UACCM and UCA Announce Early Childhood Education Partnership

The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) and the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) have partnered to make junior level classes towards a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in early childhood education available at UACCM.

Students receiving an Associate of Arts in Teaching from UACCM who are accepted in to the Bachelor of Science in Education program at UCA will attend classes, taught by UCA instructors, on the UACCM campus. These students will be able to complete their junior level requirements at UACCM and then spend one semester of their senior year attending classes at UCA and one semester completing their student teaching at an area primary school. This program will hopefully ease the transition into a bachelor program by allowing students to complete these higher level courses on a small campus.

The partnership emerged when UACCM Vice Chancellor for Academic Services Diana Arn approached UCA Department of Early Childhood and Special Education Chair Dr. Kathleen Atkins and the two worked together closely to create a memorandum of agreement between the institutions. UCA Early Childhood and Special Education Instructor Patti Hunter will serve as the program coordinator and will spend time on both campuses. Ms. Hunter said, “The hope is that this new opportunity will boost enrollment for both programs.”

Classes for this new program will begin in spring 2013, and Ms. Hunter will be at UACCM on October 2, from 3:00-5:00 pm in the University Center Room 229 for a kickoff event. There will be light refreshments and information about the new program. The kickoff event is open to anyone interested in the program, and current students as well as recent graduates are encouraged to attend.

For more information about UACCM and our programs, contact Patti Hunter at 501-450-5451 for program-specific questions.