Posted on February 4th, 2008 by AAPU
The highest point in Arkansas, Mount Magazine, was selected by the Arkansas Association of Public Universities (AAPU) as the venue where presidents and chancellors of member institutions united to cast a vision for higher education as the AAPU hosted the first Presidents and Chancellors Advance/Retreat, January 27-28.
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Dr. David Rankin, chairman of the AAPU and president of Southern Arkansas University, welcomed those in attendance including University of Arkansas System President Alan Sugg, University of Arkansas Chancellor-Elect G. David Gearhart, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Chancellor Paul Beran, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Joel Anderson, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Vice President for Agriculture Milo Shult, Henderson State University President Charles Dunn, University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin, and AAPU Executive Director Tim Wooldridge.
A major topic of discussion among the leaders was working together to increase the number of Arkansans holding a bachelors degree by formulating strategies to increase college going rates, transfers from two year colleges, and targeting those over 25, with some college credit, to complete their degree. The group also discussed the importance of higher education to economic development, applauding Gov. Mike Beebe for often stating that the two are inextricably tied, and by working to increase science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related degrees as Arkansas prepares for a knowledge based economy.
“Our task, as we launch this new association, is to elevate in the minds of Arkansans that the intellectual capacity to fuel the economy of the future is powered by higher education,” Wooldridge said. “This meeting was a great first step in working together to accomplish this goal.”
On Monday, the group was joined by officials from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education including Director Dr. Jim Purcell and Deputy Director Dr. Steve Floyd and Dr. Bob Brown, president of Arkansas Tech University.
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