Education

Keith Jackson’s P.A.R.K. turns 25

Former college and pro football star Keith Jackson had a vision for life after football. It involved helping kids break the cycle of poverty and poor educational achievement. “I was…

UAFS hires first director of diversity, equity and inclusion

John Blue has been named the first executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. He will begin Jan. 19, and be a…

Fort Smith Public Schools implement plan to help failing students

With more than 1,600 high school students failing in one or more classes, Fort Smith Public Schools implemented a custom academic improvement plan to get students back on track so…

Extended COVID-19 leave approved for Fort Smith Public School employees

With federal and state leave associated with the COVID-19 pandemic set to expire at the end of the month, the Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) Board of Education on Monday…

State seeks to engage 5,125 students at home, but not in class during pandemic

More than 5,000 at-home Arkansas public school students have been identified as either not enrolled in virtual classes or enrolled but not logging in. In response, the state Division of…

UA Little Rock waives application fees to encourage more students to apply

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has waived its student application fee and initiated other efforts to ease the financial burden for incoming college students and their families. UA…

J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center to open Friday

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will open the 32,000-square-foot J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center on Friday (Dec. 11) after raising more than $14 million in private…

Winthrop Rockefeller Institute adds UA’s Matt Waller to board of directors

Arkansas nonprofit Winthrop Rockefeller Institute announced the appointment Thursday (Dec. 10) of Dr. Matt Waller to its board of directors. The three-year term begins Jan. 1, 2021. Waller has served…

Nettleton students become 1st in state to talk with astronauts inside International Space Station

Nettleton School District STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) students did something Thursday (Dec. 10) that no one in Arkansas has ever done – talked directly to astronauts inside…

UA announces Arkansas Business Forecast speakers, plans for virtual event in January

One of the state’s largest annual business gatherings will, as anticipated, be a virtual event in 2021. The 27th annual Arkansas Business Forecast event is scheduled Jan. 29. The event…

Lyon College political science professor analyzes Presidential election trends

Recounts in swing states have ended, virtually all lawsuits have been dismissed, and most people have come to the conclusion that former Vice President Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump…

UAFS will not seek a second vote to extend sales tax

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will not seek an extension of the current ¼-cent county-wide sales tax through a special election in the spring. Sebastian County voters said…

UCA hires Arkansas Coding Academy director

The Arkansas Coding Academy (ArCA), a program of the Division of Outreach and Community Engagement at the University of Central Arkansas, has named Alison Wish as its new director. Wish…

Entergy Arkansas contributes nearly $500,000 for new career education classes

Entergy Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Education announced Tuesday (Dec. 8) a $482,000 grant that will be used to develop 20 new Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses that…

Civil engineering research facility at UA to be named for Little Rock businessman Grady Harvell

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville will name a new civil engineering facility for a former student. The Grady E. Harvell Civil Engineering Research and Education Center is a 37,400-square-foot…

Fort Smith school officials, partners break ground on Peak Innovation Center

With the official groundbreaking completed, Fort Smith Public Schools plans to open the Peak Innovation Center for the 2021-22 school year. FSPS in partnership with University of Arkansas at Fort…

Arkansas State University approves five year strategic plan

Arkansas State University’s new five-year strategic plan, “Discover 2025,” has been approved by the ASU System Board of Trustees, marking the official start of efforts to determine ASU’s future, Chancellor…

NWACC’s Brightwater receives $1.8 million grant from Walton Family Foundation

Brightwater, a culinary and food study department of NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, has received $1.8 million in grant funding from the Walton Family Foundation to support new programs,…

National Park College names Bill Allison new workforce development leader

National Park College (NPC) announced Bill Allison has been selected to lead NPC’s workforce efforts following a nationwide search. Allison began his role as Vice President for Workforce December 1….

Virtual option now open for all at large Fort Smith Public School event

A planned large Fort Smith Public Schools professional development event scheduled for Dec. 7 will have a virtual option for those wanting to attend after all. School officials originally told…