Student Panel, Provost Address to Highlight Faculty Appreciation Week

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Ro Di Brezzo, vice provost for faculty affairs, speaks at New Faculty Orientation in August 2018.

Students and employees at the University of Arkansas will celebrate the university’s faculty members during events scheduled for Faculty Appreciation Week April 8-11.

Highlighting the week of events are a student panel discussion on best practices in the classroom, an address from Provost Jim Coleman, and promotions at Razorback athletic events.

“Faculty Appreciation Week is our way of slowing down during a hectic time of the year and thanking our professors and instructors for all that they do inside and outside the classroom,” said Ro Di Brezzo, vice provost for faculty affairs. “I’ve always said that faculty are our greatest resource, and there’s not many initiatives we could get done without them. This is our small way of trying to recognize the many things they do to make our university great.”

All faculty are invited to the week of events.  

The events are:

Monday, April 8

• Student Panel Discussion: “Best Practices in the Classroom: Making an Impact and Engaging Your Students,” sponsored by the Office for Faculty Development and Enhancement and the Teaching Support Center.
  Time and place: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in room 512-514 of the Arkansas Union. Lunch will be provided, but space is limited and RSVPs are required. To RSVP, email facdev@uark.edu.

Tuesday, April 9

• Faculty Appreciation Night at the Razorbacks baseball game vs. Oral Roberts.
  Time and place: 6:30 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Wednesday, April 10

• Faculty Appreciation Luncheon hosted by University Housing (by invitation only). The event is for faculty members who participated in the “Adopt a Prof” program and for Living Learning Community Coordinators.
  Time and place: Noon-1:30 p.m. at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. To RSVP, email berankin@uark.edu.
• Faculty Appreciation Night at the Razorbacks softball game vs. Wichita State.
  Complimentary admission for all fans.

Thursday, April 11

• Provost Jim Coleman’s address to the faculty providing a university update and discussing “How to Change the Immovable Narrative.”  
  Time and place: 3:30 p.m. in Giffels Auditorium.
• Faculty Appreciation Reception, sponsored by the Office for Faculty Development and Enhancement.
  Time and place: 5-6:30 p.m. April 11 at the Alumni House.

Faculty promotions

• University Recreation
  • $20 off an annual membership
  • $5 off any massage
  • Faculty can use any UREC facility for free the week of April 8-12. Must be redeemed at UREC office for activation.
  • Free faculty and staff fitness class at the UREC Fitness Center in the Arkansas Union at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 9.
  • Faculty buying six personal training sessions get one free.
• University Bookstore
  • 25% off books and supplies for all faculty and staff with UA ID. Discounted merchandise is excluded.
• Chartwells
  • $7 meals all week at Brough and Fulbright Dining Halls
  • One free drip coffee per day at Peabody Perks in Peabody Hall and Au Bon Pain in the Arkansas Union
• Hog Heaven
  • 30% off original price with UA ID. Promotion only available in-store.
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
  • Any current UA faculty who join OLLI as a member during the week will receive free entry into any spring or fall OLLI course of their choice (provided there is space).
  • Current or former U of A faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to stop in the OLLI office from 10am – 2pm Wednesday, April 10 for complimentary refreshments and to learn more about OLLI programs and opportunities to teach. Course proposals are currently being accepted through April 30th for fall 2019 semester.  

University Housing also encourages professors to participate in “Adopt a Prof.” This innovative program appoints faculty members as honorary members of student residence halls.  Faculty members interact with student residents and staff on an informal but intentional level while fully integrated into the life of the residence hall. This type of interaction connects students and faculty outside the classroom to pursue meaningful interaction. Examples of events in the past include a floor movie night, sponsored study break, sharing a meal, and attending a Razorback sporting events together. Faculty members gain the opportunity to serve as a mentor and share their own perspective and expertise with residents. Faculty members who are interested in serving as Adopt a Profs during the 2019-20 academic year can fill out this HogSync form to register: https://hogsync.uark.edu/submitter/form/start/260712 or contact Brett Rankin at berankin@uark.edu for more information.

Additionally, students are encouraged to thank their favorite professors by visiting thanks.uark.edu or sharing posts on social media with the hashtag #WooProf.