FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas will launch its new Enhanced Learning Center thanks in part to a $100,000 grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

The Enhanced Learning Center was developed through a partnership between the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Academic Affairs. Its mission is to foster the intellectual development of the community of student scholars at the University of Arkansas. In collaboration with faculty, students and staff, the Enhanced Learning Center will provide programs and services that will support each student’s academic pursuits in an effort to enhance retention and graduation rates. The grant will support the development and implementation of the Enhanced Learning Center.

"We are grateful for the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation’s support of the Enhanced Learning Center," UA Chancellor John A. White said. "This center will be a valuable resource to our students who need extra help integrating and applying concepts they’ve learned in the classroom. By helping students succeed academically, we are helping to ensure they will continue on their path toward earning a degree at the University of Arkansas, which ultimately will aid in our retention and graduation rates."

The Center will provide the following eight integrated programs: tutoring services, study skills instruction; supplemental instruction; exit interviews; responses to academic warning; student assessment; one-on-one counseling; and individualized educational plans.

The tutoring services provided in the Enhanced Learning Center will be available to assist first- and second-year students in historically difficult classes such as math, the sciences and foreign languages. The existing Quality Writing Center and the Math Tutoring Lab will also be included as a part of the tutorial services offered at the ELC. The Enhanced Learning Center will be located on the lower level of Gregson Hall and renovation on this site is scheduled to begin in January 2003. The Center is scheduled to open to students and faculty during the fall of 2003.

Johnetta Cross Brazzell, vice chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs, said, "Once again, we are grateful for the strong support of student success at the University of Arkansas from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. The Foundation recently made a grant of $42,000 to the 2003 Arkansas Higher Education Retention Conference, their second grant speaking directly to the issue of student retention. This latest gift will take our retention efforts to the highest level of effectiveness."

Brian Hemphill, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, "The Enhanced Learning Center will have a significant impact on the academic success of students. I am confident that the programs and services provided will improve the retention and graduation rates for the University of Arkansas."

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation whose mission is to improve the lives of Arkansans by funding programs and projects that improve education; economic development; and economic, racial and social justice. Created in 1974 by an endowment from the estate of Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, the Foundation has made gifts and grants of more than $62 million to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Additional information about the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation can be found on its Web site, www.wrfoundation.org.