U of A Financial Officer Joins Regional Higher Education Association Board

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Jamie Loftin

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Jamie Loftin, assistant vice provost for distance education administration at the University of Arkansas, was recently appointed as the research universities constituent chair to the board of directors for the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers.

Loftin, who is the chief financial officer at the Global Campus, is the only financial officer in the University of Arkansas System now serving on the association board. She is one of only three in the state currently on that board. Loftin is also a member of the SACUBO professional development committee.

“After serving as a member of the research universities constituent committee, I was honored to be selected as chair,” Loftin said. “I am able to represent our state, the University of Arkansas, and research universities in general at the regional and national level to help develop relevant and cost-effective professional development opportunities for our members.

“In an environment that is constantly evolving, it is important that our higher education administrators remain current on the latest trends and build a strong network,” Loftin said. “I especially love that higher education institutions freely share best practices with each other.”

SACUBO holds four professional development conferences per year for higher education administrators: the Women’s Leadership Forum, the Annual Meeting, the College Business Management Institute, and the Fall Workshop. 

There are four different constituent committees representing the different types of higher education institutions:

• Research universities

• Comprehensive and doctoral institutions

• Small institutions

• Community colleges

Each constituent committee is comprised of members from various southern states and moves forward professional development topics relevant to their colleagues.

The association was founded in 1928 to inform higher education institutions in the southern region of the United States about issues affecting higher education. It has about 700 institutions and organizations in its membership. The association is committed to promoting improved principles and efficient practices in the business and financial management of colleges and universities.

SACUBO also works closely with NACUBO, the National Association for College and University Business Officers, to support higher education advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., and ensure its members’ voices are heard on Capitol Hill.

Two other Arkansas higher education financial officers currently serve on the SACUBO board: Russ Hannah, association board president and senior associate vice chancellor for finance at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and Myra Goodwin, association constituent chair and controller at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Before joining the Global Campus, Loftin served as the assistant dean for finance and administration and director of accounting at the Sam M. Walton College of Business. In addition to spending the past almost 12 years in higher education administration, Jamie worked in human resources, corporate accounting, and financial analysis for Arkansas Best Corporation (ArcBest) and Sparks Health System. 

Loftin earned a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance from Arkansas State University in 1999 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in 2002. Loftin holds a Senior Certified Professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management. She is also a Certified Management Accountant and Certified Financial Manager.

About the Global Campus: The 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.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.