UACCB prioritizes student success, earning national recognition and expanding programs

At the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB), improving lives isn’t just a mission statement — it’s the heart of everything the college does. From faculty to staff, the entire campus community is committed to helping students achieve long-term success, and the outcomes prove that it’s working.

According to Dr. Zach Perrine, Provost at UACCB, students who complete at least 24 credit hours at the college are highly likely to see strong career outcomes.

“On average, if a student takes at least 24 hours of college credit at UACCB, you’ve got a 77% likelihood of having a job a year after graduation,” Perrine said. “Those students who complete their associate degree—over 80% of them are going to be employed after their first year, which is incredible. Some students are also moving on to earn their bachelor’s degrees. Not every graduate immediately enters the workforce, but it’s great to see students gaining employable skills and accessing good jobs right after their time at the college.”

UACCB leads the state’s community colleges in both graduation and retention rates. The college’s commitment to support-driven service and high-quality education has earned national recognition—UACCB was named one of the top 200 community colleges in the country, making it eligible for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

“The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is a $1 million award that goes to the best community college,” explained Dr. Brian Shonk, Chancellor of UACCB. “We made the first cut—that’s 200. Next they narrow it to 25, then 10, and finally select the top community college in the United States…UACCB has earned a place on this list three of the last four cycles.”

Participation in the Aspen Prize not only recognizes UACCB’s achievements but also connects the college with best practices from top-performing institutions nationwide.

“They publish what they found and what those schools did so well to improve their success numbers,” Shonk said. “We’ve been studying that for over a decade and implementing those practices.”

UACCB continues to innovate with a focus on debt-free degrees, clear pathways to graduation, and flexible scheduling. The college’s Welcome Center provides a centralized location for support—from admissions to advising to graduation—and new scheduling options like EveningU allow working adults to earn college credit at night, making higher education more accessible.

Expanding Programs to Meet Community Needs

UACCB is also growing its academic offerings to better serve both students and the region’s workforce. The college’s highly competitive nursing program is expanding thanks to a recent state grant. Traditionally, nursing cohorts began in August and completed two years later in December. With the addition of a new January-start cohort, UACCB will now graduate nursing students twice a year, a development that has been welcomed by local hospitals and healthcare providers who are eager for more qualified professionals.

Another major project underway is the development of the Gateway Center, located across from the city soccer fields. This new facility will support the launch of the Farm and Ranch Management (FARM) program.

Construction is nearing completion, with the building expected to be finished in mid-January. Enrollment for the program’s first cohort will begin soon, with classes starting in August of next year.

UACCB remains committed to providing accessible, high-quality pathways that lead students to careers, further education, and lifelong success.

UACCB is here to help—apply today at uaccb.edu.

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UACCB Chancellor Dr. Brian Shonk and Provost Zach Perrine visited with White River Now’s Chad Whiteaker on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ about the school’s eligibility for Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Listen below.

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