NWACC Moves On Washington County Land Purchase

Jorgenson
Jorgenson

NorthWest Arkansas Community College is one step closer to a permanent home in Washington County.

The Board of Trustees approved Monday for the school to begin the process of buying 39 acres west of Arvest Ballpark near the southeast corner of Watkins Avenue and 64th Street in Springdale.

AT A GLANCE

Budget Cuts

Budget cuts could stabilize tuition for fall, Evelyn Jorgenson, college president told the board on Monday. Budget reductions have not been standard practice, but enrollment has dropped for three years, she said. All departments have been requested to show 5 percent to 6 percent overall cuts to their budgets including less travel, decreased memberships, leaving positions unfilled or changing the qualifications of the job. School administrators are looking at raising a property insurance deductible and moving more projects in-house instead of contracting them out. Budget changes should leave tuition and fees the same when the budget is finished, she said.

Source: Staff Report

The school's foundation had been tasked with raising money and negotiating for the purchase of the land. Evelyn Jorgenson, college president, asked the board to allow school administrators to move forward on the process instead.

The school has Washington County classes in a Springdale strip mall, at The Jones Center and in Farmington.

Washington County residents have asked her if the college ever actually intends to build a permanent facility in Washington County, Jorgenson said.

"We're going to demonstrate we're serious. We're going to purchase the land," she said.

Bonds used to pay for the property would come from tuition, especially growing tuition from Washington County students. The school's millage would remain dedicated to Benton County, said Debi Buckley, chief financial officer.

The school's foundation will raise private donations for the building, Jorgenson said.

"The building will not be built until the funds are raised through the efforts of the citizens of Washington County," she said.

Springdale also is home to Northwest Technical Institute. A memorandum of understanding between the two schools renewed this month splits equal responsibility for an associate of general studies in nine areas, Mike Hamley, interim president, wrote in an email Monday. Northwest Technical Institute is accredited by Commission of the Council of Occupational Education, Hamley said, and provides the technical training for partner degrees with the college in ammonia refrigeration maintenance technology, automotive service technology, automotive collision repair, diesel truck technology, medical office assistant, electronics technology, industrial maintenance technology, machine tool technology and surgical technology.

"Until the proposed NWACC Springdale facility is built and enrollment has begun, we do not have any idea how NTI might be affected," Hamley said.

Early discussions were made with leadership who are no longer with the institute, including former president George Burch who retired in January, he said.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College administrators said their goal is to collaborate with both the institute and the University of Arkansas.

Approval for the land purchase would need to go before the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board in July, followed by a legislative review panel, putting a purchase in September or later, Buckley said.

Board members did not discuss a price for the land because of ongoing negotiations.

"It looks like it's probably doable now. If we have more enrollment declines it will be more of a challenge," Buckley said.

An influx of state money into a Department of Workforce Services program used to train workers through two-year colleges may boost enrollment, Jorgenson said.

"We see this facility in Washington County being geared to meet the needs of work force," she said.

NW News on 03/11/2014

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