challenges in the job market played a significant role in the quantity and quality of applicants. We staffed a Custodian position in October and an offer has been extended to a Residential Experience Coordinator. Our Admissions Coordinator search resulted in an internal candidate being selected to begin July 1. We have several expected openings for FY24, and advertising has begun for the positions listed below. Music instructor Computer Science instructor Mathematics instructor Computer Science Specialist Annual Giving/Alumni Coordinator Technology Support Specialist Due to need, we will continue to staff three adjunct instructor positions for the spring semester in Music, Turkish, and Choir. Employee Engagement ASMSA continued to hold monthly celebrations for birthdays on campus to recognize our employees and create an opportunity to interact with colleagues while recognizing employees. We held our second annual Employee Appreciation/Wellness Day in October. The day began with a campus breakfast where employees were recognized for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, & 30 years of service and gifted with service pins and ASMSA apparel as well as lunch. We recognized 3 employees for five years of service, 1 employee for ten years of service, 1 employee for fifteen years of service, 1 employee for 20 years of service, 2 employees for 25 years of service, and 1 employee for 30 years of service. In December, we will have a holiday sock exchange for employees wishing to participate as well as a holiday spirit week with different themes each day. We will host a holiday celebration on December 14 at Rolando’s Restaurante. Employees, and a guest, are invited to attend and celebrate with colleagues while building relationships and community.
Human Resources December 2023 Quarterly Report Nia Rieves, Director of Human Resources & Campus Culture We will host a welcome back lunch on January 2 along with professional development events during the week of January 2-4. On January 5, we will host lunch and an engagement event for all employees off campus. Faculty Advancement Plan Submissions for FY24 advancement were due on November 15. Review of applicants and supporting documents will begin in December and the committee will be evaluating in January. We had five submissions for advancement this year. 30th Anniversary The 30th Anniversary committee continued to meet monthly to plan events for the spring semester. We are working with two alumni, who are professional performers, to schedule mini concerts on campus during the spring semester. These events will be open to employees, supporters, and the community. Plans are underway for the 30th anniversary gala to be held on May 4, 2024. Ashley Bennett, Director of Institutional Advancement, is leading the efforts in planning this event with the help of a gala subcommittee. Professional Development ASMSA will offer professional development opportunities in January when faculty and staff return from winter break. Topics will include CPR/AED, Narcan training by Hot Springs Police department, understanding and working with 504 plans, tips for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and aligning personal values with organizational values. Virtual training on general employment practices and performance reviews will be assigned to all employees in January. Departments will be assigned specific training targeting department responsibilities and needs. Wellness Program Employee wellness opportunities were shared during back to school in August. As part of our wellness program, all employees have the benefit of 1.5 hours of paid wellness time each week. This can be used to participate in campus-based activities, fitness center usage, or exercise beginning and ending at ASMSA (such as walking, running, cycling). This semester we have had employees participate in strength training and yoga, the campus book club meets monthly, and we have hosted healthy eating potlucks monthly. We had five employees participate in the Spa Running Festival in November. Our wellness day in October offered employee opportunities to attend multiple sessions featuring wellness experts to learn about health and wellness education, fitness activities, relaxation techniques and treat employees to chair and hand massages. We also offered a flu shot and COVID booster clinic for employees on that day.
Student Government Association December 2023 Quarterly Report Daniel Nkunga, SGA President The Student Government Association is concluding a successful Fall Semester. With multiple events, fundraisers, and meticulous planning, the first half of the year has not only been productive but also profitable for the SGA. After the Thanksgiving Break, there was notably less activity within the organization, but this decrease has not been due to a lack of effort. The majority of the last few weeks has been spent planning for the upcoming spring semester, and SGA is prepared to finish the rest of the school year strong. By the Numbers • Fall Fest raised $1,127.50 for the school, which SGA split into the club fund, SGA fund, and charities chosen by clubs for fundraising. This marked one of the most financially successful events in SGA history, and we anticipate a continued rise in profits in the upcoming years. • Thanks to both Fall Fest and a concurrent Slice the Price Fundraiser, SGA has accumulated $947.25 for the SGA fund, bringing the total to $1,614.50 before the Polar Express Event on Friday, December 8th. • The Club Fund currently stands at $2,006. Although spending is more controlled compared to previous years, it still lags behind the rate of spending half of the club fund by the end of the semester. Fall Fest Though Fall Fest was a substantial undertaking, beginning only a few weeks into the semester, it proved to be highly rewarding, generating a total of $1,127.50. Six clubs contributed to charity, raising a total of $273 for different charitable organizations. The remaining $854.50 was evenly divided between the Club Fund and SGA Fund, resulting in both funds gaining $427.25. This success is one that the Executive Board of SGA would like to continue, but its continuation ultimately depends on next year's club leadership. The meeting to decide this is scheduled for Friday, December 8th, and SGA holds high hopes for its future success. Bills Passed The Finalization Committee, comprising the SGA Executive Board and two representatives from each grade, convened with Director Alderdice and Dean Flynn on Tuesday, November 5th, 2023, to discuss the bills passed during the General Assembly this semester. While the complete texts of all bills are available on the SGA website, it's worth noting that all four bills were passed with minimal amendments to their content. In addition, we received commendation for conducting the "fastest meeting" concerning bill passage. In the upcoming semester, the Executive Board will actively encourage representatives to propose more bills, especially addressing smaller concerns within the student body and suggesting constitutional amendments for the following year.
Other Events In addition to Fall Fest, SGA has organized various events catering to the Student Body. Since September, we conducted a Spirit Week culminating in the Halloween Dance, distributed motivation candy ahead of the PSAT, collaborated with licensed social worker Maddisyn Karn for a cooking decorating event, and hosted a Polar Express night. While our events may have been smaller in scale compared to last year's Student Interest and Wellness Committee, they have consistently garnered similar turnouts and have proven to be more cost-effective to maintain. Next Semester The final preparations for this semester involve planning for the next one. Winter Formal has already been rescheduled to January 13th next semester, and we are actively working on the logistics of the event. With the recent passage of legislation, the Executive Board now has the flexibility to conduct elections earlier in the semester. Currently, we are planning to initiate the election process during the week of January 15th to ensure SGA becomes fully functional as soon as possible. The last major planning initiative for the Executive Board is related to the Senior Trip. Although the activity remains a topic of discussion, we aim to finalize a date by the end of this semester, if not early into the next one.