Press Release Details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lisa Smith
communications@adhe.edu
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
501-371-2055

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board (AHECB) approved the review of the new policy on student placement into general education core courses.  The policy addresses placement standards necessary for enrollment of students into mathematics, English composition, and reading based on appropriate indicators of potential student success rates. Institutions will develop placement models that provide appropriate justification for student course placements and allow for follow-up evaluation of placement effectiveness. If approved by the Governor and the Arkansas Legislative Council Administrative Rules and Regulations sub-committee, all institutions will adopt appropriate placement measures that are supported by student success data.

The board elected to recommend Bob Crafton remain as Chairman and elect the following new officers, Sherrel Johnson as Vice-Chairman and Chris Gilliam as Secretary.

The board approved the proposed amendments to the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program and the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship Program for submission to the Governor and Arkansas Legislative Council Administrative Rules and Regulations sub-committee. These amendments are proposed to bring the rules in line with legislation enacted by the 90th General Assembly.

ADHE will publish a notice when the thirty (30) day public comment period begins for both sets of rule changes.

In fall 2015, 22,138 first-time degree seeking students entered Arkansas public institutions.  Of all students enrolled in fall 2015, 39.7 percent were placed in one or more remedial courses; which is a decrease in the remediation rate of 1.7 percent from fall 2014.

In other business Friday, the board approved the following new academic programs:

•     Associate in Science in Agriculture, Black River Technical College

•     Certificate of Proficiency in Commercial Vehicle Operation, University of Arkansas at Monticello, College of Technology at McGehee

•     Bachelor of Arts in Game and Interactive Media Design, Arkansas Tech University

•     Bachelor of Science in Geoscience, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith

•     Bachelor of Science in Education Studies (Non-licensure), University of Arkansas at Monticello

In finance committee business, the board approved the Annual Higher Education Financial Condition Report and the economic feasibility of bond issue for the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

The board approved 29 new degree certifications from 10 colleges and universities through its Institutional Certification Advisory Committee, which evaluates and monitors degree programs offered to Arkansans by out-of-state institutions. A number of other programs with requested changes or deletions were also approved. A complete list is available at www.adhe.edu.

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education is responsible for carrying out the policy directives of the AHECB, approving and reviewing college and university academic 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 $130 million annually from state revenues and lottery funds intended to ease the financial burden of students seeking an education beyond high school. For more information, visit https://adhe.ade.arkansas.gov