{"id":1711,"date":"2011-03-22T11:17:30","date_gmt":"2011-03-22T16:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/?p=1711"},"modified":"2011-03-28T08:49:40","modified_gmt":"2011-03-28T13:49:40","slug":"state-university-leaders-announce-higher-education-compact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/news\/2011\/state-university-leaders-announce-higher-education-compact\/","title":{"rendered":"State University Leaders Announce Higher Education Compact"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

SAU President Dr. David Rankin speaks at the press conference announcing the "Compact with the People of Arkansas." (Photo courtesy the University of Arkansas)<\/p><\/div>\n

LITTLE ROCK \u2013 The presidents and chancellors of Arkansas\u2019 11 public universities and two university systems Tuesday issued a 16-point pledge to accountability, collaboration and cooperation aimed at addressing the state\u2019s educational, social and economic needs and opportunities.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a news conference held in the State Capitol\u2019s Rotunda, the education leaders unveiled their \u201cCompact With the People of Arkansas.\u201d Addressed to the state\u2019s citizens and its political and education leaders, the Compact presents 16 goals intended to guide their individual and collective performance. Printed copies of the Compact were distributed Tuesday to state policymakers and to the news media.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis compact represents our commitment to provide the people of Arkansas with quality higher education while being mindful of the great responsibility that comes with this task,\u201d said David Rankin, president of Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia. \u201cBy having all of the state\u2019s four-year public universities join together in this initiative, there is no doubt we will make tremendous strides in accomplishing these goals over the next several years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The document\u2019s 16 pledges include:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 transparent and accountable decision making<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 prudent fiscal management<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 clear measures of institutional performance<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 doubling, by 2025, the number of college degrees produced by the Compact\u2019s partners<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 dramatically increasing the number of Arkansas residents with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 keep tuition and fees as low as possible without sacrificing academic quality<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 create a seamless process of transferring academic credits between and among Arkansas\u2019 two-year colleges and its four-year public universities<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 work with K-12 schools to reduce the need for student remediation in post-secondary education<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 adopt environmentally and economically sound business practices<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 expand the diversity of the universities\u2019 student bodies, faculties and staff<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 effectively address military veterans\u2019 needs to help ensure their success in the academic environment<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 provide the support and resources to all students to help them achieve success<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 provide adequate financial aid to help ensure that no student is denied access to one of the universities due to an inability to pay<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 increase efforts to accommodate the needs and schedules of non-traditional students<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pursue entrepreneurial ways to generate the revenues necessary to ensure a high-quality learning environment and experience<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Increase the universities\u2019 role and engagement in economic development<\/p>\n

Speaking at the news conference, G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas, said institutions of higher education in the state must collaborate to provide an even better educated workforce and a more informed citizenry.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur public universities are the state\u2019s most influential social, economic, cultural and educational force,\u201d said Gearhart. \u201cWe, as the leaders of those institutions, must make sure that we demonstrate and communicate the ways we can, do and will serve the public\u2019s interests. That means we must work together, operate our universities in a productive and accountable manner, and be good stewards of state resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe institutions of higher learning in Arkansas today have demonstrated their commitment to working toward Gov. Beebe\u2019s goal of doubling our number of certificate and degree holders in the next decade,\u201d added Shane Broadway, interim director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, who also participated in the news conference. \u201cThe staff at ADHE commends their efforts and will support their endeavors to bring about a new workforce with the knowledge and skills to better the economy and quality of life for all Arkansans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with Rankin and Gearhart, others who signed the pledge included:<\/p>\n