New ArFuture Grant Receives High Praise from
ANC President
LITTLE ROCK
– The President of Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) in Blytheville, Dr.
James Shemwell, has high praise for Governor Hutchinson’s focus on assisting
students who choose high demand fields of study that will grow the Arkansas
workforce and ultimately enhance the state’s economy.
Gov. Asa
Hutchinson has announced the repurposing of two current grant programs to fund
an approximate $8 million new plan he has coined the Arkansas Future Grant
(ArFuture). The grant will be available to traditional, home school and
non-traditional students with established Arkansas residency. It will be
provided on top of other state scholarships to close the funding gap between
what other grants and scholarships can provide.
The ArFuture
Grant is given on a first come, first serve basis and would provide up to two
years of tuition and fees at an Arkansas community college for students who
enroll in high demand fields of study such as computer science and welding. ANC
is one of the many community colleges that focus on providing students with
degrees that will place them in high demand positions in the Arkansas
workforce.
The beauty
of the ArFuture grant is that it requires no new general revenue and it will be
using the funding of two ineffectual programs to focus on student
accountability and success in Arkansas. To keep the students on track, all
recipients are required to have a program mentor that they meet with monthly. Additionally,
the students will have to complete eight hours of community service per
semester to broaden their perspective and understand the needs of the
community. To encourage completion of the program, after graduation the ArFuture
recipients must work full-time in Arkansas for three years in order to fulfill
their commitment.
Shemwell says
he could not be more pleased that Governor Hutchinson wants to send a message
to prospective employers that the state is committed to building a strong workforce
that will attract industry and allow the Arkansas economy to thrive. “Considering
that the vast majority of scholarship resources go to traditionally-aged
students, the Governor’s proposal recognizes the critical need to provide educational
access to adults,” said Shemwell. “The students who will participate in the
ArFuture Grant Program are truly the future of a better, stronger Arkansas
workforce.” Shemwell also complimented Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Director, Dr. Maria Markham, adding, “Dr. Markham’s background gives her a keen
understanding of the vital role that community colleges play in terms of
economic development and we appreciate her efforts in helping to bring this
proposal forward.”
