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ACC CONNECTIONS APRIL 2026 | | MID-LEVEL MANAGER & PROFESSIONAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS | |
ACC has developed two workshops specifically for AR community college faculty and staff. ACC's Mid-Level Manager Workshop includes training in areas such as understanding the role of a supervisor, mission and value-driven leadership, and coaching/discipline. The Professional Skills Workshop includes training in areas such as the importance of treating the student as a customer, core service skills, and difficult conversations. On March 9, ACC partnered with Dr. Sandra Massey, a former chancellor with more than two decades of experience in higher education, to conduct both of the workshops at the ACC office in Little Rock. More than 50 Arkansas community college employees participated. In case you missed it, the curriculum/facilitator guides can be accessed for free HERE.
Pictured above: Bailey Hutcheson (ASUMH), Kristina Radivojevich (ASUMH), and Tabatha Simpson-Farrow (ASUMH).
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In partnership with ADHE Perkins, ACC hosted a workshop for CTE Faculty. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) led the training covering topics such as facilitating adult learning, learning styles, and creating engaging learning experiences. Nearly 30 CTE faculty from member institutions participated in the free training at ACC's office in Little Rock.
Pictured above: Jacob Holder (UACCB), Madison Ray (SAUT), Sana Bhimani (SAUT), Jedda Barnes (ASUTR), Amber Evans (ASUTR), and Denise Hogan (UACCB).
| GRANT WRITING SERIES CONCLUDES | ACC has completed it's three-part series on best practices in workforce grant writing. This beginner-level training series provided guidance for community college workforce and advancement staff on how to effectively compete in an increasingly competitive grant landscape. The series explored federal, state, and private funding streams, preparing projects and partnerships that align with administrative priorities, and best practices on crafting proposals that stand out to reviewers. | |
The ACC Leadership Institute Class of 2026 participated in its fifth session - a zoom meeting with Dr. Ken Warden, Commissioner, Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE). Dr. Warden discussed the division’s role/authority and various portions of the ACCESS Act including scholarships, the common application, and changes to productivity funding. He placed extra focus on using Return on Investment (ROI) to build the case for post-secondary training and to help reinforce the value of community colleges to the public.
Pictured above: Tiffney Miller (Ozarka), Kristen Smith (ACC), Dr. Ken Warden (ADHE), Julie Doner (NWACC), Lisa Griffin (UAEACC), Courtney Kline (SEARK), Paul Edmondson (UA NorthArk), Allyson Miller (UARM), Dr. Kayla Sapkota (ASUB), Dr. Jeremy Isome (UAPTC), Lindsey Drewry (UARM), Mary Kate Sumner (SouthArk), Shelby Beck (UACCM), Jerry Stegall (UAEACC), Scott Sikora (ASUTR), Dustin Kemper (ANC), Jeanette Youngblood (UACCB), Dr. Monica Mobley (ASUN), Brittany Milligan (BRTC), Dennis Guzman (UA Cossatot), Bob Coutch (NWACC), Dr. Rickey Rogers (SAUT), Bridget Stewart (ASUMS), Tonja Fillippino (UACCM), and Marla Bush (UAHT).
| Last month, ACC held its regular meeting of CAOs/CSAOs to discuss concurrent faculty credentialling and potential grants, among other topics. ACC also held a meeting of marketing and advancement officers focusing on the Federal Reserve Survey of Community College Outcomes and the upcoming retreat. | | |
In March, Dr. Callaway visited the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) where she learned about their unique partnership with the local school district and the Hope Collegiate Academy.
Pictured above: Jennifer Cunningham, Jessica Beavers, Laura Clark, Collin Callaway, Kelly Wilcox, Chancellor Ricky Tompkins, Sherri Ford, Brian Berry, and Misti Hughes.
| | KYLA WATERS CELEBRATES 12 YEARS WITH ACC | | Congratulations to Kyla Waters on her 12-year anniversary with ACC. As the Director of Workforce Initiatives at Arkansas Community Colleges, Kyla plays a pivotal role in aligning education and training programs with the evolving needs of industry across the state. She is a passionate and people-centered leader with over 11 years of experience in workforce development, project management, and grant administration who strives to advance policies that empower the 22-member community colleges to meet the education and training needs of students, local industry partners, and communities. Kyla graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in History from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is a graduate of the Talent Pipeline Management Career Readiness Academy, a Community College Growth Engine Fellow, and a member of the Broadband Nation Advisory Board. | | UPCOMING ACC EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS | |
- April 6: ACC/ADHE Finance Training (Zoom)
- April 8-9: ACC Student Leadership Academy (Little Rock)
- April 10: ACC Board Meeting (Little Rock)
- April 15-17: ACC Leadership Institute (UA Rich Mountain)
- April 17: ACC Workforce Summit (Little Rock)
- April 24: ACC Conference Board Meeting (Hot Springs)
- April 24: AHECB Quarterly Meeting (Ozarka College)
- May 1: Deadline to submit a proposal to present at the 2026 ACC Conference
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