BEEBE, Ark. (July 25, 2008) – The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board (AHECB) gave its approval today for the 2007-2008 board officers; Chairman Dick Trammel, Vice-Chairman David Leech, and Secretary Lynda Johnson, to serve one more year in their current positions. The recommendation was made by a board nominating committee chaired by Bob Burns who was assisted by fellow board members Kaneaster Hodges and Dr. Charles Allen.
“Chairman Trammel is a tireless advocate for higher education in the state of Arkansas,” said Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) Director Jim Purcell. “We look forward to another year under his leadership as we move toward the upcoming legislative session, and as we continue to move forward in our efforts to make the American Dream a reality for all Arkansans.”
During a presentation on the state of higher education in Arkansas, Dr. Purcell noted that the state has slipped from forty-ninth in the nation to fiftieth, just ahead of West Virginia, in the number of adults holding bachelors degrees or higher.
“We were at 19.7 percent of adults but have recently slipped to 18.2 percent,” he said. “We’re working hard but we’ve got a lot of work yet to do.”
Dr. Purcell outlined the types of degrees that are being produced, commenting that computer science degrees will likely be in higher demand in coming years as Arkansas gains attention from high-tech companies seeking a workforce.

He said emphasis must be placed on high-demand, high-wage jobs that are currently experiencing shortages and to seek ways to expedite production of degrees in those areas.
“Possibly, Arkansas’s greatest generation is waiting at the schoolhouse door to propel Arkansas into the 21st Century economy,” he said, referring to the Tom Brokaw book, “The Greatest Generation,” noting that the U.S. government poured billions into education for returning veterans from World War II, fueling a postwar economic boom throughout the nation.
Christina Miller, assistant director for Research and Planning, announced a slight rise in the college-going rate for Arkansas, up two points from last year to 59.4 percent of students graduating high school moving on to college. She cautioned, however, that the nature of the reporting data does not give the full picture.
“These rates only consider tradition-aged student that are at the beginning of the pipeline,” said Miller. “We have to understand that to get a true picture of what’s happening out there, we’ll have to, at some point take into consideration the non-traditional student.”
In other business, the board approved an ADHE recommendation for operating funds, including the restoration of state funding lost in the 2008-09 fiscal year when the revenue forecast was reduced and an additional five percent increase in General Revenue funding for the 2009-10 fiscal year.  A total of $76.6 million in new general revenue funds was recommended for 2009-10, an increase of 9.7 percent.  A three percent increase in General Revenue funding over the 2009-10 fiscal year was recommended for the 2010-11 fiscal year, for a total of $24.8 million in new state funding.  Included in the new funds for both fiscal years is additional non-formula funding for economic development purposes.
Revised role and scope designations were approved for the state’s institutions following a nine-month study conducted by Dr. Dennis Jones, president of the National Center for Higher
Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). Final recommendations were prepared by ADHE staff following submission of Dr. Jones’ draft in June 2008. The revised designations address the research roles of universities in terms of statewide and regional impact and identify the audience served by each of the state’s 33 colleges and universities and the scope of each institution’s mission.                                                        
Expanded roles in research for Arkansas State University (ASU) and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) were recommended in the report. Dr. Jones presented the findings of the study to the board.
“As I’ve gone through this process it has reinforced in my mind that every one of our institutions has an important role to play,” said Dr. Steve Floyd, deputy director at ADHE, who spearheaded the effort to complete the role and scope study. “When our students go to those institutions they do so with the expectation that their lives will be better for the experience, and I want to recognize the vital role all of our institutions play.
On the academic agenda, the board approved 12 new programs at eight institutions, granting approval for new doctoral programs at the University of Arkansas and UALR, a new Master’s program at UALR, a bachelor’s program at UALR, Associate of Applied Science programs at Mid-South Community College and South Arkansas Community College, and technical certificate programs at Northwest Arkansas Community College, Mid-South Community College, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas.
Board members also heard reports on the annual review of faculty performance, the Perkins IV New State Plan, the Arkansas Health Education Grant Program, and an update on the Arkansas Governor’s Scholars Program.
On the finance agenda, the board approved recommended changes to Higher Education Bond projects, the economic feasibility of bond issues for Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA), University of Arkansas Community College at Hope (UACCH), and Arkansas Tech University (ATU).
Economic feasibility was approved regarding a request from PCCUA for a $12.3 million bond issue with a term of 30 years at five percent interest for completion of the Grand Prairie Center on the Stuttgart campus.
UACCH is seeking a bond issue of $2.7 million for a 30 year term at five percent interest to be used for completion of financing for the Science/Technology Center at the campus.
ATU is seeking a $2.15 million bond issue with a 30 year term at five percent interest. Proceeds from the issue will be used to fund the renovation of Critz and Hughes Hall.                                                         
The board also approved the economic feasibility of a loan being sought by the University of Arkansas in the amount of $5 million with a term of five years at five percent interest. The proceeds are to be used for renovations of athletic facilities at the Fayetteville campus.
Approval was granted for changes to three Higher Education Bond Issue projects, with PCCUA requesting the addition of a renovation project to the bond issue, and the transfer of nearly $1 million from a construction project at the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Center to a construction project at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
The board approved personal services recommendations from ADHE for non-classified personnel as part of the budget process prior to the legislative session which begins in January.
Approval of ADHE’s certification of intercollegiate athletic revenues and expenditures for 2008-2009 was granted by the board following a presentation from John Davidson with ADHE.
Ashley Pettingill with ADHE presented the department recommendations for state funding of capital projects in the next biennium, with capital priorities established for technology infrastructure upgrades, critical maintenance projects, improvements in instructional, research, and clinical equipment as well as library holdings and technology, renovation of existing facilities to address changing program needs, and construction of new facilities when renovation is not a practical solution. The board approved the ADHE recommendation of $104.8 million for state funding of capital projects.
In accordance with state law, the board approved distribution of $1 million from the state’s mineral lease funds to the University of Arkansas for expenses associated with the connection and expansion of the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE-ON) to all public universities in the state. The ARE-ON project is a high-speed optical network designed to connect public universities in Arkansas with one another and with institutions around the country to assist with cooperative research projects and other purposes.
Prior to the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Trammel announced that a routine examination of the board’s finances revealed that Dr. Purcell had been paid approximately $8,400 for relocation expenses that the board did not have authority to authorize.                                                        
“In the course of reviewing the upcoming fiscal year compensation for our director, we determined that the board erroneously extended a housing allowance for his transition to Arkansas,” said Chairman Trammel. “When we determined that we in fact do not have the special language required by law to extend such an allowance, we immediately began taking steps to correct this oversight, and we expect to process to be completed shortly.”
The next quarterly meeting of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board meeting is scheduled for October 14 in conjunction with the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges conference in Rogers.

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