TECH ACTION ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE | FALL 2015 TOP HONORS COHOON, DODD, GROSS INDUCTED INTO HALL OF DISTINCTION Doctoral Program Next Step for Tech There have been a number of noteworthy milestones in the Creating K-12 leaders who are more life of Arkansas Tech University, but none are more symbolic prepared and more aligned with of the strides our institution has made over the course of the a P-20 model of learning — the last 106 years than the addition of our first doctoral degree. idea that internal and external interdisciplinary partnerships It was announced in May that the Higher Learning Commission, can contribute to educational a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and success from preschool through Schools, had granted accreditation for the Arkansas Tech Doctor of doctoral work and everything Education degree in school leadership. You can read a complete in between — creates an account of the accreditation in this issue of Tech Action. environment where teachers are encouraged to innovate. It was the final step in a process that required six years to That culture of innovation in the classroom yields students complete. The visionary behind the creation and implementation with the critical thinking skills and grit necessary to persist of the Doctor of Education degree in school leadership is to graduation not only in high school, but in post-secondary Dr. Mary Gunter, professor of educational leadership. learning environments, baccalaureate programs and beyond. Since Dr. Gunter joined our faculty in 1998, she has spurred the Change is coming to education in Arkansas, and development of graduate programs in education that have made Arkansas Tech is at the forefront of that change. Arkansas Tech a recognized leader in producing counselors, principals, curriculum leaders, superintendents and other key Sincerely, leaders in K-12 school districts around Arkansas and beyond. She has applied that same expertise in designing a doctoral program that will challenge current and future principals and superintendents, all of it with the ultimate goal of enhancing the educational environment in which Arkansas children will learn Kelly Davis and grow. Director of Alumni Relations & Tech Loyalty Fund Alumni Association Board of Directors President: Truman Hill ‘70 President Elect: Kendall Tabor ‘88 & ‘92 Leila Bean Dockery ‘77 12/15 Kendall Tabor ‘89 & ‘92 12/15 Ryan Ritchie ‘03 12/16 Megan Morris ‘09 & ‘14 12/17 Susan McIntyre Dunn ‘83 12/15 Adam Anderson ‘11 12/16 Ross White ‘08 & ‘12 12/16 Betty Snellings ‘62 12/17 Cody Hill ‘07 & ‘10 12/15 Larry Brown ‘10 12/16 Lacie Oels Bohannan ‘10 & ‘14 12/17 Tony Thompson ‘95 12/17 Sherry Nordin Polsgrove ‘81 12/15 Alyssa McTeer Carter ‘02 12/16 Sue Chiolino ‘68 & ‘86 12/17 Jimmy Rofkahr, Ozark Campus Rep. Dustin Parsons ‘10 & ‘14 12/15 Denise Clayton ‘85 12/16 Travis Flower ‘11 12/17 Justin Price ‘01 12/15 Steve Kesner ‘77 12/16 Rick Hampton ‘75 12/17 Melissa Owens Steeves ‘07 12/15 Brad McBride ‘10 12/16 Keith Jesse ‘08 12/17 Tech Action, Volume 51, No. 2. Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association, Alumni House, Russellville, AR 72801 Tech Action is published by the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association, Director of Alumni Relations Editorial Committee Cover Photograph 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, & Tech Loyalty Fund Kelly Davis, Jayne Jones, Liz Chrisman AR 72801. It is sent to alumni, Kelly Davis Susie Nicholson, Sam Strasner parents, friends and faculty/staff of Contributing Photographers Arkansas Tech University. We welcome Coordinator of Young Alumni Publications/Creative Services Liz Chrisman, Tim Carr, Alex Duvall, manuscripts and photographs from & Student Philanthropy Felisha Weaver Joshua Mashon our readers. Please include a self- Alison Parks Taylor addressed, stamped envelope if you Coordinator of Alumni Director of New Media E-mail address would like your originals returned. Communications & Events Carrie Harris Phillips [email protected] Parents, if your son or daughter Aaron Jones attended Tech and is no longer living Director of Athletic Website at this address, please notify our office Alumni Office Administrative Assistant Communications www.techties.atu.edu of his or her new address. Address Terry Holland-Finley Paul Smith updates can be submitted to the Arkansas Tech Office of Alumni Services by calling 479.968.0242 or by sending e-mail to [email protected]. FALL 2015 02 TECH ACTION Arkansas Tech University Receives Accreditation for First Doctoral Degree Arkansas Tech University has received notification that its Doctor The following years saw a site visit by an out-of-state review of Education degree in school leadership has been accredited team in March 2012 and program reviews by the Arkansas Higher by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Education Coordinating Board (AHECB), all of which led to a Central Association of Colleges and Schools. decision by the AHECB on July 25, 2014, to grant Arkansas Tech a change in role and scope and permission to begin offering a Doctor The accreditation is the final step in the development of the new of Education degree in school leadership. degree, which is the first doctoral program in the 106-year history of Arkansas Tech. The first cohort of Doctor of Education degree “Arkansas Tech is forever thankful to Dr. Mary Gunter, professor of in school leadership students is beginning its studies this year. educational leadership, dean of the Graduate College and dean of the College of Education, for her leadership throughout the “The greatest beneficiaries of this news are the children of our development of its first doctoral program,” said Bowen. “Her vision state,” said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, president of Arkansas Tech. and knowledge in this content area are the primary reasons why “As a result of this doctoral program, leadership capacity in our institution can celebrate this important milestone. Equally our K-12 schools will be enhanced, teachers will be more exciting is the fact that Dr. Gunter will now have the opportunity empowered to advance in their careers and students will receive to share her expertise with doctoral students at Arkansas Tech and a more meaningful education. Arkansas Tech is already known play a key role in preparing them for career advancement.” throughout the region as a leader in the development of district and building leaders for our schools. The ability to offer this The program is designed for K-12 education professionals who doctoral degree is a natural and important next step in our currently serve or wish to serve in school district leadership institutional efforts to partner with K-12 schools in creating a positions. stronger Arkansas for generations to come.” The Arkansas Tech Doctor of Education degree in school leadership The formal steps involved in creating the Doctor of Education will build upon the curriculum of the institution’s existing degree in school leadership began in July 2010, when the Educational Specialist degree, which consists of 30 hours of course Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees approved a letter of intent work beyond the master’s degree level. notifying the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) Dr. John A. Freeman will serve as director of the doctoral program. that the university was developing a Doctor of Education He joined the Arkansas Tech faculty on Jan. 1, 2015, after previously program. working as professor and department head of the graduate studies division in the College of Health, Education and Professional One month later, the board approved a letter of intent to ADHE Studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. concerning the change in role and scope necessary to allow Arkansas Tech to offer doctoral programs. Freeman holds the faculty rank of professor of educational leadership at Arkansas Tech. In November 2010, the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees approved the program proposal that outlined the Doctor of Education For more information about the Arkansas Tech Doctor of Education degree as developed by the faculty in the Arkansas Tech Center degree in school leadership, call (479) 498-6022 or send e-mail to for Leadership and Learning. [email protected]. | FALL 2015 Today'S TECH 03 arkansas tech HOMECOMING october 9-10, 2015 registration form on page 31 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 10 a.m. Reunions Tomlinson 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Bookstore Open 1950s and 1960s Reunion Purchase your green & gold Tech gear Main lobby while you are on campus 10 Year Reunion - Class of 2005 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Norman Hall Art Gallery Exhibition Room 119 Dispositions, recent sculptures by Little Rock Artist Michael Warrick 25 Year Reunion - Class of 1990 Room 121 9 a.m. Homecoming Classic Golf Tournament Chamberlyne Country Club 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Bookstore Open $75 per person W.O. Young Building $150 for hole sponsor only 11 a.m. Meet/Greet Dr. Dan Belongia, Band Director $300 for team and hole sponsor Baswell Techionery 9 a.m. Check-in and Brunch 11 a.m. Delta Zeta Alumnae Reunion 10:15 a.m. Official Welcome Doc Bryan Student Services Center, Room 242 10:30 a.m. Shotgun Start 11 a.m. Alumni Gold Luncheon 12 p.m. Ladies ‘Champagne Bingo’ Luncheon West Dining Room, Chambers Cafeteria Lake Point Hickory Lodge Join the Class of 1965 for their $15 per person 50 year class reunion 5:30 p.m. Hall of Distinction Social Hour Noon – 3 p.m. Party at the Plaza Lake Point Conference Center Noon – 3 p.m. Groups at Centennial Plaza: (invitation only) • Alumni Gold Reunion (Class of 1965) 6:30 p.m. Hall of Distinction Reunion Dinner • 25 year Reunion (Class of 1990) Lake Point Conference Center (invitation only) • 10 year Reunion (Class of 2005) • 1950s & 1960s 8 p.m.