As South Arkansas Community College commemorates our 25th anniversary in 2017-2018, we celebrate the many lives changed; dreams achieved; and academic, work, and civic goals met by our students and graduates. SouthArk is proud to recognize the many achievements of the college, students, alumni, employees, partners, and community over the past 25 years. We could not have done it without the support of our community.
South Arkansas Community College (SouthArk) was established through the vision of community leaders for a “free-standing community college.” Under Chairman Charlie Thomas, a committee of area representatives led the campaign for a special election in Union County to approve a community college district and establish a millage tax to support the new institution. On March 31, 1992, the citizens of Union County passed the proposal, leading to the merger of Southern Arkansas University-El Dorado Branch (SAU-EB) with Oil Belt Technical College (Oil Belt). SAU-EB, located in downtown El Dorado, was established in July 1975 and offered typical community college programs and services, such as remedial education, general education, occupational programs in health care and business, transfer courses, non-credit courses, and student support services. Oil Belt, located three miles east of downtown, was established in 1966 and offered occupational programs in automotive services, welding, office occupations, licensed practical nursing, construction and industrial trades, and adult education.
With the uniting of these two institutions, their faculty and staff, programs, services, and facilities on July 1, 1992, South Arkansas Community College became a truly comprehensive community college. The combined enrollment at the original two institutions was a little under 1000 in 1991. SouthArk has grown to over 1500 students in credit programs and around 5000 served annually in our non-credit offerings today. The college has increased also from about 90 full-time employees to more than 150; and from 25 certificate and degree options to 58. We continue to offer programs to meet the medical, business, education, law enforcement, and industry workforce needs of our region.
We believe that the vision of community leaders to join these two institutions 25 years ago enabled our college to be stronger, more effective and efficient, and more able to be responsive to the economic, educational, and workforce demands of this area. We thank these visionary leaders as we celebrate our past 25 years and as we plan for an equally exciting future.
1992 Committee to form the Community College for South Arkansas
- Charles Thomas, Chairman, Calion Lumber Company
- George Haefner, ConAgra Poultry Company
- Bill McCord, Great Lakes Chemical
- Jeff Rogers, Attorney
- David Ross, Lion Oil
- Betty White, RN Medical Center of South Arkansas
- Corbit White, Retired Postmaster (Strong)
- Ben Whitfield, SAU-EB Chancellor
- Billy McGhee, Oil Belt Technical College Director
- Jodie Mahony, State Representative.
