Amid the recent controversy over what could be gained by joining the University of Arkansas system, a group of students from Cossatot Technical College toured the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. The group toured the UACCH campus and talked to faculty members, the college chancellor, and the president of the student government.
One question that was raised was "What effect did the merger with the U of A have on the vocational and technical programs of the college?"
Randy Sanders, the Technical and Industrial Chair, said the merger with the U of A had a very positive effect on the vocational and technical programs of UACCH.
"Industries that wouldn't talk to us before the merger, opened their doors to us after we joined U of A." Sanders said, placing credit squarely on the name recognition of the university. Sanders also said that after joining the U of A the technical and vocational programs have expanded. UACCH offers Technical Certificates in areas such as Diesel Technology, Heavy Equipment Operations, Industrial Electricity, Industrial Technology, and Welding Technology. Students can get Certificates of Proficiency in Child Development Associate, Emergency Medical Technician, Pharmacy Assistant, and Industrial Technology Electrial and Mechanical.
Paul Noesser, Student Relations Officer, says that some of these programs can be completed in 12 months and the students can enter the work force in the particular area they choose. After the merger, these programs benefited from the addition of new buildings and state of the art equipment.
The merger has also improved the quality of the instructors.
Dr. James Taylor, Chancellor of UACCH said, "Before the merger when a teaching position came open, it was sometimes difficult to fill the position because the applicants were few."
However, since the merger with U of A, when a vacancy occurs, Taylor says there are applicants all from all over the country applying. "In our English Department, three of the four instructors have doctorates," he said. Taylor also said the turnover among faculty and staff is low. They currently have 44 full time instructors and 21 adjunct instructors. According to Noesser, there is a close camaraderie between the faculty and the students. The students have the utmost respect for their instructors, yet they consider them friends as well. The school has developed some unique programs to aid student retention, Among them is a mentoring program that pairs an older student with incoming freshmen. "It has been very successful," Noesser said. The mentors help the younger students with studies and show the freshmen around campus.
In the fall of 1991 when it was Red River Vocational College there were 250 students enrolled. The merger with U of A took place in 1995. In the fall of 1998 there were 1325 students enrolled and in 1999, the enrollment was 1235. Taylor said they felt that they had reached a plateau and had leveled off, but the Freshmen classes are growing each year. Noesser said that UACCH actively recruits students in Sevier and Howard counties, and includes students from the Texarkana area as well.
Noesser said that the college is hoping for a grant to build an Olympic size swimming pool. they are currently constructing a building that will house 18 classrooms and the Criminal Justice Department, with plans for a Forensic Lab to be added later.
Dr. Taylor said there was little opposition to the passage of the local sales tax required for the merger with U of A. The vote was 78% in favor of the tax, and Taylor said the area was pleased with the results of the merger.
Do you remember what things in De Queen were like about 10 years ago?
The Town North Shopping Center used to be a Piggly Wiggly.
Collin Raye Drive used to be call U.S. 70 or simply "70" to all of us.
There wasn't anything around compared to now. Did anyone expect De Queen to grow like it has?
In the last decade, it appears that everything and everyone has changed a little bit. Instead of only choosing between First National Bank and First State Bank, now there are also Bancorp South and Diamond State Bank. Pilgrim's Pride is still the main industry and job provider, but there are beginning to be alot more businesses rolling through town. The thought of bigger and better businesses coming, not to mention the anticipation of Cossatot's possible merger with the U of A, is creating much excitement.
Although some would prefer De Queen to stay the way it was, there are others trying to make De Queen a market place for industry.
"There are negotations with a new shoe store, pet store, and clothing store coming to De Queen", Mayor Chad Gallagher said. "The new businesses may reflect De Queen's growth."
The new building across from Harvest Foods is expected to be a new movie gallery owned by Blockbuster and in the future, a new Burger King is to be built next to the Tiger Mart, according to city hall sources.
"From 1980 to 1990, the population actually decreased," say former mayor Philip Cox, "but the industries and businesses got higher. The Hispanic population grew significantly, though."
Although there is no breakdown of the population, some sources project De Queen to be as high as 8500 people.
This would be a tremendous growth from the 1990 census, which put the city at 459 people.
"The actual census information should be in by next month; the population might be significantly higher than the 1990 population," Gallagher said.
Gallagher said some of the businesses may be coming in because of the Interstate 49 issue.
Fourth District Congressman Jay Dickey (R-Ark.) had gotten Arkansas $94 million for construction from Texarkana to the Louisiana border. Since Dickey is no longer in office, plans are at a standstill.
"It could bring jobs and businesses once it's finished', Gallagher said. The route of I-49 has also changed. The original route came out somewhere close to town but now it may come out close to the Country Club.
There is also one more issue to be considered.
The possibility of Cossatot becoming part of the U of A isn't a very wide or well-known topic, but the merger may keep Sevier County graduates here in Sevier County.
Cox believes that the merger will help the county to increase growth and prosperity.
"If you're going to get anything, you're going to have to pay for it. We need to pay for it", Cox said. "I support it. You have to have it if you're going to grow."
And while Gallagher supports growth for the city, he has, as yet, not made up his mind about supporting the tax.
"I have no public standing on the issue, I have not made up my mind. I am looking forward to seeing where the voters are going to go," he said.
With the explosion of commerce that entered De Queen, growth is not really a big surprise. All the businesses and industries coming in, a major interstate rolling through town, and maybe even a university-type setting to help our kids further their education, is there any wonder why De Queen has grown so much? The large increase of the Hispanic population even had the Washington Post writing about the city's growth, and has helped keep the growing economy stable.
Do you remember what things were like 10 years ago? Do we dare think about the next ten years? If the next years are like the past ones, we'll definitely keep 'being more than expected.'
