About Us

Mission Statement

The mission of Southeast Arkansas College is to provide comprehensive community college education and services, with an emphasis on technical education and workforce development, for the citizens of Jefferson, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Grant, and Lincoln counties.  These educational pro-grams and services include:  technical career education, workforce development, university transfer education, general education, adult education, continuing education, and community services.

Purposes (Primary Goals)

  1. The purposes and specific components associated with the College Mission Statement are:
  2. To provide access to quality community college education at a reasonable cost for all individuals within the service area regardless of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, or handicap.
  3. To provide college-level career courses and programs of up to two years in length to prepare students for mid-level employment as skilled workers, technicians, and paraprofessionals.
  4. To provide a general studies core of university transfer courses and programs of up to two years in length at the lower division undergraduate level for students who wish to transfer to other institutions to pursue baccalaureate degrees.
  5. To provide a program of general education relevant to the socio-economic needs of students and the requirements for success in the educational major.
  6. To provide developmental education courses and programs for students who need to improve basic academic skills to strengthen their potential for success in college.
  7. To provide customized training courses and programs for business, industry and government to assist in updating, upgrading and cross-training their employees.
  8. To provide specialized pre-employment and job training courses and programs to meet the new, expanding or replacement employment needs of service area employers.
  9. To offer adult education courses and programs for students who need to improve their literacy, basic life skills and/or obtain their high school equivalency diploma (GED).
  10. To offer continuing education courses and programs to meet the lifelong learning needs and interests of the service area.
  11. To offer community service courses, programs and activities to enhance the civic and cultural life of the service area.
  12. To advance community college education and services through applied institutional and classroom research.
  13. To provide increased access to advanced higher education by making available the facilities of the college for the teaching of upper division undergraduate and graduate university courses.
  14. To certify the level of educational attainment and program competency achieve-ment of graduates through the awarding of associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.
  15. To serve as a valuable employment resource for area business, industry and government to draw upon for competent middle manpower level employees.
  16. To serve as a valued community leader, partner and team member in the workforce and economic development of the service area.
  17. To serve as a non-partisan catalyst and convenor on issues related to the civic, cultural and societal betterment of the communities within the service area.
  18. To provide a public service by making available the facilities of the college and the talents of its professional staff to support educational, civic, and cultural activities within the community.
  19. To provide student services, programs, and extracurricular activities which will enhance the student's educational experience and success within the college.
  20. To provide administrative and business services which will enhance the student's educational experience and success within the college.
  21. To accomplish each of the above goals in the most efficient and economical manner compatible with quality offerings.

College Values

The College respects the diversity of the student body and recognizes the individual worth, dignity, and potential of each student.  At SEARK College, recognition of the importance and contributions of each faculty member, staff member, and student collectively creates a positive synergistic learning environment.  Faculty, staff, and students have the opportunity to enhance their potential for purposeful, gratifying, and productive lives.  The College affirms the following values and beliefs in a conscious effort to guide the environment of the college for the benefit of the students, employees, and the community.

Commitment to Students - Our priority is to provide the finest instructional resources and support services to enhance the growth and development of students.

Excellence in Education - We are committed to high standards in the college which are demonstrated through quality educational programs and student-centered support services.

Contribution to Community - We offer a wide variety of academic, technical, and community service courses.  We also recognize the importance of enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life for all citizens in our service area through involvements with community programs.

Quality Work Environment  - We recognize the importance of faculty and staff through open, honest communications, appropriate involvement in planning and decision making, encouragement of responsible and creative risk-taking, recognition and reward of exceptional performance, and the provision for professional development.

Institutional Accountability - The College's evaluation process is systematic and ongoing with an emphasis on strategic long-range planning, assessment and improvement programs for continuing institutional effectiveness, and evaluation of administrators, faculty, and staff.

Philosophy of General Education

Students at Southeast Arkansas College will be prepared with the general and technical education needed for successful careers or for transfer to other institutions to pursue baccalaureate degrees.  The College believes that general education is an essential component of all one- and two-year programs offered at Southeast Arkansas College.  It strives to emphasize the integration of academic and technical education in the experiences provided to its students in order to make both general and technical education more relevant.  Specifically, the College strives to instill in its students competence in:

  • Oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills.
  • Understanding of individual differences in people and their interests.
  • Critical thinking, independent learning, and lifelong learning skills.
  • Effective group interaction.
  • Team membership skills.
  • Total quality management skills.
  • Work habits necessary for the real world of work

History of Institution

Southeast Arkansas College was created by Act 1244 of the 78th General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, which was signed into law by the Governor on April 17, 1991.

As contained in Act 1244, "The purpose of this Act is to serve as legislative charter . . . for the establishment, organization and administration of a system of educational institutions throughout the state offering courses of instruction in technical, vocational and adult education programs, industry training and two-year college transfer programs.  The system established under this Act shall provide educational programs which are easily accessible by all segments of the population to benefit from training, retraining or upgrade training for employment and which is highly responsive to individuals needing to achieve basic, general and specialized education to meet the needs of the workplace."

The Act further states that "technical college means an institution of higher education established under this Act dedicated primarily to the educational needs of the service area offering a comprehensive program including, but without limitation, vocational, trade and technical specialty courses and programs, courses in general adult education and courses comparable in content and quality to freshman and sophomore courses which may carry transfer credit to a four-year institution in a chosen course of study."

The above act re-designated and redefined the mission of eleven (11) existing postsecond-ary vocational-technical schools located throughout the State to technical colleges.  Similarly, state authority for these institutions was transferred from the Arkansas Board of Vocational-Technical Education to the Arkansas Board of Higher Education.  The latter serves as the state coordinating agency for all public universities, community colleges and technical colleges in the State of Arkansas.

The predecessor of Southeast Arkansas College was Pines Vocational-Technical School, which began offering postsecondary vocational-technical programs as Arkansas Vocational-Technical School on September 21, 1959.  With the enactment of Act 1244, on July 1, 1991, all land, buildings, equipment, and personnel associated with Pines Vocational-Technical School was transferred to Pines Technical College.  In October of 1991, the Governor appointed the Charter members of the Pines Technical College Board of Trustees.  The College's first president was appointed by the Board of Trustees effective December 1, 1992.  In order to better reflect the College’s service area, the College changed its name from Pines Technical College to Southeast Arkansas Technical College on July 1, 1996. The word “Technical” was removed from the College’s name on July 8, 1998.

Accreditation

Southeast  Arkansas College is accredited by   the   Higher   Learning   Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.    Southeast Arkansas College is also an AQIP participant. AQIP allows participating   institutions to meet accreditation standards by developing and using processes which lead to continuous improvement. www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org  (312) 263-0456 The College is approved as a training site by the Arkansas State Approving Agency for Veterans' Training.  The Nursing Programs are approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing; the LPN/Paramedic to RN Transition program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); the Surgical Technology Program is accredited by  the  Commission on  Accreditation of  Allied Health Education Programs; the Radiologic Technology Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT);  the Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Programs  are approved by the Arkansas Office of Emergency Medical Services; and the EMT Paramedic, Respiratory Care, and the Surgical Technology Programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

Institutional Memberships

Alliance for Community College Innovation, American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers, American Technical Education Association, Arkansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges, Arkansas Association of Women in Two-Year Colleges, Arkansas Council on Student Services, Arkansas College Personnel Association, Arkansas Distance Learning Association, Arkansas Higher Education Council, Arkansas State Board of Nursing, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, ARKLink Library Consortium, Inc., Associated Industries of Arkansas, Association of Community College Trustees, College and University Personnel Association, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions, Greater Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Instructional Telecommunications Council, Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, National Association of College and University Business Officers, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, National Council of Instructional Administrators, National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment, National Council for Occupational Education, National Council for Marketing and Public Relations, National Council on Student Development, National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission, National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, and Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Fast Facts

Southeast Arkansas College provides a comprehensive community college education and services, with an emphasis on technical education and workforce development, for the citizens of Jefferson, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Grant, and Lincoln counties.  These educational programs and services include:  technical career education, workforce development, university transfer education, general education, adult education, continuing education, and community services.

Fall 2011 Enrollment 2,188
Male   32%
Female  68%
Average Age  29
White      42%
African-American 56%
Hispanic or Latino  1.1%
Other       1.1%

Graduates - Graduates employed within six months of graduation or continuing education: 90%

Budget

  • Total Budget :  $11,703,827
  • Percent of unrestricted budget funded by students:  36%

Campus - Centrally located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Tuition and Fees:

  • Tuition: $82 per credit hour
  • Technology Fee: $10 per credit hour

Personnel

  • Full-Time Faculty & Staff:  203            
  • Part-Time Faculty:  69