First phase of Career Readiness Education and Skills Center approved at A-State

The first phase in creating the Career Readiness Education & Skills Training (CREST) Center at Arkansas State University has been approved by the board of trustees. This phase will cost $10.5 million and will be 20,000-square-feet.

It will enhance workforce training across Northeast Arkansas.

The CREST Center, designed to become a 70,000-square-foot facility over three phases, received a $7.5 million grant from the Arkansas Department of Commerce Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) program. The center is a partnership with ASU-Newport and Arkansas Northeastern College and will provide job-ready talent and credentials in advanced automated manufacturing, steel manufacturing and food processing for Northeast Arkansas employers.

A-State Chancellor Todd Shields and Dr. Robin Myers, the project lead and former interim ASU System president, explained that programming is already under way with facility construction being the next step. They were joined at the meeting by Craighead County Judge Marvin Day and Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Young.

“This investment marks the greatest opportunity we’ve had in workforce development in my entire career,” said Young, a longtime economic developer. “It makes a positive impact on future workers and changes lives for the better.”

Day said the CREST Center project is “a real team effort. A lot of people were willing to break down silos and bring people to the table. At the core, they want this community to be better place to live. Education is key to that.”

In his report to the board, ASU System President Brendan Kelly praised the campuses for their commitment to increase educational and workforce training opportunities while expanding their student reach with a 7.6% gain in overall enrollment for the fall semester. The ASU System on Thursday reported 11th-day total enrollment of 30,339 students across its seven institutions.

“Six of our seven campuses had an overall enrollment increase, including record enrollment for A-State and an extraordinary upswing for Henderson,” Kelly said. “Our two-year institutions also attracted more students as workforce training programs grew. I appreciate the work of our teams across the ASU System to seek out and meet the needs of students and Arkansas employers.”

Shields gave trustees an overview of activity at A-State and focused on a new “One Pack” strategy that reorganized multiple campus operations including advising, recruitment and fundraising.

“Over the past year, we annihilated silos and are now working together across all units,” Shields said. “Our One Pack strategy is working. We’ve had a 28% increase in students in three years.”

Shields also cited improved retention rates with “intrusive advising” that proactively reaches students in need through various support programs. He noted that A-State is “building rare assets” with the addition of a College of Veterinary Medicine, a Steel Research & Testing Center, and the CREST Center.

“We are growing, we are financially strong and we’re uniquely defining A-State and Arkansas’ future economy,” Shields said.