Page 39 - Arkanas Trucking Report Volume 22 Issue 5

“I faced the challenge of trying “Our program has received some for Veterans and Military Families
to sell people, to share with people good exposure,” Voss says. “Students are found that many veterans forgo pursu-
the beauty of this field and why it’s so starting school knowing what logistics ing college degrees because they fear
important,” he says. “We wouldn’t have and supply chain management are. I they will not fit in on a college campus.
anything we have without the trucking think we’re currently larger than some This has resulted in an effort to make
industry. You have to share with stu- of the other majors in the College of the college experience more welcoming
dents why they should drive a truck and Business, so I think it’s going to grow.” to veterans, and UCA’s logistics program
why it’s a great field.” In Arkansas, U of A and Arkansas is doing exactly that.
Dr. Michael Hargis, dean of the State University also have logistics “We currently have a push for
College of Business at UCA, says Voss degree programs. ROTC and veteran students to get
has been an essential part of the col- “Each of the schools’ programs involved,” Voss says. “Especially veter-
lege’s efforts to build academic pro- focus on different things,” Voss says. ans. One of the core functions of the
grams focused on logistics and supply “Ours at UCA has the most focus on military is you have to be able to move
chain management. the trucking industry.” stuff, so veterans are very good at logis-

“TO BE SAFE, YOU DON’T JUST HAVE TO KNOW THE PARTS OF THE TRUCK, YOU
HAVE TO BUILD THAT SAFETY CULTURE. YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TO THINK
ABOUT WHEN PLANNING ROUTES. SAFETY HAS TO BE A TOP OF THE MIND

FUNCTION. WE HAVE TO IMPRESS UPON THEM THAT THEY ARE SHARING THE
ROAD WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. YOU DON’T FULLY APPRECIATE THIS UNTIL YOU
GET UP INSIDE THE TRUCK AND LEARN TO DRIVE IT.”

“His knowledge of the field, along The minor in logistics and sup- tics. It’s a natural fit. We have four fac-
with his involvement with state and ply chain management also serves an ulty members and two are veterans. So
regional advisory boards, has allowed important purpose, since there are skills our program becomes a comfortable fit
us to build a major and minor program other than business that are important for veterans.”
that is consistent with our core mission in business, Voss explains. Even though Voss completed
as a College of Business—a mission that “A student might major in UACC’s Commercial Driver Training
is focused on building rigorous aca- communication and minor in logistics Program, don’t expect to see him log-
demic programs that provide relevant, and supply chain management,” ging miles on the highway any time
experiential learning opportunities that he says. “They can take those soon. He’s going to stick with driving to
help prepare students for productive communication skills and apply them UCA every day in his Ford F-150.
and rewarding careers,” Hargis says. in a lot of different ways.” “You probably don’t want me driv-
“In addition, Dr. Voss has been a strong The Logistics and Supply Chain ing your truck,” he says. “Could I do it?
advocate for our students. He has solid Management degree at UCA is helping Yes. Is it something I would like to do
relationships with multiple employers to meet another need. This program to for a living? At some point, I think
and those connections are helpful as of study is proving to be a great fit for it would be fun to do. But I think I can
our students look for internship oppor- veterans who are returning to campus. do a greater good by doing what I’m
tunities and jobs.” Nationwide, colleges and universities doing.
Years ago, Voss had to explain have been experiencing lower num- “We’re so appreciative to the truck-
the field of logistics to people who had bers of veterans, despite the Post-9/11 ing industry and the state of Arkansas
never heard of it. But word of the field GI Bill, which is the most extensive for allowing us to do what we do,” he
and UCA’s program has spread since education asset offered to veterans says. “So I hope we deliver some value
then. Now, prospective students contact since World War II, according to the back to the taxpayers. We serve an
UCA’s College of Business to inquire Chronicle of Higher Education. A 2014 important industry and we take that
about the logistics program. study at Syracuse University’s Institute very seriously.” ATR

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 5 2017 39