ANC Board of Trustees Meeting Held April 17, 2024

Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees gathered for their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, where members the College’s operating budget for the 2024-2025 year.

Based on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Board passed the College’s Operating Budget for 2024-25. The budget reflects the College’s budget development process, which considered department funding requests in support of personnel operations, services, and equipment. There will be no tuition increase for the year with tuition rates remaining at $75 per credit hour (for the first 18 credit hours) for in-county residents, $85 per credit hour for out-of-county residents including Missouri Bootheel, and $135 per credit hour for out-of-state residents. Despite increases in technology usage, the College will not raise its technology fee from its current amount of $15 per credit hour. ANC’s annual tuition/mandatory fee rate will remain the lowest among Arkansas’ colleges for 2024-25.

The Board also approved the Academic Calendar for the 2024-2025 academic year. Registration for both the Summer and Fall Semesters is currently underway. The new calendar shows that registration for the Fall 2024 semester will end on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, with classes for the Fall 2024 Semester beginning on Monday, August 19. Early College classes will begin on Monday, August 26.

In other business, the Board also approved a new Career Coach Position at KIPP Blytheville College Preparatory School for the 2024-2025 academic year. ANC currently has Career Coaches who serve the Armorel, Blytheville, Gosnell, Osceola, and Rivercrest school districts. The Career Coach Program is designed to motivate and support Arkansas students in achieving their goals related to college and career planning through intensive hands-on programs and services. Career Coaches work with students in grades 7-12, collaborating with Career Development Instructors and School Counselors to develop and revise college and career plans. The program provides essential assistance and information in areas such as academic tutoring, career counseling, college preparation and admission, financial aid guidance, mentoring, and other supports necessary for post-secondary education/training access, retention, and success.

It was reported that a recent review was completed of the Allied Tech career and technical program degree and certificate plans. As a part of that process, changes in the sequencing of courses were identified which would allow for the completion of additional certificates of proficiency and technical certificates. Four new technical certificates were created in the areas of criminal justice, computer information systems and aviation. In addition, two new certificates of proficiency were created in the areas of HVAC and welding. The Board approved the following, newly created technical certificates and certificates of proficiency: Technical Certificate in Criminal Justice, Technical Certificate in Security and Analytics, Technical Certificate in Aviation Airframe Maintenance, Technical Certificate in Aviation Powerplant Maintenance, Certificate of Proficiency in HVAC Electrical, and the Certificate of Proficiency in Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG).

ANC President Dr. Christopher Heigle reminded members of the Board of the College’s upcoming commencement exercises with the Nucor Diploma Squared Graduation being held on Thursday, May 9th , and the ANC Commencement occurring the following day on Friday, May 10, 2024.

 

Wilson Works Foundation Set to Donate The Delta School Property to Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation

 

Wilson Works Foundation Set to Donate The Delta School Property
to Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation 

The Delta School will close after the current academic year with focus turning to  
expanded programming for college and career readiness

WILSON, AR (April 05, 2024) – The Wilson Works Foundation has agreed in principle to donate The Delta School property to the Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation. Once terms of the agreement are approved by the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees, the donation is expected to create an opportunity for the college to further support the region by offering affordable education pathways to college and career readiness.

The Delta School property, valued at $27.5 million and will serve as one of the nation’s largest-ever gifts to a community college, was launched in 2014 under the visionary leadership of Gaylon Lawrence Jr. The school was designed to serve students as an incubator for intellectual thought, healthy relationships, and character development. Lawrence says that the donation will build upon the foundation established by The Delta School and give Arkansas Northeastern College an opportunity to create a new academic environment that will prepare the region’s students for success in college, career, and life.

“Our job as community leaders is to aggregate, acquire and align the resources to help students in rural communities like Wilson and those throughout northeast Arkansas develop the capacity to succeed along their academic and vocational journey,” said Lawrence. “This is an exciting example of those collective efforts and presents a sustainable path forward that combines excellent academics with career exploration and training in a way that does not currently exist for our students.”  

According to Arkansas Northeastern College President Dr. Christopher Heigle, the college will explore a path forward for the property that offers college and career training to the region. “We’re grateful for this tremendous gift and appreciative of the philanthropic and academic seeds that Mr. Lawrence and the leaders at the Wilson Works Foundation have planted over the last decade,” said Heigle. 

“We see this as an opportunity to consider a postsecondary focused mission that could open the doors to a greater number of college and career-focused students. By leveraging partnerships with our education, community, and industry leaders, we can prepare students in new and advanced ways for life after high school.”

As industry and manufacturing continues to expand across the county, Great River Economic Development Foundation President Clif Chitwood sees the donation as an economic driver for the region. “The world is changing at a rapid pace, and we need to have educational programs and service offerings available to our young people that prepare them for jobs and careers with our industry partners today and in the future,” said Chitwood. “Education and the economy are equal partners in helping to raise the bar as we position our region as one that is prepared to support industry expansion.”  

Delta School Board Chair Brittany Sugg believes a transition to college and career programming can change expectations and outcomes for both students and the labor force in the region. “This is an opportunity to take a step forward in addressing the critical needs of employers who are looking to hire our students,” said Sugg. “This is also a tremendous opportunity for our students who want to be on a college and career trajectory, and it signals to the rest of the region that we are serious about equipping students for success in northeast Arkansas.”   

Students and faculty at The Delta School will be able to complete the current academic year before the school is closed. More information about the transition of the school for current students and enrollment opportunities and requirements for prospective students will be provided in the coming weeks. 

# # #

About the Wilson Works Foundation

The Wilson Works Foundation is a 501c3 founded by the Lawrence Family and dedicated to the overall growth and development of Wilson, Arkansas, and the region. Its focus areas are to provide technical assistance and advocacy for the Town of Wilson; to promote educational opportunities through financial support to The Delta School and its partners; and to advance economic development and job creation in Wilson and northeast Arkansas. 

About the Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation

The ANC Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit that was created in 1977, is a separate entity for the college and is directed by a Board of Governors made up of individuals who have an interest in providing Arkansas Northeastern College with financial assistance. Arkansas Northeastern College has many needs that can only be met through the receipt of private gifts and, as a college foundation, the ANC Foundation guarantees that funds will be used in the public interest. Therefore, the Foundation plays an extremely important role in assisting the College in providing educational opportunities at an affordable cost to the citizens of this region.