CENTRAL MESSAGE BOARD

PROMOTING STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Prepared by Bianca Pollard

on
10 October 2013

Prepared for
Jan Austin, PhD
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Leadership Development

Office of Campus Life

2801 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
Attention Dr. Jan Austin
Subject: Proposal to Engage Students with a Central Message Board
I am requesting that you consider my proposal.
In the attachment, I examine the recent loss of a message board used to advertise clubs, local
events, and services, formerly located in the center of campus. Considering the need for students
to be involved in the community, and the convenience of the boards location, I propose a
solution that may benefit UALRs commitment to helping students transition and earn their
degrees, while offering current students a chance to put their artistic skills to use.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours truly,
Bianca Pollard
(501) 260-0344

Executive Summary
Until the summer of 2013, the area between the Ottenheimer Library, Student Union A, and
Dickinson Hall sported a large advertisement board. This board, like many found across campus
but notably similar to the ones in the Donaghey Student Center between the ATM machines and
Starbucks, provided an avenue for students, clubs, organizations, and local businesses alike to
reach other students. Students in all areas of study tended to pass by the board on their way to
class, making its placement opportune at reaching a broad audience.
Following some construction near the library, however, the bricks were re-aligned and the board
was removed. This has taken away not only a convenient and noticeable landmark, but also a
source of information accessible to much of the student body.
The reintroduction of this board is a proposal for the student body created by the student body.
Applied Design students get hands-on experience working in designing for the university. The
benefits include student involvement, student sense of identity and belonging, and meets
requirements for all first year freshmen to actively participate in the university.
The more organizations and local events can reach their target audience, the more students feel
empowered to finish their degrees, leading to a strong potential increase in retention.
Most importantly, every aspect is designed to help the students at no cost to UALR.

Need
Despite the blogs, apps, and other forms of online communication, UALR students still rely
heavily on flyers and posters when it comes to finding out about clubs and local services. The
advertisement of these student organizations is critical to keeping students aware and involved on
campus. According to research conducted by the University of Southern Mississippi, students
must be actively engaged in their surroundings in order to learn and grow in college.
Retaining students relies on several factors, but many research, including a study done in 2010
by Hawaiian researcher Umi Thurston, emphasizes how students who feel involved, valued, and
engage socially about their classes, political situations, etc. are likewise more likely to stay
committed towards the earning of a degree.
UALR has already implemented resources dedicated to this. The First Year Experience course
lists six course objectives for first year freshmen, including awareness of the University, active
involvement in the community, strategic planning for personal development and growth, and
sense of academic community and sense of belonging. In addition, the class requires service
learning and proof that the student is involved in an on campus organization. Likewise, UALRs
Non Traditional Student page promotes involvement in professional organizations to build their
resum and get recognized by professors and businesses alike.
By re-introducing the message board into this well-traversed area, student organizations and
local services will be able to reach these students even better than on other message boards found

in buildings across campus. The Donaghey Student Center and Student Union A building, for
example, both have message boards inside. Students who live on campus pass by the DSC board
regularly, but students who do not tend to stay only in the buildings they have classes in. The
location of this board is outside, between buildings that many students walk past as they
commute from class to class, thus the potential to reach students of different disciplines grows.

Solution
Though it may be possible to bring back the same board, its age and tattered appearance may be
outdated. This then creates the opportunity to open the creative process to the student body it will
be serving.
Students in the Applied Design program must take a 3-Dimensional Design class, and many
other art students must prepare a variety of works for their senior portfolio. By asking the art
faculty to consider adding the creation of a replacement advertisement board to their class,
UALR can save time and expenses, while also encourage students to design with real, modern
needs in mind. It would also be an excellent opportunity for students to list on their resume.
In Figure 1, I present a tentative design that demonstrates the flexibility of the project in terms of
artistic design.
Figure 1. Example of Central Message Board Design.

Budget
Using the material and time provided in the art classes engages students and saves money.
However, for a large project like this which would require more metal than may usually be
allocated to the students, outside resources may still be necessary. A couple strong sources keep
UALR from having to fund it themselves: art fundraisers and beneficiaries.
The Art Department already offers after-school services to local children who show artistic talent
and interest. One way to raise money while continuing the tradition of engaging the community
is by hosting parent-child art classes. Parents can pay for the cost of the materials as well as a
spot in the learning class, and proceeds can go directly to the departments budget.

Appealing to beneficiaries and using this project as one way to demonstrate the students
engaging in making campus beautiful is yet another route. Most of the outside artwork is limited
to just beyond the walking path to and from the building. Alumni and generous locals may find
the prospect of extending the art to the middle of campus promising and worth helping.

Plan
Before any arrangements can be done, the faculty member over Applied Design, Professor Mia
Hall, must be contacted and informed of the project. The support of Campus Life may provide
the seal of approval for her consideration.
Following an approval, the first step is to raise funds. Either or both of the aforementioned
strategies would then be implemented. The fundraising goal largely depends on the scale of the
design and the budget of the current semester. Thus, it is difficult to present an estimate.
The actual process of creating the board should be left up to the art students. Ideally, this project
would take up to an academic year. If advertisement of the project starts as early as the summer
of 2014 or the beginning weeks of Fall 2014, the board should be finished and expected to be
displayed in Fall 2015.

Conclusion
Given the necessity for students to get involved on campus, the creation of the message board
affords students of all disciplines the chance to contribute to their university. Post-creation offers
organizations, students who provide tutoring services, and others a stylistic, central method of
reaching a broad audience. I believe this is an excellent way to let the students have control of
creating a purposeful structure to beautify campus.

Works Cited
Jensen, U. 2011. Factors Influencing Student Retention in Higher Education. Honolulu, HI:
Kamehameha SchoolsResearch & Evaluation Division.