The first day of classes is always an exciting time, with new students, new faculty members – even new faces on the staff. That’s not all that’s new -- the University of Arkansas was a busy place this summer, with many people working hard to make a growing campus better for everyone here.

So, what’s new?

Construction is probably the first thing you’ll notice.

Map 1 Founders Hall.pdf

Map 2 Hillside Auditorium.pdf

Map 3 Ozark Hall.pdf

Map 4 Vol Walker Hall.pdf

Map 5 Hotz Hall.pdf

Campus Overview.pdf

Work started this summer on Founders Hall, which will be a new residence and dining hall, eventually replacing and expanding on what is now Brough Commons, while also providing more retail space. Construction will continue all year, which means McIlroy Avenue will be closed, and students going to classes or to residence halls on that street will have to navigate around the construction. (See map 1.)

Work is continuing on Hillside Auditorium (see map 2), but it should be finished and ready to open in October. When that happens several large lecture classes will be able to move from their temporary locations to the two lecture halls in the building.

Construction also continues on Ozark Hall (map 3) and Vol Walker Hall (map 4), with both buildings due to be finished for the fall 2013 semester. Gate operators are stationed at two spots around Vol Walker Hall to keep heavy trucks and pedestrians separate. If you are walking in these areas try to remember the operators are there for your safety, so please follow their instructions.

The Pi Beta Phi Gate, the new entrance to the north side of the central campus, will be open soon, and is scheduled to be dedicated on Sept. 21. Meanwhile, you still have to navigate your way around the construction. (See map 4.)

Finally, Hotz Hall (map 5) is being thoroughly restored as a residence hall, which will open for the fall 2013 semester. Students on the north side of campus will need to be careful walking near the construction site.

Traffic Safety

The intersection of Razorback Road and Maple Street, is now a four-way stop, after years as a three-way stop. The state highway department approved the change this summer.

The pedestrian crosswalk at Maple Street and Lindell Avenue has been moved – not far, just to the east side of the intersection. A left turn lane onto Lindell from Maple has also been added.

Parking

A new parking lot is now open. It’s called the Meadow Street lot, and is located under the new football practice field at Razorback and Meadow. The entrance is from Meadow Street, and reserved, faculty/staff and metered spaces are available.

Razorback Transit

You never have to wonder when the bus is coming again. Real time information about Razorback bus service is now available on the online Campus Map feature on the university website, or on your smart phone as part of the UARK Mobile app. You can track where each bus is, the stops on its route and when it is due to arrive at your nearest stop.

Technology

Speaking of the Campus Map, it is a pretty cool resource – it shows all the construction locations, as well as bus information – and pretty much everything else you would want to know from a map.

If you are a student you are already on UARK Gmail, with all the advantages that brings. To find out more go to http://its.uark.edu/student_email.

The new Student Technology Center is now open at its new location on the third floor of the Arkansas Union. Check out the Tech Lounge, the Digital Media Lab, the Gaming Studio and the Team Room. Find out more at http://its.uark.edu/stc_showcase.php.

Fun Stuff

The HPER building now opens at 5:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. And don’t forget the new UREC Fitness Center located in the Arkansas Union.

 Two new fraternities and two new sororities have joined the university. Beta Theta Pi and Kappa Alpha Order are the fraternities, and the sororities are Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu. They don’t have houses yet, but are now recruiting members on campus.

The new Meadow Valley bicycle path connects the main campus with the Agricultural Experiment Station and Arkansas Archeological Survey using city bicycle paths.

The university entered into a contract with PepsiCo to provide cold soft drinks on campus. Vending machines will offer Pepsi products exclusively,  but Dr. Pepper will still be available as a fountain drink, and Coke products will still be sold from the shelves of the retail stores on campus.

And last, but definitely not least, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is getting a new HD video screen, almost twice the size of the old one, making it one of the biggest in college football.