MORRILTON, AR - This year marks three major milestones for the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton: 50 years since its establishment by the Arkansas General Assembly as the state’s 2nd vocational-technical school; 20 years as a two-year college; and 10 years as a member of the University of Arkansas System. Several unwavering themes flow throughout the past 50 years: a devoted faculty and staff; ambitious students from all walks of life, and a commitment to excellence in learning and personal enrichment.

“Throughout the past five decades, UACCM has kept its focus on its students, the community, and the changing needs of the region. The college has a diverse array of programs to accommodate students with a variety of goals. Some students want to complete a short-term career training program and quickly enter the workforce armed with solid technical skills, while others want to build a strong academic foundation by earning the first two years of their bachelor’s degree in a small, comfortable campus setting,” said Mary Clark, Director of Public Relations and Marketing for the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

From an initial enrollment of 278 students and 13 programs in 1963 to the current almost 2500 credit students exploring 43 plan of study options, UACCM contributes significantly to the area’s job creation and economic development. As a two-year community college, UACCM is able to serve the unique needs of the population through credit and non-credit programs, adult education, and workforce training. Adult education and GED classes are taught at the college’s off-campus Community Education Center, and the workforce training and business outreach programs are conducted at the UACCM Leadership Development Institute in downtown Morrilton.

Clark adds, “One of the great strengths of a community college is its ...