The Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium (ADTEC), established in late 2005, provides for a regional response to workforce development for the Arkansas Delta. Funded by a U.S. Department of Labor grant, ADTEC is a partnership of five community colleges (Mid-South Community College, Arkansas Northeastern College, East Arkansas Community College, Arkansas State University—Newport, and Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas System) that are dedicated to raising the skill level of the workforce and transforming the economy of the Arkansas Delta. Additional goals of the Consortium are as follows:

• To provide a comprehensive, regional approach to education/training
• To share faculty, equipment, curriculum, and best practices
• To provide a broad range of services at lower overall cost
• To promote regional economic development

The ADTEC impact region consists of 12 Arkansas Delta counties, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: ADTEC region

This partnership is unique in that all member colleges have collaborated to share curriculum, support strategies, and a wide range of industry input regarding training needs while pursuing the ultimate goal of growing jobs and economic opportunity in the region. Figure 2 depicts the industry demand-driven workforce development strategy of ADTEC.

Figure 2: Industry demand-driven workforce development

This strategy was used to develop a Career Pathway in Advanced Manufacturing, shown in Figure 3, which has employable exit-points at high school graduation and award of a Certificate of Proficiency in Advanced Manufacturing; award of a Technical Certificate in Advanced Manufacturing; award of an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Advanced Manufacturing; and award of a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree. Thirteen representatives from manufacturing industries located in the ADTEC colleges’ service areas, such as Hino, DENSO, Nucor-Yamato Steel, JR Simplot, Producers Rice Mill, American Greetings, and Maverick Tube LP, have participated in two DACUM (Developing ACurriculUM) workshops to help shape advanced manufacturing curriculum in terms of regional industry needs. Moreover, student learning will be measured by industry-defined competencies, and program success will be measured against a common set of outcome indicators to ensure that resources are deployed in an efficient and effective manner.

High school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to enter an education/career pathway by enrolling in college-level programs on each consortium college campus, while concurrently earning high school and college credit. Students who successfully complete designated two-year programs earn a certificate of proficiency and up to 24 credits that apply toward a technical certificate and associate of applied science degree, which are additional exit points on the education/career pathway. Students may

Figure 3: Career Pathway in Advanced Manufacturing

stop out at any exit point with a college credential in hand, go to work in the selected field of study, and return at any time (whether employed or not) to re-enter the pathway and achieve the next educational level.

College students, adult learners, incumbent workers, and unemployed individuals may also enter a selected education/career pathway at designated entry points and advance through different levels of learning and educational attainment. The short-term, more immediate successes and ability to repeatedly re-enter the workforce and/or continue an educational pathway inspire student motivation, encourage related employment, and foster lifelong learning principles.

This 21st Century Model of Higher Education is a catalyst for economic growth—an education/career pathway that culminates in baccalaureate degree attainment for the high minority and impoverished population in the Arkansas Delta. Recently, the Department of Labor awarded a 2^nd Generation WIRED grant, titled “Arkansas Delta Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development (ADWIRED). The ADWIRED region consists of 17 counties in the Arkansas Delta, 12 of which are the ADTEC counties. As the primary workforce development component of the WIRED project, ADTEC is critical to the transformation of the economy of the Arkansas Delta .In June of 2007, ADTEC was presented the Southern Growth Policies Board 2007 Innovator of the Year Award.

The University Center is an educational and economic development partnership among the community colleges that comprise the Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium (ADTEC). The colleges are Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas State University-Newport, East Arkansas Community College, Mid-South Community College, and Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas.

The University Center will provide a mechanism to bring more baccalaureate degrees to the ADTEC region, particularly degrees that will directly support economic development, resulting in a more educated population and skilled workforce.

Degree Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Education Middle Level (ASU)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (ASU)
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (UA-Ft. Smith)

Note: Classes offered Spring 2008 will be delivered via internet, CVN, or classroom instruction.

Bachelor of Science in Education Middle Level:

• Music for Teachers
• Art for Teachers
• Foundations of Reading Instruction
• Methods & Materials in Reading
• PE for Teachers (not on schedule yet)
• Science for Teachers(not on schedule yet)

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration:

• Business Finance
• Organizational Behavior
• Management Information Systems
• Operations Management
• Marketing

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology:

• Information Technology Tools

Four new EACC courses will be created for this degree program.