A Harding official announced the University’s plans to close the federal post office on campus this summer and to redistribute postal duties among multiple departments last week.
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The University announced Dr. Michael D. Williams as Harding’s sixth president at a press conference on Oct. 27. Since then, Williams has continued his role as president at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. As announced in October, Williams will begin his tenure as Harding University president on June 1, 2022.
The Ganus Building is scheduled to be demolished and replaced by the new Holland-Waller Center, bringing changes to departments and programs on campus. Some faculty have fond memories of the Ganus Building, but they are excited for change.
President David Burks informed faculty of the approval of a reduced workload policy in an email on March 1. Burks said the policy came to fruition with input from the Faculty Leadership Committee (FLC), and allowed faculty members two contract options to apply for: a three-fourths or a one-half teaching load faculty employment contract. Interested faculty were instructed to request their preferred option in writing to their college’s dean by March 18. The deans submitted approved requests as recommendations to the provost for further approval.
Copyeditors go on strike
Incoming President Mike Williams announced a major reshuffle of his cabinet on Tuesday. After switching his filing technique from alphabetical order to the Dewey decimal system, Williams also announced the addition of four new members to his executive cabinet. Williams said while all four of the positions are now officially created, all but one remain open. Applications can be found on Handshake.
Noah’s ark roars to life
Instructor of communication Noah Darnell is creating a big splash with his launch of a large-scale ark construction project. With plans to begin the week after graduation, Darnell says he will be building an ark in anticipation of a massive flood he expects to hit Central Arkansas this upcoming summer.
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the Black Student Association (BSA) hosted a panel after the devotional period of chapel, and sought to have a conversation about allyship. This program was the fourth in a five-part series of chapel programs and devotionals planned by the BSA during Black History Month. During and in the hours following the panel discussion, YikYak posts were made in strong dissent toward many of the statements made by panelists, and the existence of the panel altogether.
ASI goes to Washington, D.C.
Last weekend, the American Studies Institute (ASI) hosted a co-curricular trip to Washington, D.C. The group, which consisted of 20 students from a variety of majors, left Searcy Wednesday afternoon and returned back to campus Sunday night.
Searcy Fire Chief Brian Dunavan said the fire department responded to a 911 call regarding a fire at CJ’s Place apartment complex at 12:30 a.m. last Thursday, Feb. 10. The Daily Citizen reported that all residents safely exited CJ’s Place apartments, located on 1706 E. Moore Ave. However, all 25 families that lived in the apartments have been displaced.
On Tuesday faculty will vote to approve a proposed change to the core University Liberal Arts curriculum. The current Liberal Arts Program is a 53-hour core of classes required of all undergraduate students in order to graduate. The proposal reduces the required minimum liberal arts hours to 47, among other shifts within the makeup of the core curriculum.
Warehouse 4 to open Feb. 21
Burks announces faculty cuts
University President David Burks announced a voluntary faculty retirement incentive at the Harding faculty meeting on Monday, Jan. 24, citing ongoing decreasing enrollment. His statement made at the meeting was emailed to faculty members on Tuesday. Affected faculty will be notified of their eligibility for the incentive by Monday, Jan. 31. Each faculty member will have 21 days to accept or decline the offer.
Two members of the Harding community died over Christmas break. Harding Board of Trustees member Lundy Neely died on Dec. 21, 2021, at 73 years old. Associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences Dr. Henry North, III, died on Dec. 22, 2021, at 41 years old.
Tacker’s Shake Shack of Marion, Arkansas, announced plans to open a new location in the University’s Student Center on their Facebook page on Dec. 22. As of Jan. 19, the Tackers plan to hold a grand opening the week of Jan. 31. The new location will replace Tu Taco in the pit of the Student Center.
The American Studies Institute hosted Tim Tebow — NCAA champion, Heisman Trophy winner, ESPN commentator and author — Jan. 18 in the Benson Auditorium at Harding University for a lecture titled “The Power of Persistence: Lessons in Leadership and Life.”
University temporarily suspends chapel
Harding University canceled the first week of chapel for the 2022 spring semester to assess the health of the campus community while the omicron variant of COVID-19, which is known for its high transmissibility rate, spread throughout the U.S. Chapel resumed Tuesday, Jan. 18 after the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
IP encourages COVID-19 booster shots
Searcy one-cent tax renewal passes
The American Studies Institute (ASI) held its annual veterans’ breakfast in Cone Chapel Thursday. The event lasted about an hour and included a brief presentation by Col. James Gant. Veterans from the Searcy community were invited and served a complimentary breakfast.
On Oct. 24, ProPublica published a bombshell report detailing the stories of over a dozen former Liberty University students, all of whom were discouraged by the university from sharing their stories of sexual assault. The school, founded by evangelist Jerry Falwell, reportedly ignored multiple reports of rape and sexual assault and threatened to punish accusers for breaking its moral code, former students said.
International Programs update
Armstrong residents prepare to move out
On Wednesday, Oct. 27, Dr. Michael D. Williams was announced as Harding University’s sixth president. Dr. Robert C. Walker, president of the board of trustees, made the announcement on behalf of the board at a press conference in Cone Chapel. This announcement concluded a nine-month, nationwide search for a president.
2021 Homecoming Queen crowned
Homecoming musical returns
Arkansas governor says he will allow vaccine exemption bills to pass without signature
During his weekly media briefing Oct. 13, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said that he will allow two similar vaccine exemption bills to become law without his signature after Arkansas lawmakers recently passed the bills. They will take effect early next year.
Harding introduces MFA to employees
Next week, from Sept. 26-29, Harding will be hosting the 98th annual Bible Lectureship program. Entitled “Invincible! Courageous Faith in Troubled Times,” this year will be the first time Harding has hosted visitors on campus for the event since 2019, as last year’s event was presented only through livestream due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
In an effort to curb COVID-19 numbers, President Joe Biden said on Sept. 9 that he is requesting the U.S. Department of Labor to require all companies with more than 100 employees to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing.
Presidential search update
Alumnus Charles Ganus, board member and chairman of the presidential search committee, said while the process is ongoing, the presidential search committee’s role is now over. He said he and other board members were grateful for the time and effort every committee member put into narrowing the search for the University’s next president.
Dr. Duke becomes new ASI executive director
Updates to COVID-19 protocols
Students react to Hurricane Ida
SA hosts freshman debate
The social club process began on Saturday, Aug. 28, with less regulations for COVID-19 than last year. With the 2020 fall semester being wrought with cancellations and restrictions, those who have club leadership roles continue to see the accommodations required to work around the pandemic.
On Aug. 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was the first vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) back in December 2020. Pfizer and BioNTech labs had since been gathering data with the goal of achieving full regulatory approval in 2021, which they have now accomplished.