BENTONVILLE — An expanded role is in order for the Northwest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees Advocacy Committee, board members agreed in July and the committee confirmed Thursday.
As issues that face the college at the state legislative and federal government levels increase, the need for the college to be proactive in addressing those issues also increases, said Jim Hall, executive director of government relations for the college.
The state Legislature is also moving from holding sessions every other year to having annual sessions, and the 2010 census will probably increase the number of local representatives, which will add to the college's need for an increased advocacy effort, he said.
The board met for a work session in July, when the issue of expanding the Advocacy Committee's membership and role was discussed and approved unofficially. The committee met Thursday and voted to approve a new set of purpose statements and objectives. The members also approved expanding the membership list to include faculty, staff and students. Board of Trustees members and NWACC Foundation Board members will continue to be on the committee.
"All these people can advocate for us if they are equipped with information (about the issues)," Hall said.
The Advocacy Committee has always been considered an "ad hoc" committee, as opposed to what the college calls a standing committee, board member andTeague explained Thursday. The difference is that an ad hoc committee meets only when needed, and a standing committee keeps a fairly regular schedule. Another change approved Thursday was to make the committee a standing committee that meets quarterly with regular updates between meetings.
After redefining its role and membership, the committee discussed plans for advocacy opportunities. One manner in which the college wants to expand its advocacy reach is in the federal government realm. The college wants to seek more federal grants and explore other possible federal issues, including the planned Eighth Street interchange that will affect NWACC's campus when the project is completed.
The college has receivedfour major federal grants in recent years, NWACC President Becky Paneitz said. One of those grants, a Title III grant, was announced earlier in the day Thursday. Title III funding helps eligible institutions of higher education become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve students by providing funds to improve and strengthen academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability, according to information from the college. The other three grants were for the Upward Bound program, the ACCESS nursing program and the Institute for Corporate and Public Safety.
There are also three funding-related issues that will come before the state Legislature, Hall said. Those include funding for the following:
◊ Strengthening Arkansas' workforce-education jobtraining programs;
◊ The National Childhood Protection Training Center; and
◊ Strengthening Arkansas' fastest-growing community colleges, including NWACC.
News, Pages 3 on 09/25/2009