HSU starts campaign to name lecture hall seats
Hardin-Simmons University is asking donors to help with a building expansion and endowment. 

The university reached its goal of $5.6 million to cover the initial cost renovating the Newman-Richardson Science Center. Sponsorships for a lecture hall seat for future HSU students begin at $300. Click here to donate.

McMurry starts hiring process replace President Sandra Harper
The search firm EFL Associates of Kansas City, Missouri, is conducting a nationwide search for a successor to McMurry President Sandra Harper. The presidential search committee members will work throughout the summer months to recommend two or three finalists, from whom the McMurry University Board of Trustees will choose a new president this fall.

Dr. Harper’s final day as president of McMurry University will be January 10, 2025, and the new president’s tenure will begin immediately after that date. Application deadline is June 30, 2024. Click here for details, including an application form.

ACU to be first Texas university in unique refugee partnership
Abilene Christian University is set to be the first Texas university to join the Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR) program, designed to partner U.S. colleges and universities with their local refugee resettlement agency as a co-sponsor to host refugees on campus grounds and support them in their resettlement. 

ACU and the Abilene office of the International Rescue Committee signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, May 15,  to formalize the partnership.

“This agreement will make a meaningful difference in the lives of refugees by offering them housing and support on ACU’s campus while allowing our students deeper education,” said Dr. Jason Morris, professor of higher education, dean of the Honors College and executive director of the ACU Center for Building Community. “Institutionally, we are excited for our students to benefit from the service learning that will take place through the interactions between refugees and ACU students.”

Garrett Pearson, fifth from left, and Dr. Jason Morris, sixth from left, join representatives from ACU and the local IRC office at a signing ceremony Wednesday. Pearson is executive director of the IRC in Dallas. Photo courtesy ACU.

The vision of ECAR is to transform the landscape of refugee resettlement and higher education by creating sustainable resettlement campus ecosystems. 

The initiative began with Guilford College hosting refugees in January 2016, and the ECAR chapter at Guilford College has since hosted more than 90 refugees from several countries. The initiative now involves 17 other universities, including Wake Forest, Old Dominion, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State, Washington and Purdue. Collectively, ECAR campuses have hosted more than 347 refugees and supported them in their resettlement. 

Families are provided short-term housing in university-owned property within walking distance of bus stops, grocery stores and banks. 

The agreement between ACU and the Abilene IRC provides for one refugee family to be housed in a home owned by Abilene Christian and located near campus, beginning in September 2024. ACU is receiving a $46,000 grant from the Supporting Higher Education in Refugee Resettlement program through World Learning to help defray the costs of housing, staffing and other resources necessary for the ECAR program.

HSU honors faculty, staff
Hardin-Simmons University honored a faculty member and a staff member at its recent Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon.
Honorees were Dr. Jill Jumper, Director of the Physical Therapy Program and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy; and Debbie Jones, Director of the White Horse Program.

Debbie Jones, left, and Dr. Jill Jumper

Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing graduates 21
The Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing (PHSSN) held its pinning ceremony on May 9, with 21 graduates getting pins. Many graduates have secured positions with health systems, including Hendrick Health, Abilene,OU Health’s Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, Oklahoma City, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, Round Rock, and Frisco Medical City Hospital, Frisco, Texas.
PHSSN is a consortium between McMurry University and Hardin-Simmons University. Graduates participated in their chosen schools commencement May 10 or May 11.
Four PHSSN graduates were recognized for their outstanding achievements. Kiara Alford was the proud recipient of the Barnabas Award, while Piper Beaty was honored with the Molly C. Hall Award. Madison Galliano received the Head, Heart, and Hands award, and Alejandra Perales Garcia received the Faculty Award. 

McMurry students to man voter registration table
Members of the McMurry University Political Awareness Club will be manning a voter registration table at 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Texas Star Trading Company, 174 Cypress St. The voter registration will be part of a book signing by former Congressman Beto O’Rouke during the same hours. O’Rourke ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2018 and for governor in 2022. 

O’Rourke is on a statewide tour promoting the paperback edition of We’ve Got to Try, which was published in hardback in 2022. He will speak and take a few questions before signing books. Copies may be reserved in advance by calling Texas Star Trading at 325-672-9696 or emailing info@texasstartrading.com.

O’Rourke, former congressman from El Paso, ran unsuccessfully for senator in 2018 and governor in 2022. He is not a candidate for public office this year.