24-04-2025
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.
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'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.'
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