Adult education classes may be returning to Southeast Arkansas College, pending approval from state offices.
The Southeast Arkansas College Board of Trustees approved a motion during a special meeting on Thursday to add five provisional staff positions to offer an Adult Education Program, SEARK President Stephen Hilterbran said Monday. This procedure paves the way for SEARK to offer training.
“When students come here, some qualify to take classes right away,” Hilterbran said. “Others need a little extra help. We want to offer something through adult education for job training.”
The courses were previously offered at SEARK but were discontinued before Hilterbran arrived in 2011, he said. Three of the positions fall under the control of the Arkansas Office of Personnel Management and two fall under the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
These courses are for adults seeking a high school diploma through the General Educational Development program, Hilterbran said. This is significant in that prospective students at college are eligible for Pell Grants only if they have earned at least a high school diploma, he said. Once adult students earn a high school diploma, they may take courses in a degree program, he said.
SEARK board members Paul Bennett, Clifford Flowers, Marc Oudin and Rebecca Pittillo approved the motion during a meeting held by audio conference on Thursday, according to the minutes.