Officials from UAHT and Central Methodist University, located in Fayette, Missouri, gathered for a formal signing of an articulation agreement designed to streamline the transition from associate-level coursework into bachelor’s and even graduate degree programs.

UAHT Chancellor Ricky Tompkins opened the event by emphasizing the broad scope of the agreement and its intended impact across the institution. He made clear that while student transfer pathways are central, the agreement is equally aimed at the institution’s workforce.

“We’re looking in a variety of areas, business, health, professions, general technology, for our students' degree completion, but also to benefits for our employees, because part of this will be supporting our people for both undergraduate and graduate work that they would like to complete,” he said.

Reading from the agreement itself, Tompkins outlined a structure intended to remove friction from the transfer process while expanding access to higher education credentials.

“The purpose of this agreement is to facilitate the admission and transfer of University of Arkansas Hope Texarkana students into agreed upon baccalaureate degree programs offered by Central Methodist University,” he said. “Both institutions agree to offer students a seamless degree completion option to improve their economic status and professional opportunities.”

The agreement also includes provisions that extend beyond traditional students.

“This agreement also provides opportunities for full time. University of Arkansas Hope Texarkana employees to complete degrees, recover credits and pursue graduate education with tuition assistance from Central Methodist University,” Tompkins said. “The partners will provide these opportunities through this agreement, by collaborating and coordinating resources, maintaining strong communication and building reliable, permanent pathways for students and employees, [completing] bachelor’s degrees and  graduate education.”

Following the signing, Rita Gulstad, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Central Methodist, shared the broader philosophy behind the partnership.

“Central Methodist University is honored to partner with the University of Arkansas Hope Texarkana ,” Goldstad said. “We believe in providing opportunities for students, for employees, and more importantly, also for the community."

Gulstad tied the agreement directly to workforce development and long-term regional benefits.

“Education is a way that we increase and enhance workforce. It’s a way we can help individuals grow,” she said. “And the future in higher education is through partnerships such as this.”

Tompkins noted that while the ceremonial signing marks a milestone, the operational phase is just beginning.

“We’re excited about it, and now really the work begins both of building those two plus two agreements and the recruiting students,” he said.  Two plus two agreements allow students to attain two-year Associate's degrees, then easily transfer credits to four-year colleges or universities so they can complete Bachelor's degrees with two more years of coursework.

In a brief exchange following the formal remarks, Gulstad explained that the agreement builds on an existing foundation of collaboration and also how the idea for the agreement developed.

“Central Methodist University partners with a lot of community colleges in the state of Missouri and over the last decade or more, we have been partners with colleges in Arkansas,” she said. “And when Dr Tompkins became the president here, we immediately started conversations about,what kinds of opportunities, what kinds of things could we offer here in partnership, building upon our past relationships and things that we’ve worked on together in the past, and so that’s kind of how we got started.”

For Tompkins, the employee-focused component carries particular significance.

“That’s a great pathway for our students, but really for our employees as well,” he said. “And being able to have that assistance for our employees is close to my heart.”

Gulstad echoed that emphasis on internal growth as a community benefit.

“We grow our employees, for our community, absolutely, and we grow the services for our students,” she said. “Education is something that’s valued across the continuum, no matter who you are, no matter what, so we believe in it.”