Two Arkansas community colleges face funding threat as enrollment falls

Declining enrollment at community colleges has led at least two two-year schools to submit improvement plans to the state's Department of Higher Education.

Northwest Arkansas Community College—the state's largest public community college—and the University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain fell below the minimum score in performance-based funding.

But it is too early to say whether the drop will have consequences.

Bentonville-based Northwest Arkansas Community College scored 2.65 points out of the maximum 10, while Rich Mountain scored just below the minimum-performance score of six points at 5.93. East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City scored 4.82 points but recently changed its database reporting system and will resubmit its numbers to the Higher Education Department.

The scores are based on mandatory measures, which can give a community college up to six points, and regional or "mission" measures that can give a two-year school up to four points. The mandatory measures are based on credentials—from certificates of proficiency to associate degrees—progression to graduation and course completion.

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2017/may/10/two-arkansas-community-colleges-face-funding-threat-enrollment-falls/673380/