The Board of Trustees approved dedicating additional rights of way for the third phase of the University Loop extension. This would take place by extending University Loop to the west under the Marion Berry Parkway to connect to Aggie Road. Once approved, work will start this summer and it is designed to connect the loop around the University to allow for better accessibility to the University. This is an 80/20 federal to Arkansas State University match.
The ASU Board of Trustees has approved the current weapons policy throughout the Arkansas State University System. The current policy does not allow for carrying concealed weapons on any campus in the system, and it is expected to be continued for the next year. According to state law, universities across the state are to readopt the policy every year.
Also, the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott is seeking accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. The Board of Trustees will consider a resolution seeking accreditation.
The Board of Trustees also approved a resolution to establish the maximum number of legislatively authorized provisional positions for all campuses. They are 300 provisional positions for ASU-Jonesboro, 100 provisional positions for ASU-Beebe, 40 provisional positions for ASU-Mountain Home, 60 provisional positions for ASU-Newport, and 75 provisional positions for ASU Mid-South.
The Board of Trustees also conferred upon Charles Luter from Paragould the Designation of Trustee Emeritus. Luter was praised for his many contributions that he made the University.
Other resolutions the ASU Board of Trustees approved:
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer the existing Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at ASU Mid-South.
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer a Graduate Certificate in History.
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer a Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate.
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer six new Graduate Certificate programs in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership: Building-Level Administration Certificate; Gifted, Talented, and Creative Teacher Certificate; Gifted & Talented Director Certificate; Special Education Director Certificate; and Special Education Teacher Certificate.
- ASU-Jonesboro to reconfigure its Master of Public Administration degree to offer four new options: Master of Public Administration with Option in Public Management; Master of Public Administration with Option in Public Management with Thesis; Master of Public Administration with Option in Nonprofit Management; Master of Public Administration with Option in Nonprofit Management with Thesis.
- ASU-Jonesboro to reconfigure its Bachelor of Applied Science degree to offer three new options: Bachelor of Applied Science with Emphasis in Entrepreneurship; Bachelor of Applied Science with Emphasis in Management; Bachelor of Applied Science with Emphasis in Technology.
- ASU-Jonesboro to reconfigure its Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management to offer two new degrees-Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science; rename the existing degree the “Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation;” and offer two new emphases within the existing degree-Fisheries Emphasis and Wildlife Emphasis.
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer a new minor in Digital Design.
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer a new minor in Sales Leadership.
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer a new emphasis in Agricultural Communications in the Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Studies. This will be a partnership between the College of Agriculture and Technology and the College of Media and Communication.
- ASU-Jonesboro to combine the Emphasis in Sports Reporting and the Emphasis in Sports Production, both within the Department of Media, and to rename the combined emphasis, “Emphasis in Sports Media.”
- ASU-Jonesboro to offer Digital Media Management in the Master of Science in Media Management.
- ASU-Jonesboro to change the name of the “Certificate in Business Information Systems” to the “Certificate in Information Technology.”
- ASU-Jonesboro to enter into agreements submitted for the purpose of allowing certain employees to conduct private camps on and in ASU-Jonesboro facilities.
- Arkansas State University-Beebe to delete the Technical Certificate in Office Occupations.
- Arkansas State University-Beebe to delete the Certificate of Proficiency in Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) program.
- Renaming the rugby field at ASU-Jonesboro the Curt Huckaby Field in recognition of his 14 years of volunteer service, developing and propelling the team into national and international prominence and still recruiting for the Red Wolves.
Consideration of budgets and tuition and fees for the 2016-2017 year were not on the agenda because of the timing of the special fiscal legislative session and appropriations approvals. A special board meeting will be called in the future to address those issues.
