ANC Board of Trustees Meeting/Fall Enrollment Report

 

Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled

meeting on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, where they were given an enrollment report for the Fall

Semester.

Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ANC saw a slight increase in its number of

students enrolled for this Fall Semester over last semester from 1,358 students to 1,457, according

to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Chris Heigle. Heigle added that while the headcount was

up, the number of credit hours being taken was slightly down from 12, 058 in the Fall of 2020 to

11,855 this Fall. While much of the country is dealing with enrollment decreases (Forbes Magazine

reported a 600,000 student enrollment decline nationwide this last spring semester), ANC has

managed to hold its own and credits much of that to its willingness to accommodate student needs

in its delivery modes. ANC Faculty have worked hard to implement a multi-modal approach

whereby every delivery system (ZOOM, Internet, and face-to-face classes) is available all in one so

that students can choose the best way to attend on any given day.

Board members were introduced to employees accepting new positions with the College. Destinee

Dillard has been named the JAG College Career Coach. Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) is a

nonprofit youth development program dedicated to helping at-risk young people graduate from high

school and make successful transitions to postsecondary education or meaningful employment.

Lisa McGhee, who most recently served as the Director of the Student Support Program has been

promoted to the TRIO Director overseeing all three TRiO Programs on ANC’s campus including

SSS, EOC, and ETS. Alton Chambers has left the ANC Maintenance staff at the College to become

its newest Security Officer.

In other business, the Board approved acceptance of several grant awards. The Career Pathways

Initiative Grant of the 2020-21 Pathways (TANF) grant budget was approved. The Career Pathways

Initiative (CPI) is an employability program that provides residents in Mississippi and Greene

counties with assistance in obtaining the education and training necessary for gainful employment.

The CPI program operates under a case management approach to provide individualized academic

and career advising, as well as financial support for tuition/fees, books, childcare, and

transportation. In 2020-21 the program served 243 students with 115 completing at least one

credential 180 credentials in total) and 93 percent going to work. Based on this successful

performance, the College has been officially notified that the Career Pathways Initiative Grant

Award has been awarded $ 573,242.26 for 2020-21 academic year (previous year funding was

$642,452.55).

Arkansas Northeastern College has also been awarded, and the Board approved, a grant from the

Arkansas Department of Workforce Services in the amount of $90,942.91 to continue developing a

pilot program titled TANF Career Connect Subsidized Employment Program. The purpose of the

grant is to deliver a program that connects recent and soon-to-be ANC graduates with local

employers, so that participants can obtain or maintain employment to allow them to become self-

sufficient. The grant will run from August 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 and will provide funds for one

non-classified position. The grant will also provide funds for student support services to include

emergency transportation and supplies required for work, up to $400 per student. In addition to

funds paid direct to ANC, DWS will also compensate employers by reducing their labor costs. To

receive reimbursement through DWS for hiring a Career Connect participant, the employer must

pay the employee a minimum of $11 and a maximum of $15 per hour, and must employ the

participant for a minimum of 35 hours per week. Participants must also be recognized and treated as

a regular employee, who receives all benefits associated with employment.

The Board also approved acceptance of the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) Grant award for

the 2021-2022 fiscal budget year for $391,147. The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a

long-standing program at ANC as part of the TRiO initiative designed to assist adults 19 and older

in returning to education - in college, vocational/technical, specialized school, or GED programs.

The Board also approved acceptance of the TRiO Student Support Services Grant award in the

amount of $335,111. Student Support Services is a long-standing program at ANC as part of the

TRiO initiative designed to assist first-generation college students with basic college requirements

and academic development, and to motivate students toward the successful completion of their

postsecondary education.

In order to apply for the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Strengthening Institution’s

program (SIP), colleges must either be determined eligible or must apply for designation as an

eligible institution. Based on ANC’s IPEDS data, the College was not automatically included into

the program, and, therefore, in January of 2021 ANC applied for, and was awarded, eligibility for

the FY 2021 funding competition. The first two rounds of federal CARES Act funding included an

additional award for institutions eligible to apply for the department’s SIP grant. ANC did not

receive any funds during the first two federal CARES distributions, but did receive ($96,709)

through the American Rescue Plan due to the College’s recent designation as a SIP eligible

institution. The Board accepted the award.

ANC Vice President of Instruction Dr. Keith McClanahan gave an update on the College’s

preparations for an upcoming visit by its accrediting agency the Higher Learning Commission. The

HLC Peer Review Team will be on campus March 7 & 8, 2022 for ANC’s HLC site visit for Re-

Affirmation of Accreditation.

ANC President Dr. James Shemwell provided the Board a productivity funding update. Overall,

ANC has improved it productivity since the model’s onset. Beginning with the FY19 funding year,

the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) instituted a productivity funding model for

all public colleges and universities in Arkansas. Each funding year is based upon a three-year

average of previous years’ funding metrics, including credentials earned, students continuing,

students transferring, students completing degrees within three years. After the second year of the

model, and with coordination among the other independent two-year colleges in Arkansas, the

productivity model for two-year colleges was revised for FY21 with metrics and metric weights

more reflecting the total community college mission. Not surprisingly, ANC showed increases in its

productivity, starting in FY21 and continuing through the recently-released funding numbers for

FY23. During the first five years of the productivity funding model, ANC has increased its base

funding by $308,693, from $8,577,052 in FY19 to $8,885,745 in FY23.

ANC to Host Manufacturing Day

 

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭: https://tinyurl.com/ANCMFGDay2021 

The Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop will join Arkansas Northeastern College on October 1st for Manufacturing Day 2021. Manufacturing Day is a holiday held on the first Friday of October each year to show students and parents what manufacturing is like today. The Be Pro Mobile Workshop will be a featured exhibit for students to experience various professions in manufacturing through virtual reality simulations.

Through these virtual reality simulations, students are immersed into the life of a professional and experience what a particular job entails. This experience provides students an opportunity to see high-tech, high-earning careers and is an important step forward in Be Pro Be Proud’s mission of bringing the next generation of pride, progress, and professionals to the state of Arkansas.

“We are thrilled to have the Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop available on our campus, and especially to have it on Manufacturing Day,” said Dr. Jamie Frakes ANC Dean for Allied Technologies. “Manufacturing is such an important and high-demand field, and this exhibit allows area students the opportunity to get a real feel for the manufacturing industry. Hopefully, students will leave with a better understanding of manufacturing and a desire to enter that field,” added Frakes who said the College is building an event to showcase the mobile workshop and highlight ANC programs that prepare students for careers in manufacturing.

According to Frakes, more than eight area high schools will be bringing students to the ANC Center for Allied Technologies to take part in the Manufacturing Day event and Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop. Additionally, more than 200 area high school students, who attend classes at the ANC Tech Center, will also have the opportunity to visit the mobile workshop and participate in hands-on simulations.

Arkansas Northeastern College plays a crucial role in connecting students to industry, and Be Pro Be Proud is excited to partner in this movement. Since 2016, Be Pro Be Proud has hosted more than 105,000 visitors on the Mobile Workshop, across 358cities and 622 tour stops. In stimulating the professional workforce, the state of Arkansas' economy will continue to grow and communities will be stronger and able to provide more opportunity.

𝐁𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 is a workforce development initiative led by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (AIA) that connects students around the state to high-tech, high-paying careers. Through partnerships with state agencies, local industry, and higher education entities, Be Pro Be Proud is effectively working to replenish the professional workforce that has been experiencing a drastic decline.

ANC STUDENTS TO RECEIVE CARES ACT MONEY IN SEPTEMBER

 

Arkansas Northeastern College students enrolling this Fall will receive benefits from the third round of CARES Act money as early as September. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) is federal legislation (CARES, CRRSAA, and ARPA) that provides colleges and universities funding to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations and offers support for higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each school is allocated a certain amount, and it is up to each institution to determine how to best distribute the funding to students with consideration given for students exhibiting greater need.

CARES funds received by ANC will be available to degree-seeking students who are non-high school students regardless of how many classes they take. The amounts available will be dependent on the enrollment numbers, but it is expected that Pell eligible students will receive approximately $800 each while non-pell students will receive approximately $600. Again, these amounts may be greater or less depending on how many degree-seeking students are enrolled.

The funds will be given directly to students via check and can be used to help pay for tuition or other college or living expenses.

"This emergency grant aid will be a great benefit for students and will hopefully provide some financial relief to those enrolling for the Fall semester. These emergency grants will be substantial, and could even cover some part-time student's entire cost of attendance” said Dr. Chris Heigle ANC Vice President for Student Affairs.  

ANC President Dr. James Shemwell says this grant could help those who do not qualify for aid. “The existence of this emergency grant aid provides a financial aid resource to students who might not otherwise be eligible for financial aid, such as adult students interested in starting a small business" said ANC President Dr. James Shemwell. "Depending upon the student's income eligibility, a student may be able to pay for all or most of the costs of our new one-semester Entrepreneurship program using these emergency aid funds," he added.

Students still have time to take advantage of this opportunity, but the deadline is fast approaching.

“Registration remains open until August 11, 2021, so for those still unsure about attending this fall, there's still time.” added Heigle.   

Igustavo Reyna named ANC's Spring 2021 Student Snapshot Recipient

 

Igustavo Reyna has been named ANC's Student Snapshot recipient for the Spring 2021 semester. Iggy is in the Steel Tech program. Congrats!

ANC Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights from 02/24/2021

 

On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of trustees met via ZOOM teleconferencing for its regularly scheduled meeting where members welcomed new board member Mr. Gordon Miller of Leachville, AR. Mr. Miller was appointed to the board by Governor Hutchinson to fill the seat vacated by long-time member Sandra Kennett also of Leachville.

At the beginning of the meeting, ANC President Dr. James Shemwell read a resolution expressing the appreciation of the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Northeastern College and its College community to Ms. Kennett for her service. The Board approved the resolution and placed it in the permanent minutes of the ANC Board of Trustees for it to remain for historical purposes.

Members present were given an enrollment report by ANC Director of Student Services Courtney Fisher. 

Like enrollment numbers across the nation, the pandemic has led ANC to a slight decline for this Spring Semester with a total headcount of 1,220 as compared to last Spring’s number of 1,360. The total number of credit hours this Spring is 10,537 as compared to 11,593 last Spring. ANC was fortunate to show a smaller decline than most of its sister intuitions across the state. ANC staff contributes this to the college’s commitment to be flexible for students in its course delivery. ANC faculty have worked very hard to provide their students instruction utilizing a variety of methods including online and ZOOM teleconferencing.  

Mr. Scott Creecy, Physical Plant Director, gave a facility update including the need for a new roof on the Briggs-Sebaugh Wellness Center. The building’s roof was installed in 2005 and has surpassed the 12 year manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, harsh weather has led to multiple leaks with last week’s snowstorm adding to the damage. The Board approved to replace the current roof at a cost not to exceed $190,000 including architectural fees.

In other news, Associate Vice President for Development and College Relations Rachel Gifford reported that ANC’s marketing team had been recognized by the Education Digital Marketing Awards. For eight years, Education Digital Marketing Awards (EDMA) have recognized the best educational websites, digital content, electronic communications, mobile media, and social media. Colleges and universities from across the country submit entries to be considered in one or more of 37 different categories. Entries are grouped by type of institution (2-year v. 4- year) and enrollment size. ANC was recognized with 10 awards, 6 Gold (the highest attainment) and 4 Merit. 

Considering the rapid and massive increase of digital students since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, digital marketing has become an elevated strategic priority. Gifford noted that ANC’s EDMA recognition is a direct reflection of the work of ANC’s marketing staff, Media Director James Hartley, and Webmaster Danny Graham. No two-year college in the United States was recognized with as many awards as was ANC. Also notable is the fact that roughly half of the 8th Annual EDMA winners list outside advertising agencies responsible for their ads/promotions. ANC’s digital ads are produced entirely in-house.

ANC Associate Professor of Life Sciences Lance Morris provided a report on ANC’s Strategic Planning Process which was approved by the Board. The FY21-23 Strategic Plan for the Arkansas Northeastern College was developed through a collaborative planning process. This process was guided by the College’s vision, mission, core values, and student learning outcomes. Development of the plan began in January 2019 and is a part of the College’s Quality Initiative for the Higher Learning Commission. A planning taskforce of forty-seven faculty, staff and administrators, representing all departments of the College, participated in the project with a goal to ensure the effective and efficient use of College resources. Data was collected from over 1,200 internal and external stakeholders. That information, along with current trends in higher education, was analyzed, prioritized and resulted in five strategic themes to be addressed in the plan. These themes were crafted into operational goals by the planning task force and forwarded to the Cabinet for editing and approval. The Cabinet added a sixth goal to include accountability and responsibility. The Vice Presidents then worked with their staff members to develop objectives and detailed action plans to accomplish each goal. The strategic plan addresses years 2020-2021 through 2022-2023. It is intended to be a “living” document that will be reviewed periodically and updated as is appropriate.

Board members were made aware that Arkansas Northeastern College has received two Regional Workforce Grant awards from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education in the amount of $122,000 for Allied Health and $29,000 for Computer Information Systems (CIS). The Board approved acceptance of the grants. The Allied Health Grant award will be used to purchase a state-of-the-art SimMan-3G. This technology will allow ANC to provide simulation training to supplement and enhance the clinical experiences of students in the Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, and Paramedic Programs. This simulation training helps develop student abilities in all three domains of learning: cognitive (knowledge), affective (attitude), and psycho-motor (skills). The Allied Technologies Grant award will be used to establish a Cisco Certified Network Associate lab to meet the workforce education and training needs of our business and industry partners. This need was established by the CIS Program Advisory Committee which determined that high level programming, networking, and coding were areas needed by local employers and that the Cisco curriculum was robust and rigorous enough to meet current and future industrial partner needs for IT professionals.

The Board also approved acceptance of an anticipated grant extension award of $15,000 by the ECMC Foundation Food Insecurity Grant. The ECMC Foundation announced the launch of its Basic Needs Initiative on November 19, 2019, funding grants for seven entities, including the Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC). ACC seeks to scale a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach model across Arkansas’ 22 community colleges. The four pilot colleges involved in the ACC grant are the Arkansas Northeastern College, North Arkansas College, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, and UA-Pulaski Tech. Each college agreed to develop and implement a SNAP outreach plan to address food insecurity among students by operating a campus food pantry and/or partnering with external providers to provide access to meals, as well as encouraging qualifying students with food insecurity needs to apply for SNAP benefits. Best practices developed at the pilot sites will be scaled to the other ACC colleges. 

ACC chose ANC as a pilot college due to its experience already working with SNAP recipients through the Arkansas Department for Human Services, as well as ANC’s already established collaboration with local organizations providing meals to the hungry. At its December 2019 meeting, the ANC Board of Trustees approved accepting a grant award of $60,000 ($30,000 per year) from the ECMC Foundation covering the period of January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, made progress on the grant during 2020 very difficult for all grant recipients involved. The ECMC Foundation has indicated a willingness to extend the grant term by six months, through June 30, 2022. This extension hopefully will allow for this initiative to function for a year with a more normal number of students on campus as opposed to the very low number of in-person students after March 2020 through the current Spring 2021 semester. ANC foresees spending the additional grant funds on meal stipends through its on-campus Sunshine Grille, by supplementing the College’s inventory of non-perishable food items already used to provide emergency nourishment for under-resourced students, including homeless students; and to fund part-time labor to function as a food pantry purchasing/inventory clerk. The Office of Community Relations leads the project for ANC, aligning with other supporting services for under-resourced students within that office, including the Opportunity Bus, success navigation, mentoring, Career Closet, and the Career Connect program.

Dr. Shemwell provided an update regarding the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act which was passed by The United States Congress and signed into law by President Trump in response to the pandemic.  CRRSAA includes funding to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted, many of whom are facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet. CRRSAA also provides institutions of higher education funds to cover any costs associated with the pandemic, including significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. The total amount allocated to ANC under CRRSAA is $1,289,031 by way of two grant awards. The grant award covering direct student aid is $283,441, matching the direct student aid portion under the CARES Act. The grant award covering institutional funds is $1,005,590. Executive staff is in the process of developing details and procedures for distributing the direct student aid portion, which under CRRSAA unlike CARES, requires a needs-based consideration. Executive staff recommends spending the bulk of the institutional CRRSAA funds on technological and functional upgrades to instructional spaces to allow for Internet-based broadcasting, such as Zoom, and to provide cameras and microphones such that remote students, both real-time and asynchronous, can experience a true virtual classroom alongside face-to-face students. These upgrades will provide ANC with maximum flexibility in the event of future pandemic situations, plus, more strategically respond to a massive increase in, and student recognition of, the convenience of remote learning. The College will have one year to fully expend the CRRSAA funding and allows capture of expenditures made after December 27, 2020, the date that President Trump signed the bill. The Board approved acceptance of the CRRSAA funds, both direct student aid and institutional assistance, allocated to the Arkansas Northeastern College totaling.

Dr. Shemwell also gave a report from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) that provided information regarding tuition, financial, and other statistics pertaining to Arkansas colleges and universities. The report informed the ANC Board of Trustees as to ANC’s performance and standing in comparison to other two-year colleges in the state. ANC offers the lowest tuition/mandatory fees of all Arkansas colleges and universities, as it has for many years, with the current amount of $2,840. The State average of $3,958 is 39% higher than that of ANC. Furthermore, ANC’s annual tuition/fees growth rate of 1.8% is well below the state average of 3.1% over the past five years. In terms of facilities, the presentation revealed that ANC has a smaller percentage (32.8%) of its overall facilities with maintenance needs as opposed to the state average (40.2%), an indication of ANC’s proactive approach to keeping its facilities in good operating condition. The last information presented revealed how each of Arkansas’ two-year colleges spends their revenues. ANC spends the highest percentage (49.7%) directly on instruction, nearly 10% above the state average (39.9%). ANC also invests a high percentage in the Public Service category, largely reflective of the College’s Community Relations outreach. The information provided by the state reflects that ANC spends more of its funds on instruction for students than on administrative costs.

American Greetings Donates Turkeys

 

Several ANC students received a blessing this past holiday season as American Greetings Corporation in Osceola donated approximately 40 turkeys to ANC for its food insecurities initiative. Through the College’s Community Relations Department, who partners with several local agencies, hungry students at ANC have the opportunity to receive food and snacks.  ANC was recently awarded an ECMC Grant to assist ANC's food insecurity students. The grant helped to create the ANC Food Pantry, which has a mission to end food insecurity in the lives of ANC students by providing them with access to food so they may focus on their academic endeavors. 

The Community Relations department works with Snap/E&T students to provide this service. The ANC Food pantry accepts donations from internal & external community partners. Additionally, ANC’s Success Navigator, Mr. Willie Williams, along with volunteer mentors from the community, provide workshops to help students learn changes they can make in their daily lives to eliminate this ongoing issue such as buying and preparing food on a modest budget.

This gift by American Greetings will help several students and their families have a nice meal for the holidays. “I was delighted when American Greetings Plant Manager (Osceola facility) Mr. Shannon Sullivan contacted me about donating the turkeys because I know how much this means to the students receiving them. We greatly appreciate the support of our community partners and companies like American Greetings who care about the wellbeing of our students and the people of our community,” added ANC President Dr. James Shemwell.

For more information about the ANC Food Insecurities Initiative or to donate, please call (870) 762- 1020 ext. 1458 or 1244. Donations made through the ANC Foundation are tax-deductible.