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.
