Arkansas Department of Higher Education staff released figuresFriday for the 2011 Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship recipients, which numbers about 20 less than the previous year.
“New high school graduates have done a tremendous job of meeting two of three requirements –
completing the Smart Core, making a 19 on the ACT and achieving the 2.5 GPA –required to receive the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship,” saidInterim Director Shane Broadway. “We had a total of 11,960 enroll in Arkansas colleges anduniversities this fall, up 643 from last year.”
Broadway indicated that a number of non-traditional students and current achievers whoreceived excess funding from last spring exited the scholarship programfollowing graduation. This year, no additional dollars are available fornon-traditional students as legislated by Act 1180 of 2011, which limitsfunding to $12 million for that category.
“So although the number of traditional students who received funding was greaterthan the previous year,” Broadway explained, “the total number of recipients declined slightly from 31,131 to 31,109 to date.”
The number will likely change before the end of the fall semester, he said, andagain in the spring semester.
In the academic portionof the meeting, the board approved an off-campus instruction center at Texarkana for the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. General education courseworkleading to associate degrees for transfer to bachelor’s degrees will be offered at the Texarkana Center, along with technical certificates and degreesto prepare students to meet Miller County workforce needs.
New programs at in-state institutions were recommended by staff and approved as follows:
· Arkansas State University– Associate of Science, Graduate Certificate, and Master of Science inDisaster Preparedness & Emergency Management
· Henderson StateUniversity – Bachelor of Science inRadiography
· University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences –Master of Physician Assistant Studies
· University of Central Arkansas – Master of Fine Arts inCreative Writing
The board also approved 22 new degree certifications at previously approvedout-of-state or for-profit institutions offering programs in Arkansas, as well as 30 degreerecertifications. A complete list is available at www.adhe.edu.
EconomicFeasibility of Bond Issue for UCA
In other business, theboard approved a request from University of Central Arkansas to issue bonds not to exceed $15.5 million with a term of up to 30 years at anestimated annual interest rate not to exceed 5.5 percent. Proceeds from thebond issue will be used to expand the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center. The revenue funding source willbe student fees, which was approved by the student body.
EconomicFeasibility of Loan Issue for Universityof Arkansas at Fort Smith
In other business, theboard approved a request from Universityof Arkansas at Fort Smith for a loan not to exceed $2.2 million with a term of up to 10 years at an estimated annual interest rate of zero percent. Proceeds from the bond issue will be used to fund infrastructure up grades, including creation of a central energy plant. The revenue fundingsource will be tuition and fees.
EconomicFeasibility of Loan Issue for University of Arkansas CommunityCollege at Hope
In other business, the board approved a request from University of Arkansas Community College at Hopefor a loan not to exceed $1.1 million with a term of up to 10 years at anestimated annual interest rate not to exceed .2 percent. Proceeds from the bondissue will be used to construct an instruction center in Texarkana. The revenue funding source will betuition and fees, along with a local tax.
Changes to Financial Aid Rules, Regulations
Based on legislation approved in the spring, the board approved Arkansas AcademicChallenge Scholarship first priority for eligible applicants whose parent wasmember of the U.S. Armed Forces, an Arkansas resident or was an Arkansas resident upon entering the service, and killed while performing military duty.The board also approved a loan repayment program to University of Mississippi veterinary program graduates who practice food supply veterinary medicine inthe state.
Additionally,the board approved meetings sites for the upcoming calendar as follows:
Jan.27, 2012 – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
April 27, 2012 – NorthwestArkansas Community College at Bentonville
July27, 2012 – South Arkansas Community Collegeat El Dorado
Oct. 26, 2012 – ArkansasState Universityat Heber Springs
Summary of ADHE
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education is responsible for carrying out thepolicy directives of the AHECB, approving and reviewing college and universityacademic programs and developing funding recommendations for the state’s 11 public universities and 22 public two-year colleges as well as several other post-secondary entities.
In addition, the agency is responsible for distributing approximately $170 millionannually from state revenues and lottery funds intended to ease the financialburden of students seeking an education beyond high school. For more information,visit www.adhe.edu.
