NWACC celebrates Washington County plans

When Amanda Wheeler decided to get a college degree at age 36, it was mostly so she could better assist her three children with their homework.

Considering Wheeler expects to graduate next spring with her Associates of Applied Science in Teaching from Northwest Arkansas Community College, she will not benefit from the new Washington County Center in Springdale, but as she said during a celebration Wednesday (May 29), her sons will have that opportunity. And so will thousands of students before them.

NWACC has wanted a permanent location in Washington County for several years and Wednesday’s celebration was a public statement of that commitment.

Approximately 40% of NWACC’s students live in Washington County and the college’s three rented locations throughout the county see increasing enrollments every year, President Becky Paneitz said.

By opening a permanent location, the college can centralize its Washington County operations, thus reducing overhead for both the college and its students. Now, some students have to drive between the different facilities to attend classes.

“We know this will be a great benefit to the students here,” she said of the center.

Officials aren’t ready to turn dirt over just yet, as many details need to still be established. For one, the exact location. Dennis Smiley, NWACC Foundation Board chair, said the Foundation is nearing the completion of negotiations to purchase land from Philip Taldo next to the Arvest Ballpark. The college won’t need all of the 39 acres but just how much is needed will be determined when the full building needs are decided. Smiley and the rest of the Foundation Board is remaining mum on how much they hope to offer for the land.

College officials will soon begin hosting focus groups and needs assessment studies, NWACC Board President Ric Clifford said. Those studies will give officials the most updated data on the specific needs for the center. Once the programming is decided, the college will know how big of a building is necessary.

“It will help us further define the project that will serve thousands now and in the future,” he said.

Clifford spoke of the long-standing commitment to NWACC students and education, including providing facilities in Washington County.

“Today is about celebrating that commitment,” he said.

Clifford also spoke of the funding process for the center, which will be built through the Foundation, saying that the use of tuition and millage money for the center was “not in the plans now or in the future.”

A major element to the center’s success is community partnerships including city, civic and K-12 institutions, NWACC officials agreed. Legislators, community leaders and school and city officials were on hand to voice their strong support for the center.

Springdale Public Schools Superintendent Jim Rollins spoke of the educational and vocational benefits that would come to the region because of the new center.

“Education and economic development go hand-in-hand,” he said.