Press Release Details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

​Alisha Lewis
Alisha.lewis@adhe.edu
501-320-3095

RUSSELLVILLE - The Arkansas Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board met for the regularly scheduled meeting on the campus of Arkansas Tech University earlier today.
The board heard the plans to develop a strategic communications plan by Associate Director Alisha Lewis.  
  “Of course communication from the agency details the story of how we conduct our business,” said Lewis. “But strategically, we are researching the most effective method of purposeful communication to fulfill our mission. And that is to see more Arkansans with a degree or credential. Additionally, we are communicating information regarding the new AR Future program and other initiatives to counselors, career coaches, and students.”  
Representatives from different institutions of higher learning across the state met over a year ago to formulate Closing the Gap2020:  A Master Plan for Higher Education.  One of the workgroups was tasked with creating a plan for strategic communication for the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.  Lewis will be working within the parameters of the Master Plan for communication strategies.  
A report of credentials awarded by Arkansas institutions showed steady growth as measured for the last five years.  For the 2016 academic year ending, Arkansas public and private institutions of higher learning awarded 42,859 degrees or certificates to students.  For the same rolling average ending in 2015, the amount was increased by 435 credentials.   

In other actions, the board approved seven new academic programs: 
Arkansas State University Newport- Associate of Applied Science in Agriculture Technology 
Arkansas State University- Masters in Athletic Training 
Arkansas Tech University- Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity and Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences- Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Informatics, Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics, and Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Informatics

The Coordinating Board will reconvene for a regularly scheduled meeting July 28.  The host is UA Cossatot and the board meeting will be held on the Ashdown campus.