NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Over the last few decades, higher education in Arkansas has focused on breaking down barriers and making college more accessible.
The University of Arkansas enjoyed record enrollment last fall with 23,199 - total enrollment across the state was 176,114. While enrollment is comparable to the national average, our graduation rates are far behind where we should be. We know that those with degrees are more competitive in the global marketplace, far less likely to be unemployed and can better provide for their families. It’s with that knowledge that Gov.
Mike Beebe has challenged institutions to double the number of degree holders in Arkansas by the year 2025.
Those sorts of goals won’t be reached without creative ideas in how degrees are created and conferred. This will require a revolution in how we prepare students for the challenges of a postsecondary education and the support we provide them for successful completion.
All of these changes must occur at a time when our state’s economy is seeing no more than a slow uptick. On average, both four-year universities and two-year colleges receive only 71 percent of what they require to operate from the state. Tuition and fees account for about 50 percent of the costs toeducate students, and each of the institutions have been prudent in keeping rising costs at a minimum.
We’ve been fortunate that higher education in Arkansas hasn’t suff ered budget cuts similar to those in neighboring states. To meet these challenges, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education has partnered with public and private entities to secure grant funding.
These grants will help administrators, faculty and staff evaluate and redesign things such as remedial coursework and scheduling. It’s imperative that we become responsive to the needs of today’s students - those who are often working at least part time, perhaps raising a family and returning to school after taking time off from studies, and most of whom are in need of fi nancial assistance.
Ways to address the need for fl exibility for students include: Block scheduling - This could include making more courses available during nights and weekends or providing a three-hour course over an eight-week period rather than 15 weeks. Re-evaluatingdegree requirements - Institutions are assessing degree programs to ensure the same degree at diff erent universities are more comparable.
Modified remediation - Perhaps by combining credit-bearing coursework with prerequisites in the form of labs, students will be able to concurrently complete remedial work and credit courses.
Students in 2011 had their lowest remediation rate since 1994, a testament to what’s happening in the K-12 arena. Teachers are helping students better prepare for the challenges of post-secondary education, working with the Department of Education and ADHE to develop curriculum and assessments in order to implement Common Core and improve student preparedness for college and career.
The Academic Challenge Scholarship program began in 1992 as the fi rst state-funded scholarship program. New money from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery began funding additional scholarships in 2010 - raising recipient numbers that year to more than 31,000 - up from 6,700 the year before.
About the same number of students were eligible for funding again this year.
Academic Challenge Scholarship recipients must be an Arkansas resident and U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident, and students completing Smart Core must have ahigh school GPA of 2.5 or a composite score of 19 on the ACT. Students not completing Smart Core must maintain a high school GPA of 2.5, have a composite score of 19 on the ACT or score profi cient on end of course exams.
Current awards are $4,500 annually for those students attending a university and $2,250 to those enrolled at colleges and are expected to remain the same for 2012-13.
Many efforts are being combined to ensure Arkansans are equipped with the credentials and skills necessary to compete for high-paying jobs in the new economy. While some of the value of an education can be broken down into wages, there’s a change in attitude that happens as generations become educated and excel. Oftentimes that can’t be measured, but it begins to break the cycles of poverty often seen in smaller communities - and that’s invaluable.
For more information about attending a public college or university in Arkansas and the many financial aid packages available - including scholarships, grants and loans - visit the Arkansas Department of Higher Education website at www.adhe.edu. The deadline to apply for all state aid programs is June 1.
SHANE BROADWAY IS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 02/14/2012