The Steel Tech Academy Among Topics Discussed at the Latest ANC Board of Trustees Meeting

 

On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of trustees met for its regularly scheduled meeting where members approved the use of $250,000 gift (over two years) through the ANC Foundation from U.S. Steel and Entergy Arkansas to fund a Steel Tech Academy. The U. S. Steel Corporation, through Big River Steel, and Entergy Arkansas have entered into this partnership with the Arkansas Northeastern College to support efforts to train students through, what will be, the country’s only Steel Tech Academy for high school students. ANC is already home to the Arkansas Steelmaking Academy (ASA), an international training hub that began as a partnership between ANC and the SMS group in 2018 and focuses upon advancing economic development by training a skilled steelmaking workforce. This new partnership expands the goal and has been formed to help build a sustainable pipeline of workforce talent from local high schools within the context of ASA.

This partnership includes an investment, through the ANC Foundation, of $75,000 from Entergy
Arkansas and $175,000 from U.S. Steel over a two-year period. U. S. Steel also has committed to invest $50,000 up front to fund training equipment and software purchases. The Steel Tech Academy is envisioned as a two-year program, with the first year taking place during students’ senior year in high school and the second year continuing after high school graduation. ANC will begin recruiting students for the Steel Tech Academy with an “Internship Week” held this summer to allow U. S. Steel/Big River Steel Works and other partners to make presentations, interview interested candidates for internship and make internship offers to specific students.

The proposed structure currently allows for 25 students entering each year. Students participating in the Academy will be immersed in steelmaking processes, industrial technology and manufacturing principles to prepare them for making immediate contributions in the industry upon completion of the program. A major appeal to potential Academy participants will be the opportunity for paid internships. Internships will immerse students in steelmaking operations under the supervision of company personnel. Internships will occur around class schedules in coordination with U.S. Steel and other steel partners. Upon program completion, participants will earn the Associate of Applied Science degree in Steel Industry Technology, as well as various Certificates of Proficiency depending upon electives taught/taken during the program’s delivery. Counting the student’s senior year in high school, the program will take two years and three months to complete.

Board members present were given an enrollment report by ANC Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Christopher Heigle. ANC saw a slight increase for this Spring Semester with a total headcount of 1,287 as compared to last Spring’s number of 1,179. The total number of credit hours this Spring is 9,926 as compared to 9,385 last Spring. ANC faculty have continued to work very hard to provide their students with instruction utilizing a variety of methods.

Reported personnel changes included the hiring of Karen Allmon as Administrative Specialist I for the Student Support Services Program(Grant-Funded), Justin Branch as Administrative Specialist I for the Student Affairs Department, and Jernal Woods as Advisor for the Educational Talent Search Program (Grant-Funded).

Additionally the Board approved authorization to add one 3/4th-time Adult Education Instructor faculty position. The 3/4 th time instructor will deliver Adult Education instruction through distance education and on site at ANC Leachville Center. This position will be paid for by Adult Education grant funds.

In other news, the Board approved acceptance of additional Career Pathways Initiative funding with Ed Pays ($29,500) and Work-Based Learning ($2,175) grant awards for the current fiscal year 2022-23. The Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) is an employability program that provides Arkansas residents with assistance in obtaining the education and training necessary for gainful employment. CPI is funded annually by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant that is administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) as a fiscal agent for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, the direct recipient of the Federal funding for CPI.

For 16 years, the CPI program has operated under a case management approach to provide individualized academic and career advising, as well as direct student support to cover costs such as tuition/fees, books, childcare, and transportation. The outcomes for ANC’s CPI program have led the State for 16 of the 17 years, often by wide margins. For the FY2022-23 year, ADHE launched the Ed Pays program where qualifying students can earn financial incentives as follows:

 Credit Enrollment = $100
 Mid-Term Successful Progress (GPA of 2.0 or higher) = $300
 Successful Semester Completion (GPA of 2.0 or higher = $300
 Program Completion/Employment = $500
 Non-Credit (such as the WORK program) Program Completion/Employment = $500

ADHE has issued an additional $29,500 (Ed Pays) and $2,175 (Work-Based Learning). Work-Based Learning is designed to provide real-life work experience for CPI students, allowing them to receive technical training to further develop employability skills and build a resume for future job opportunities.

Before closing, the board elected its officers for the 2023 year:
Chairman, Mr. Randy Scott of Blytheville
Vice Chairman, Gordon Miller of Leachville
Secretary/Treasurer: Dr. Anes Abraham of Blytheville