Colleges and Universities | Public and Private Schools
Business Industry Workforce Training

Industrial Training
The Business, Industry, and Workforce Development Center at Arkansas State University Mountain Home develops programs and offers workshops, seminars, and courses that meet the employers' needs. The BIWD developed a Technical Certificate in Industrial Technology - Basic Electronics (32 hours) and a Certificate in Basic Electronics (16 hours) for a local manufacturer's needs. General courses through the Center include basic computer skills, computer software, algebra, statistics, manufacturing techniques, and nursing, to name a few. Customized programs are held both on the ASUMH campus and at area business sites. The Center provides high quality programs at an affordable cost to local businesses for their employees. Its main service area is Baxter and Marion Counties.

Customized Training Incentives
Pre-employment training for Arkansas workers is provided by the state through Customized Training Incentives to meet the skills needed in the state's new and expanding businesses.

A Customized Training Coordinator is assigned to companies which have made a commitment to locate in Arkansas. The coordinator develops the training plan with the business.
Services such as diagnostic testing and employee assessments are provided, as are training plans scheduled to the company's needs.

Area 2 Customized Training Coordinator, working out of Mountain Home for the seven northcentral counties is Don Ott, (870) 424-2751 or (870) 404-2889.

Existing Workforce Training
The Existing Workforce Training Program provides financial assistance to Arkansas manufacturing businesses and eligible consortia of businesses for upgrading the knowledge and skills of the existing workforce. The State of Arkansas ensures ongoing training for workers in the manufacturing sector and provides financial assistance to Arkansas business and industry for customized, industry-specific training to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the existing workforce. South Shore Foundation has become a consortium partner to assist in bringing this industrial education to more in the local workforce to improve or update job skills.

Literacy Task Analysis
LTA is a program to assess the skill level of employees in relation to a task at hand. A trained observer analyzes the skills necessary to improve performance of a task and recommends and provides training to fill the gap.

Adult Education
The Business, Industry and Workforce Development Center has two more departments, Adult Education and Continuing Education. Adult Education offers reading and math tutoring, GED testing, English as a Second Language, and Literacy Task Analysis for businesses; Continuing Education offers non-credit classes on topics such as art, exercise, computer skills, motorcycle safety, fly tying, concealed handgun license course, etc. Contact Phil Garner at (870) 508-6106. Information is also available at www.asumh.edu/biwd.

Residents enjoy the use of the county libraries, checking out books, periodicals, audio and video tapes and using the computers at the libraries for Internet access and word processing. Baxter County's library also offers a large-print section, film programs for senior citizens and summer reading and education programs for children.

Colleges
Two colleges are located in the six counties served by North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development. A third college offers evening and distance learning classes in communities.

Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a public, two-year campus of Arkansas State University enrolling over 1,300 students and offering associate degrees, certificates, continuing and workforce education and adult basic education. ASUMH occupies a 130-acre campus built new starting in 1998 and opened in 2000. Arkansas State University Mountain Home is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the American Board of Funeral Science Education, and the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. (870) 508-6100

Degrees

• Associate of Arts
• Associate of Arts in Teaching
• Associate of Applied Science
  • Business Technology (computer applications or management/marketing)
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • Criminal Justice
  • Funeral Science
  • Hearing Healthcare
  • Industrial Technology
  • Information Systems Technology
  • Law Enforcement Administration
  • Opticanry
  • Paramedic Technology

Certificates
Technical Certificates:

• Business Information Systems with Computer Applications
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Industrial Technology (hydraulics and pneumatics, blueprint reading, maintenance welding, mechanical devices, HVAC, industrial safety, and electrical/electronics)
• Industrial Technology - Basic Electronics
• Law Enforcement Administration
• Paramedic Technology
• Practical Nursing

Certificates of Proficiency are offered at ASUMH for:

• Basic Electronics
• Cisco Networking
• Computer Aided Drafting and Design
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Law Enforcement Administration

Advanced Degrees at ASUMH
Through its affiliation with Arkansas State University, students at the Mountain Home campus are able to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in specific disciplines.

• Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Bachelor of Science in Education (early childhood and middle school)
• Bachelor of Science in Management (human resources emphasis)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN option)
• Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Education (elementary or curriculum & instruction)
• Master of Science in Educational Administration
• Specialist in Education

Ozarka College at Melbourne is a two-year public post-secondary institution offering technical certificates and associate level degrees as well as basic adult education and workplace skills training, enrolling more than 900 students per semester. Ozarka delivers courses at Mountain View, Ash Flat, and many area high schools. Distance delivery also allows for Web-based and tele-course classes. Ozarka College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Call (870) 368-7371 or (800) 821-4335. You can fax us at (870) 368-4733.

Degrees

• Associate of Arts degree in general education
• Associate of Applied Science degrees in the following fields:
  • Automotive Service Technology
  • Business Technology
  • Criminal Justice Leadership
  • Culinary Arts
  • General Technology
  • Health Information Management
  • Information Science Technology
  • Licensed Practical Nursing

Certificates
Technical Certificate:

• Automotive Service Technology
• Culinary Arts
• Information Management
• Licensed Practical Nursing

Certificates of Proficiency:

• Early Childhood Development
• Basic Emergency Medical Technology

Adult Education
Ozarka College’s Adult Education Department provides classes for adults from literacy level through college entrance including reading, math, language, science, and social studies. The Department also provides TABE Assessment, Official Practice and GED Testing. Classes are available at the main campus in Melbourne as well as satellite locations in Fulton, Izard, Sharp, and Stone counties. For information contact Dr. Wayne Wilson at 1-800-821-4335 or www.ozarka.edu.

Community Outreach
Ozarka College offers customized training programs to support workforce development within area business and industry in Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. Computer software applications, team skills, management, leadership and other specific programs can be designed around immediate needs or training requests. In addition, Ozarka provides a variety of personal enrichment courses such as interior design, grant writing, cake decorating, conversational Spanish and many others.

In conjunction with Education To Go, Ozarka offers approximately 200 online courses for individuals who require a flexible schedule for learning new skills. Students enrolled with Ozarka through Ed2Go are able to access their classroom 24/7 from the web: www.ed2go.com/ozarka. Course topics include computer-related skills, quality control, management and general business, paralegal, health care and many personal interest classes in writing, photography, etc.

For information regarding community outreach services, contact Karla Rush at 800-821-4335, extension 2003 or e-mail karla@ozarka.edu.

North Arkansas College is a comprehensive, public two-year college at Harrison. It offers evening classes in Leslie and distance education courses at Marshall, both in Searcy County. (870) 743-3000.

Public Schools | Private Schools

Public Schools
Baxter County
Public School Enrollment (2002-03): 4,904



Baxter County has three public secondary schools.

Fulton County
Public School Enrollment (2002-03): 1,606

Fulton County has three public secondary schools.

Izard County
Public School Enrollment (2002-03): 1,890

Izard County has four public secondary schools.

Marion County
Public School Enrollment (2002-03): 2,251



Three public school districts operate in Marion County.

Searcy County
Public School Enrollment (2002-03): 1,243

Searcy County has three public secondary schools.

Stone County
Public School Enrollment (2002-03): 1,729



Stone County has three public secondary schools.

Van Buren County
Public School Enrollment (2002-03): 2,434



Van Buren County has five public secondary schools.

Percentage of High School Graduation/ACT Composite Scores

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Private Schools
Baxter County

• Grace Baptist (Gassville) - K-12 (ACE Curriculum) - (870) 435-6975
• North Central Christian School (Mountain Home) - K-12 - (870) 424-6622
• Seventh Day Adventist Church School (Mountain Home) - 1-8 - (870) 425-7475

Fulton County

• Peace Christian Schools - K-12 (ACE Curriculum) - (870) 625-3074