Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part series with new University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College Chancellor Adam O’Neal. Part one here. Part two here.
FORREST CITY — Adam O’Neal has served as chancellor of the University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College for more than a month now.
O’Neal said there were a number of benefits for the college to join the University of Arkansas System. One of those benefits is the campus-within-a-campus initiative offered by the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Through the program, UA-EACC students can pursue a degree in education without ever leaving Forrest City.
“That’s a huge deal. We’ve got our two-year education degree so students can get their associate’s in education here. But then through UAM, they can get their bachelor’s degree on our campus and never have to go to Monticello,” O’Neal said. “That’s a big deal. I think if we can keep people in our community, if we train them, we can retain them. If we send somebody off to Memphis or Fayetteville or Little Rock to learn how to become a teacher, then they may stay there. But if we can train them here, then they’ll stay here and work in Wynne Schools and work in Forrest City Schools.”
O’Neal said providing access to higher education means more than just offering classes.
“It’s about providing access to students. What access means may be different from student to student,” he said. “For some people, it’s financial access. For some people, it’s proximity. It’s access to a college that’s right here. They don’t have to drive to Jonesboro or Memphis or Little Rock or Fayetteville.
“For other students, think about our first-generation college students who they don’t have anybody in their family guiding them and telling them the ins and outs of college life,” O’Neal added. “We can provide access to those students too to make sure they understand how to be a student and how to be successful. We’ve got a lot of programs that support that too.”
