(a) For purposes of this section, “center of excellence” means a consortium of two (2) or more institutions of higher education working in collaboration with regional economic developers.
(b) The purpose of the centers of excellence shall be to address the workforce education and training needs for existing, expanding, or attracting new business and industry in each of the economic development regions of the state.
(c)
(1) In order to improve the state's ability to compete in the knowledge-based economy, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board may create acknowledged centers of excellence.
(2)
(A) Institutions of higher education may submit proposals to the Division of Higher Education to become centers of excellence.
(B) In each proposal for creation of a center of excellence, institutions shall identify the center's:
(i) Technical alignment or academic alignment, or both, to existing or future businesses and industries in the state; and
(ii) Collaboration plan to serve a particular occupation.
(d)
(1) Two (2) representatives of the division as designated by the Director of the Division of Higher Education, and one (1) representative of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall meet as needed to review applications jointly.
(2) The division and the commission shall jointly make a recommendation to the board regarding which institutions shall be acknowledged as centers of excellence in a particular program or field of study based on factors, including, but not limited to:
(A) Number, type, and demand for related jobs;
(B) Quality of related instructional or research programs, or both;
(C) Availability of faculty;
(D) Student accessibility;
(E) Feasibility of expected program cost; and
(F) Research capability.
(e) Final approval of centers of excellence shall be made by the board.
(f) The designation of centers of excellence shall be fully reviewed at least one (1) time every five (5) years.
Structure Arkansas Code
Subtitle 5 - Postsecondary and Higher Education Generally
Chapter 61 - Postsecondary Institutions Generally
Subchapter 1 - General Provisions
§ 6-61-105. Course in American history or civil government required
§ 6-61-107. Courses in conservation of natural resources — Teachers required to take course
§ 6-61-108. Eye protection required
§ 6-61-110. Testing of entering freshmen for remedial courses
§ 6-61-111. Student assessment programs
§ 6-61-112. Student or student's spouse called into military service
§ 6-61-113. References to race
§ 6-61-121. Higher education minority retention programs — Definition
§ 6-61-122. Higher education minority retention programs — Establishment — Reports
§ 6-61-123. Meningococcal disease warning
§ 6-61-124. Reporting minority students who complete an education program — Definitions
§ 6-61-125. American Sign Language as foreign language
§ 6-61-126. Electronic communication — Privacy policy
§ 6-61-127. Arkansas Higher Education Performance Reporting System
§ 6-61-128. Restrictions on use of social security numbers
§ 6-61-129. Establishment of centers of excellence — Definition
§ 6-61-130. Institutional advice for university course work and degree completion
§ 6-61-132. Academic advising on transferability of coursework
§ 6-61-134. Associate of applied science degree — Mathematics requirement
§ 6-61-135. False academic credential
§ 6-61-136. Establishment of an accrediting agency
§ 6-61-138. Posthumous degrees
§ 6-61-139. Emergency or security records or information — Disclosure exempted