University of Central Arkansas President Tom Courtway and Arkansas State University-Beebe Chancellor Dr. Eugene McKay shake hands after signing the 17th articulation agreement between the two institutions.
University of Central Arkansas President Tom Courtway and Arkansas State University-Beebe Chancellor Dr. Eugene McKay signed the 17th articulation agreement between the two institutions at a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 5.
This signing is the 16th agreement between the institutions for 2015 and marks a total of 17 articulation agreements overall.
“We are excited to work in partnership with the University of Central Arkansas on our 16th articulation agreement this year. This is a great opportunity for our students to complete their bachelor’s degree at UCA with a seamless transition from ASU-Beebe,” said Chancellor McKay.
“Today shows the continuation of a great partnership and relationship between ASU-Beebe and UCA. The real beneficiaries are the students, and that is as it should be,” said President Courtway. “We also want to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate Dr. McKay for almost 50 years of service to the students of Arkansas. He is a true leader and an outstanding educator.”
This latest articulation agreement covers UCA’s addiction studies program allowing students to earn an Associate of Science in Health Sciences from ASU-Beebe, then complete their final two years of study at UCA to earn a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies.
“The Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies offered by UCA is a unique program. It will provide an employment avenue for our students to fill a specific need in the healthcare industry,” said ASU-Beebe Division Chair of Math and Science Dr. Richard Counts.
The addiction studies articulation agreement marks 55 of UCA’s current baccalaureate degree programs that are covered by agreements between ASU-Beebe and UCA.
“These agreements are a ‘win-win’ for both schools with the real winners being the students who earn an associate’s degree at ASU-Beebe and want to earn a bachelor’s degree from UCA. They have a clear path to completion for both degrees and will not have to worry about which classes to take for their intended major,” said Dr. Steven Runge, executive vice president and provost. “We thank our colleagues at ASU-Beebe for their partnership in this endeavor.”
Signing the articulation agreements is in continued fulfillment of the goals outlined in the “Framework for the Future,” which was introduced in November 2013 during the investiture ceremony for President Courtway. The plan laid out three primary objectives with strategies, deadlines and responsibilities to achieve the goals. One goal included in the Framework is to “solidify relationships with two-year institutions to significantly increase the number of transfer students.”
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