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HSU to be more involved in county

By John Miller
Published Wednesday, June 13, 2001 in the Gurdon Times

Henderson State University is working to become more involved with the communities in Clark County.

Brenda Hawkes, coordinator of advancement services, said HSU is working to let people know what the university is doing and wants the public to let it know how it can be more involved.

Speaking to the Gurdon Rotary Club, Hawkes said HSU's mission is to excel at undergraduate education for its students.

The mean ACT score of HSU students is 22, she said, which is very good. The highest score possible on the ACT test is 30, and few students are able to reach this level.

Henderson, Hawkes said, offers degrees in 10 different areas, encompassing a variety of disciplines.

One of the degree plans HSU is most proud of, she said, is its education degree. Henderson is working to combat the national teacher shortage by sending teachers all over the U.S., according to Hawkes.

Another feather in HSU's cap, she said, is it's business program. Henderson is one of 340 colleges in America offering both an undergraduate and graduate business degree. It's also one of the few universities in the country to have it's business program accredited.

HSU, she said, is, at this time, the only university in the state offering an aviation degree.

In the aviation program, students can learn to fly and, should they want, get jobs with major airline companies.

The program utilizes the Arkadelphia airport on Highway 67, and works with the city to promote both the airport and aviation course.

But, she said, Henderson is more than just degrees and classes. The university also has a center for language proficiency which teaches those in need the English language, along with customs observed in the U.S. so they can live in this country with fewer acclimation problems.

Hawkes said Henderson is in the midst of a major building program with several buildings being renovated, and new ones being built.

At this time, an honors college is being built for those in honors courses, more than 100 students. When finished, the students will live in the building, as well as taking classes there.

A former fraternity house is being converted into an international student center, as those students from other nations can't go home during breaks as most students do. Once completed, the foreign students will live at the center, which will have apartments for about 40, and include house parents to help them out as needed.

The pedestrian bridge across Highway 7 has been a positive addition, she said. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but makes it safer for students crossing the busy highway.

The Russell Fine Arts Center has been renovated, with art and music programs offered regularly. These programs are open to the public, as are most events at HSU.

In 1999, State Sen. Percy Malone, then a member of the House of Representatives, helped HSU get $5 million funding for renovation projects.


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