Submitted by: Lori Hunt, vhunt1@uca.net on 11/24/2025
Finals Week is approaching and we have the stress relievers students need to ensure balance and calm. From bubbles and bubble wrap to therapy dogs and more, please check out our calendar and come take advantage of our fun Finals Week programming.
Submitted by: Wendy Sparks, wsparks2@uca.edu on 11/24/2025
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol on December 10 and comedian Kevin Nealon on December 14. Both shows will be at Reynolds Performance Hall.
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol is a heartwarming musical featuring songs by eleven-time GRAMMY winner Dolly Parton and book by David H. Bell.
Set in the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, this unforgettable production and amazing cast imagines Ebenezer Scrooge as the owner of a mining company town, where his callous greed blinds him to the joys and gifts of the season. As a Christmas Eve snowstorm approaches, Scrooge is visited by his deceased business partner and three ghosts who compel him to see life anew and discover that love is the greatest gift we have. The legendary holiday tale re-written as a new American classic features Dickens’ classic characters and Parton’s one-of-a-kind songwriting expertise, making this a holiday event you’ll want to share with those you love.
Best known for his nine-year run on Saturday Night Live and his memorable roles on hit television shows like Weeds and Man with a Plan, Kevin Nealon has delighted audiences worldwide with his sharp wit, relatable humor, and unique comedic style for decades. His observational comedy and dry delivery have made him one of the most respected names in stand-up.
Nealon’s comedy is a masterclass in intelligent humor. From his unforgettable characters on Saturday Night Live—including the Weekend Update anchor—to his work in films like Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Blended, and Just Go With It, Nealon continues to entertain audiences with his trademark charm and comedic timing.
Current and retired UCA Faculty and Staff may each receive two FREE tickets to three of the Public Appearances performances in the 2025-26 season.
* To obtain your tickets you must visit the box office in person with your current UCA ID before the day of the performance.
* Free tickets are subject to seating availability and, therefore, an event may sell out before the date arrives for free tickets.
* We cannot place orders for free tickets over the phone, nor can you bring the ID of anyone else in order to obtain more than 2 free tickets.
* You cannot receive more than 2 free tickets for an event, however we have great discounts on tickets for purchase.
UCA PUBLIC APPEARANCES
BOX OFFICES
REYNOLDS PERFORMANCE HALL
Open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
501.450.3265
WINDGATE CENTER FOR FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS
Open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
501.470.7572
Submitted by: Kristen Oitker, koitker1@uca.edu on 11/24/2025
Join us in the Farris Center one more time before Thanksgiving break! Tipoff vs Eastern Illinois is set for 6:30 PM. It’s our annual toy drive game! All donations will be given to the Salvation Army! Click the link to claim your faculty/staff tickets!
Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 11/24/2025
A magical time in the semester – students suddenly realize that “maybe I should talk to someone else in class” – preferably the one who has the best notes in the room! A little nudge from us can turn those casual connections into real support systems and help students feel like they truly belong here at UCA.
This week’s Faculty for Successful Students focus is: Help Students Form Peer Connections.
Slide:
Establishing peer connections in college significantly impacts students by enhancing their sense of belonging and support network. Strong relationships with peers provide emotional support, academic collaboration, and social engagement, all of which contribute to improved retention and academic performance.
Faculty Tips to Reinforce Success
Here are a few simple ways you can encourage these habits in your classes:
Resources for You:
Thanks for creating the kind of classrooms where students feel seen, welcomed, and connected. Where students look around your classroom and think, “Okay…these are my people.” Those moments matter more than you know.
✨ Know someone who needs a little inspiration this week? Go ahead…forward this message, inviting them to join our list.
They’ll thank you later!
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership & Student Success Services
/cetal/faculty-for-successful-students/
Submitted by: Jennifer Case, jcase@uca.edu on 11/21/2025
The graduate student editors of Arkana, the online literary journal of the ŇůĐÔĘÓƵ Writers MFA Program, are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of their 19th issue.
To celebrate the sixteen pieces of creative writing found inside, Arkana will host a launch party on Wednesday, December 3rd at 6 pm via Zoom. The party will feature readings from the issue’s contributors as well as an always-exciting trivia intermission. You are invited to log in using the Zoom link below.
Topic: Arkana Issue 19 Launch
Time: Dec 3, 2025 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 840 1867 1445
Passcode: Issue19
Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 11/20/2025
An interactive, immersion experience— is owned by the Missouri Community Action Network. The simulation provides a glimpse into the structural barriers of poverty to transform participants’ perspectives about their own communities. These transformed perspectives inspire action toward positive community change. If you are interested in learning more about the Community Action Poverty Simulation or purchasing a CAPS kit license, please visit: communityaction.org or povertysimulation.net.
Presenters: Tracie Spivey and Tabatha Duvall
December 9, 2025 (Tuesday)
1:30-3:00 pm
Ronnie Williams Student Center 214
Sponsored by HR-Employee Engagement and Enrichment and the Center for Community & Economic Development
Please register at the link provided.
/hr/protectedcontent/poverty-simulation-december-9-2025/
Submitted by: Christina Lammers, clammers@uca.edu on 11/20/2025
Atomic Habits By James Clear
Facilitator: Charlotte Strickland, HR-Employee Engagement and Enrichment
A guide to building good habits, breaking bad ones, and making small changes that lead to remarkable results over time. Clear argues that success doesn’t come from big, dramatic actions but from tiny, consistent improvements—“atomic habits.” The book emphasizes focusing on systems rather than goals—by improving your daily processes, success becomes a natural outcome.
Drawing for a free book to early registrants provided by the UCA Bookstore.
There are two options for participation – zoom or onsite.
January 29, February 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2026 (Thursdays)
3:00-4:00 pm
Ronnie Williams Student Center 226
January 30, February 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026 (Fridays)
9:00-10:00 am
ZOOM
/hr/protectedcontent/seminar-information/
Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 11/19/2025
Get a head start in Learning Management System Brightspace: Guiding Training now available to start learning today!
As we prepare for our move from Blackboard to D2L Brightspace, you’re invited to get a head start by exploring Brightspace Guided Training for Instructors. This self-paced training is hosted in the Brightspace Learning Community and walks you through the tools and features you’ll be using with your students.
To get started, follow the instructions found on this webpage: Brightspace Training Head Start Instructions.
✨ Thank you for taking the time to explore Brightspace in advance. Your early engagement will make the transition smoother for you and your students.
Not quite ready to dive into Brightspace training yet? We get it—it’s the end of the semester, and you’re juggling a hundred things at once! The full UCA training series launches in January, but there are a couple of easy, high-impact steps you can take now to set yourself up for a smoother transition:
A little prep now = a much easier transition later. You’ve got this! Let us know if you’d like help getting started.
Submitted by: Scott Austin, saustin@uca.edu on 11/19/2025
Griffin Planetarium shows this Friday November 21 and Saturday November 22 at 7:00pm: The one-hour shows this week include a tour of the current sky, a flight around the universe, and the full-dome movie “The Secret Lives of Stars”. The planetarium is located in the Conway Corporation Center for the Sciences. Seating starts 10 minutes before show time. Admission is free. Seating limited to the first 94. No admission after the shows begin. No food or drink allowed.
Submitted by: Jennifer Brewer, jbrewer1@uca.edu on 11/18/2025
We’ve reached Weeks 12 and 13 of the Faculty for Successful Students campaign. Students are juggling deadlines, decisions, and just a pinch of existential wondering. This is a perfect moment to help them pause, reflect, and tap into their strengths. A little clarity now goes a long way later.
This week, we continue the Faculty for Successful Students focus: Create Opportunities for Self-Knowledge.
Slide:
By reflecting on their strengths, weaknesses, and interests, students can make more informed academic and career choices, leading to increased motivation and academic success. Self-knowledge also fosters resilience and adaptive learning strategies, improving overall student well-being and performance.
Faculty Tips to Reinforce Success
Here are a few simple ways you can encourage these habits in your classes:
Resources for You:
✨Thanks for helping students learn who they are and who they’re becoming. That work matters.
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership & Student Success Services
/cetal/faculty-for-successful-students/
