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Submitted by: Stephanie McBrayer, smcbrayer@uca.edu on 04/14/2026

Join us for the Spring 2026 UCA Graduation Celebration on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 6:00pm-7:00pm at Buffalo Alumni Hall! All graduating seniors, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the “Paws Up, Caps Off” party in honor of our graduates.

This special celebration will feature complimentary food, music, fun prizes, a photo booth, lawn games, special guests from the UCA Alumni Association, and a celebratory toast from Dr. Robin Williamson. Come cheer, connect, and join in the festivities as we celebrate the achievements of UCA’s graduating students.

uca.edu/student/puco

Submitted by: Richard Hammond, rhammond@uca.edu on 04/14/2026

Monday, May 4, 2026 at Nutters Chapel Golf & Country Club
8:00 a.m. – Check in and breakfast
8:30 a.m. – Shotgun Start
12:30 p.m. – Lunch and awards
$75.00/person: Teams of 4 ($300.00)

/campusrecreation/fs-golf/

Submitted by: Treci Buchanan, Tbuchanan@uca.edu on 04/14/2026

The College of Science and Engineering 2nd Annual Student Research Symposium
April 17, 2026 1:00PM-3:00PM
Farris Center Gym
The annual student research symposium is an opportunity for all students in the COSE to showcase the research they have been working on both in the lab and out in the field. It brings students and faculty from all our disciplines together in one place and is a great way to learn about the amazing research that goes on in the College of Science and Engineering.
We will also announce the recipients of this year’s:
Advancement of Undergraduate Research in the Sciences (AURS)
AURS STEM Communicator
Southwestern Energy research awards

/cose/cose-annual-symposium/

Submitted by: Lyn Gayfield, egayfield@uca.edu on 04/14/2026

Fellowship With Friends / Expand Your UCA Network

All UCA Staff, Faculty, and Students are Welcome!

Tuesday, April 21
X-Period 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
RWSC Lawn
(RWSC Ballroom Rain Location)

Free ice cream while supplies last. Vegan options and assorted toppings will be available.

Email osac@uca.edu if you have any questions.

/osac/calendar/

Submitted by: Lyn Gayfield, egayfield@uca.edu on 04/14/2026

This grant program was established to support the efforts of individuals, teams, groups, departments, and divisions in furthering student success at UCA.

Scan the QR Code or visit the link to learn more.

Application Due Date:

April 15

For questions, contact us at osac@uca.edu or 501-450-3135

/osac/advocacy-grant/

Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 04/13/2026

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership (CETAL) warmly invites you to join us for a special afternoon of honoring faculty achievements in Service-Learning, Global Learning, and Teaching Excellence.

Thursday, April 16
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center
Rooms 111/113

Following the well-deserved accolades offered at the Faculty & Staff Recognition Reception two days prior, this celebration will recognize faculty whose dedication and innovation have made a meaningful impact on student learning and engagement across campus. We are honored to welcome remarks from the University President and Provost, who will help us celebrate the outstanding contributions of this year’s honorees.

Guests will enjoy light refreshments as we gather in recognition of the important work happening across our teaching and learning community.

Please join us in celebrating the achievements of our colleagues and the continued commitment to excellence at UCA.

We hope to see you there!

 

Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 04/13/2026

Mid- to Late-Career Faculty

UCA Faculty Senate and CETAL acknowledge UCA faculty who have taught for at least 10 years or more. We will honor their experiences, leadership, and contributions with a celebratory reception! This event will provide a moment of pause, connection, and recognition of faculty impacts made across campus. Enjoy a time of conversation and refreshments, including a toast from university leadership.

	Thursday, April 23 in Bear Hall’s Athletic Room
	4:00 pm 	Appetizers available
	4:30 pm 	Celebratory Toast by UCA President Houston Davis
	4-6:00 pm 	Greetings and Networking

 

UCA Faculty Senate and CETAL are seeking faculty input. When registering for this event, tell us how UCA Faculty Senate and CETAL might support your professional needs.

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Submitted by: Leslie Coger, lcoger1@uca.edu on 04/13/2026

Join �������� Coding Academy for a free 30-minute webinar exploring AI fluency in their SQL Bootcamp.
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future technology—it’s already reshaping how analysts work.

In this 30-minute webinar, the �������� Coding Academy will share how we approach AI fluency and how it is integrated into our SQL Bootcamp. Instead of treating AI as a novelty or shortcut, we teach students to use it strategically, responsibly, and with strong technical foundations.

This session will explore how students will learn to work alongside AI as the lead architect of their tools, not simply rely on them.
This webinar is free to attend, but registration is required.

What You’ll Learn
What AI fluency actually means and why it’s becoming a baseline skill in data driven careers
Why having a strong technical foundation still matters in an AI-driven workflow
How ArCA integrates AI into their SQL Bootcamp curriculum and how it prepares graduates to contribute from day one

Reserve Your Spot Today!
Join us for a quick look at how AI is changing the expectations of developers—and how ArCA is preparing students for the modern tech workforce.

Register Below

Submitted by: Kristen Oitker, koitker1@uca.edu on 04/13/2026

Come out to Bear Stadium for a home series against EKU! Friday (6 PM), Saturday (4 PM) and Sunday (1 PM). Any schedule updates can be found on ucasports.com. You can claim your four free faculty/staff tickets by clicking the link below!

Submitted by: Michael Blanchard, mblanchard@uca.edu on 04/13/2026

Four students from the University of Central �������� were named winners in the recently completed Collegiate Poetry Contest, sponsored by the Poets’ Roundtable of �������� (PRA).

Capturing first place was Norman Like from Heber Springs for his poem “I’m a Foxtail.” Norman is a member of the UCA Class of 2028 majoring in Math Education.

Second place was awarded to Skylar Nelsen, a graduating senior this semester from North Little Rock for her poem “morning tidings.” Skylar will graduate with a dual major in Creative Writing and Film and a minor in Marketing.

Zachary Walter from Lonoke won the second honorable mention prize for his poem “Icarus’ Last Letter.” He is a member of UCA’s Class of 2027 with a dual major in Creative Writing and Philosophy.

Claiming the third honorable mention award for his poem “Love’s Greatest Cost” was Caleb Givens, a member of the Class of 2028 from Fayetteville majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in English.

The other two places were won by students from the University of ��������-Fayette and Harding University. In all, 13 UCA students entered the contest.

Established in 1931, PRA is the state’s unofficial poetry society and is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Its membership of over 100 poets from around �������� includes current poet laureate Suzanne Underwood Rhodes of Siloam Springs. The four UCA students have been invited to attend PRA’s annual statewide celebration of National Poetry Month on April 18 in Benton, where they will be recognized for their accomplishments and asked to read their winning poems.