Our next staff spotlight is a familiar face around the finance office. Meet Brigitte E. Brents, Payroll Officer at UACCM! Brigitte is an alumna of the Business Education program, attending in 1980-81. She has been a staff member at UACCM for over 10 years and always brings a little extra fun and motivation to the office. When asked why students should choose UACCM, Brigitte stressed that you can never lose your education. Her favorite parts of working at UACCM are the positive environment, coworkers, and supportive leadership. Her favorite hobbies include family and travel.

Graduation is a time for pomp and circumstance. A time for students and faculty alike to reflect on a successful year full of challenges and triumphs. A time to recognize resilience and a job well done. The ceremony has passed and the summer has made its way here, but our graduates’ big plans are just beginning. We caught up with UACCM graduates Ethan Kuettle, Shaleah Sandberg, Joey South, Emily Simpson, and Tania Esmeralda Armas to learn more about their UACCM journey and future plans. For some, UACCM is a stepping stone to a four-year university. “UACCM changed my entire perspective on what college can be,” said Ethan Kuettle, General Education graduate. “In high school, I was mortified at the thought of going to college because I thought I was going to be overwhelmed. My time at UACCM taught me how to adapt and overcome any obstacle that stood before me.” Ethan plans to continue his education at UCA in business management. Tania Esmeralda Armas, General Education graduate, will cont...

This featured industry partner serves on our Drafting advisory board! David DeFrancisco of Innovation Industries Inc. is an Application Engineering Manager that helps our program succeed. Learn more about him and his involvement with UACCM below. What are the benefits of partnering with UACCM? Partnering with UACCM allows our company an inside look at the methods, subject matter, and computer software that UACCM employs. It also allows us to talk with current and prospective students guiding them in their chosen career paths. Why should students consider a career in drafting? There is a large demand for drafters today. Everything that is made had to be drawn first. Then, if needed, all the tooling that is required to make that part has to be drawn also. There are many jobs that are unfilled due to the lack of qualified applicants. Graduating with an associate degree with little or no debt and starting a career is a great option. What do you enjoy about your career? For me personally, I...

What is an adjunct faculty member? Put simply, an adjunct faculty member is a part-time instructor at a college or university. Adjunct faculty are typically hired from semester to semester and paid based on the number of courses they instruct. The minimum requirement to become an adjunct at UACCM is having a master’s degree with 18 graduate hours related to the courses you plan to instruct. There are many benefits to being an adjunct instructor; let’s get into them below. Reason 1: Extra income Being an adjunct faculty member provides you an opportunity for an extra stream of income. Adjuncts are paid per credit hour they instruct, so the amount of extra income generated is all up to you.  Reason 2: Flexibility Adjunct faculty have the potential for a lot of flexibility. Because you choose how many courses you instruct, you can have as much responsibility or free time as you prefer. Being an adjunct is not a full-time or long-term commitment. If you have another job or stay home as...

University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton recently received a donation of a robotic cell from Tyson Foods. The cell was previously a training device used at their TMAC (Tyson Manufacturing Automation Center) facility. It has an HMI operator station, dual conveyors, vision system, IRB 360 Flexpicker, and IRB 1200 robots. This new robot cell will benefit students by providing them another opportunity to work with equipment that is used in industry. It will allow students to put cross-curricular skills into action on one piece of machinery. This experience would not be possible without the support and guidance of industry partners such as Tyson Foods. A view of the robot arm through the glass enclosure of the cell. The control panel located outside of the cell. A view inside of the machine from the end of the conveyor belt.

  University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Foundation will host the 16th annual “Links for Learning” golf tournament on Thursday, June 23 at Morrilton Country Club. The three-person scramble will begin with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Proceeds from the tournament support UACCM’s academic programs and services, including scholarships, investment in new teaching tools, and facility upgrades. The $350 registration fee includes a three-person team, two mulligans per player, carts, lunch, and gift bags. Prizes will be awarded to players with the longest drive and closest to the pin. The tournament will also feature a Golf Ball Drop contest with a $1,000 prize going to the winning ball in the hole or closest to the pin. The community can be involved in this event by entering the tournament as players, through sponsorship at various levels, or by donating promotional items or door prizes. To register for the tournament, purchase tickets for the Golf Ball Drop, or become a spon...

We’ve got another awesome alumni feature heading your way! Meet Laura Meek, MS, RDN, LDN. Laura earned her Associate of Science degree from UACCM in 2003. Now, she is a clinical instructor in the Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences at University of Central Arkansas. Learn more about her UACCM experience below. What was your favorite thing about attending UACCM? It was close to home and the instructors were great. How did your experience at UACCM prepare you for your career and life today? I was able to earn a transfer scholarship which allowed me to complete my bachelor’s degree debt free. Why should students choose UACCM? UACCM provides a welcoming, friendly environment with a top of the line education. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself as a student? Keep up the hard work...one day it will pay off! Network and make friends with fellow students; you may work with them again someday.

  We are back with another Faculty Feature! Lana Medlin, science instructor, has been at UACCM for three and a half years now. Learn more about her below. Why do you think students should choose UACCM? Having taught at 4 different schools in 4 different states, I have a basis for comparison. UACCM is one of the most caring. That is, staff, faculty, and administration are focused on providing the best preparation for each student's career pathway.  What is your favorite part of working at UACCM? I love being in the classroom. There is nothing better than seeing students' eyes light up when they understand a concept.  What are your favorite activities or hobbies? I love anything outdoors; gardening, hiking, and fishing. I also enjoy woodworking and playing musical instruments.  Do you have any tips or tricks for UACCM students? Nothing replaces time spent in effective study. Ask your instructor how to find your best study method!