26 May 2016 UACCM announces partnership with Conway County schools

The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 with Conway County schools regarding the concurrent technical classes that will be offered at UACCM. This MOU ensures that students taking advantage of the concurrent enrollment classes will be attending UACCM as full-time college students while meeting state requirements for high school graduation.  In addition, these classes will be at little to no cost to the student, with the tuition and fees being split between UACCM, the student’s high school, and the School Counts initiative.

The document was signed by the following representatives for their listed school: Shawn Halbrook, South Conway County School District; Cody Beene, Nemo Vista School District; Carroll Purtle, Wonderview School District; Dr. Larry Davis, UACCM; Dr. Thomas Flowers, School Counts! Initiative; and Dottie Greeson, Sacred Heart Catholic School.  Others in attendance include UACCM Foundation Chair Doug Brandon, Lori Michell from Arch Ford Educational Service Cooperative, and Board members from the signing school districts.

While Senator Jane English was unable to attend, she had this to say about the signing, “I am so pleased to see this partnership between UACCM, industry and high schools come together to give high school students the opportunity to gain the skills and education necessary to move into the workforce or choose to continue their career pathway education.”

Dr. Thomas Flowers, School Counts! Initiative Board Chair, said in his comments, “We are pleased to be able to partner on this.  I think it is a great investment in our community.  We are so fortunate in Conway County to have a community college where the students can focus on career and technical education, whatever their needs are, and that provides workforce development for our community.  Part of the goal behind the School Counts initiative is that we would have students graduating from high school that are interested in pursuing continued education, so that they might come back and contribute to the economic well-being of our community.”

Of this collaboration, Dr. Davis said, “We all want the same thing, and that is to help these kids by giving them the opportunity to obtain the skills necessary to succeed, and to help Conway County develop a stronger workforce base.  We all came together with these goals in mind to make this happen.”

UACCM is currently enrolling high school juniors and seniors for the fall 2016 semester in technical programs on campus. The following technical programs are currently offering concurrent classes for these students:  Auto Collision Repair; Auto Service; Business; Computer Information Systems; Drafting; Early Childhood Education; Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC); Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance; Surveying; and Welding.

South Conway County School District Superintendent Shawn Halbrook said, “There is no doubt that there is not a greater investment this community will make than what we just signed.  This sends a strong message to the state, our business community, and our local community about the value that we place on working together to help our kids and making this the best place to live.”

Because high school students cannot receive federal financial aid, this MOU includes a financial plan allowing students to participate at little to no cost to them.   UACCM will waive all mandatory fees, the student’s high school will pay $50.00 per credit hour of the tuition, and the School Counts! Initiative will pay the remainder of the tuition for the students.

“We want the people of Morrilton and Conway County to be aware that there are a lot of great things happening here,” said Dr. Davis.  “There are a lot of people working hard, working together, to make this a better place to live and work.  I promise you that UACCM will be at the forefront of any workforce training that needs to take place, in cooperation with area high schools and with our business and industry partners.”