North Arkansas College fall enrollment has set a record as the highest in the last decade. This semester’s headcount totals 2,090 students, surpassing the second highest enrollment period in 2014 by 84 students.
“Even with a challenging year in which the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) underwent major changes that caused delays in processing, Northark enrollment rose 8.5%,” Dr. Rick Massengale, Northark’s president told board members during the September meeting.
The increase is due to a growing number of high school students who are taking college classes while still in school (known as concurrent enrollment). This fall concurrent enrollment rose by 24% over last year.
Concurrent students comprise 42.5% of the Northark’s entire student body. Northark now offers classes in the towns of Berryville, Omaha, Valley Springs, Harrison, Flippin, Jasper, Clinton, Leslie, Huntsville and at Baptist Prep in Little Rock.
In other news, Vice President of Finance and Administration Richard Stipe reported the site work on the Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Innovation (CRMI) has moved into the final stage of dirt work. Crews have now completed removing rock and are adding dirt in preparation for the start of the building construction. Next steps include digging water and sewer lines.
Once completed, the 19,000-square-foot CRMI will house the Automation and Systems Integration, Electronics Technology, Manufacturing Technology, General Technology and Workforce Technology programs in addition to non-credit offerings in workforce development, robotics, and business and industry training. Project completion is estimated to occur in July 2025.