Razorbug Diploma Tour Wins Global Campus Innovation Award

Photo Submitted

Top row, left to right: Patty Milner, Christina Smith, Vicki Martin. Middle row, left to right: Kay Murphy, Heidi Wells, Leonard Ridley. Bottom row, left to right: Kandi Buck, Yakeshia Jenkins, Caroline Chandler.

The marketing and communications team at the Global Campus accepted the unit's Lightbulb Award in October for organizing and leading the Razorbug Diploma Tour. This innovative promotional tour across Arkansas celebrated graduates of online degree programs by delivering their diplomas to their hometowns in Razorback style.

The Razorbug Diploma Tour crossed 43 counties in three weeks and delivered 16 framed diplomas to graduates living along the perimeter of Arkansas thanks to the combined efforts of several Global Campus teams, academic colleges, the Office of Admissions, the Office of the Registrar, University Relations and welcoming groups in cities across the state.

On the tour, representatives of academic colleges stood in front of the Razorbug — a converted red Volkswagen Beetle that sports a Razorback snout, tusks, razor-edged spine and curly tail — to present five bachelor's degrees, 10 master's degrees and one doctoral degree. These graduates were among the 440 U of A students who studied online and earned degrees in May 2022. The tour ran June through August with three separate legs.

"This was a huge team effort, and it required complex coordination with upper administration, faculty, staff, students and external partners like graduates' employers, photographers and videographers," said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and head of the Global Campus.

Global Campus staff who traveled with the tour worked nine- and 10-hour days outside in extreme heat, often in the triple digits, to orchestrate individual graduation celebrations. Staff who traveled with the tour:

• Kay Murphy, director of marketing and communications
• Heidi Wells, content strategist
• Patty Milner, assistant vice provost for student outreach and innovation
• Leonard Ridley, manager of web design services
• Kandi Buck, marketing coordinator
• Luke Gramlich, video project specialist
• Kati Williams, online student coaching coordinator
• Cheryl Murphy, the head of the Global Campus

"Kay Murphy did an outstanding job planning and delegating this larger-than-life project, which raised awareness of online programs across the state and helped students and alumni feel connected to the university," Cheryl Murphy said. "The tour reaffirmed that the U of A serves all of Arkansas, and it brought joy across the state, as noted by interim Chancellor Robinson and other chancellor applicants during the September campus forums."

Some faculty and staff from the graduates' academic colleges traveled hundreds of miles to participate. The diploma presenters, their academic units and tour locations:

• Sarah Bemis, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, El Dorado
• Ed Bengtson, College of Education and Health Professions; Clarksville and Fort Smith
• Jan Emory, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, Fort Smith
• Michael Hevel, College of Education and Health Professions; Hope and Brookland
• Ginger Holloway, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, Pocahontas
• Jack Kern, College of Education and Health Professions, DeWitt
• Roy McCann, College of Engineering, Booneville
• Patty Milner, Global Campus, McGehee
• Mandel Samuels, College of Education and Health Professions, El Dorado
• Renee Speight, College of Education and Health Professions, Trumann
• Matt Willingham, Sam M. Walton College of Business, Fort Smith
• Megan Whobrey, College of Engineering; Earle, Magnolia and Fort Smith

Staff from the Global Campus media team provided support and guidance in capturing tour highlights on video. Other staff managed travel and financial tasks, gathered and loaded gear, inserted diplomas into frames, created promotional flyers and other time-consuming tasks.

In a related story, the Global Campus named Heidi Wells the Employee of the Quarter award for her work on the Razorbug tour. Wells wrote a story for each of the 16 graduates on the tour, produced and coordinated publicity, reached out to local news agencies and chambers of commerce, and inspired others on the tour with her high energy.

Global Campus instituted the Lightbulb Award to honor two or more staff members for outstanding innovation above and beyond their routine job responsibilities. This award is open to appointed and hourly staff who work for Global Campus.

Global Campus supports U of A colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online, distance and workforce education programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, technology services and assistance with marketing, recruiting and strategic academic development.

Global Campus also supports the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship, which is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying in online degree programs.