Today the campus is buzzing with activity as Rock Camp students and sorority rushees have arrived. Traffic is moving slowly and the parking lots are filling up. It is the beginning of another year – and we are looking forward to an exciting year.
Enrollment promises to set another record with anticipation that 23,000 is not only attainable, but probable.
Construction projects are the most obvious reaction to the increased enrollment . Ozark and Vol Walker Halls are receiving major renovations. Entrance gates, a gift of the Pi Phis, are going up at the entrance to Campus Drive. At the other end of the spectrum, the Nano Sciences building will be dedicated in the fall.
New deans will begin their first academic year in a couple of weeks. Arts and Sciences, Law and the Graduate School will have new leaders who bring new ideas and experiences to their schools or college.
The Alumni Association will begin a series of luncheons next week to welcome the students who will receive the various scholarships of our program. This year we anticipate giving 280 scholarships worth $625,000 (a 20%) increase over 2010-11. It is gratifying to see these students in the flesh knowing that we are making a difference.
The football team is in Fall Camp and expectations are at a level I have not experienced in my 23 years on campus. Old-timers say they haven’t experienced such a buzz since the 1960s. (Knile Davis’ recent injury has dampened some of the enthusiasm, but the team is packed with the kind of experience, talent and depth to make the year memorable.)
Basketball, with a new, yet familiar, coach will be rebuilding, but also very entertaining with challenging non-conference opponents including UCONN, Houston and Oklahoma. We look forward to the players passing the alumni house during their conditioning runs up and down Cleveland.
Athletics has gained some very positive publicity. According to USA Today, Arkansas is one of only 22 out of 228 universities in Division I that operate within a balanced budget. That is accomplished without student fees. Within the SEC, only Alabama and LSU can say that, too.
I mentioned sororities. The rush numbers are record-breaking, so much so, that national Panhellenic representatives are visiting campus in anticipation of adding two new organizations in the near future.
The Alumni Staff has welcomed two new members: Meredith Hawkins, who is the voice you will hear when you call the office, and Airic Hughes, who will coordinate our student-alumni programs, specifically the Student Alumni Board and the Student Alumni Association. Airic was an intern in our office last spring and obviously left an impression. Sadly, Paul Prewitt, who has managed our electronic communications from website to social media presence, is leaving at month’s end for Michigan State University. Paul is the sixth staff member to move to different challenges in the past 18 months.
As we begin a planning session with the national Board of Directors, we will report on the good news from the membership area. YOU have helped us grow by 2% over the last year. Part of that growth comes from a phenomenal retention rate that is 91% — yes, 91%. Thank you for your vote of confidence and continued support!
The Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House has undergone a landscaping facelift. We invite you to stop by when on campus and take a look. Better yet, make a reservation today for one of the Pre-Game Rallies – the easiest tailgate you can plan.
