Six University of Arkansas doctoral students participated in the 27th annual conference of Arkansas Community Colleges earlier this month in Hot Springs. The students are enrolled in the adult and lifelong learning program in the College of Education and Health Professions. Two of their faculty members also attended and participated in a panel discussion.

Arkansas Community Colleges was formerly known as the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges. It is a nonprofit association representing all 22 public community colleges in Arkansas. The association facilitates the sharing of ideas, resources and opportunities among its members and advocates on behalf of members' students.

Adult and lifelong learning faculty members Kit Kacirek, associate professor, and Kenda Grover, assistant professor, were on a panel that provided information about graduate education opportunities for those working in the community college environment.

The students:

• Carrol Birth, reading instructor at Phillips County Community College, participated in the ACC Quiz Bowl.
• Collin Callaway, chief operations officer of Arkansas Community Colleges, presented "Decreasing Time to Degree."
• Christopher Dickie, director of employer relations and community outreach for eVersity, presented "Career Engagement Opportunity (CEO Program)."
• Chris Lorch, a member of the instructional leadership team for Ozarka College, attended.
• James Wooden, curriculum coordinator for Crowder College, presented "Reframing CTE Classrooms to Reflect Authentic Learning Environments: Learning Team Method Benefits Individual Student Performance."

The students are in the inaugural group that enrolled in the spring of 2014 in the community college leadership cohort of the program. The program is recruiting students now for the spring 2017 cohort.