Nashville Rotary Club Meeting on Wednesday 05/22
Special guests of the Nashville Rotary Club today were Erika Buenrrostro, Dustin Roberts, and Jhamilex Hernandez representing the UA Cossatot Rotaract Club.
Arkansas Archeological Survey/Society Summer Training Dig
Have you ever wanted to learn about archeological science? If you’re in high school and can get to UA Cossatot from Monday, June 17 to Friday, June 22, you’re in luck! You can spend the week with archeologists learning about what they do! Lunch is provided! Registration is due May 29 so hurry and email Mel at mzabeck@uark.edu for more details! And listen for our interview with Melissa Zabecki of the Arkansas Archeological Society on the Thursday Ed-ition of the Morning Show with Loren tomorrow at 8:30.
Archeological Science Program, Summer 2019, DeQueen, AR Statement of Educational Goals of the Project We hope to recruit up to 15 local high school students to participate in an Archeological Science Program in conjunction with the Arkansas Archeological Society/Survey Training Program from June 17 to June 21, 2019 in DeQueen, Arkansas. The goals for this project would be to teach the students laboratory methods and get them excited about the different sciences that contribute to archeology, which actually gives us the story of the past, rather than the process of excavation, which merely produces the objects from which the data and stories come. Learning objectives include the following: During this program, students will: 1) recognize that there is more to archeology than excavation. 2) identify different sciences that figure into archeological analysis (anthropology, sociology, biology, chemistry, dendrochronology, paleoethnobotany, etc.) 3) demonstrate ways we learn about the past (experimental archeology) 4) gain an appreciation for the rich, yet everyday history of the original inhabitants of the region of what is now southwest Arkansas. Target Audience Students from De Queen High School, Cossatot River Consolidated Schools, Nashville High School, Ashdown High School, Mena High School, and any other student within driving distance of UA Cossatot are eligible. Students and guardians must fill out the last two pages of this document and return them to Mel Zabecki by June 1 to be accepted to the program. Detailed Explanation of Project Plan On Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, 2019, students will report at 8am to our Headquarters at UA Cossatot (building to be determined) and will leave for the day at 3pm. Students will be provided lunch but in the case of extreme dietary needs, students are encouraged to bring their own lunch. In addition to many hands-on demonstrations, the students will create a mini-project to complete over two days in the archeological lab towards the end of the week.
Below is a draft schedule, specific details are subject to change. Monday, June 17, Day 1 -Pre-assessment quiz to see what the students know about archeology at the start. -Lesson on introduction to archeology, what archeologists do, where they work, and what is included in archeological investigation from the field to the lab. -Introduction to the concepts of culture, context, chronology, and seriation. Hands-on and teamwork activities will enforce these concepts. Tuesday, June 18, Day 2 -Exploration of different sciences with introductions to osteology using faunal remains, tempering techniques in pottery to demonstrate chemistry studies, tree-ring date practice for dendrochronology, and seed identification with discussion of paleoethnobotany. Wednesday, June 19, Day 3 -Field trip out to site(s) where field work is occurring (weather permitting) Thursday, June 20, Day 4 -First lab day, students will spend the day learning about lab methods (from cleaning all the way through to curation) and cleaning any artifacts learning to sort and analyze potsherds for thickness and reconstruction, temper, and decoration. Friday, June 21, Day 5 -Second lab day, students will either sort what they washed on day 4 or continue analyzing potsherds. -Completion of mini-project. -Post-assessment quiz. Funding Funding has been secured through a Bill Jordan Public Education Grant from the Arkansas Archeological Society. Students’ 1-year Society membership, program registration, and lunch and snacks will all be covered for up to 15 students.
For additional information or questions, please contact Mel Zabecki mzabeck@uark.edu, 479-236-3938
Arkansas Archeological Survey/Society Summer Training Dig
2019 Archeological Science Program
Please send this information and the NOTARIZED sponsorship agreement form (attached) appointing Melissa Zabecki as the adult sponsor to:
Dr. Mel Zabecki
Arkansas Archeological Survey
2475 North Hatch Ave.
Fayetteville, AR 72704
Name:
School:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Tshirt size:
Emergency contact person and phone number:
Any food allergies/pertinent medical info:
OTA Program Receives Accreditation for Ten Years
Pictured: OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger and OTA Fieldwork Coordinator, Sharon Pool
UA Cossatot's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program has been awarded a 10-year reaccreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). ACOTE is the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education in the United States. Being accredited by (ACOTE) ensures the quality of UA Cossatot's OTA program and allows OTA students to sit for their required national board exams.
In February of this year, ACOTE completed a 3 day on-site visit on UA Cossatot's Ashdown campus. The council reviewed the report of the on-site evaluation and self-study in April and found the program to be compliant in all educational standards. ACOTE voted to grant a status of accreditation for a period of ten years, which is the highest amount a program can receive. The 10-year award reflects the program’s compliance with all reaccreditation criteria and is a sign that the program has demonstrated exceptional educational quality. UA Cossatot's OTA program will not require a new on-site evaluation until the 2028-2029 academic year.
“We are gratified that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education felt UA Cossatot’s OTA Program meets their highest standard for educational excellence,” said Tamla Heminger, OTR, MEd, UA Cossatot’s OTA Program Director.” Heminger added, “I think this also says something about the high quality of the college in which the program resides. Many individuals work together to ensure the success of our programs and students.”
UA Cossatot's OTA program began in 2012, with the first OTA class graduating in 2013. Students can apply to join the OTA program starting June 15. Applications are collected until the application deadline
(March 1, 2020). The program is an eighteen-month program and includes pre-requisite courses prior to application to the program. Enrollment in the OTA program is limited to fifteen students each year. Applicants are ranked according to their GPA, pre-entrance exam scores, observation reports, and letters of recommendation.
To learn more about UA Cossatot's OTA program, please e-mail the OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger at theminger@cccua.edu or OTA Program Fieldwork Coordinator, Sharon Pool at spool@cccua.edu.
DE QUEEN HOSPITAL UPDATE 05/22/19
Sevier County Judge Greg Ray and Sevier County RDA Chair Dr. Steve Cole met last Friday in Little Rock with the county's health care legal team to discuss next steps in building the new hospital in De Queen.
During the meeting, the group focused on completing the feasibility study for the new hospital by June 10th. That is the first step to be completed as this will show all of the county's stakeholders what the costs will look like to build and operate the new hospital. This step will also show the approximate cost of the bond issue that voters will need to approve to move forward with the project.
According to Dr. Cole, "The meeting at the Friday firm was extremely important as it now charts a clear course of action that will be based on sound financial data." Also in the meeting, Judge Ray and Dr. Cole received good news on the possiblity of a more friendly time frame in which to ask for two ballot questions to construct a new hospital for Sevier County. Judge Ray added, "Based on our meeting on Friday we, along with members of the Quorum Court can now see that our path to a new hospital can happen a little sooner than we originally thought, but we and county and RDA officials still have a lot of decisions to make...and we will base those on sound financial data and the advice of our legal team".
In the meantime, local officials are still working with the current receiver of the hospital Rachel Matheson to properly close the old De Queen Medical Center. "When hospitals close there are many protocols that people just never think to do, and we are all involved in making sure these things happen as it will impact the future of the new hospital, so we want to make sure we get that part right", according to Cole. While there are no set dates for any of these processes, there is progress being made each day towards having a new hospital in De Queen. "We know we must have a hospital in Sevier County and we are focused on that each day", added Judge Ray.
OTA Students Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month
(from left to right) Tarnesa Ramarine, Anna Gatliff, John Simmons, Denby Jester, and Loren Gills
April is Occupational Therapy Month, and on April 26, OTA students at the Ashdown campus celebrated the work OTA’s and OT’s do for people of all ages. Students in UA Cossatot’s OTA program made a special lunch to mark the occasion.
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities. OTA’s and OT’s help people of all ages by promoting health, preventing injuries, and helping people adjust to disabilities and illnesses.
For two hundred years occupational therapy has been an official profession. In early April, UA Cossatot OTA instructors took eight OTA students to New Orleans, Louisiana for the national American Occupational Therapy Conference. At the conference, students were given a chance to attend workshops, seminars, educational sessions, and fun activities related to occupational therapy.
In April, OTA students also participated in a give back activity. The students created non-slip decorated socks. These socks were then given to residents at Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Ashdown, Arkansas. The students also participated in Sevier County and Little River County health fairs where they presented information on occupational therapy and safety in the home to prevent health risks.
OTA students at UA Cossatot participate in many fundraisers and projects to raise money for educational and community service activities. They also raise money to offset costs for a review course to prepare for their national board exam.
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s OTA program or ways you can support the program, please e-mail OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger at theminger@cccua.edu.
(from left to right) Tarnesa Ramarine, Anna Gatliff, John Simmons, Denby Jester, and Loren Gills
Howard Memorial Health Fair June 15th
Dr Oge Family Medical Clinic
Ribbon cutting as we welcome Dr. Oge Family Medical Clinic to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.
Sevier County Coalition To Host Lunch-and-Learn Events
The Sevier County Coalition’s Live Well Sevier County Committee has announced they will be hosting monthly Lunch-and-Learn events in conjunction with University of Arkansas Cossatot. The Coalition is comprised of businesses and local agencies represented by employees who work together to improve the overall quality of life for county residents through the use of local resources.
Co-chair of the Live Well Sevier County Committee, Cheryl Byrd, a Community Health Nurse Specialist with the Arkansas Department of Health, says “The public will be given opportunities to bring their lunch and learn about many aspects of wellness, including but not limited to physical, mental and financial wellness.” Kay Trotta, committee co-chair and LPN Instructor at UA Cossatot added, “The Lunch-and-Learn events are going to be a great resource for both professional development and personal enrichment.”
The first of the events is a free presentation, How Failing Made Us Successful: Tips and Tricks to Cope with the Rising Healthcare Costs, that will be presented on Thursday, June 20th at UA Cossatot’s De Queen Campus. The presentation will begin at 12:00 noon in the Weyerhaeuser room, located in the Skilled Trades Building, and will conclude at 12:40 p.m.
Presenter Jayme Mayo, Physician Assistant, is the in-house medical provider and wellness director at Nabholz Construction, where she has successfully led efforts over the past 12 years. Due to the Nabholz innovation, Jayme was featured in HBO’s documentary on obesity titled “Weight of the Nation” and with the CDC as a National Healthy Worksite Program Case Study and follow up video. Jayme has consulted with the Department of Defense, Former President Bill Clinton’s “Health Initiative” and the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute along with numerous businesses across the country to help implement successful worksite wellness programs. Her most recent was Nabholz being named #25 in the 101 Healthiest Employers in the Country. She speaks regularly at regional, national and international conferences sharing the many successes of her program. Jayme is an 8-time triathlon and ultra-marathon finisher.
Mayo says, “As companies look for new and innovative ways to control the rising cost of healthcare, implementing a worksite wellness program is considered one strategy. In recent times, however, wellness programs have garnered a reputation of being both costly and ineffective. That theory has been put to rest. I look forward to sharing strategies to help employers, employees and their families cope with the rapidly increasing costs of medical care and health insurance.”
“I am excited that we can share this opportunity here in Sevier County, says Sarah Powell, committee co-chair and Rural Health Specialist with the Arkansas Department of Health. I’ve seen Mrs. Mayo speak.
She’s entertaining, inspirational and committed to helping people transform their lives through awareness, education, and motivation. This event is going to be relevant to both businesses wanting to develop or enhance their workplace wellness program and individuals seeking a healthier lifestyle,” says Powell.
For more on Lunch-and-Learn programs, visit the Sevier County Coalition website at www.seviercountycoalition.com or call UA Cossatot’s Continuing Education Services at (870) 584-4471.
Best Wishes from the Community and Volunteers for Layla and Family
You know you live in a great town when your neighbor makes a call and the yard fills up with volunteers! Thank you De Queen for helping a family load their belongings so they can move and receive the specialized treatment their daughter needs. Get well Layla, our hearts and our prayers are with you and your family.
Country Girls Cafe Trivia Question for Free Tickets on Ed 88 Facebook
Hey y'all! Exile is coming to the UA Cossatot Amphitheater in De Queen this Saturday night and Country Girls Cafe has some tickets to give away! Be the first person to post the correct answer to our question today and you will receive a pair of free tix! And our question is....Exile charted ten #1 singles on the country charts from 1983-1987. But their first big hit was a number one pop song for four weeks in the fall of 1978. What was the title of Exile's first big hit?
De Queen Elementary School Annual Spelling Bee Tuesday, May 21st (Live Video Stream)
Today at 1:30, De Queen Elementary School will have their annual spelling bee. Students from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades will be competing and Ed 88 will live stream the competition form the De Queen High School Auditorium on this Facebook page and on our web page ed88radio.com
Family Movie Nights at Herman Dierks Park in De Queen
Ashdown High School Senior Adaysia Thompson
Ashdown High School Senior Adaysia Thompson (center) is the recipient of the Sandra Calloway Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the Twin City Black History Association. Adaysia will be attending Henderson State University in the fall.
Congratulations to Ashdown 10th grade students
Lanyce Hemphill, Cole Sallade, Blair Gentry, Jacy Wake, Mekyia Marks. Missing: Whitlee Bearden
Back: Semaj Banks, Alex Hamby, Will Ford, Brayden Porter
Front: Lyndon Youngblood Rhys Parker, Anna Moss
Missing: Joshua Linnett and Cade Cobb
Front: Lee Isham, Liza Embry, Rayney Smith, Jayda Bryan, Chelbi Gathright, Chris Markle, Corbin Crownover
Back: Tristen McCandless, Dimiya Johnson, Kain McWhorter, Christian Reed, Kayla Imler
Congratulations to the Ashdown Spring semester’s 28 10th grade students that successfully demonstrated proficiency in personal finance by achieving a passing score on the nationally standardized Wise! Financial Literacy Certification test in Mrs. Tipton’s Financial Literacy Class. Subjects mastered include Money, Budgeting, The Cost of Money, Banking, Credit, Insurance, Investing, Retirement Planning, and Financial Planning and Management.
The W!se Financial Literacy Program is recognized by many states’ departments of education including Arkansas and has earned Wise numerous awards, including the U.S. Treasury Department’s John H. Sherman Award for Excellence in Financial Education.
The hallmark program feature is the W!se Certified Financially Literate™ (CFL™) credential awarded to students who pass the Test. The credential demonstrates to colleges and employers that students have the knowledge and skills to be financially savvy.
To become a Certified W!SE Instructor, you must pass a Certification Test for personal finance instructors to earn a Certification in Personal Finance.
This year 62 10th grade students passed the Certification Exam in the Fall and Spring Combined.
WEEKLY UPDATE FROM STATE REP DEANN VAUGHT:
In Arkansas, 41% of the population live in rural counties. In contrast, only 14% of the United States population as a whole live in nonmetropolitan counties. Our state is a very rural one, so when we work to expand our economy we must always recognize the challenges that our rural communities face.
That is why many of us and many of your city and county leaders gathered at the Arkansas Rural Development Conference this week.
This conference is organized by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and is designed for anyone interested in improving the quality of life in Arkansas’ rural communities.
The objective of the annual event is to provide participants with the opportunity to gain a working knowledge about a variety of programs and services that are available to assist communities and their leaders with development, planning and revitalization efforts.
The House and Senate Committees for Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development convened at the conference this week to hear updates on the Big River Steel plant in Osceola and CZ-USA, a firearms manufacturer which recently chose Little Rock as its headquarters.
The House and Senate Committees on City, County, and Local Affairs also convened at the conference. Those committees were given a review of the programs and grants offered by the AEDC Division of Rural Services.
At the conference, Gov. Asa Hutchinson presented grants totaling $586,633.14 to 49 cities and counties throughout Arkansas. Rural Services grants fall into one of three programs: the Rural Community Grant Program, the County Fair Building Grant Program, and the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Grant Program. All require a 50 percent matching grant to be eligible for the programs.
The conference also presented information from several women and minority business owners who have benefitted from the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division. This division promotes the growth of minority and women-owned businesses by providing them with real-world technical and professional assistance, certification, networking, capital and contracting opportunities while utilizing AEDC partners in state and federal government, higher education, lending institutions, and the private sector.
Only about 25 percent of small businesses in the state are owned by women, while the number of minority-owned businesses is even lower at around 14.7 percent.
Workforce development is another focus of the conference. AEDC has the ability to assist new and existing industry with the growth of their workforce through training programs.One such program is the Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). The CRD is a portable credential that confirms to employers that an individual possesses basic workplace skills in reading for information, applied mathematics, and locating information. To date, the Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate program has qualified more than 59,000 high-skilled positions.
Rural communities are important to all of us as they are a primary source for food, energy, clean drinking water and accessible outdoor recreation. You can find out more on how we invest in these communities by visitingwww.arkansasedc.com
Summer Courses are Available at UA Cossatot
The spring 2019 semester at UA Cossatot has now closed, and summer classes are set to begin on June 3, 2019. UA Cossatot has many courses that are available for traditional and nontraditional students seeking to start, continue, or finish their education.
UA Cossatot’s summer classes can be taken in-class, online, during the day, during the evening, and at any of the four UA Cossatot campus locations to help accommodate students who may have demanding schedules or live and work in certain areas. The college also offers AV classes in which class can be taught at Ashdown, Nashville, and De Queen through an AV room at the same time with the same instructor. This type of teaching can help students save money and it makes classes more convenient and available.
UA Cossatot has four options for taking classes this summer. Students can choose to take 1) a 4-week course starting on June 3, 2) a 6-week class beginning on June 3, 3) a full 8-week summer term class beginning on June 3, or 4) a 4-week summer class starting on July 1. Classes beginning in June start on June 3 and classes beginning in July start on July 1. June 3 is the last day to register for courses starting on June 3, and June 28 is the last day to register for classes that begin on July 1.
The college will be offering business, history, math, English, Spanish, medical, criminal justice, education, management, physical education, and psychology classes this summer to name a few. Summer registration is now open and tuition at UA Cossatot this summer is $72 per hour.
Ashley Dougherty, Lynze Greathouse, and Mary Collom are three featured UA Cossatot instructors who will be teaching online classes this summer. Dougherty will be teaching Small Business Management,
Greathouse will be teaching College Algebra and Survey of Calculus, and Collom will be teaching Comp 1 and Comp 2.
Math instructor, Lynze Greathouse said, “Summer courses at UA Cossatot are a great opportunity for recent high school graduates, university students who are home for the summer, or anyone looking to pursue higher education. Our faculty are highly qualified and provide the same quality education that you would receive at a large university, but with smaller class sizes and more affordable costs.”
Fifty-one percent of UA Cossatot courses use open educational resources (OER) to teach, which means no cost for materials. The college is a member of the Open Textbook Network and strives to make classes more affordable to students. Some classes require textbooks, but UA Cossatot students only pay $30 per course for rentals. The college’s Educational Resource Center (ERC) handles all textbook and OER information. Students can check whether their class uses OER or requires a textbook at the ERC website www.youseemore.com/cccua.
To register for summer classes, please contact Student Services at 800-844-4471, or come by and visit with them. Walk-Ins are always welcome. UA Cossatot campus hours will be open this summer from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 7:30 AM to 11:30 PM on Friday.
UA Cossatot DACA Students Can Now Receive In-State Tuition
On April 10, 2019, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed two bills in support of DACA immigrants. House Bill 1552 grants nursing licenses to DACA students and House Bill 1684 grants in-state college tuition to those with DACA and other immigrant visas. This is a state law that will become effective starting on July 1, 2019.
These law changes will give DACA students the chance to receive a more affordable education, and help fill job demand throughout Arkansas.
Under ACT 844 of the 2019 Arkansas General Assembly, a student may be classified in-state for purposes of tuition and fees if the student satisfies one of the following requirements:
(a) The student personally holds or is the child of a person who holds a Federal Form I-766 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-issued Employment Authorization Document, known popularly as a work permit;
(b) The student has verified that he or she is a resident legally present in Arkansas and has immigrated from the Republic of the Marshall Islands; or
(c)(i) The student's request for an exemption under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has been approved by the United States Department of Homeland Security. (ii) The student's exemption shall not be expired, or shall have been renewed.
In addition, the student must satisfy one (1) of the following requirements:
(a) Resided in this state for at least three (3) years at the time the student applies for admission to a state-supported institution of higher education; and
(b) Either: (i) Graduated from a public or private high school in this state; or (ii) Received a high school equivalency diploma in this state.
Summer and fall enrollment at UA Cossatot is now available. In-state tuition at UA Cossatot costs $85.00 per credit hour, and if you live in UA Cossatot’s school district, which is Sevier, Howard, and Little River County, tuition cost per hour is $72.00. These prices for tuition are available for Arkansas residents and will be equally accessible for DACA students starting July 1, 2019.
UA Cossatot’s Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole said, “We have been working on this tuition situation for almost ten years. Being the only Hispanic Serving Institution in Arkansas meant that a higher percentage of our students were negatively affected by high tuition rates. The state now allowing DACA students to pay in state tuition is a game changer for many families in our service area. I am especially proud that UA Cossatot students were the ones testifying for this change at the Capitol this year.”
Zulually Guerrero Mejia is a UA Cossatot alumni and has experienced difficulty in becoming a nurse in Arkansas. She was able to take nursing courses, but since she is a DACA student and not an Arkansas resident, she was unable to become a licensed nurse in the state.
Mejia was inspired to pursue a career in the medical field after spending much of her young life in and out of Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She shared her story at the state capital along with other DACA students, and said that the bill passing would allow her to work doing what she wants to do in the state she has always called home. With her testimony and cause to make a difference, and with the help of others in similar situations, she helped get this bill passed. Along with this issue, the dilemma of not being able to pay in-state tuition was also changed and signed by the governor on the same day.
UA Cossatot’s Student Success Center Coordinator, Erika Buenrrostro said, “Zulually is an exemplary leader and an outstanding student. What impresses me the most about her is her willingness to help those who are following in her footsteps. Her story helped change the history of Dreamers in Arkansas, and her courage to help others truly amazes me! She will be remembered always.”
Last year, UA Cossatot joined the Holistic Student Support Institute. The institute’s goal is to support every student in achieving their academic goals by overcoming educational barriers. Many students face obstacles that prevent them from graduating. To help students reach their career goals, UA Cossatot works with each student to assist them with a personal plan and strategy to achieve their desired degree or certificate.
For first-time students who would like to enroll in classes at UA Cossatot for the summer or fall, please contact Student Services at 800-844-4471, and walk-ins are always welcome.
To learn more about the Center for Student Success and how UA Cossatot can help students overcome academic barriers and basic needs while going to college, please e-mail Erika Buenrrostro at ebuenrrostro@cccua.edu.
De Queen Police Department
National Enforcement Mobilization Alert. The click it or ticket national seat belt enforcement mobilization is May 20th - June 2, 2019. In 2017 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 14,995 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts. Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save your life in a crash. Yet many still don't buckle up. Worse still, not wearing a seat belt is a habit that will pass on to impressionable youth, who in turn will think it's safe not to buckle up. The Click It or Ticket campaign focuses on safety education, strong laws and law enforcement officers saving lives.
Deadline to Apply for PTA Program
The deadline to apply for this year’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program at UA Cossatot is May 30, 2019. As UA Cossatot’s inaugural class of physical therapist assistant students plan to graduate this August, the college is currently accepting applications for the next cohort of the PTA program which will matriculate in August. Students who are interested in applying for the program can submit applications beginning December 1 of every year, with the deadline to apply being May 30. The PTA program takes one year to complete and is limited to sixteen students.
Before one can apply, students must take the required PTA pre-requisites. PTA pre-requisites are listed on the UA Cossatot PTA website and consist of twenty-nine credit hours. All pre-requisite course work must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for A&P I and A&P II.
The admissions procedure for the PTA Program is based on a point system. Those with a high percentage on the point system will be selected for an interview. Following the interview process, the top 16 students will be accepted into the PTA Program and begin PTA coursework in the fall.
The PTA Program faculty at UA Cossatot provides multiple avenues for learning including interactive lecture, hands-on skills practice, and rotation through clinical affiliations. UA Cossatot PTA student and President of the Student Physical Therapist Assistant Club, Jeanne Spain said, “I feel our instructors have been great at adapting to each of our individual learning styles. I tend to be a very hands-on learner, while some of my peers are more auditory and visual learners. It has been very beneficial to have them take note and adapt their teaching to our specific learning styles.” Advisory Council member and Clinical Instructor for UA
Cossatot, Rosalyn Henry, PT, DPT said, “I have had the privilege of being able to see how well UA Cossatot’s PTA students are prepared for clinical affiliations. The creation of UA Cossatot’s PTA program is backed by dedicated directors, advisors, and students, who work tirelessly to ensure the program is top notch and the students who go out into the community are well educated and prepared for the field of physical therapy.”
The Physical Therapist Assistant program is located on UA Cossatot’s Ashdown campus. To apply for the program before May 30, please select the online application link at www.cccua.edu/programs-of-study/medical-education. For questions regarding the application process, please e-mail PTA Program Director Jennifer Sanderson at jsanderson@cccua.edu or Director of Clinical Education, Heather Orr at hnorr@cccua.edu.
To learn more about course requirements and how one can get started as a PTA student at UA Cossatot, please visit www.cccua.edu/programs-of-study/medical-education to schedule an advising appointment with one of our academic advisors.
Candidate for Accreditation Status
Effective May 2, 2018, UA Cossatot has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 870-584-1497 or email jsanderson@cccua.edu.
Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.
IMPLICATIONS OF AUGUST GRADUATION
The developing physical therapist assistant program at UA Cossatot is planning for a charter class graduation in August 2019. Initial accreditation decisions are acted upon at the next regularly scheduled Fall Meeting of the Commission following the on-site visit, which must occur during the penultimate term when the charter class is enrolled. CAPTE will not make exceptions to its Rules to accommodate graduation dates that precede regularly scheduled CAPTE meeting dates, e.g., graduation in the summer. A summer graduation does not allow the initial accreditation decision to occur prior to the graduation date. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) sets the dates for licensing exams. The first sitting for which students with an August graduation date would be in January. Therefore, the timing of the planned graduation date increases the likelihood of a significant financial disadvantage for students due to an approximate six-month delay in possible employment as a physical therapist assistant. Jennifer Sanderson, PTA Program Director Kim Dickerson, Medical Education Division Chair
Contingency Plan
Should the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at UAC fail to receive accreditation, our institution will work diligently with students on a student-by-student basis. The Program Director will meet with each student and discuss options that best fit the student’s situation. We will first inform all students that UA Cossatot (UAC) will file an appeal for reconsideration of the CAPTE adverse decision. Next, we will work closely with the program at South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado (106 miles) to filter students to their program, if possible. The Program Director will also discuss the options of transferring to another institution, changing degree plans to OTA within the same institution, or graduating with a Certificate in Health Professions or Associate in General Studies.