Registration is open until January 9 for spring and summer semesters at North Arkansas Community College in Harrison, but there’s no need to travel that far. The college’s Carroll County Center in Berryville offers access to all the school’s academic programs, as well as services and classes tailored to our community.
North Arkansas College is a public community college serving the citizens of Boone, Carroll, Marion, Searcy, Newton and Madison counties. Popularly referred to as Northark, the college offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of General Studies and Associate of Applied Science degrees, as well as Technical Certificates and Certificates of Proficiency in many areas of study.
The Carroll County Center was opened in 2008, and in 2018 began expanding its footprint at Bobcat Plaza with additional programs and services for residents of Carroll County. In-person and online classes include partnerships with Eureka Springs High School and Eureka Springs School of the Arts, among others, along with traditional classes and electives.
One can earn a certificate, obtain a GED, brush up a skill, or even participate in one of the special interest (and sometimes free) classes such as Beginning Painting, Basic Computer, Understanding Medicare, Citizenship or Financial Planning.
Services at the Center include placement testing, concurrent credit classes, adult education programs and English as a second language classes – and there’s a bilingual staff to help students and parents.
Concurrent credit is a way for high school students to earn both college credit and high school credit simultaneously. There are options for adult students as well.
Students can earn degrees and certificates in 14 different fields. Popular programs include: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Health Professions and Related Programs; and Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services.
Academic programs offered at the Carroll County Center through face-to-face, distance learning or online include: Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science in Accounting, Associate of Science in Business, Certificate of General Studies, Nursing Assistant, Administrative Medical Assistant, Accounting Technical Certificate and Information Technologies Technical Certificate.
Its Workforce and Economic Development Department serves business communities, employers, workers and job seekers by delivering high-quality, relevant, and competitive training.
Spring courses run the gamut from Switching, Routing, & Wireless and Firewall Fundamentals to American National Government, Art Appreciation and Intro to Criminal Justice, along with fundamental English and Math.
The Center provides tutoring, advising, adult education, Accuplacer testing, English as a Second Language classes, access to a computer lab and an Educational Opportunity Center. Students can also get help with financial aid, check out hot spots for internet at home, and get help applying for scholarships.
If you’re a parent, the Career Pathways program can help you get a GED, go to college, or get career training such as a becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. The program is designed to help overcome barriers that may have kept you from getting the training and education you need, and offers tuition assistance, childcare, transportation, career advice and job search assistance.
Career Pathways will help pay for books, provide academic and personal advising, remediation in preparation for college entrance exams, tutoring, access to a computer lab, referrals to outside assistance agencies and coordination with other North Arkansas College assistance programs.
The North Arkansas Partnership for Health Education provides education services and programs to healthcare providers, healthcare professionals and citizens of northern Arkansas. The not-for-profit partnership between North Arkansas College and North Arkansas Regional Medical Center is the first cooperative effort of its type in Arkansas.
“We are growing our CNA program with the high schools,” Carroll County Center Operations Coordinator Linda Tamayo said. “There are both high school and adult three-week courses and Medical Assistance classes at the Center. We offer a lot for a small campus!”
For a complete list of spring/summer courses, go to northark.edu online and click on “Locations & Directions” at the bottom of the page and choose Carroll County Center. For more information or to register, contact Linda Tamayo at (870) 391-3217 or linda.tamayo@northark.edu. Or register on the Northark website.