U of A Partners in State Training Project for Arkansans Hit Financially by COVID

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PWD and ADWS Reimagine Grant

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas will partner with state government, Shorter College and a private company to identify Arkansans hit hardest by the economic impact of COVID-19 and to provide job training and opportunities.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $13,579,455.83 grant to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board and the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services to fund the Reimagine Arkansas Workforce Project, a state-wide coordinated workforce development effort. Project partners include state agencies, the U of A Global Campus, Shorter College and iDatafy LLC.

The workforce project will pay tuition and fees for identified Arkansans to enroll in existing and new programs at the U of A and Shorter College. Funding is intended to benefit Arkansans who would find cost a barrier due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited to partner with the U of A Global Campus, Shorter College and iDatafy LLC to create, expand and increase access to short-term training opportunities in Arkansas,” said Eduardo Lemm, state project director for Reimagine Arkansas Workforce Project.

The role of the U of A Global Campus will be to help assess statewide skill gaps for in-demand occupations, develop online training programs and deliver training designed to help Arkansans return to or thrive in the pandemic-era workplace.

“The U of A is committed to serving the educational needs of Arkansans, and that includes those who need workforce development to thrive during this public health crisis,” said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and head of the Global Campus.

The federal grant will be funded through the Education Stabilization Fund, which is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act approved in March 2020. The CARES Act was designed to provide fast and direct economic assistance for American workers and families and small businesses, preserving jobs for American industries.

Project partners will recruit Arkansans who are unemployed, underemployed, underrepresented, incarcerated, paroled, on probation or in rural areas to enroll in new or existing short-term education and training programs. iDatafy will develop certified SmartResumes for training participants, making it easy for employers to search for talent and to confirm applicants’ training history.

Arkansas was one of only eight states in the nation to be awarded a 2020 Education Stabilization Fund: Reimagine Workforce Preparation grant.

U OF A CONTRIBUTION

The Division of Workforce Services will work with the Global Campus to develop and deliver short-term online training programs designed for quick entry into high-demand occupations, according to Tara Dryer, senior managing director at the Global Campus.

The university will work with the state and industries to identify skills gaps, which will determine the curriculum for the training programs.

“The Global Campus has worked with the state before on other workforce projects, and our resources stand ready to support the Reimagine Arkansas Workforce Project,” Dryer said. “We are eager to help Arkansans get the training they need to thrive economically during and after the pandemic.”

As a grant sub-awardee, the Global Campus will receive $10,088,551 to be managed by Dryer, who is a “principal investigator” with the authority and responsibility to direct a grant project.

The Global Campus provides workforce development expertise, instructional design services, technology services, media production services, and assistance with marketing, recruiting and strategic academic development. U of A training programs and customized training options are showcased on the U of A Professional and Workforce Development website.

The Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District partnered with the Global Campus earlier this year. Soon after the pandemic hit Arkansas in the spring, Workforce Services collaborated with the Global Campus on a project to provide no-cost online training for qualified dislocated workers. Workforce Services used their network of employers to identify businesses that had recent layoffs and provided information on how to qualify for no-cost training through the Global Campus.

SHORTER COLLEGE

Shorter College, located in North Little Rock, will be awarded $3,164,793 through the Reimagine Arkansas Workforce Project. It is a private, faith-based, two-year liberal arts college and one of the nation’s 110 historically Black colleges and universities. The college, which had an enrollment of 220 in spring 2020, will provide new and existing educational opportunities and training through its partnership with the Division of Workforce Services.

Historically, Shorter College is recognized for its service to underserved, low-income students. The college also serves people in the penal system and the most vulnerable in society.

The Arkansas COVID-19 Economic Recovery Project will help connect Arkansans with the college’s Entrepreneurial Studies Program and other training opportunities. The diverse offerings will ensure that participants are equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge base to enter the current workforce. The Entrepreneurial Studies Program provides critical education and training to launch startups and boost entrepreneurial prospects in Arkansas.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.