§ 6-53-301 — Arkansas Technical and Community College System

(a) (1) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall designate the following institutions as technical colleges which shall become part of the Arkansas Technical and Community College System under the coordination of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board: (A) Black River Technical College, Pocahontas; (B) Arkansas State University Mid-South, West Memphis; (C) North Arkansas College, Harrison; (D) Ozarka College, Melbourne; (E) South Arkansas College, El Dorado; (F) Southeast Arkansas College, Pine Bluff; (G) Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, De Queen; (H) University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College, North Little Rock; (I) University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Batesville; (J) University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana, Hope; and (K) University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, Morrilton. (2) None of these institutions shall have the authority to request the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board's approval for associate degree programs before July 1, 1993. (b) A technical college may be expanded to offer courses of instruction in technical, vocational, and adult education programs and college transfer programs and may, upon a vote of the electorate, create a community college district and, if necessary, impose a millage to convert to a community college. (c) Until the institution elects to become a community college, the institution shall be known as a technical college. (d) Upon the appointment of the local board, all records, personnel, property, unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds of the state-supported postsecondary vocational-technical institutions shall be transferred to the local board. (e) The local board shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the institution and shall be further responsible for the provision of services to meet the two-year postsecondary educational needs of those citizens located within the service area of the institution. (f) (1) Any technical college which fails to achieve higher education institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission within eight (8) years following the date of transfer under subsection (d) of this section shall be abolished by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (2) All records, personnel, property, unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds of the technical college shall be transferred to the Division of Higher Education.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 245,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1929, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 1991, No. 1244, § 19; 1993, No. 423, § 4; 1995, No. 603, § 2; 1997, No. 1114, § 10.