South Arkansas Community College experiences physical, technological growth

By Dr. Bentley Wallace At South Arkansas Community College, we draw much inspiration from the past. Where would we be without the tireless work and achievement of so many employees, community and employer partners, supporters, donors and of course students? This month marks the 28th anniversary of the founding of SouthArk, and as we celebrate that rich history, we are also very focused on the college’s bright future.

One way to gauge our strength and progress is to look at how our funding partners are awarding grants to the college. Over the next year, a number of grant-funded projects will assist us in expanding our programmatic offerings, improving our facilities and bolstering our support services, all in the name of strengthening educational opportunities for students in our region.

Thanks to an Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council grant of nearly $700,000, our gymnasium, originally built in 1940, is undergoing renovations and is on target to be finished by early this summer. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 80-yearold facility is being modernized with updated locker rooms, improved heating and cooling, a sound system and a new basketball floor and goals.

Our men’s basketball team, the Stars, recently completed their first-ever season and were in the top 10 nationally (NJCAA Division II) in home attendance…and that was in a borrowed gym off-campus! We’re looking forward to a public rededication of our on-campus gym soon as we host our first intercollegiate basketball game in the facility.

We recently received notice that the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission has awarded SouthArk an automotive training grant of nearly $17,000. This will pay for needed equipment in our automotive service technology program. This is the second year in a row for SouthArk to receive an AMVC grant.

We are in the planning and development year of a National Science Foundation grant that was awarded in 2018 for more than $240,000. This grant seeks to match the strengths of students who prefer tactile learning, and are seeking a shorter path to graduation, with the needs of manufacturing industry employers. Coursework is being developed that allows students to learn online, and then receive credit after demonstrating certain hands-on skills.

A second NSF grant of which we are a partner is allowing us to develop curriculum using open educational resources. These are open-license learning tools, available online, that are free for faculty and students, and reduce or eliminate textbook costs in come classes. SouthArk also has been approved for another year of grant funding for its college and career coaches. These coaches are stationed at several area high schools and assist students in preparing and applying for colleges, seeking financial aid through grant and scholarship sources and general career counseling.

All of these grant awards represent faith in the fiscal and educational stewardship provided by SouthArk employees for SouthArk students. We will continue to strive to attain such grants in order to supplement the offerings and options that we provide, and we look forward to the positive impact that they will have on our students and the community that we serve.