ANC Board of Trustees Meeting — ANC GRADS STILL EARN MORE, 2 Trustees Recognized, and More

 

Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees met Wednesday, December 14, 2022, where they learned of data that revealed that associate degree graduates of the Arkansas Northeastern College earn the highest associate degree average in Arkansas, even five years after graduation, at $61,343.

The data comes from the Arkansas Division of Information Services and the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services using actual Arkansas wage data (as opposed to self-reported surveys) of graduates of all Arkansas colleges and universities.  For the first time, 5-year earnings data is available for 2019 earnings of 2014 graduates.

Not only do ANC graduates earn the highest average in the state five years after graduation, their average also exceeded the second highest community college associate degree average by nearly $10,000.  Five years after graduation, ANC's associate degree wage average remains higher than all bachelor degree averages of all public universities in Arkansas, except for the medical school at UAMS.  ANC's average also exceeds all associate degree averages of Arkansas universities offering these credentials.

In other news, the Board approved the financial statements and personnel recommendations.  Additionally, the Board was given an update regarding construction projects on campus as new heat and air installation has been completed in the John P. Sullins Administration Building.

The Board also approved an addition of $15,287 to its $61,100 in grant funds from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education for the purpose of implementing the annual Carl Perkins Grant.  An additional funding is the result of an unusually high amount of carryover funding in the state.  The Carl Perkins Grant is designed for the purpose of strengthening Career and Technical Education, with a focus on program improvement, flexibility, data and accountability.  ANC plans to use the additional funds awarded in the 2022-23 grant award to help fund activities in the local plan that address improving retention and placement, credential attainment, non-traditional participation in career and technical education programs.  The balance of the funds will be used for professional staff development related to career and technical education.

A new two-third-time position was approved by the Board for the Construction Technology Program.  As a result of changing instructional needs, it has become necessary to create one replacement position in the ANC Secondary/Technical Center for the Construction Technology program.  Although an additional full-time Construction Technology instructor is not justified at present, there is a need for a 2/3-time instructor in this program.  The 2/3-time instructor will deliver two blocks of instruction for area high school students through the ANC Technical Center.  A similar 2/3-time arrangement is currently filling the ANC Tech Center Aviation Maintenance offering.  Sufficient grant funds exist to fund the requested addition.

The Board also approved the updating of several policies for the ANC Policy Manual, and the 2023 Travel Handbook for employees was also approved.

In other news, the ANC Board recognized two Trustees for their service.  Dr. Thomas Westbrook, who has served the board for 13 years, and Mr. John Newcomb, who has served almost 23 years, will be retiring from the Board at the end of January.  ANC President Dr. James Shemwell read resolutions for both Dr. Westbrook and Mr. Newcomb, and the Board voted to approve both resolutions and have them permanently recorded in the Board's minutes.

Dr. Shemwell closed the meeting with well wishes for the holiday season and a reminder that registration is currently underway until January 4, 2023, with Spring classes to begin at ANC on January 9, 2023.

Board of Trustees Meeting held October 19, 2022

 
Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, where ANC President Dr. James Shemwell concluded the meeting by announcing his retirement effective June 30, 2023.

Shemwell, who has served as president of the Arkansas Northeastern College since January 2013, has been with the College since 1994, and began his career as the Director of Training and Coordinator of the Osceola Center. With education and experience in banking and finance he moved up the ranks at the College to the Dean for Technical Programs & Training in 1999 then to Vice President for Finance in 2010, where he served until his promotion to president.

Dr. Shemwell is a college success story. Having left Blytheville High School after his eleventh grade year to attend Arkansas Northeastern College (then Mississippi County Community College), he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arkansas State University and was named their “Top Graduate” by Arkansas Business. He later earned a master’s degree in finance from Texas Tech University and a doctorate degree in organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix. He began his professional career two weeks after turning nineteen years old as a small business consultant for Arkansas State University, later holding a similar position at Texas Tech. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he worked in banking, last serving as Vice President of Finance/ Chief Financial Officer at SouthBank in Mississippi County as well as Corinth, Mississippi.

Under his tutelage as president, the Arkansas Northeastern College has gained recognition nationally as a leader in workforce education and as an innovator for impoverished communities. Shemwell has been featured in books and magazines as well as serving as a keynote speaker at national conferences.

“Certainly this institution, this county, this region has Dr. Shemwell’s stamp all over it, even nationally he’s recognized for the work he has done and the innovative programs and services he has forged at ANC,” said ANC Board Member and economic developer Clif Chitwood who served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees when Shemwell was hired as president. “He has far exceeded our expectations of him as a president. When looking back over his career, it is really amazing the many accomplishments he has made and the impact he has had for our workforce here in Mississippi County.”

Current ANC Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Curtis Walker stated “We really hate to see him step down, but we know he has paved the way for the next president to continue what he has started. Dr. James Shemwell will be missed after he retires, but he has certainly earned a rest and we wish him only the best.”

The Board of Trustees voted to launch a presidential search process that should conclude with the naming of the 5th President of ANC in late March or April, who would begin work on July 1, 2023.

Prior to Shemwell’s announcement, the Board conducted its regularly scheduled meeting where they approved a new Youth Engagement Initiative. On September 7, the United States Steel Corporation, through its Big River Steel Works facilities, donated $1 million to area organizations to help equip Mississippi County for the future. Among the grants issued, $80,000 was donated to the ANC Foundation to fund a Youth Engagement Initiative in South Mississippi County for two
years. The crux of the initiative is the notion of neighborhood learning hubs designed to build life skills competencies needed to become successful adults. The primary target audience for the initiative are children in grades K through 3rd grade. The basic idea is to plant seeds in the minds of young impoverished children that their futures are not limited. Also intended is implanting in these
young minds that the College is for everyone, regardless of background. Included among the life-skills competencies to be covered will be establishing the importance of education and lifelong learning, interpersonal/intercultural communication and conflict resolution, career development, and the value of a healthy work ethic. The primary feature of these Youth Engagement Initiative
sessions will be fun activities and games to attract children with the learning component sandwiched in between, such that the initiative is not viewed as more “school.” For this initiative, the Board approved using the $80,000 grant ($40,000 per year) from the U.S. Steel Corporation to the ANC Foundation and an additional investment of $40,000 of College operational funds each of the next two years ($80,000 total) to be expended by the ANC Office of Community Relations to launch and to operate a Youth Engagement Initiative in South Mississippi County, as well as the Blytheville area;

Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Christopher Heigle gave an enrollment report for the fall semester which shows an increase in both headcount and student semester credit hours over fall 2021. Headcount is 1,502 compared to 1,457 in 2021, and credit hours being taken is 12,031 compared to 11,855 in 2021.

In other business, the Board approved the financial statements and the personnel recommendations which included the hiring of the following people for grant-funded positions: Michael Graham Director as for Adult Education, Brandi Leaks as Career Pathways Advisor, and Beth Miller and Miranda Sullivan as Adult Education Instructors.

The Board also ratified the TANF Career Connect Subsidized Employment Program Grant. This Arkansas Department of Workforce Services grant, in the amount of $90,942.91 (previous funding was $117,586), is 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. Eligible participants are Arkansas’ adult (18 and over) parents, who must have child(ren) under the age of 18 in the home. In addition to being a parent of a custodial child, the individual must be economically disadvantaged as either a current TEA participants, SNAP or Medicaid participants, or have an income less than 150% of Federal Poverty Level. The grant will run from August 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. The grant will 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. Employers may be reimbursed for 100% of the employee’s first month wages and 50% of wages for months two through six. If the employee is retained for a full year, then the other 50% of wages for months two through six are reimbursed.

The continuation of the Career Coach Grant from the Arkansas Department of Elementary & Secretary Education (DESE) - Career & Technical Education in the amount of $240,674.00 for the 2022-23 academic years was also approved. This grant is designated for the purpose of ensuring
that area students in grades 8-12 have the opportunity and support needed to increase their knowledge, skills, and educational attainment by providing them with college and career guidance. This grant from DESE will provide 50% of the funds needed to support full-time career coaches at Armorel, Gosnell, Blytheville, Osceola, and Rivercrest. The remaining costs for the program will be divided between the school district partners and the college. Activities supported by the grant will include career exploration, college visits/enrollment assistance, and workplace readiness experiences.

Dr. Heigle also updated the Board regarding the student experience in a post pandemic world. As students have continued to prefer more digital learning and supportive services, instructors, advisors, and staff have found it increasingly difficult to facilitate quality interactions with students outside of the classroom. In response to these growing challenges, ANC identified a promising solution from a new company with a nationally-praised product known as EdSights. Launching in
2019, EdSights sought to create an artificial intelligence framework to help students navigate the intricacies of higher education. The chatbot developed into a full-scale solution, targeting the three primary indicators for student persistence (motivation, self-efficacy, and mattering). Arkansas Northeastern College’s chatbot is officially known as Ray (the ANC mascot), and although the software has drastically improved engagement with our students, the most important component of the software is the statistical modeling proprietary to EdSights which builds a predictive model of student persistence using student behavioral indicators. Basically, Ray texts the students and the students text back. The software then builds a model of the student’s wellbeing using those responses and notifies ANC staff of students that may require additional services and supports. So far, Ray has been a tremendous success in terms of student response. The opt-in rate for students desiring texts from Ray is 98%. Since his launch in August, Ray has texted to students four separate but specifically targeted texts, and ANC has received valuable and timely information from each of these text events which helped staff intervene with the appropriate support (academic, financial, transportation, mental health, etc.). Because Ray the Chatbot is a form of artificial intelligence capable of machine learning, the more input/data that Ray receives, the more precise the chatbot is with responses and better able to predict student behavior.

Great News Regarding ANC Graduation Rates Discussed at Board of Trustees Meeting

Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees gathered for their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, August 18, 2022, where they received great news regarding ANC’s graduation rates.

ANC President, Dr. James Shemwell presented information about the Arkansas Northeastern College’s graduation rates for the past ten years. Each year, colleges and universities across the nation submit data to the National Center for Education Statistics through their Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS publishes, among other statistics, graduation rates for annual cohorts of first-time, full-time (FTFT) freshmen. In the case of community colleges, the graduation rate relates to associate degrees obtained within three years of the normal length of a two-year degree. The IPEDS analysis also captures students who pursue technical certificates and certificates of proficiency. ANC staff analyzed the data on FTFT freshmen cohorts from 2009 through 2019, including racial demographics for the overall cohort each year as well as the graduate cohort within the three year timeframe. 

At ANC, the overall FTFT cohort graduation rate has increased from 17.6% to 38.8% (20.2 percentage points, a 120% improvement) over the past 10 years.  ANC performed better than the national community college average which is 36%.  The FTFT white cohort graduation rate has increased from 21.9% to 40.5% (18.6 percentage points, an 85% improvement) over the past 10 years. This is slightly higher than the national community college white student average of 39%. The most drastic increase was with minority students. ANC’s FTFT minority cohort graduation rate has increased from 10.1% to 36.3% (26.2 percentage points, a 259% improvement) over the past 10 years. For many years, educators have referred to the difference between white students’ performance as compared to minority students’ performance as the “achievement gap.” As demonstrated by the analysis, the FTFT minority cohort graduation rate at ANC has either exceeded or been within a half-percentage point of the FTFT white cohort graduation rate in four of the past six completed cohorts, thereby eliminating the nationwide “achievement gap” in those years. Even though the most recent cohort results reveal a 4% achievement gap, minority students did not lose ground versus the previous year. The gap arose due to a huge increase in the performance of white students, with their graduation rate rising from 27.3% to 40.5% in one year. Staff is currently analyzing data and having exploratory conversations to better understand and consolidate the gains of the most recent cohort’s success. The results serve as confirmation of academic, advisement, and placement reforms made in recent years, and, particularly, the College’s focus upon and investment in holistic supports for under-resourced students. 

ANC Vice President for Administration Don Ray gave a financial report for the College with the Board approving the financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. 

In other news, the Board was given a personnel update. Four faculty members earned rank. They are Lance Morris, Professor/Life Sciences and Instructor/Lab Coordinator: Gianluca Strazzullo, Assistant Professor/Choral Director: Emily Thomasson, Assistant Professor/Mathematics Instructor: and Dr. Gary Yarbrough Professor/Psychology Instructor. Additionally the Board approved the following new hires: 

• Jennifer Adcock, Medical Professions/AH Instructor 

• Torian Bell, Special Projects Trainer 

• Megan Buchanan, Internship Coordinator 

• Isabella Campbell, Director for Career Pathways Initiative 

• Heather Carlton, Assistant Professor/Business Tech Instructor 

• Michelle Chapman, Special Projects Trainer 

• Austin Coleman, Welding Instructor 

• Richard Dean, Computer Information Systems Instructor 

• Bryndon Dunn, Public Safety Security Officer 

• Alexis Harris, Admissions Counselor/Recruiter 

• Chloe Johnson, Early College Specialist 

• Adron Poole, Recruitment & Placement Specialist 

• Mariana Reyes-Lopez, Business Manager 

• Damon Richardson, Admissions, Data & Project Advisor 

• Alexis Smith, Early College Specialist 

• Floyd Stegall, Industrial Technology Instructor

In other news, Vice President of Instruction Dr. Keith McClanahan brought information regarding a new Certificate of Proficiency and a reconfiguration of an existing degree program. The Board approved a new Certificate of Proficiency and the reconfiguration of the AAS in Office Management Degree to include the original certificates and a newly embedded Certificate of Proficiency in Contact Center Operations & Customer Service. This new credential will be earned by employees of Chime Solutions, a large high-contact customer service center operator seeking to create a Contact Center in Blytheville. Chime Solutions desired the College to provide the training to address their need for preparing contact center professionals for their operation. Chime Solutions was directly involved in the creation of the course content of the training and they will identify prospective students and approve them to enroll in the program. Students will spend 40 hours per week over 8  weeks to accomplish the training goals. This 9-credit hour Certificate of Proficiency is embedded in ANC’s existing AAS in Office Management and will be a single new 9-credit hour course in Contact Center Operations and Customer Service. The reconfiguration of the existing AAS degree and the inclusion of the high-demand Contact Center Operations & Customer Service CP and the CP in Entrepreneurship will also allow students to complete the 60-credit hour AAS in Office Management degree, depending on their personal interests. Students who are more interested in the traditional administrative assistant/office management track may take that track, or the Entrepreneurship track, or the Contact Center track without needing to take additional hours to complete the AAS in Office Management. All Office Management tracks ultimately result in the 60-credit hour AAS in Office Management. 

ANC Associate Vice President for Workforce Development and Allied Technologies Dr. Jamie Frakes brought two grant award notifications to the Board who approved Arkansas Northeastern College to receive grant funds, in the amount of $61,100, from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education for the purpose of implementing the annual Carl Perkins Grant. The Carl Perkins Grant is designed for the purpose of strengthening Career and Technical Education, with a focus on program improvement, flexibility, data and accountability. ANC plans to use the 2022-23 grant award to help fund a Perkins Program Specialist to assist in the implementation of the four year plan required by federal law for continued participation in the grant. This specialist will work collaboratively with the public schools, business and industry, and college CTE programs to support student success and help meet the workforce needs of our region and state. The balance of the funds will be used for professional staff development related to career and technical education.

Additionally, the Board ratified two Regional Workforce Grant awards, one in the amount of $200,000 for Advanced Manufacturing and one in the amount of $100,000 for Transportation/Aviation Maintenance for a combined amount of $300,000. The two new Regional Workforce Grant awards are from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education. The previous round of Regional Workforce Grant awards provided ANC with $122,000 for Allied Health and $29,000 for Computer Information Systems with both grants being fully expended this past year. The Advanced Manufacturing Grant award will be used to purchase equipment related to industrial process control, programmable logic controller (PLC) trainers, metallurgical training, and related training tables. A portion will be used to purchase acoustic panels for four classrooms/laboratories to reduce echo and residual noise. Also, 15 classroom/lab computers with related printers will be purchased to support specialized training/testing in three rooms. The Transportation/Aviation Maintenance Grant award will be used to purchase a PT6 turbine engine stand (Powerplant licensure training) as well as three aviation welders (Airframe licensure training). The grant has a one-year term.   

Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Chris Heigle presented information about the American Rescue Plan which was signed into law in March of 2021. A component of that legislation included an additional $198 million for public institutions of higher education. In spring of 2022 the U.S. Department of Education held the Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan (SSARP) grant competition requiring interested institutions to qualify by providing evidence supporting at-least one of the five legislatively defined absolute-priorities. As a result of this competition, ANC was awarded $259,869. Like previous funds awarded under the American Rescue Plan, the U.S. Department of Education requires that the funds be equally split between the students and the institution. Therefore the Board accepted the grant and gave approval for $129,935 of the funds to be used for emergency financial aid grants to students, and the remaining $129,934 to be used by the institution toward its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrade.

Heigle also brought notification of TRiO grant awards. Three Federal TRiO Grants were approved for acceptance by the Board. The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a program designed to assist adults 19 and older in returning to education - in college, vocational/technical, specialized school or GED programs. The program requires the advisors to serve 1,097 participants in Mississippi, Greene, Poinsett, Dunklin and Pemiscot counties in Missouri and Arkansas during each grant year. Services include help with the admissions and enrollment process and assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. The College has been notified that its Educational Opportunity Center program has been awarded $391,147 for the FY2022-23 fiscal year.  

Educational Talent Search (ETS) is an access program designed to assist school-aged children in grades 6-12 in programs and activities that guide them to college and careers. The program requires the advisors to serve 1,068 participants in 14 public schools in 3 counties throughout Arkansas and Missouri. Services include ACT preparation, financial literacy, FAFSA assistance, college tours, study skills enhancement, and more. The College has been notified that its Education Talent Search program has been awarded $592,473 for the FY2022-23 fiscal year.

Student Support Services (SSS) 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. The program requires 175 participants to be served during each grant year. The College has been notified that its Student Support Services program has been awarded $335,111 for the FY2022-23 fiscal year.

ANC ANNOUNCES MONEY FOR STUDENTS TO GO TO COLLEGE

Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees met Wednesday, June 15, 2022, for their regularly scheduled meeting where they received a report regarding the College’s summer enrollment.

ANC Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Christopher Heigle presented the Board with a report of summer enrollment. The enrollment remained somewhat steady with a slight decrease in headcount of 434 compared to 439 in 2021, and with 2,050 credit hours being taken this summer compared to 2,137 in the summer of 2021. Students still have time to enroll for the fall term. The Board was reminded that students will have many options for the Fall Semester with the College’s Multimodal format that allows students to enroll in classes and then choose whether they wish to attend live or to ZOOM in or to participate asynchronously online.

ANC Vice President for Instruction Dr. Keith McClanahan presented the Board with the College’s annual Minority Report, stating Arkansas Northeastern College’s commitment to the recruitment and retention of minorities represented in its faculty, staff, and students. Dr. McClanahan reported various programs and activities that have been instituted to accomplish this goal.

A personnel report was given and the Board welcomed three new employees. Jennifer Johnson joined the College as its new Controller, Tyneshia Reed as Instructional Services Specialist with the ANC Technical Secondary Center, and Sherry Tuberville as Administrative Analyst in the Office of the Vice President for Instruction.

In other business, the Board approved acceptance of a revised Career Pathways Initiative Grant award and the 2021-22 Pathways (TANF) grant budget. The Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) is an employability program that provides Arkansas residents with assistance in obtaining the education and training necessary for gainful employment. CPI is funded annually by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant that is administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) as a fiscal agent for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, the direct recipient of the Federal funding for CPI. For 16 years, the CPI program has operated under a case management approach to provide individualized academic and career advising, as well as direct student support to cover costs such as tuition/fees, books, childcare, and transportation. The outcomes for ANC’s CPI program have led the State for 16 of the 17 years, often by wide margins.

For the FY2021-22 year, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education launched the Ed Pays program where qualifying students can earn financial incentives as follows: Enrollment = $100, Mid-Term Successful Progress (GPA of 2.0 or higher) = $300, Successful Semester Completion (GPA of 2.0 or higher) = $300, Program Completion/Employment = $500, Non-Credit (such as the WORK program) Program Completion/Employment = $500. ADHE has also issued a grant award for an additional $35,000, bringing the total CPI budget for FY2022-23 to $628,142.

Additionally, ANC’s Career Pathways Program, in 2021-22, has served 218 students with 121 completing at least one credential (133 credentials in total) and 92 percent going to work. Based on this successful performance, the College was notified that the Career Pathways Initiative Grant Award is anticipated to be $749,166 for the 2022-23 fiscal academic year. The Board approved acceptance of this award and approved the 2022-23 Pathways (TANF) grant budget.

ANC President Dr. James Shemwell reminded the Board that registration for the upcoming fall semester is currently ongoing and will continue through August 17, 2022. Classes are scheduled to start on August 22, 2022.

ANC Announces Spring 2022 President's List & Dean's List

Arkansas Northeastern College Spring 2022 President's List & Dean's List

President's List

Students are named to the President's List when they earn a grade point average of 4.00 for 12 or more semester hours of work completed in any semester.  College Preparatory courses are not included in the 12 hours.

ARKANSAS

    

    Blytheville

        Devorik Barbee

        Cordell Bedford

        James Brimlett

        William Brown

        Bari Collard

        Leon Cooper

        Tyler Elliott

        Zachary Gilbow

        Devon Griggs

        Tameisha Harris

        Lisa Huynh

        Samuel Iacampo

        Melroy Johnson

        Teazia Jones

        Daegyun Lee

        Kenneth Lovins

        Thomas Myres

        Tamatha Rucker

        Tyler Shelton

        Kushanel Sims

        Darius Snead

        Wells Stallings

        Raymond Starkey

        Willneika Thomas

        Caleb Tidwell

        Hunter Tusing

        Colton Walker

        John Wamble

        Barnabas Williams

        Stephanie Wisdom

        Timothy Yost

    Caraway

        Gage Crews

        Katelyn Smith

    Etowah

        Peggy Brewer

    Gosnell

        Korey McKenney

        Sara Trump

    Joiner

        Tanesha Brown

        Linda Ross

        Cidnie Shannon

    Jonesboro

        Christopher Jenkins

        Jasmine Murphy

    Keiser

        Breanna Shannon

    Leachville

        Chareigan Davis

        James Dublin

    Leachville

        James Dublin

        Jennifer Navarro

    Luxora

        Joel Guerra

        Tashambo Lee-Thomas

        Layla Leija

    Manila

        Chelsea Barber

        Haven Bohannan

        Logan Davis

        Shawna Lasater

        Polly Sheppard

        Tiffany Treece

    Marion

        Dominique Euell

    Monette

        Brooke Nettles

        Rebecca Stefl

    Osceola

        Jacquanay Buford

        Heavenly Hopper

        Kimberly Johnson

        Austin Manuel

        James McKnight

        Jaida Robinson

        Ashley Sullivan

        Megan Thomas

        Corey Weatherspoon

        Cameron Wilson

    Paragould

        Larry Reed

        Ethan Reinhart

    Pocahontas

        Dalton Wright

    Wilson

        Hadleigh Bell

        Kortney Toler

MISSOURI

    Caruthersville

        LeAnne Dudley

        Matthew Fowler

        Bryson Gunter

        Gavin Mansfield

    

    Holland

        Kaitlyn King

 

    Kennett

        Johnathan Wayne

        Shadaiquiri Williams

    Portageville

        James Hollingshead

        Gavin Ivie

    Senath

        Cally Jackson

        Christian Jones

        Melany Rodriguez

    Steele

        Kenny Lovins

            

Dean's List

Students are named to the Dean's List when they earn a grade point average of 3.50 to 3.99 for 12 or more semester hours of work completed in any semester.  College Preparatory courses are not included in the 12 hours.

ARKANSAS

    

    Blytheville

        Hannah Arcement

        Jayden Ciepiela

        Mandi Flatness

        Maurice Ford

        Erica Hardesty

        Kavona Harvey

        Blythe Hollingshead

        Whitni Mangum

        Jacob Pruett

        Jessie Richardson

        Kyle Robinson

        Grace Shepard

    Earle

        Austin Gibbs

    Gosnell

        Haley Lopez

    Joiner

        Samantha Jones

    Keiser

        Destiny Akins

        Anthony Harris

        Kyle Hattenhauer

    Leachville

        Kameron Dublin

        Jeannie Key

        Cassandra Littlefield

    Lepanto

        Yadira Davila

    Luxora

        Madison Crawford

        Hailey Scott

    Manila

        Hunter Brooks

        Marissa Cowden

        Charles Dixon

        Heath Hitt

        Codie King

        Brian Neal

        Lyndsi Schrader

        Ashley Thomas

    Osceola

        Jamaria Baker

        Anyeka Cooper

        Destiny Hill

        Jonathan Hopper

        Bianca Lewis

        Courtney Merritt

        Jerrod Rose

        Kariann Sexton

        Jackson Stovall

    Piggott

        Madison Callis

        Lindsey Hunter

    Wilson

        Matthew Brigance

MISSOURI

    

    Caruthersville

        Austin Roberson

        Madeline Treece

        Tyler Winchester

        John Young

    Clarkton

        Jaden Beukes

    Malden

        Esmer Carreon

    Portageville

        Joseph Hollingshead

    Risco

        April Cook

    Steele

        Jacob Ireland

        Beau Rinehart

        Luke Southern

        Thomas Watson

ANC Board of Trustees Meet — ANC Leading the Way for Graduate Earnings Once Again Among the Topics Discussed

On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of trustees met for its regularly scheduled meeting where members learned that ANC once again led the way for graduate earnings as reported by the state’s Economic Security Report. As with the previous five Economic Security Reports, ANC’s associate degree average placed above every bachelor degree average of every public university in Arkansas except the medical school at UAMS. For the first time, ANC’s associate degree average in 2021 even exceeded the bachelor degree average of UAMS. The Economic Security Report is published by the Arkansas Research Center and the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services using actual Arkansas wage data (as opposed to self-reported surveys) of graduates of all Arkansas colleges and universities. The 2021 Economic Security Report provides first-year earnings and employment data for 2019 graduates.

According to a report from ANC Vice President for Administration Don Ray, the College should be seeing some cost savings through more efficient operations. The Board had previously approved an extensive, energy-performance audit by Johnson Controls, an Arkansas Energy Performance Contracting, Global Fortune 500 Company, doing business in Arkansas since 1906. The preliminary assessment indicated a potential for cost savings to ANC significant enough to fund an energy upgrade/replacement plan. The Board approved a proposed energy performance contract, including infrastructure upgrades and measured (guaranteed), with Johnson Controls in the amount of $3,735,174 to be paid for with Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds ($1,769,895) and with Unrestricted E & G Funds ($1,965,279). The energy performance contract recommended by executive staff includes three primary elements: 1) savings related to replacing ANC’s heating, ventilation, & air conditioning (HVAC) systems, 2) replacing much of ANC’s interior and exterior lighting, and 3) reducing heating/cooling loss related to gaps in building envelops/weatherization.

Board members present were given an enrollment report by ANC Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Chris Heigle. Similar to enrollment trends across the nation, ANC saw a slight decline for this Spring Semester with a total headcount of 1,179 as compared to last Spring’s number of 1,222. The total number of credit hours this Spring is 9,385 as compared to 10,537 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.

Reported personnel changes included the hiring of Emily Crosskno as the Director for ANC Technical Center, Jessica Tippy as Payroll Services Specialist, and Greg Turner as ETS Advisor (Grant-Funded).

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 nine 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 32 different categories. Entries are grouped by type of institution (2-year v. 4- year) and enrollment size. ANC was recognized with 6 awards, 5 Gold (the highest attainment) and 1 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. Particularly notable is the fact that roughly half of the 9th Annual EDMA winners list outside advertising agencies responsible for their ads/promotions. ANC’s digital ads are produced entirely in-house.

ANC Vice President for Instruction Dr. Keith McClanahan addressed the Board with an update on the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) upcoming visit, and the Board of Trustees role in the visit. The HLC is the accrediting agency for the College. The HLC Peer Review Team will be on campus March 7 & 8, 2022 for the Re-Affirmation of Accreditation.

ANC President Dr. James Shemwell reported that the recent formation of the Consortium of Arkansas Independent Colleges (CAIC) presents a new opportunity for Trustees to pursue in-service education by way of annual Trustees retreats for the eight CAIC members: Arkansas Northeastern College, Black River Technical College, East Arkansas Community College, National Park College, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Ozarka College, South Arkansas Community College, and Southeast Arkansas College. The first annual CAIC Trustees Retreat will be hosted by Black River Technical College in Pocahontas on June 2, 2022, for any ANC Board Member wishing to attend.

The Board was also given an update regarding President Shemwell’s keynote address at a national conference earlier in February. Each year the American Association of Community Colleges hosts a Workforce Development Institute (WDI) conference focusing upon best practices and new innovations in workforce development. On two previous occasions, ANC President Dr. James Shemwell has spoken on WDI panels in breakout sessions regarding the workforce development model at ANC. For the 2022 WDI held in Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Shemwell and Dr. Ava Parker, President of Palm Beach State College (the opening night host college), served as the featured speakers for the opening night keynote plenary session, moderated by Jennifer Worth, Senior Vice President of Workforce Development at AACC. Dr. Shemwell addressed numerous innovations at the Arkansas Northeastern College including the Solutions Group workforce training delivery model, the emergence of multimodal instruction, and efforts leading to the elimination of the achievement gap related to minority graduation rates at ANC. Over 500 community college representatives from around the country were present for the opening session, which was well-received based upon feedback offered by dozens of attendees throughout the remainder of the conference. Ideas and themes raised by Dr. Shemwell were referenced and reinforced by other speakers on several occasions in subsequent breakout sessions and presentations. The 2022 WDI conference provided an opportunity to share ANC best practices and innovations with other community colleges across the country with the hope that these successful approaches might be replicated elsewhere.

Before closing, the board elected its officers for the 2022 year:

Chairman, Mr. Curtis Walker of Blytheville

Vice-Chairman, Mr. Randy Scott of Blytheville

Secretary, Dr. Thomas Westbrook of Blytheville

ANC's Shemwell Serves as Keynote Speaker for National Conference

Pictured: Opening plenary session at the American Association of Community Colleges Workforce Development Institute featured Dr. James Shemwell, President of the Arkansas Northeastern College (far right), Jen Worth, Senior Vice President, Academic & Workforce Development, AACC (center) and Dr. Ava Parker, President, Palm Beach State College, FL (left).

 

Each year, the American Association of Community Colleges, a national organization that serves as the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges, representing more than 1,000 2-year, associate degree-granting institutions and nearly 12 million students, hosts a Workforce Development Institute (WDI) Conference.  This conference focuses upon best practices and new innovations in workforce development.  On two previous occasions, ANC President Dr. James Shemwell has spoken on WDI panels in breakout sessions regarding the workforce development model at ANC.  For the 2022 WDI held in Jacksonville, Florida, last week, Dr. Shemwell and Dr. Ava Parker, President of Palm Beach State College (the opening night host college), served as the featured speakers for the opening night keynote plenary session, moderated by Jennifer Worth, Senior Vice President of Workforce Development at AACC.

Dr. Shemwell addressed numerous innovations at the Arkansas Northeastern College including the Solutions Group workforce training delivery model, the emergence of multimodal instruction, and efforts leading to the elimination of the achievement gap related to minority graduation rates at ANC.  Over 500 community college representatives from around the country were present for the opening session, which was well received based upon feedback offered by dozens of attendees throughout the remainder of the conference.  Ideas and themes raised by Dr. Shemwell were referenced and reinforced by other speakers on several occasions in subsequent breakout sessions and presentations.  The 2022 WDI conference provided an opportunity to share ANC best practices and innovations with other community colleges across the country with the hope that these successful approaches might be replicated elsewhere.

ANC's successes in workforce development has garnered the institution nation recognition and respect from its peer colleges.  Such success led Dr. Shemwell to be one of only 15 people featured in the 2017 book Community College Leaders on Workforce Development: Opinions, Observations, and Future Directions.  Dr. Shemwell's invitation to speak at the national conference demonstrates the reputation the Arkansas Northeastern College has earned and illustrates its willingness to share best practices with other colleges across the nation.