Chancellor's Online Forum This Morning; Register Now

Chieko Hara, University Relations

Chancellor Joe Steinmetz will join other campus leaders in an online forum on Aug. 12 to discuss the phased return to campus and the upcoming fall semester.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Chancellor Joe Steinmetz and other campus leaders will field questions about the return to classes and efforts being taken to improve the racial climate on campus during an online forum at 9 a.m. today, Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Registration requires a University of Arkansas email address. The discussion will take place on Zoom and last approximately 75 minutes.

The forum is the fourth in a series that began in July and featured academic deans from across campus who discussed the phased return to campus, heightened safety in classrooms and efforts that the colleges and schools of the university have been taking to improve the racial climate on campus.

Panelists for the final summer forum will include:

• Joe Steinmetz, chancellor
• Charles Robinson, interim provost and vice chancellor for student and academic affairs
• Yvette Murphy-Erby, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion
• Dr. Huda Sharaf, chief medical director for the Pat Walker Health Center
• Flo Johnson, assistant vice chancellor for university housing
• Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor for facilities management
• Laura Jacobs, associate vice chancellor and chief of staff 
• Terry Martin, vice provost for academic affairs

WHAT TO EXPECT

"This forum will give members of the campus a chance to ask questions regarding the precautions in place to help mitigate the spread of COVID and hear about the steps we've taken to improve our teaching processes for all contingencies," Steinmetz said. "We learned a lot during the spring and used that experience — what worked well and what needed revision — to inform our standards for this fall."

The forum will also include a discussion about actions being taken by the university to improve the campus climate related to race. Although the university has already taken several steps this summer to address some issues, more steps are needed and administrators hope to hear suggestions during the forum.

"We take this very seriously," Steinmetz said. "Many of you are probably aware of the issues raised by the #BlackatUark campaign in July. We want to make sure we keep a very open and transparent dialogue about these issues, listening, learning and taking actions that make the university a better institution for every student and member of our campus community."

Murphy-Erby said, "More than a thousand members of campus joined the discussions this summer during our online Combating Racism series, and we had great conversations. From bias training to discussions about how we recognize J. William Fulbright, our campus community has demonstrated significant understanding of the issues and is making suggestions for real solutions."

QUESTIONS

Faculty, staff and students with questions for the forum participants can send them in advance to forums@uark.edu. Questions can also be asked through the chat function on Zoom during the forum and will be answered as time allows.

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 percent 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.