Delaney Reaves

Editor-In-Chief

NWACC received a $736,177 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor as part of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant Program. The grant is one of four rounds annually distributed to colleges; the school is expected to receive the funds in May.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the “grant program aims to build community colleges’ capacity to meet the skill development needs of employers and equitably support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries.”

The DOL awarded over $5 million to University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, a two-year community college in central Arkansas, and partnering colleges. The sub-awarded organizations include NWACC, East Arkansas Community College, Phillips County Community College of the University of Arkansas, ASU Mid-South and Southeast Arkansas Community College.

Of the $5 million grant total, more than $700,000 will be focused within Nursing and Emergency Medical Services workforce development at NWACC.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the grant is a sector-based Career Pathways program in which evidence shows support of employment outcomes that are foundational to the program. The awarded colleges work in various sectors: advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, including infrastructure-related sectors like construction, transportation, broadband expansion and renewable energy. Under the labor department grant program, $65 million in funding was awarded to 16 colleges in 14 states.

According to a news release from NWACC, Mark Wallenmeyer, dean of Health Professions, said that the grant is greatly needed and it could help community colleges get healthcare workers into the workforce quickly.

“The Department of Labor recognizes that the workforce in healthcare is continually growing and in continuous need,” Wallenmeyer said. “Two of the biggest shortages in healthcare are nursing and Emergency Medical Services personnel, and the Department is taking a great effort to combat the shortages across the nation.”

The Health Professions dean said that the grant will help community colleges replace worn and outdated equipment and hire additional educators to assist in the training of nursing and EMS students.

“Students need to train on the best equipment available, and this grant will help,” Wallenmeyer said in the release. “The addition of more educators allows for a lower student-to-teacher ratio as well. This helps students get connected more with their instructors and gives them a better learning environment to be more successful.”

In other grant news, the Walton Foundation said that it will give NWACC’s Bentonville campus the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Grant, according to KNWA. This grant will provide support in the search for a qualified firm to develop a campus master plan and will address current needs along with the future growth of NWA.

The Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Grant will be $230,000.

Dr. Rittle, NWACC president, said that the region is going to expect from the college and that the institution has to step up to the plate and provide great things. He said that the gift from the Walton Foundation will help make expectations achievable.

“We want to be able to reach that student regardless of their station in life, and as a result, we are constantly adapting to the needs of the student. It’s students first. It’s student-centered,” Rittle told KNWA.