Explore Ouachita! delivers a tight-knit campus experience

The summer of my senior year of high school, I attended Explore Ouachita! (what used to be called GROW, or Getting Ready for Ouachita’s World) for the first time. I didn’t know much about Explore – or Ouachita for that matter – but my dad urged me to attend. He said he just knew that Ouachita would be the perfect fit for me and that I would fall in love with it. Little did I know at that point in time that he was exactly right.

Test your best

Standardized tests are … well … standard in the college process, but your score is a huge factor in college acceptance and scholarship decisions. While it may not feel fair that a test affects so much, you want the results to show the very best that you can do.

Looking to reduce your waste?

When looking to go zero waste, dip your toe into waste reduction or be more eco-friendly, my first suggestion is always the Big Four! The Big Four are four simple, easy swaps popularized by Plastic Free July. These four items are easy to avoid and make up a huge portion of waste in landfills and the ocean. All of these swaps are convenience items that are easy to avoid, and I’ll show you how.

Intellectual and spiritual growth

At Ouachita, we have fun and don’t take ourselves too seriously. But we’re serious about intellectual and spiritual growth, and I want to spend a few moments introducing this year’s theme.

Overcommitted and overwhelmed

Involvement is good – scratch that – involvement is great, and one of my personal favorite things about Ouachita Baptist University. There is something out there for everyone! My mistake was taking that as, “I am the someone for everything.” Ha, nope.

10 things parents of a college freshman need to know

In my 32 years as a Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) campus minister at another Arkansas university, as well as a current consultant in collegiate ministry for LifeWay Christian Resources, I have learned a few things that every parent needs to know as they prepare to launch their freshman college student.

Leaving them to the Lord: Dropping off your freshman at college

As we neared the time for my oldest son Blake to leave for Ouachita, I began to ask God to give me peace and direction on being a mom – my most loved and highest calling – 100 miles away. What would it look like? How was I to be his mom without seeing him at the breakfast table, walking by his room and praying over him while he slept, hearing “Mom” 100 times a day, watching every hole of golf he ever played?

Behind the names: Cone-Bottoms Hall

Sitting squarely behind a carpet of grass that some call “Ouachita’s front lawn” and shaded by oaks and loblolly pine trees is historic Cone-Bottoms Hall, a landmark of campus since it was built in 1923.

Freshman Move-In Day: Advice for parents

Before moving my oldest child to Ouachita, we thoroughly studied the housing information on the website and analyzed the floor plan, feeling pretty proud of ourselves for our preparedness. While the day did not go entirely as we had envisioned, moving in child #2 at Ouachita went more smoothly as we had learned a few things along the way.

Getting to know Frances Crawford

As I walked through the doors to the lobby on my freshman move-in day, I knew something was different about Frances Crawford Hall. When you live in Frances Crawford Hall, often referred to as “Francie,” you learn the phrase, “It’s not about where you live, it’s about who you live with.” I began to understand what that meant on the first day. The Residence Life staff were welcoming and warm, and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the story.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic and Latino Americans have positively shaped our society, so it is only right to celebrate their accomplishments and contributions during Hispanic Heritage Month, held from September 15 to October 15.

The summer of a lifetime

A few years ago, sitting in Evans Student Center, I overheard someone say, “It’s a lot easier to live the life of your dreams than you think.” This idea set me free and opened a whole world that dared me to dream big and work harder. This summer I got to live my dream job: I was a videography intern for a nonprofit’s cross-country bike adventure.

4 tips for starting a zero waste lifestyle

Most beginner guides for going zero waste are full of simple swaps, but there’s so much more to zero waste living than replacing your household items. Don’t get me wrong, I love swaps, too, but I think the tips below are the four most important tips I can give you for going zero waste. They’re essentially the building block of zero waste, minimalism and eco-friendly living.

Ouachita's favorite mascots

Tripp and Talley are well-known faces around the Ouachita campus. They are Ouachita athletics’ most spirited fans and are loved by many. Have you ever wondered the history behind our furry friends?

A prayer for wisdom in the back-to-school rush

As I write this, I’m looking through my newsfeed and seeing all the “first day of school” pictures. It wasn’t so long ago that I was posting these same photos. I love hearing the moms share how their kids responded to a new classroom, new friends, a new teacher and maybe even a new school. These transitions can cause our hearts to be anxious as we anticipate all the obstacles our child/children may encounter or needs they may have.

Confronting ableism

I have grown up in a society that condemns racism. Within the past few years, I have even seen more and more men and women condemn sexism. And yet, there is still one “inferior” group that is often discriminated against, having to fight an “-ism” that few people have heard of. Ableism is a real prejudice issue in our society. In short, ableism is discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.

TWIRP, Tunes, Dr. Jack? Decoding everyday Ouachita life #askingforafriend

We know you have questions about life in general at Ouachita. So, we’ve put together some common questions and answers to give it to you straight. You’ll start-off your freshman year with a few nuggets of knowledge to navigate this new world of Ouachita, complete with it’s own distinct culture and lingo – with no need to ask for your friends.

Besides having a name that's hard to pronounce, what makes Ouachita different? #askingforafriend

So you’ve heard of us – Ouachita Baptist University? Great! We are a leading liberal arts university and ranked nationally among “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes magazines. But you might wonder, “So what makes Ouachita different?” Here are a few commonly asked questions about Ouachita, along with the answers. No need to ask for your friends!

How to survive the first day of freshman year

The first day of freshman year can be a scary thought. You are walking into a new place, with new people at your new home, and you have no clue how to take it all in. The best part of being a freshman is that everyone else in your class is right there with you, and the people who aren’t were there at one point. After talking to fellow students, I came up with a few tips to help you survive the first day of freshman year.

Dorm room decorating tips

If you’re mentally preparing to move-in to your dorm here in the next few weeks, it’s likely you’ve thought about how to decorate your new room. But, you’re also in college now and have little money to renovate a room you’ll move out of in May.