UA-Pulaski Tech appoints new deans

The University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College announced five dean appointments on Wednesday, one of the final reorganization steps that administrators expect will save the community college $344,000 annually.

The reconfiguring of the state’s second-largest community college has been called a “shake-up,” said Tim Jones, director of public relations and marketing. But that characterization isn’t correct because it’s been a “fairly methodical” process, he said.

Appointing five deans was the latest move in a long-term plan to eliminate some administrative positions, retain students and help them complete certificate and degree programs.

Pulaski Tech previously said it was realigning its academic divisions from six to three and reducing the number of academic deans from six to three.

Now, there are the schools of Science, Mathematics and Allied Health; Technical and Professional Studies; and Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, according to a news release.

Marico Howe of the Little Rock area, Bentley Wallace of North Little Rock and Christy Oberste of the Little Rock area will be the deans for the three schools, respectively.

As part of the reorganization, a vice chancellor position was split into two new dean positions: one for student affairs and the other for admissions and financial aid.

Mason Campbell of Little Rock and John Lewis of Lake City were appointed to those posts, respectively.

The reorganization process came, in part, as a result of Pulaski Tech’s “fiscal realities,” Jones said.

State funding for the college has flat-lined, hovering around $17.39 million for the past five years. Enrollment has declined every year during that period. Pulaski Tech, like many colleges, gets nearly three-fifths of its budget from tuition and fee income.

The college is predicting a slight enrollment decline, and a $41.65 million budget, for next year, said Tara Smith, vice chancellor of finance.

However, Jones said, Pulaski Tech’s restructuring “was done, first and foremost, to make sure we have a high-quality education to offer the community.”

“In order to do that, we have to be fiscally on good footing and manage our money responsibly,” he said.