Higher education

UAPB land program awarded HUD honor

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Sustainable Forestry and African-American Land Retention Program was part of a project that received the 2018 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships from U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

UAPB is one of eight sites that provide legal assistance and educational guidance on sustainable forestry practices to landowners.

For the project, in a partnership with U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the UAPB program worked with landowners in seven counties in southwest Arkansas.

“The SFLR program at UAPB aims to provide African-American landowners in Arkansas with the resources and support required to resolve common heir property issues, as well as sustainable forestry education and technical assistance in forestland management,” Henry English, head of the small-farm program at UAPB, said in a news release.

HSU’s nursing grads all pass state exam

Every member of the 2018 graduating nursing class from Henderson State University passed the licensing examination, according to the school.

This is the third year in a row the school has achieved a perfect passing rate on the National Council Licensure Examination, a standardized test that each state board of nursing uses to determine whether a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice after completing a degree program.

“This outstanding accomplishment is a direct result of the excellent faculty and staff we have on the nursing faculty team at Henderson State,” nursing department chairman and assistant professor Shelley Austin said.

All nursing students had jobs within two months of graduating, according to Austin.

Lyon College hires 1st family advocate

Lyon College has hired Lynn Pearson as a family advocate, a new position in the president’s office.

Pearson will serve as a consistent contact for students and their family members if they need assistance and coordinate communication between the concerned party and the appropriate department if a problem arises. Another part of the job is facilitating compromise and finding solutions, according to a news release from the school.

“Questions and issues that come up regarding finances, financial aid, housing and even parking may seem minor to those of us who understand the policies and procedures, but to a parent who has never dealt with financial aid or might not know what a registrar or provost does, it can be both confusing and overwhelming,” chief of staff and Vice President Clarinda Foote said in the news release.

Pearson will start working with students and families in the fall.