On Wednesday, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas (UA Cossatot) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello unveiled a new partnership designed to expand affordable higher education opportunities in Arkansas. This initiative allows UA Cossatot students to earn bachelor’s degrees from UAM while remaining in southwest Arkansas and benefiting from some of the state’s lowest tuition rates.
The agreement will enable UA Cossatot students to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UAM through coursework offered on UA Cossatot’s campuses. The degree offering is pending approval from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Higher Learning Commission.
Employing a campus-within-a-campus model, the partnership offers students the opportunity to complete all four years of their degree on UA Cossatot’s campuses, starting as UA Cossatot students for the first two years before enrolling as UAM students for their junior and senior years. Tuition will be based on UA Cossatot rates for the initial two years and UAM rates for the junior and senior years of coursework. Throughout their studies, students will have access to services and resources from both institutions and will earn an associate degree from UA Cossatot and a bachelor’s degree from UAM.
Prioritizing the affordability of the program, UAM will offer the Colt Transfer Scholarship, awarding $3,000 per semester to UA Cossatot students who complete 55 credit hours and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. This scholarship helps ensure these bachelor’s degrees remain among the most affordable options in Arkansas.
Dr. Steve Cole, chancellor of UA Cossatot,highlighted the increased opportunities available to students through the new partnership, stating, “Partnering with UAM is going to be a huge win for students all across southwest Arkansas. Just think: our students can start with us and finish with a top-flight university like UAM, never travel too far from home and family and, with a Colt Transfer Scholarship from UAM, essentially pay our tuition rate throughout the entire process. I encourage folks to watch this space carefully, as much more could be coming from this partnership.”
Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, emphasized the value of the new partnership, stating, “We are excited to launch our innovative campus-within-a-campus model with UA Cossatot. This strategic partnership represents an effective and efficient way to address Arkansas’ workforce needs. By working with UA Cossatot, we can ensure the UAM Bachelor of Business Administration degree remains both affordable and accessible for students in southwest Arkansas. We look forward to many future collaborations between our institutions.”
The announcement occurred on UA Cossatot’s Nashville campus on Wednesday, where both Dr. Cole and Dr. Doss delivered remarks and participated in a ceremonial signing of the partnership agreement.
The University of Arkansas Cossatot has been serving southwest Arkansas since 1975. With campuses in De Queen, Nashville, Ashdown, and Lockesburg, UA Cossatot provides accessible and affordable higher education through associate degrees, technical certificates, workforce training, adult education, and university transfer programs. As a member of the University of Arkansas System, UA Cossatot is committed to empowering students, strengthening communities, and supporting the workforce needs of the region.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello was established in 1909 and was formally known as the Fourth District Agricultural School, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the Fourth District and Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College. The four-year institution is located in Monticello, Arkansas. In 2003, UAM expanded its mission to include vocational and technical education when the UAM College of Technology-Crossett and the UAM College of Technology-McGehee became part of UAM to create a comprehensive system of postsecondary education in southeast Arkansas.
Article courtesy of the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
