Partnership to break barriers for prospective educators

A new partnership between the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) in Bentonville is expected to attract more people to the field of education.

Students who are interested in becoming an educator can transfer the credits they earned at NWACC to complete their degree at the UA. The degree programs include elementary education B.S.E., special education B.S.E., business education, and family and consumer science education.

“We are hoping to attract more students to the field of education, and this partnership will help take down some of the barriers that students find when transferring from one institution to another,” said Jennifer Beasley, director of the Office of Teacher Education at the UA.

The partnership between the two higher education institutions started last fall when the UA education professors met with Diana Johnson, associate vice president for learning at NWACC, and faculty. A transfer agreement was signed in the spring.

“This partnership between NWACC and UA aligns with NWACC’s vision of ‘positively changing the lives of those we serve,’” Johnson said. “Providing a pathway for our students to pursue and earn a bachelor’s degree is a key part of that vision.”

The UA’s College of Education and Health Professions provides the education and experiences for a variety of professional roles, including community mental health counselors, school teachers and leaders.

NWACC is a public, two-year institution that offers academic instruction and workforce training.