Emphasis on Workforce
Through its institutions, divisions, units and vast array of public and private partnerships, the UA System boasts a wide range of career and technical education programs and capabilities that support its mission and the statewide effort for improved workforce development.
As part of its mission, the UA System embraces its role in ensuring that a highly skilled workforce is available to meet the needs of continued economic development. This benefits the economic needs of the state and provides quality opportunities for Arkansans to enter the workforce with bountiful career choices.
“It’s paramount that economic needs, available opportunities and the proper training are all aligned in order to maximize the effort,” said UA System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt. “A well-oiled machine produces outcomes that benefit all facets of an efficiently functioning economy and society as a whole.”
The University of Arkansas System Workforce Response & Training Center includes:
- Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
- Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
- University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
- University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
- University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
- University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain
- University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College
- University of Arkansas at Monticello Colleges of Technology at Crossett and McGehee
- University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
- Arkansas Economic Development Institute at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
The UA System Workforce Response & Training Center is currently funded by a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. It includes a clearinghouse and repository to provide information to prospective students about UA System workforce programs by careers and campus locations. The collection of this data in one location leads to stronger partnerships and collaborative grant-writing among UA System campuses that will result in the delivery of needed programs across the state.
An example of this effort includes the ability to partner with several campuses to combine resources to identify a need and target potential students to provide necessary training to fulfill that need.
Helpful Links
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced in February 2024 the Arkansas Workforce Strategy, a report from the state’s Chief Workforce Officer detailing ways to grow and develop Arkansas’ workforce. The Governor established the role of Chief Workforce Officer and the Workforce Cabinet at the beginning of her term through Executive Order and tasked the group with developing this report.
In support of Governor Sanders’ leadership to expand workforce development across the state, the UA System created an Action Plan that identifies seven areas of focus for potential investment by the UA System and the state.