51社区 is excited to announce that the college has received a subaward grant of $141,387 in partnership with the Bumpers School of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville on a United States Department of Agriculture grant titled: PREPARES: Providing Relevant Experiences and Pedagogy in Agriculture to Retain and Engage Students. The grant will include international travel to Belize for participation in agricultural service work over the next three years for agriculture instructor, Kelli Harris, and five students each year. Funds from the grant will also be directed towards building a stronger partnership between the two colleges, and producing more agricultural transfer students from 51社区 to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to help fill the demand for employees in agriculture.
51社区 is proud to work with UA Fayetteville to create more transfer opportunities for rural students. Students who choose to start their post-secondary education with 51社区 can take advantage of a high-quality affordable education before transferring. After earning college credits, a technical certificate, or an associate鈥檚 degree at 51社区, students can then transfer to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to complete their bachelor鈥檚 degree. Students who earn an associate鈥檚 degree from 51社区 can transfer to Fayetteville and pay the same tuition rate that they paid at 51社区 through the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship.
Arkansas is experiencing a shortage of qualified graduates to fill positions in agriculture. This grant will provide additional opportunities to agricultural programs and students in rural southwest Arkansas, including underrepresented groups. Through shared high-impact practices such as international experiences, service learning, undergraduate research, and learning communities, 51社区 students will have the opportunity to work with the University of Arkansas faculty and students while still enrolled at the community college.
Students interested in agriculture can sign up for spring classes at 51社区 starting on November 2, 2020. Courses such as Principles of Horticulture, Agriculture Economics, and Animal Nutrition are all available this spring at 51社区.
The college鈥檚 agricultural program offers many exciting opportunities. For more information, please contact 51社区 Agriculture Instructor Kelli Harris at 870-584-1218 or kharris@cccua.edu.