Pulaski Technical College
Pulaski Tech (www.pulaskitech.edu)
served 6,128 students, providing them with invaluable assistance
in developing critical job and life competencies, at a cost of just
$210 for the typical course.
And just as importantly, Pulaski Tech has extended its reach beyond
the campus to work directly with the region's employers to ensure
that their employees remain skilled and competitive in the new global
marketplace.
Within the last year, more than 5,100 employees from such organizations
as L'Oreal USA, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad,
Molex and Plastic Ingenuity, Inc. have benefited from customized
training services and acquired new skills that have improved their
productivity and helped the region's economy grow.
A growing campus
The college's growing enrollment, coupled with maximum utilization
of existing space and an obligation to provide quality instruction
in emerging and advanced technological fields, has required that
a substantial building program be undertaken.
Pulaski Tech has developed an ambitious master plan for campus
expansion, which includes construction of a 92,000 square foot campus
center that will house multipurpose classrooms, community meeting
space, lecture halls, a student union, food services, a bookstore
and recreation area. Construction will get under way in spring 2004.
In addition, the college plans to expand its existing library by
12,000 square feet to provide additional space for technology, group
and individual study and collections.
Even with the new building programs, Pulaski Tech's facilities
simply will not accommodate the growing needs of Arkansas business
and industry for well-trained and highly-skilled employees. The
college's enrollment has more than doubled in the past four years,
and projections indicate a potential student population of 10,000
students, as facilities are provided to add new programs and expand
existing offerings.
New programs, services
Arkansas Department of Economic Development surveys have identified
the Òlack of a skilled workforceÓ as the major hindrance
to economic growth and development in the state.
With this in mind, Pulaski Tech has worked with area companies
to develop several new programs that are designed to provide students
with skills for immediate employment or career advancement.
In response to the demand for information technology technicians,
the college has implemented several associate of applied science
degree options in computer information systems, including end-user
support specialist, workstation support specialist, database support
specialist, programming support specialist, network support specialist
and Web site support specialist. The college also has become a regional
training academy for Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in
networking for the Internet.
In all, the college offers more than 40 career-oriented programs.
Other recent additions to the curriculum include associate of applied
science degrees in construction management technology and early
childhood education.
A full-service child development center, Children First, has been
established in partnership with the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare
System's Towbin Healthcare Center on the adjacent Fort Roots campus.
The child development center serves children from birth to 12 years
and provides a model learning environment for students enrolled
in the college's early childhood development program.
In addition to career programs, accreditation with the Higher
Learning Commission has enabled the college to award the associate
of arts and associate of science degrees. More than half of the
college's student population is enrolled in these programs, which
are designed for those planning to transfer to four-year colleges
and universities to pursue bachelor's degrees.
Emphasis on workforce development
The vitality of the economy and the quality of life in central Arkansas
are dependent in large part on the skills of the workforce. As such,
the college has enhanced its commitment to area business and industry
by expanding its Division of Continuing Education and Business Outreach.
Many North Little Rock area companies take advantage of the services
of the Pulaski Tech Business and Industry Center, which is located
on the Aerospace Education Center campus on Roosevelt Road in Little
Rock. The center provides customized training for business and industry,
continuing education programs and community service activities.
The college also operates the Pulaski Tech Aviation Technology
Center at the North Little Rock Airport, the Pulaski Tech Maumelle
Education Center on the campus of the Academics Plus Charter School,
the Pulaski Tech Saline County Adult Education Center in Benton
and the Pulaski Tech Saline County Career Center at Bauxite.
Pulaski Tech has become the state's leading comprehensive community/
technical college, recognized for excellence in workforce education,
and will continue to be a major player in addressing community needs
in central Arkansas.
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