Blog

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello hosted the quarterly meeting of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board Feb. 3. The committee meetings began at 8:30 a.m. and the board meeting began at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the Fine Arts Center.

   Chancellor Jack Lassiter gave a presentation on behalf of UAM to begin the board meeting. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education staff then presented the annual reports on First-Year Student Remediation and Annual Enrollment.

   "The remediation rate is unacceptable," Chairman Kaneaster Hodges said. "Even with the improvements, which I commend, we are still a long way from home."

   In the fall of 2005, Arkansas’ public higher education institutions enrolled 29, 919 first-time students. Of those students, more than 2,600 were not required to be tested because they pursued coursework in certificate-level programs or were non-degree-seeking. However 45 percent of students tested were placed in college-level coursework. More than a 3 percent decrease existed in the remediation rate from fall 2004. 

   According to ADHE director Linda Beene, the remediation rate for mathematics decreased by almost 5 percent.

   "This decrease in remediation for college freshman is clearly attributable to the implementation of Governor Huckabee's reform efforts in public school graduates for postsecondary education," Beene said.

   The report on annual enrollment indicated a 3.2 percent one-year increase in total on-schedule enrollment for fall 2005 in all sectors of Arkansas higher education. These sectors include public universities, public colleges and independent colleges and universities. Enrollment totaled over 140,000 students.

   "Over the last five years, these campuses have seen enrollment increases nearing 14 percent," Beene said. "Arkansans continue to see the value of higher education as a good investment for the future."

   According to enrollment data, institutions have substantially increased distance learning course offerings and students have expressed great response to this situation. In his presentation, Chancellor Lassiter discussed the goal for UAM to be a comprehensive university. He noted 29 percent of the UAM student body is over the age of 25.

   "We are offering students the opportunity to get not only a bachelor degree, but associate and even technical degrees," Lassiter said.

  According to Beene, partnerships can be very important. Because of differing needs, she said the ADHE must find a way to accommodate for all different factors.

   During the meeting, the board also approved curricula revisions to the State Minimum Core. These apply toward the general education core curriculum requirements for baccalaureate degrees to state-supported institutions including Arkansas State University, Jonesboro; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; University of Arkansas at Fort Smith; University of Arkansas at Monticello; University of Central Arkansas; Arkansas Northeastern College; Arkansas State University-Beebe; Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas; East Arkansas Community College; Mid-South Community College; National Park Community College; Ouachita Technical College; Pulaski Technical College; and the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.
 

    The next meeting of the AHECB will be April 28 at Arkansas State University-Newport. For more information about the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the state Department of Higher Education, visit www.arkansashighered.com or call (501) 371-2000.

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.