Members of the Arkansas Career Education Board approved a merger between Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus and the Russellville Area Career and Technical Center (ACTC) during their regular scheduled meeting today in Little Rock. Arkansas Tech University’s Board of Trustees approved the merger at their October meeting. The merger will be effective July 1, 2011.
Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus and the Russellville Area Career and Technical Center (ACTC) will collaborate in delivering workforce training programs which lead to skill development and degree attainment. This partnership between post-secondary and secondary educational institutions is supported by the missions of both the Russellville Public Schools and Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus.
Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, Chancellor stated, “The Ozark Campus always seeks to provide access to higher education, and our merger with the Area Career and Technical Center will do just that. Again, we are doing what we do best: putting students first.”
This partnership will allow Arkansas Tech – Ozark to give college credit for technical instruction delivered to ACTC to surrounding school districts, including Russellville, Dardanelle, Atkins, Pottsville, Lamar, Clarksville, Hector, Two Rivers, Western Yell, Dover and Danville.
Chief Academic Officer, Mr. Bruce Sikes remarked, “In keeping with its mission to provide quality career and technical education programs in partnership with the community, the Ozark Campus is pleased to partner with the Russellville Area Career and Technical Center. The Russellville Center has consistently shown the ability to deliver quality career programs. We welcome their faculty and staff and look forward to working with the school districts and industry they serve.”
The Area Career and Technical Center is an extension of the participating area high school curriculum. The director and staff work closely with administrators and counselors so that the learning experience becomes an integral part of the student’s total high school program.
Patricia Edmunds, Director ACTC said, “This merger with ATU Ozark is a wonderful opportunity for our students, schools, and communities. It will enable secondary and post secondary education the opportunity to work together to form a more direct route to a college degree and the workforce for our students.
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