Introduction/Overview
Southeast Arkansas (SEARK) College was created by Act 1244 of the 78th General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, which was signed into law by the Governor on April 17, 1991. The above Act redesignated and redefined the Mission of fourteen (14) existing post-secondary vocational –technical schools located throughout the State to technical colleges. Similarly, state authority for the new institutions was transferred from the Arkansas Board of Vocational-Technical Education to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The latter serves as the coordinating agency for all public universities, community colleges, and technical colleges in the State of Arkansas. Programmatically, technical colleges and community colleges in Arkansas have the same mission. They differ, however, in their local taxing authority and board of trustee composition.
The predecessor of Southeast Arkansas College was Pines Vocational-Technical School, which began offering post-secondary vocational-technical programs as Arkansas Vocational-Technical School on September 21, 1959. With the enactment of Act 1244 of 1991, all land, builds, equipment, and personnel associated with Pines Vocational-Technical School were transferred to the renamed institution – Pines Technical College. In October of 1991, then State Governor Bill Clinton appointed the Charter members of the Pines Technical College Board of Trustee. On October 14, 1992, the College’s Board of Trustees selected Dr. Terry J. Puckett as the first president of the College. He began work at the campus on December 1, 1992. On August 1, 2000, Dr. Phil E. Shirley was appointed President to succeed Dr. Puckett.
Pines Technical College changed its name in 1996 to Southeast Arkansas Technical College to publicly differentiate between its collegiate-level offerings and status and its past as a vocational-technical school. This change was also an attempt to better reflect the geographic area served, while retaining a focus on technical education. Later, in 1998, the College’s Board of Trustees voted to remove the word Technical from the Institution’s name. SEARK College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). On October 23-25, 2000, the College underwent an onsite evaluation by NCA for Reaffirmation of Accreditation. At the conclusion of the review, the NCA visiting team recommended the full ten (10) year accreditation for College. In addition to the recommendation, the team commended the College for having “an exemplary Nursing Program.” A copy of the NCA Self Study 1999-2000 document and teams report and recommendations are on display in the Resource Room as Exhibit I.2
College Service Area: Geographic Region and Demographics
Southeast Arkansas College is the only public, two-year community or technical college in Southeast Arkansas, therefore, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board identified the following six (6) counties in Southeast Arkansas as the primary service area for the College: Jefferson, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Grant and Lincoln. The 1990 United States Census Report indicated a total population for this service area as 155,000 of whom 36% are minorities. A map of the College’s service area is available in the Resource Room as Exhibit I.1. The nearest two-year colleges are Pulaski Technical College – North Little Rock, 45 miles north; Quachita Technical College – Malvern, 50 miles west; Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas – Helena, 103 miles east; and South Arkansas Community College – El Dorado, 90 miles south.
According to the 1990 Census, Jefferson County, where the College is located, has a population of 85,487 with 44,911 persons ranging in age from 20-64 years old. Pine Bluff has a population of 57,150 with 30,583 African-Americans, 26,084 whites, and 473 others. Nineteen (19) public high schools exist with the service area. Approximately 48% of the 1999 graduating seniors in the College’s service area entered college as compared to 52% statewide. Statistics indicate that approximately 13% of Southeast Arkansas College’s 1999 fall student population were recent high school graduates. The median age of the 1999 fall student population was 30 years with the mean age being 32.9 years as compared to the state average for colleges and universities of 24.7 years. The 1999-2000 fall college credit enrollment of 1,789 students was 44% full-time and 56% part-time and is reflective of the state percentages of 44.4 and 55.6, respectively. These statistics verify Southeast Arkansas College’s non-traditional student population.
In Arkansas, 81.5% of the population complete high school according to the Arkansas Department of Education’s 1997 Completion Study. The Fall 1998 Student Enrollments Report published by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education reported a cumulative college graduation rate of 45.4% for the 1992-1997 first time entering freshman cohort at Arkansas public institutions. Southeast Arkansas College reported a graduation rate of 47.4% for this cohort group. These completion rates indicate improvement over the past five years. Southeast Arkansas College, as stated in its Mission, exists to increase the educational opportunities for current and potential students advancing the educational attainment level for our state.
Students welcome the flexible class schedules and alternate formats the College offers such as 4-, 8-, and 16-week course lengths; day, evening, and weekend classes; Compressed Interactive Video (CIV) classes; and Telecourse and Internet classes . Southeast Arkansas College offers non-traditional age students the opportunity to receive education and training directly related to their current or intended occupation and career field, which includes general education that is needed for career success. Students are also afforded the opportunity to enroll in collegiate level work, including the general education core curriculum, which is transferable toward a baccalaureate degree. The College provides students a quality, cost-effective education.
A goal of the College is to recruit a student body reflective of the total community served. The College values cultural diversity, recognizing and appreciating this as strength. During the 1999 fall semester, the College’s full time and part-time study body was 59% white and 41% minority. Similarly, the College’s full-time and part-time employee composition was 70% white and 30% minority. Southeast Arkansas College’s six-country service area is 64% white and 36% minority, according to the 1990 Census.
The College began teaching General Education courses under its own purview in the summer of 1994. Before that time Southeast Arkansas College relied upon a cooperative agreement with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to conduct general studies/university transfer courses. Six full-time academic faculty members were hired by the College in August of 1994. There are currently thirteen (13) full-time faculty members teaching in the general studies disciplines.
History of the Nursing Program
The Nursing & Allied Health Division (NAH) is one of the three (3) instructional divisions of SEARK College. The LPN/LPTN to RN Transition program is administered under the NAH division.
The first school of practical nursing in Pine Bluff, Arkansas was established in 1952 under the supervision of the Pine Bluff School Board. The “Pine Bluff Practical Nurse School” was located in the Davis Hospital Annex at Twelfth and Cherry streets. The first class of ten students was enrolled on September 15, 1952. After one year of training, eight students graduated on October 8, 1953. Mrs. Catherine Hockaday was the first instructor for the school.
On July 1, 1959, Pine Bluff Practical Nurse School became a part of Arkansas Vocational School. Arkansas Vocational School’s name was later changed to Pines Vocational Technical School and is absorbed in the history of the institution. The current program Dean was appointed in January, 1993. On August 3, 2000 SEARK College graduate it’s 107th class of practical nurses. SEARK College’s commitment to providing nursing and allied health professions for the health care workforce in Southeast Arkansas is evident by its long successful history.
In 1998, a survey of two (2) classes of practical nursing program graduates (N-40) was conducted to determine interest in offering the AAS degree in nursing at SEARK College. Overwhelmingly (100%), of the participants agreed that this program should be offered. As to the curriculum itself, 98% of the participants suggested that the program be offered in an evening/weekend format. See survey tool and results in Exhibit I.3. The NAH Division was receiving calls on a weekly basis requesting that the AAS Degree in Nursing program be offered through SEARK College.
In the six county service area of SEARK College there are four (4) hospitals and numerous other health care agencies and physician offices and clinics that employ registered nurses. Jefferson Regional Medical Center (JRMC) is the major hospital for the region and is located within two (2) miles of the College. JRMC employs approximately 375-400 registered nurses. At the time that the program needs survey was conducted, JRMC reported 65 full-time and 10 part-time registered nurse position vacancies. JRMC also sponsors a Diploma School of Nursing which graduates approximately 40 registered nurses per year. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has a baccalaureate nursing program and graduates approximately 8-15 registered nurses per year. With both of these current program graduates, corporate demand for registered nurses was not being met in the service area and there continues to be a demand for registered nurses throughout the state.
Data from the SEARK College Job Placement Office indicate that Nursing & Allied Health graduates have a very high job placement rate (96%). The majority of these graduates are employed in the SEARK College service area. In light of the current shortage of registered nurses and the projected increase in demand, it is anticipated that graduates of the AAS Degree in nursing program will be highly sought after in the job market. The College received numerous letters of support for the program (See Exhibit I-4). Many of the same agencies offered their clinical facilities for use by the program.
On January 13, 1999 the SEARK College Board of Trustees voted to approve the development of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing – LPN/LPTN to RN Transition program option. On February 11, 1999, the Feasibility Study for the establishment of the new program was submitted to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN). A copy of the ASBN Feasibility Study and approval letter are on display in the Resource Room as Exhibit I.5. The ASBN approved the feasibility and granted Pre-requisite Approval for the program on May 27, 1999. The program received approval by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board at its regular meeting on July 23, 1999.
Following the required approvals, the search was initiated for a qualified individual to coordinate the program. A state wide search was done and the position posting placed on the College’s web page. Caryn Short, RN, MA, was hired as Coordinator/Instructor for the program with the stipulation that the Master’s degree in nursing be completed prior to the admission of the first class in June, 2000. Ms. Short was enrolled in graduate school at Clarksdale College, Nebraska, through distance education. Ms. Short’s resume is included in Exhibit 1.7. Ms. Short was unable to meet the conditions of employment and was replaced by Debbie Gordon, RN, MSN. Ms. Gordon’s curriculum vitae is also included in Exhibit I.7.
On August 6, 1999, the proposal in partial fulfillment of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) requirements for Program Initial Approval was submitted. The ASBN granted Initial Approval to the program on January 12, 2000. The ASBN proposal for Initial Approval and the ASBN letter of approval are on display in the Resource Room as Exhibit I.6.
A class of 19 students were admitted to the program on June 5, 2000. Fifteen (15) of the nineteen (19) students initially admitted remain in the program. The demographic make up of the class is 50% Caucasian, 44% Black, 1% Hispanic. 94% are female and 6% male. The average age of the class is 31 years which is slightly above within the median age range of the SEARK College student population.
The program has two (2) full time faculty, the Division Dean, who is black and the program Coordinator/Instructor, who is Caucasian.