About the Institution
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Welcome to Beebe - 1958 |
Arkansas State University-Beebe is a public two-year institution located 35 miles northeast of Little Rock and 110 miles southwest of Jonesboro and has been in continuous operation since 1927. During this time it has been known by five different names:
1927
- Junior Agricultural School of Central Arkansas
1931 - Junior Agriculture College of Central Arkansas
1955 - Arkansas State College-Beebe Branch
1967 - Arkansas State University-Beebe Branch
2001 - Arkansas State University-Beebe
The institution operates under the policies of the Board of Trustees and President of the Arkansas State University System. Programs at ASU-Beebe function separately under the leadership of the Chancellor. As an operationally separate institution of the Arkansas State University System, ASU-Beebe consists of the campus in Beebe and educational centers at Little Rock Air Force Base, Heber Springs (ASU-Heber Springs, A Center of ASU-Beebe), and Searcy (ASU-Searcy, A Technical Campus of ASU-Beebe).
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Administration Building - 1949 |
Since its foundation in 1927, Arkansas State University-Beebe has provided two years of course work for those who wish to transfer to senior institutions. It has also offered associate degrees and certificate programs which can prepare them to enter the workforce in two years or less. Its affiliation in 1955 with Arkansas State University has enhanced the institution’s ability to combine the openness and flexibility of a community type college with the stability and tradition of a university system.
The institution was established by Act 282 of the 1927 Arkansas General Assembly as the Junior Agricultural College of Central Arkansas. Citizens of the community donated 320 acres of land to be used for buildings and agricultural purposes and the first classes were held in October 1929. Act 68 of 1931 expanded the institution by changing the name to Junior Agricultural College and by enlarging the curriculum to meet the requirements of a junior college.
The institution operated as an independent state-supported junior college until September 1955 when the Arkansas General Assembly by Legislative Act 84 abolished the institution as an independent organization and its administration and functions were assigned to Arkansas State College as a branch of the main campus at Jonesboro. By Act 3 of the 1967 Arkansas General Assembly, Arkansas State College became Arkansas State University on July 1, 1967, and the Beebe unit became Arkansas State University - Beebe Branch. In 1971 the responsibility for maintenance of financial records for the Beebe Branch was transferred from the office of finance of the Jonesboro campus to the business office of the branch campus at Beebe.
In 1977, the title of the chief officer of the branch was changed from dean to chancellor by an act of the General Assembly. Since that time the campus administration has been fully responsible for conduct of the institution’s affairs. The chancellor is accountable to the president and the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas State University System.
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1950's Study Group |
Act 496, enacted by the General Assembly in 1985, established Arkansas State Technical Institute at Arkansas State University-Beebe to provide educational programs which combine academic skills and vocational training in highly technical employment areas. The first programs were implemented in the fall of 1987. Act 1244, enacted by the General Assembly in 1991, established the merger of White River Technical College and ASU-Beebe to create ASU-Newport, as an integral part of the ASU-Beebe system. However during the spring of 2000, the ASU Board of Trustees, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, and the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the status of ASU-Newport as a stand-alone campus pending completion of stated milestones. ASU-Newport has now met all the stand-alone requirements and now reports directly to the ASU-System Board of Trustees and President.
ASU-Heber Springs, a Center of ASU-Beebe, was established in response to the community’s desire to have a two-year college presence in Cleburne County. Although continuing education classes had been offered in the area for several years, local community leaders contacted the president of the ASU system in 1997 expressing interest. The University conducted a Needs Assessment among several entities in the community and the surrounding areas. It was concluded that Cleburne County would benefit from a two-year college due to the geographic area and local support. In the legislative session of the 1999 Arkansas General Assembly, ACT 426 of 1999, officially established ASU-Heber Springs, a Center of ASU-Beebe.
Act 90 of 2001 by the Arkansas General Assembly removed the term “branch” from legislation affecting ASU-Beebe. Effective July 1, 2003, Foothills Technical Institute in Searcy merged with ASU-Beebe to become ASU-Searcy, A Technical Campus of ASU-Beebe. The institution, with its campuses in Beebe, Heber Springs, Searcy, and at the Little Rock Air Force Base, is now referred to as Arkansas State University-Beebe, and functions as an operationally separate institution of the ASU System.
In the last two decades, enrollment has continually increased. (Enrollment history since 1995 is included in charts on pages 35 through 37 of this plan) Although the Beebe campus has on-campus residence halls, most of the students are commuters. The campus is located thirty-five miles north of Little Rock, eighteen miles north of Jacksonville, twelve miles north of Cabot, and seventeen miles south of Searcy on U.S. Highways 67/167. Arkansas State University-Beebe continues to serve a large rural population as well as many urban commuters.
Physical changes on the Beebe campus have reflected decades of growth. The Abington Library, the fine arts and physical education facilities, a mathematics and science laboratory and classroom building, and the Advanced Technology Center were added before 1991.
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2001 Student Center |
Facilities that have been added since 1991 include the Applied Arts building, the Agriculture Technology building, the University Center building, the Student Center, a building to house the physical plant and purchasing, construction of new farm buildings following destruction by a tornado, renovation and expansion of the Abington Library, renovation of the former cafeteria area into a Music Center, and expansion of the Advanced Technology Center to accommodate rapid expansion in computer systems technology. Renovation of existing facilities in State Hall during 2003 provided additional classroom and office space. These facility additions highlight continuing efforts to expand the campus facilities as a part of the institution’s long-range planning process to keep pace with expansion of the institutional mission. Additional facilities are planned to include an academic building to house science programs, while also serving other critically needed academic space.
At the Heber Springs campus, changes have also been occurring. Anticipating growth of ASU-Heber Springs, the Cleburne County Economic Development Council, the county government, and ASU officials created a joint partnership to erect a temporary skills training center. After initially opening in a downtown location, the campus moved to the John L. Latimer Skills Training Center in January 2002. This center is a 25,000 square foot multi-functional facility, housing ten classrooms, two computer labs, and a large industrial-type training room that can be converted for classes to meet the training needs of local industry. The temporary facility should meet the requirements for the Heber Springs campus for the next few years. Since the Center now has a source of funding from a Cleburne County sales tax, which produces over one million dollars a year for the school, plans for a permanent campus are being developed. Additionally, 249 acres of property on Sugarloaf Mountain have been acquired to provide a permanent location for the campus. A master plan for the permanent campus has been developed and plans are underway to begin construction of the permanent campus.
With the merger of Foothills Technical Institute with ASU-Beebe, as ASU-Searcy, A Technical Campus of ASU-Beebe, all the physical assets belonging to Foothills Technical Institute were also transferred. An additional 17 acres of property adjacent to the Searcy campus were recently acquired. A master plan for the Searcy campus is under development.
ASU-Beebe programs at Little Rock Air Force Base operate under a Memorandum of Agreement with the United States Air Force, which provides facilities used by ASU-Beebe and the other higher education institutions which operate programs as a part of the Little Rock Air Force Base Education Center. Plans have been developed to construct a new education center building which will include space for ASU-Beebe programs. Efforts are being made to secure federal military construction funds for this project. Additionally, the citizens of Jacksonville approved a local tax, part of which will provide five million dollars toward construction of the new education center, which is planned to be constructed on Air Force property, but outside the main gate of Little Rock Air Force Base. Recent announcements under the Base Realignment and Closure Commission reflect a commitment on the part of the Department of Defense and the Air Force to strengthen the role of Little Rock Air Force Base in meeting national defense needs and commitments.
Following the merger of Foothills Technical Institute with ASU-Beebe in July 2003, a review of organizational structure has been ongoing with the goal of how to best serve our students and the communities in which we operate. Following an extensive review and analysis of options, the institution has implemented, with concurrence from the Arkansas State University Board of Trustees, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, and the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, an organizational restructuring focused on functional alignment with the five institutional strategic goals outlined on page 14 of this plan. This alignment is based on functional responsibility regardless of campus location. This alignment will allow existing resources to be used more efficiently and provide some expanded services that would not be possible without the change. This alignment and restructuring emphasizes the institution’s commitment to all aspects of its mission and strengthens the institution’s commitment to technical and occupational education.
As changes occur in the institution, the student body, or the course offerings, the priorities—quality teaching and attention to the individual student—remain the same. The philosophy of Arkansas State University-Beebe is stated in the following language:
The essential purpose of Arkansas State University-Beebe is to provide a two-year postsecondary program of education responsive to the needs of the clientele. The faculty and staff share a commitment to the belief that both traditional and nontraditional students should be given a continuing opportunity for development and extension of their skills, knowledge, and awareness of their role in society. Arkansas State University-Beebe realizes this primary objective as students (1) enter the university, (2) find programs compatible with their goals, (3) persist in college until their goals are obtained, and (4) subsequently become responsible members of society.
