College Profile: South Arkansas Community College

South Arkansas Community College (SouthARK) is a public, two-year institution located in El Dorado, Arkansas with an open-door policy, providing educational programs, services, and resources for the residents of Union County and the surrounding area. With a philosophy that affirms the value of education, the importance of academic freedom for students and faculty, the worth and dignity of each individual, and an abiding belief in the ideals of a democratic society, the college encourages innovation, excellence, and leadership in its mission as a comprehensive community college. South Arkansas Community College was established by a vote of the citizens of Union County on March 31, 1992. Voters approved forming a community college district for the county, merging Oil Belt Technical College and Southern Arkansas University-El Dorado Branch, and approving a tax levy to support the new college. The college is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees initially appointed by Governor Bill Clinton. The Board of Trustees approved the appointment of a 16-member committee co-chaired by Billy McGehee and Dr. Kermit Parks. It made recommendations to the President and Board of Trustees on administrative structure, policy, and procedures and worked to unify the two institutions into a comprehensive community college. On April 14, 1992, the Board of Trustees elected Charles Thomas to be Board Chairman, appointed Dr. Ben Whitfield as President, and named the new college. South Arkansas Community College is accredited by the North Central Association of College and Schools. The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Association was founded in 1895 as a membership organization for educational institutions. It is committed to developing and maintaining high standards of excellence. The Association is one of six regional institutional accrediting associations in the United States. Through its Commissions it accredits, and thereby grants membership to educational institutions in the nineteen-state North Central region: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The institution is approved by the Arkansas State Department of Higher Education and the Veterans Approval Agency of the Arkansas Department of Education. The college also holds institutional membership in the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), and the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges (AATYC). The nursing program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Allied Health programs are accredited by their respective accrediting organizations: The Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon recommendation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences for the Medical Laboratory Technology Program; the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE); and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence accredits the Automotive Service Technology Program. 300 S. West Ave, El Dorado, AR 71730 | (870) 862-8131, (800) 955-2289 | registrar@southark.edu

 

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