ACC UPDATES SEPTEMBER 2025

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ACC

CAO/CSAO Meeting

ACC hosted a meeting for all Chief Academic Officers and Chief Student Affairs Officers to connect via Zoom and discuss ongoing issues impacting campuses including changes to concurrent enrollment, faculty credentialing, common course numbering, and course choice. ACC also detailed plans for Professional Skills Training, Mid-Level Manager Training, and CTE Faculty Training at the upcoming conference in October.

Workforce Staff Meeting

Kyla Waters hosted the Quarterly Workforce Staff Meeting. She provided an overview of Workforce Pell and the timeline for the negotiated rulemaking process. Attendees discussed the use of Workforce Pell and the challenges to implementation related to program length requirements and the data points for establishing program eligibility. Kyla also highlighted the recently released "America's Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age," which outlines a comprehensive plan to address the workforce needs of American companies. The strategy transfers the operation of workforce programs currently at the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, with DOE retaining program oversight. The next Quarterly Workforce Staff meeting will be in November.

UA Cossatot Fiber Network Engineer Program

ACC attended the grand opening of the Fiber Network Engineer program at the University of Arkansas Cossatot Lockesburg Campus. The Fiber Network Engineer program spans 15 weeks, preparing students for highly-skilled careers in the broadband sector. The program is funded by the Office of Skills Development, allowing students to attend at no cost. Industry partners, regional economic development staff, local dignitaries, Senator Jane English, ACC's Executive Director, Dr. Collin Callaway, and current and former students attended the event, where they heard comments from Dr. Steve Cole, Chancellor; Marty Allen, Program Instructor; Kyla Waters, ACC Director of Workforce Initiatives; Stephanie Isaacs, Director of the Office of Skills Development; and Glen Howie, Director of the State Broadband Office.

NPC Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems

ACC visited National Park College for the announcement of its newest partnership with the University of Arkansas Monticello on a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems degree. This marks the fourth program in the partnership offering 4-year bachelor degrees on the NPC campus in Hot Springs.

NorthArk Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Innovation

ACC attended the grand opening of North Arkansas College's Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Innovation. The state-of-the-art facility is the first of its kind on a community college campus, and features laboratories for robotics, manufacturing, and electronics, as well as classrooms and a collaborative "Maker Space" designed to spark innovation and hands-on learning.

Education Design Lab Update

Kyla Waters recently attended the Education Design Lab's (EDL) Community College Growth Engine (CCGE) Fellows 2.0 convening in Raleigh, NC. She was joined by Dr. Tina Moore, Mason Campbell, and Tracy Harrell from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE). The meeting was designed to foster connections with Fellows from other states and hear from the North Carolina team, who shared their micro-credential work, including best practices around the micro-credential creation process and fostering the partnerships vital for success.

Campus Visits at SAUT and ASUTR

Dr. Collin Callaway is making her way across the state to visit with each of ACC's member institutions. This month, Dr. Callaway spoke at the Southern Arkansas University Tech employee convocation, and participated in an executive cabinet meeting at Arkansas State University Three Rivers.

NSLS Fall Nominations Opening Soon

ACC hosts an online chapter of the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS) open to all member institutions. Nominations for students to join for Fall 2025 will be open soon. Last year, we had six member colleges participate, and we would love to see our membership grow.

The NSLS is the nation’s largest, accredited co-curricular leadership program with over 800 chapters and more than two million members served. Unlike traditional honor societies, the NSLS offers career and leadership development through its Foundations of Leadership (FOL) program, which comes with membership. There is a one-time membership fee for students to join of $95, which provides them lifetime access to Foundations of Leadership programming, and other membership benefits, such as:

• Over $400,000 in annual scholarship opportunities
• Success coaching
• Personalized letters of recommendation
• Speaker Broadcasts
• Membership discounts

Here are a few quotes from Arkansas students who participated last year:

"After watching and listening to the NSLS speakers, I have started to strive further to reach my goals, and I have started taking my classes way more seriously. These speakers have made me more confident in myself and made me want to push myself harder to achieve success."

"My Success Networking Team is extremely supportive and positive while they help me achieve my goals. They encouraged me that I was on the right track and helped suggest other ways I could make this goal more attainable. The speakers also give amazing insight and knowledge that has proven to be very helpful and motivating in my journey towards completing my SMART goal."

On September 8, ACC will send an email to all CSAOs inviting institutions to submit their lists of student nominees. Nominations lists are due September 19.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AR COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Members Named in America's Top 250 Vocational Schools

Congratulations to Southern Arkansas University Tech, the University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College, and the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain for being named among the Top 250 vocational schools by USA TODAY. READ MORE

Michelle Gray Appointed CFO at ASU-Beebe

Arkansas State University-Beebe has announced the selection of Michelle Gray as it's new Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. Gray brings a wealth of experience in finance, healthcare, and leadership to her new role. She began her career in finance in 2006 as a business manager at Ozarka College and later stepped into the role of interim vice president for finance. Gray holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from Arkansas State University and is a graduate of several respected leadership programs, including the Arkansas Community Colleges Leadership Institute, and the Center for Advancement of Leadership Skills through the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Congratulations, Michelle!

UPCOMING ACC EVENTS

ACC Conference Registration closes September 15

Registration for the 2025 ACC Conference is closing soon! Rooms are selling out fast, and there will not be on-site registration, so register and book HERE today!

The conference kicks off on Sunday, October 12, at 5pm with the Opening Ceremony & Welcome Reception. Dress casually and wear your school logo - there will be a prize for the school with the most attendees, $$$ door prizes, free food and drinks.

For more information, email Kristen Smith or visit the conference website.

Campus Visits

Dr. Callaway will visit the following campuses:

• September 4 - NorthWest Arkansas Community College
• September 17 - UA East Arkansas Community College
• September 22 - ASU - Mountain Home
• September 24 - Arkansas Northeastern College
• September 30 - UA Community College at Morrilton

Want to share ACC Updates with your campus? Click HERE.

Looking for a job at an Arkansas community college?

Check out our ACC Jobs Facebook page.

Want to post a job? Email a link to Kristen at ksmith@arkansascc.org and she will share your post.