Education leaders from across the state will gather later this month to discuss ways to improve graduation and retention rates.
The annual Arkansas Student Success Symposium will be held March 31 and April 1 on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
The Student Success Symposium is a collaborative event between the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Pulaski Technical College, and the University of Central Arkansas coordinated in conjunction with the Arkansas Student Success Collaborative.
“The governor and the Arkansas state legislators believe that colleges and universities should be doing more to improve graduation rates in the state of Arkansas,” said Dr. Sally Roden, associate provost and dean of undergraduate studies. “The Governor has stated on numerous occasions that the future economy of Arkansas will have to be a knowledge-based economy with more citizens completing college degrees.
Two years ago, two faculty members from Pulaski Tech and one from UCA worked to form a partnership between UCA and Pulaski Tech and obtained grants and support from the Department of Higher Education to host the first student symposium.
The state symposium allows education leaders to combine ideas and efforts and work together to enhance student success, Roden added.
“By working together, we can increase the adult population with college degrees, thereby helping the students with their individual careers and also enhancing the state economy,” she said. “The Student Symposium is a win- win situation, for the professionals and for the students.”
The key note speakers for this year’s symposium are Dr. Vincent Tinto, a nationally known author and scholar on student retention, and Dr. John Gardner, leader of an international reform movement to enhance the learning, success, retention and graduation of students.
Dr. Allen Meadors, UCA President, is hosting a reception and session on retention and graduation for all Arkansas presidents, chancellors and chief academic and student affairs officers.
For more information about the symposium, visit www.arkansasstudentsuccess.org or contact Larry Burns at lburns@uca.edu or (501)450-5245.