Committee Campaigns for Act 1

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Photo courtesy of UAM-COT McGehee

Campaigning -- Bob Ware, vice chancellor of the UAM College of Technology-McGehee,rides the UAM admissions office golf cart in the McGehee High School homecoming parade to encourage support for Act 1, the higher education bond initiative. “Act 1 is absolutely essential for higher education,and specifically, it means $4.1 million for UAM,” Waren said. “It’s not a new tax and it provides the opportunity for UAM to update its technology infrastructure

   Denton joins other committee members from various divisions of UAM in providing information to a diverse audience in the area regarding the bond, which appears on the upcoming election ballot. 

   The “College Bond” issue will provide the state of Arkansas with up to $250 billion in bonds so Arkansas public universities and two-year colleges can finance facility and technology improvements to keep colleges competitive with neighboring states.

    “UAM will receive approximately $4.1 million in proceeds from the bond issue,” Denton said. “It is extremely important for not only the Division of Nursing but the entire university that we pass this bond issue.”  

   Currently, no continuing source of public funding exists for new classrooms, technology and other improvements at Arkansas’ colleges and universities. Act 1 will help our colleges keep the state’s quality education accessible to Arkansas students. 

   Act 1 will not raise taxes. It simply restructures existing debt and allows tomorrow’s education facilities to be built with the bond money. Arkansas should actually save money in terms of beating inflation. 

   Denton recently visited the Warren Ark., the Bradley County Hospital Auxiliary, Senior Citizen’s Center and Garden Club, in addition to the Ashley County Medical Center facility and the McGehee Lions Club providing them with information relevant to Act 1. 

   The Higher Education Bond Initiative Campaign Committee, chaired by Chancellor Jack Lassiter, includes volunteers from all departments on the UAM campus. The team provides information and online access to the public in all areas of Southeast Arkansas, which includes Hamburg, Crossett, McGehee, Warren and Monticello. 

   Additional Arkansas committees continue to campaign for Act 1 in their surrounding areas, as it will provide benefits to public universities across the state.  

   On-campus enrollment at two- and four-year schools in Arkansas grew 63.5 percent since 1990 when voters originally passed the College Savings Bond Program. Act 1 offers to meet the needs created by student enrollment increases and provide a quality and affordable education for our students.