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UAPB PH.D. PROGRAM HITS ANOTHER HURDLE

By Erin France/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:57 AM CST

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has one of the nation’s premier aquaculture departments, but it lacks a Ph.D. program.

University officials have tried to establish such a program for about 10 years.

In the last 2 years, the movement gained momentum with consultations and requisite revisions until June 2008, said Dr. Carole Engle, UAPB’s aquaculture/fisheries department chairwoman.

“Right now, it’s kind of stuck,” she said.

The issue was a major topic of discussion at Wednesday’s 2009 meeting of the National Advisory Committee for UAPB’s Aquaculture/Fisheries Center at Regional Park.

UAPB Chancellor Dr. Lawrence A. Davis Jr., said he thought politics could account for the delay.

Without the presence of a doctorate program “we could lose the expertise that we have,” he said.

Davis reminded the board the school is accountable.

“We’re supposed to serve the people whatever those needs might be,” he said. “The aquaculture industry needs this program.”

Mike Freeze, the committee’s vice chair, said state education leaders might be concerned about an influx of doctoral program requests.

The law also is unclear in this case, Davis added.

Both the University of Arkansas board of trustees and the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board are held liable for approving the program.

“Right now, they’re pointing the finger at each other,” Freeze said.

The committee voted to send a resolution to members of both groups encouraging a vote approving UAPB’s proposal.

“I don’t know why it would be denied,” said Jerry Seamens, representing the catfish industry.

Participants discussed personally approaching statewide education leaders and congressional representatives.

Board members also approved a plaque for long-time associate Fred Meyer, an original member of the advisory committee, who resigned for health reasons.

Industry experts listed their biggest concerns and additional research UAPB could consider. Pitches included studies on invasive species, promoting Arkansas products and bringing back the alligator gar as a sports fish in the Arkansas River.

Engle reported on various on-going research with an emphasis on comparing different fish feeds.

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