Latest news with #HoustonDavis
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Capitol View: UCA President Houston Davis, columnist John Brummett
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – It was a very busy legislative session, particularly on the education front. Capitol View host Roby Brock met with University of Central Arkansas president Houston Davis to discuss ACCESS, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' higher education reform bill, and collaboration with other schools. Roby then talks with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist John Brummett to discuss the overview of the recent legislative session. Capitol View airs on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Arkansas colleges united on workforce goals
Leaders from three of Arkansas' top higher education institutions agree: They serve the state, not just their respective turf. The big picture: University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis, NorthWest Arkansas Community College President Dennis Rittle and University of Arkansas Chancellor Charles Robinson gathered Wednesday to talk about their schools' role in workforce development. Combined, nearly 53,000 Arkansas students are enrolled at the institutions. The gathering was hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Council, as part of UCA's Northwest Arkansas Blitz, an awareness campaign running through Thursday. Catch up quick: Amid good-natured, semi-competitive ribbing, the three fielded questions from Roby Brock, editor-in-chief and host of Talk Business & Politics. They discussed the new Arkansas ACCESS law, tuition costs and meeting the future needs of the workforce. What they're saying: On tuition —"A student with an NWACC certificate or degree will get 20% return on their investment every year for the rest of their life," Rittle said. It's the job of NWACC administrators to show students the college values their scarce resources and delivers a value greater than their time and money spent, he said. Robinson said controlling tuition costs comes down to efficient use of resources by the school and raising tuition isn't an easy decision. On Arkansas ACCESS — A lot of the act is about the connections between K -12 and post secondary education, which will help UCA do more outreach with feeder schools, Davis said. The legislation also highlights the potential for non-degree studies like UCA's aviation academy and cyber security certificates, he said. On the law's forbidding indoctrination, and diversity, equity and inclusion:"I didn't see the challenge in ACCESS, because academic freedom was not injured … the act doesn't prevent us from teaching what we need to teach," Robinson said. The bottom line:"The idea is serving the state of Arkansas, and we serve the state of Arkansas better when we work together," he said.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NWA Council, University of Central Arkansas host roundtable on higher education's role in regional growth
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Northwest Arkansas Council and University of Central Arkansas hosted an educational roundtable at the Fayetteville Town Center on Wednesday, where panelists discussed how institutions of higher education are working to prepare students for the workforce. The panelists included Houston Davis, the president of the University of Central Arkansas, Charles Robinson, the chancellor of the University of Arkansas, and Dennis Rittle, the president of the NorthWest Arkansas Community College. This event was part of UCA's NWA Blitz, a way for UCA to strengthen its connection with Northwest Arkansas. Student athletes speak on impact of Arkansas' first sports officiator class 'The hope is that every student is placed when they leave high school, that they have a job or they have an enrollment in the higher ed program or they have an enlistment with the military,' Jennifer Morrow, Executive Director of Secondary Education at Bentonville Schools, who attended the event, said. 'We want them to be employed, enrolled or enlisted so that they have a smooth transition to their next step in life.' The panelists spoke on preparing students for a changing workforce, the Arkansas ACCESS Act, and how the public colleges and universities across the state can work together to improve higher education and meet the needs of communities across the state. 'These universities and colleges do work together on common priorities,' Davis said. 'And when it comes to things like economic development and community development, and lifting up families and opportunities for students, those are all things that we agree on. So, seeing that that's a common message and a common value that we share, that's the number one thing.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
