John Brown University and the Siloam Springs School District (SSSD) announced a partnership today that provides for the renovation and shared use of the track and field facilities at Siloam Springs Middle School located a half mile from the University.

Annie Brown, junior, had a spot in the 2015 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in the marathon and senior Josh Uzelac has made three consecutive appearances at the NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championships.

Under the memorandum of understanding, JBU will cover 50 percent of the cost of the track renovation up to $400,000. The first priority will be to rebuild the track sub-surface and install a higher quality running surface. The interior ends of the track will be made more functional for field events, and a steeple chase pit area will be added.

“We are excited to partner with John Brown University to rebuild our track into a modern and safe facility, an endeavor that neither of us could undertake without this partnership,” Siloam Springs School District Superintendent Ken Ramey said. “In the future, with our excellent coaches and student athletes, we can host 5A Conference, State and Meet of Champions events. Last year, we had 152 total students participating in track grades 7-12. We sincerely appreciate the relationship and partnerships we have with John Brown University. The shared use of the track and field facilities will certainly benefit students from 7th grade through their college years.”

The school district will complete additional work to upgrade the facilities including removing the west stands and renovating the public restrooms in the east stands. Most of the work will be done by district facilities staff.

The memorandum enables JBU to use the track for 12 years or until the track needs resurfacing, whichever is longer. At that time the partnership can be renewed for an additional 12 years with each school covering half the cost of the track resurfacing.

“We are deeply grateful to the Siloam Springs School District for allowing us to enter into this partnership with them,” JBU President Chip Pollard said. “This new track will be a great asset to SSSD, JBU and the community of Siloam Springs, and it is another example of how public and private institutions can work together for the common good. It is a part of JBU’s mission to be a good neighbor, and we see this partnership to renovate the track as another example of our commitment and our gratitude for being a part of Siloam Springs.”

JBU will launch an NAIA Intercollegiate men’s and women’s Track & Field program beginning in fall 2019. During its nearly 100-year history, JBU had a intercollegiate Track and Field team from 1960s to 1980s. The new program will be under the direction of Coach Scott Schochler who has led JBU’s Cross Country team since 2013. Schochler coached Annie Brown ’17 to a spot in the 2015 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships marathon, and helped senior Josh Uzelac make appearances in three consecutive NAIA National Championships.

“I am extremely excited and grateful to have the opportunity to bring Track and Field back to JBU and contribute to its legacy,” Schochler said. “I expect to be competitive from the start because of the ability JBU gives us to draw high-quality student athletes, and thanks to the foundation and culture that has been built by our cross country family of athletes. It is a great time to be a JBU Golden Eagle.”

JBU will begin recruiting immediately and hopes to recruit 15 new students for fall 2019. The 28 members of the men’s and women’s cross country team will be able to compete in both sports. Robyn Daugherty, JBU athletics director, said JBU hopes to have 60 students combined in the two programs by fall 2021.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2019), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 38 states and 53 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 40 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.

Siloam Springs School District is a diverse public school district serving 4,300 students on seven campuses. With tremendous support from the community, the Siloam Springs School District has made its mission “Changing lives through educational excellence.” Siloam Springs School District’s Vision is: “To ensure student success, the Siloam Springs School District utilizes innovative approaches, partnerships, and resources to meet the individual needs of every student.”

John Brown University will launch its online RN to BSN Program this spring as a part of the Online Undergraduate Program (JBU Online). The program creates a path for registered nurses to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

“JBU is offering this degree in response to the great need for BSN qualified nurses,” said Dr. Stacey Duke, dean of Online Undergraduate Programs. “In 2010, the Committee on the Future of Nursing recommended that the percentage of nurses with baccalaureate degrees be increased to 80 percent by 2020. JBU’s new online program will help nurses stay and serve in their communities while achieving this additional educational goal.”

With an emphasis on evidenced-based practice, ethical leadership and holistic health, JBU Online’s RN to BSN program equips students for management roles in the nursing industry. The degree program also establishes an academic foundation for graduate studies, allowing nurses to pursue additional training opportunities leading to independent practice roles such as nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.

“Nursing is about more than physical healing,” said Kristin McCloud, department head of Online Undergraduate Nursing. “JBU’s RN to BSN program is designed to produce knowledgeable, skilled nurses of excellent moral character who can not only address the physical needs of patients, but can advocate for the spiritual and emotional well-being of patients and their families. We’ve built an educational experience that incorporates those aspects, and our faculty are driven to champion the success of each student in the program.”

The RN to BSN Program is for registered nurses who have at least 60 semester hours of transferable college credit. While the program’s courses are offered completely online, all students will complete a practicum experience that allows them to explore the full role of the professional nurse through a theoretical project or application.

The new program will expand JBU Online’s offerings, which include bachelor’s degrees in business administration, liberal arts, organizational leadership and psychology. Additional information about JBU’s online undergraduate programs may be found at www.jbu.edu/online.

John Brown University opened the Alumni Welcome Center at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 5 on JBU’s Siloam Springs campus. The center will serve as a hospitality hub for visiting alumni and also houses the University Archives.

“The center is the first time in university history that we’ve had an official designated gathering space for alumni who come back to visit campus during Homecoming, Family Weekend and different times during the year,” Brad Edwards, director of Alumni and Parent Relations, said. “This space allows JBU to directly engage and connect with alumni as we continue to produce graduates who are honoring God and serving others.”

The center is housed in the former JBU president’s house, built by John Brown Jr. during his tenure between 1948 to 1979. In 2007, the JBU Honors Scholars Program moved into the residence, and served as the Honors Center until undergoing a renovation this year.

The Alumni Welcome Center houses the Alumni and Parent Relations staff as well as University Archives, which collects, preserves and documents artifacts associated with JBU’s founding and development.

“We are immensely excited for this space to support JBU alumni as they reminisce on their time at JBU,” Dr. April Moreton, senior director of development, said. “Alumni will not only be able to fellowship with one another and learn more about JBU’s history through the University Archives, but they can also find out ways to continue to positively impact JBU post-grad. We can’t wait to see how this will support generations and generations of alumni.”

Kyle Agee, John Brown University assistant professor of Visual Arts, and Dustin Solomon, founder and CEO of Bentonville-based Mutiny FX, have partnered to offer the course, Motion Graphics, as part of JBU’s undergraduate Visual Arts program. Agee and Solomon, both JBU alumni, strived to expand the skillset of JBU students who are studying digital cinema and graphic design with additional knowledge in visual effects.

“At JBU, we are committed to our mission of providing academic excellence so that our students will have the expertise to be the best in their field, while also nourishing their spiritual life to honor God and serve others,” Dr. Ed Ericson, vice president for academic affairs & dean of the faculty, said. “We are glad Agee and Solomon, who are both JBU graduates with extensive career knowledge, are able to collaborate and give back to their alma mater on a course that meets the demand of today’s ever-changing market.”

The class, which began this fall semester, addresses a need for education and talent in the growing field while increasing overlapping skills needed for digital cinema and graphic design students.

“The digital cinema students need to know how to do non-cinematic virtual effects,” Agee said. “At the same time, graphic design students need to understand not only how to build for 3D space, but also things like point tracking, so they can create realistic graphics for display prototypes or a store walk-through environment.”

Business at Mutiny FX has been steadily picking up, with 17 film and TV movie projects in 2018 alone. Their services include titles, motion capture, virtual reality and full-service post production. The company has worked on more than 50 films, including “God’s Not Dead 2,” “Greater” (the Brandon Burlsworth story) and the film “Unbroken: Path to Redemption,” which opened in theaters, Sept. 14.

The work was there, but Solomon was having trouble finding talent.

“There hasn’t been the educational opportunities in our area for someone wanting to get into this field,” said Solomon, who opened Mutiny FX in 2011. “They go out of state for their education, then usually stay there for their careers,” leaving Northwest Arkansas without the expertise, talent pool and opportunities that come with VFX projects.

Once a luxury reserved for big-budget Hollywood films, visual effects have moved into mainstream and independent media thanks to improved technology and software. Visual effects is a specialized mix of technology and artistry, using computer software to enhance or create imagery not achieved with live-action filming (for example aliens invading Earth or a massive skyscraper explosion). Visual effects are also used heavily in television shows such as Westworld and Game of Thrones, and to design video games, apps and virtual environments such as retail displays.

Agee started teaching the class this semester as a faculty member. The previous version of the class was taught by adjunct professors and often lacked consistency from semester to semester.

“This is the best of both worlds,” Agee said. “We get the consistency of a faculty member teaching the class every semester, along with outside experts to help develop a curriculum that’s relevant. Dustin and his team are so very good at what they do. Since they do this every day, they’re always up to date in this field, which changes so rapidly.”

Agee and Solomon eagerly await the results and feedback from this semester’s students so they can discuss what happens next with the program. After the fall semester started on Aug. 22, three additional students approached Agee to take the class based on recommendations from friends who attended the first session.

“We are blessed that we have students who want to learn,” Agee said. “We are industry and job focused. We make no apologies for saying our goal is to get students employed. They’re pumped any time they get to learn something hands-on that they can put on a resume that sets them apart from another student.”

Visit jbu.edu/motion-graphics/ to learn more about the Motion Graphics course. Visit mutinyfx.com to learn more about Mutiny FX.

Remains Top-Ranked Arkansas School in Regional University Category

In the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Universities ranking, released today, John Brown University ranked 13th out of 141 southern universities, advancing four places from last year. This marks the third consecutive year JBU is the top-ranked Arkansas school in its cohort, which includes Harding University, Arkansas State University, University of Central Arkansas, Henderson State University, Arkansas Tech University and Southern Arkansas University.

“For JBU to continually be the top-ranked Arkansas school among its peers attests to the caliber of JBU’s faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Chip Pollard, JBU president. “The U.S News rankings reflects our ongoing commitment to providing a rigorous Christian higher education.”

U.S. News & World Report is widely recognized as a leader in higher education rankings and a key resource for a student’s college search. To determine its rankings, U.S. News evaluates graduation and student retention rates, class size, student-to-faculty ratio, SAT and ACT scores, alumni giving rate and peer assessment.

This year, JBU’s graduation rate rose by 12.31 percent to 73 percent of students in the 2011 cohort graduating in 6 years or less. This is the highest graduation rate in university’s history.

“Recognition from U.S. News affirms the work JBU’s faculty and staff does every day to cultivate in our students a developed servant heart, a nourished spiritual life and an excellent academic experience,” said Ed Ericson, vice president for academic affairs & dean of the faculty. “Our students are graduating with not just a degree but with the tools that will equip them for life.”

U.S. News also recognized JBU as “Best Value School,” “A+ Schools for B Students,” “Most Innovative Schools,” “Best Undergraduate Teaching” and a top-10 “Best Colleges for Veterans” institution in its category.

JBU was also recognized among the top third of all U.S. schools in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education U.S. College rankings, released Sept. 5. Placing 356th out of 968 institutions ranked by the study, JBU was the second highest Arkansas school and was 78th out of 286 institutions in the South.

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings are based on 15 key indicators that assess colleges in four areas: outcomes, resources, engagement and environment. For more information on the methodology, visit www.timeshighereducation.com.

For more information on U.S. News’ ranking methodology, visit www.usnews.com/collegemeth.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2019), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 38 states and 53 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers 41 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.

Art and Engineering Remain Top Majors Among New Students

John Brown University held the first classes this week in the Peer-Andrus Studio and Project Barn, a 16,800-square-foot facility that provides essential studio and project space for art and engineering students. The two programs are among JBU’s top five majors. Of the 373 freshmen and transfer students who began classes at JBU’s main campus on Wednesday, 34 are engineering students and 17 are studying graphic design.

“We are blessed with dynamic art and engineering programs that continues to be popular among new students who seek a holistic education that combines faith-based learning with hands-on experience,” said Don Crandall, vice president for enrollment management. “The Peer-Andrus Studio and Project Barn sets us apart from many colleges as it will better equip our students with professional and personal success through project-based and experiential learning.”

The $3.25 million facility is named after Charles Peer, retired professor of visual arts, and Dave Andrus, professor of visual arts and department head, who together founded JBU’s Visual Arts program in 1990. The Visual Arts program is one of the largest JBU programs with students majoring in graphic design, art and illustration, digital cinema and photography.

The art section of the building includes a space for commercial photography and video shoots, a wood shop and three large project areas. For the fall semester, five art classes, which include drawing I, figure drawing, oil painting I & II and commercial studio photography, will be held in the newly built facility. The engineering section includes one large project area with 17 flexible workstations for engineering students.

“Our current engineering students are building and testing a variety of projects from new designs for model airplanes and wind turbine blades to a mining robot built to drill and extract Martian rock samples and used to participate in NASA’s annual competition,” Juan Rodriguez, instructor of mechanical engineering, said. “The new building houses these projects, allows students the flexibility to work on multiple projects at once and creates an environment with a quick turnaround between designing, building and testing.”

The building was the newest initiative of JBU’s $125 million Campaign for the Next Century, which is scheduled for completion in 2019 during the university’s centennial.

The incoming class, made up of 42 percent men and 58 percent women, brings students from 29 countries and 23 states, most commonly from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri. Enrolling students from countries like Germany, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico and Nicaragua, the class of 2022 was awarded close to $5 million in scholarships and financial aid. The class’ top five majors include engineering, nursing, biology, psychology and graphic design.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2018), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 41 states and 50 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 40 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.

University Named Among 43 Honor Roll Institutions

John Brown University is one of the best colleges to work for in the nation for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Great Colleges to Work For survey, the largest and most comprehensive workplace study in higher education that is administered by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Nationally, JBU is among only 84 colleges who received the Great College to Work For recognition, 43 institutions with the Honor Roll distinction for being recognized in four or more categories and placed top 10 within the small enrollment size category.

JBU won honors for best workplace practices and policies in nine of 12 categories: collaborative governance, compensation and benefits, confidence in senior leadership, facilities, workspace and security, job satisfaction, professional/career development programs, respect and appreciation, supervisor/department chair relationship and work/life balance.

“JBU is honored to be recognized for the fourth year in a row on the High Honor Roll for the Great Colleges to Work For survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education,” said JBU President Chip Pollard. “We carry out our mission to serve students only through the excellence of our faculty and staff, so it is encouraging to learn year after year that they enjoy working at JBU.”

To administer the survey and analyze the results, The Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted many “Best Places to Work” programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide.

The survey results, based primarily on employee feedback, included a two-part assessment from each institution: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies and a survey distributed to faculty, administrators and professional support staff.

Great Colleges to Work For is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view the survey results, visit The Chronicle’s website at chronicle.com/AW18.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2018), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 41 states and 50 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 40 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.

Program Receives Full Approval from Arkansas State Board of Nursing

John Brown University announced this week that its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has received full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national nursing accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and full approval from Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) to prepare nurse candidates for licensure.

CCNE evaluated JBU’s nursing program based on an internal self-study of the program’s quality and effectiveness, submitted comments from third parties concerning the program’s qualifications and a three-day, on-site evaluation performed by CCNE to ensure the program complies to CCNE’s accreditation standards and key elements.

“The nursing program aligns perfectly with JBU’s educational philosophy to provide students with career preparation, intellectual understanding and personal development. With the CCNE’s accreditation and ASBN’s full approval, JBU nursing students are assured that their education meets and exceeds all professional standards,” Dr. Richard Ellis, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said. “We are proud of the work of JBU’s nursing faculty, particularly the head of our nursing department, Dr. Ellen Odell, in achieving these recognitions.”

In 2013, the university received unanimous approval from the ASBN to develop a nursing program, enabling pre-nursing students to register fall 2014. JBU raised $12 million to build and endow a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Health Education Building. This facility includes three classrooms, four exam rooms with computer-operated, interactive mannequins that simulate urgent care scenarios, two health assessment labs, a computer lab, offices and study lounges.

Currently, the nursing program has become one of the largest majors at the university with 151 students enrolled as of fall 2017.

“Our goal is not only to excellently educate our students, but also to show them the power of their education to make a real impact in the world,” Dr. Ellen Odell, nursing program director, said. “With accreditation from CCNE and approval from ASBN, we are able to ensure the quality and integrity of our program and continue to educate the next generation of nurses with the qualifications and preparation to do their job and do it exceedingly well.”

JBU graduated its first class of nursing students in university history on May 5, with 28 students earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing. These graduates already accepted positions in hospitals across Northwest Arkansas, and in Oklahoma and Tennessee, working in units such as labor and delivery, emergency, intensive care, adult medical-surgical, neonatal intensive care, cardiac neurodevelopment, pediatric surgical and acute care.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education programs and entry-to-practice nurse residency programs. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and entry-to-practice nurse residency programs.

Established by the Arkansas Legislature in 1913 to safeguard the life and health of its citizens, the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) achieves its mission by developing standards for safe nursing care, approval of nursing schools and regulating licenses to practice nursing. In addition to the Nurse Practice Act and Rules, there are position statements and guidelines for nurses to follow. The ASBN is responsible for enforcing these laws and rules pertaining to the regulation of nurses, nursing education and nursing practice.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2018), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 41 states and 50 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 40 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.

JBU alumnus Gabriel Williams will become the director of JBU’s Walton International Scholarship Program, beginning this fall.

John Brown University announced this week that JBU alumnus Gabriel Williams will become the director of JBU’s Walton International Scholarship Program (WISP), beginning this fall. Williams will recruit and advise prospective WISP students and support current JBU WISP students through their studies until completion of their program requirements.

“We could not be happier to have Gabe Williams, an alumnus who grew up in Costa Rica and has been working internationally in missions, to take the lead role in directing JBU’s Walton International Scholars Program,” Dr. Steve Beers, JBU vice president of student development, said. “He and his wife, Andrea who is also a graduate, are excited to provide direct support for 60 Central American and Mexican students who enrich our campus each year.”

Launched by Sam and Helen Walton in 1985, the WISP awards 60 students a full-ride scholarship every year to attend one of three Arkansas institutions: John Brown University, University of the Ozarks or Harding University. In exchange, students commit to return to their home countries for four years after graduation to make a difference in their local communities.

In the over 30 years since its inception, JBU has graduated over 400 Walton scholars.

Williams graduated from JBU in 2004 with a bachelor’s of science degree in construction management. After graduation, he worked for three years as a field and office engineer for Hensel Phelps Construction Company before becoming construction manager for New Hope Uganda, where he manages and facilitates the construction and maintenance needs of the organization.

In addition, Williams and his wife Andrea, a JBU 2005 alumna, were JBU missionaries in residence for the 2014-2015 academic year. They built relationships with JBU’s missionary kids and international students through hospitality, counseling and fellowship.

“JBU has always held a special place my life,” Williams said. “It is where my wife and I met, and for four years was my only American ‘home’ since I grew up in Costa Rica. As the director of the Walton International Scholarship Program, I am excited to partner with students as they make the transition from their home to host culture and receive a liberal arts education that will play a transforming role in their lives, impacting their families, local communities and potentially their nations.”

Williams will be the fourth director to govern JBU’s WISP program. Ron Johnson was the director of JBU’s WISP program for over 20 years, before passing away in December 2018.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2018), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 41 states and 50 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 40 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.