Mission
Our Vision:
Imagine a college...
- at which every student is intentionally connected to an individual person who feels responsible for that student’s success.
- at which every student is clear about the College’s high expectations for performance--and every student has high aspirations for his or her success.
- at which every student defines his or her educational goals and develops a plan for attaining them. Imagine further that these plans are updated regularly, with guidance, as students progress.
- at which all academically underprepared students have an effective, efficient path to completing developmental education and beginning college-level work.
- at which engaged learning is intentional, inescapable, and the norm for all students.
- at which every student is met with a personalized network of financial, academic, and social support.
- at which all students graduate with a certificate or degree that prepares them to succeed in the workplace or to transfer to a four-year college or university.
- fully engaged in the communities it serves, listening to their voices, responding to their needs.
You have imagined the college we seek to be.
Adapted from Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2008). Imagine Success: Engaging Entering Students (2008 SENSE Field Test Findings). Austin, Texas; The University of Texas at Austin, Community College Leadership Program.
Student Success
We are committed to the success of every student. We believe all students, given the right conditions, can learn. We believe those conditions include high expectations reflected in a rigorous curriculum and personal engagement evidenced by a faculty and staff who invest themselves in the lives of our students and our communities.
The Power of Education
We believe learning begins at birth and should last a lifetime. We believe in the power of education to transform lives and build strong, productive communities.
Diversity
We respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
All students receiving an Associate’s Degree from PCCUA will possess the following STACC core competencies:
Social and Community Responsibility - behavior that demonstrates adherence to legal/ethical standards established by society. A person competent in social and community responsibility engage in social activities, events, and organizations at the college and community level.
Technology Utilization - use of tools of the trade to achieve a specific outcome. A person who is competent in technology and information literacy recognizes how and what technology to use and when information is needed and has the ability to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively.
Analytical and Critical Thinking and Reasoning - modes of reasoning including analyzing data, evaluating alternatives, setting priorities, and predicting outcomes. A competent analytical and critical thinker evaluates evidence carefully and applies reasoning to decide what to believe and how to act.
Communication - the interactive process through which there is an exchange of verbal and/or nonverbal information. A competent communicator can interact with others using all forms of communication, resulting in understanding and being understood.
Commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion within the context of cultural engagement and understanding - acknowledgement that society is diverse with groups of individuals possessing differing beliefs, values, attitudes, and customs that are shared from one generation to the next and one culture to another. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion increases access and assures a better chance to succeed.
The College implements its mission, vision, and values through a clearly defined set of programs and services that include:
College-level Credit Programs
The College offers credit courses leading to associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in technical, occupational fields and designed-to-transfer majors.
Continuing Education Programs
The College provides professional and occupational development for individuals, businesses, industries, and governmental and health agencies. A variety of self-supporting non-credit activities for personal enhancement are also available.
Student Development Programs and Services
The College offers developmental programs and services to enrolled and prospective students to increase their chances for success and enhance their potential for personal, educational, and professional growth.
Economic Development Programs
The College promotes the economic development of the region by providing work force training for new and expanding businesses and industries. The College also supports economic development agencies by assisting in the recruitment of businesses and industry to the area.
Access Programs and Services
The College provides special recruitment, counseling and evaluation services that increase access for students not traditionally served by higher education.
The first community college established in Arkansas, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) is a multi-campus, two-year college serving Eastern Arkansas in Helena-West Helena, DeWitt, and Stuttgart. PCCUA offers adult education, technical certification and associate’s degrees in academic, occupational/technical and continuing education programs and partners with other colleges and universities to offer bachelor’s and master's degrees. We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). PCCUA is committed to helping every student succeed providing quality, affordable, and accessible education.
Points of Pride:
- PCCUA is an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction. Leader Colleges of Distinction are selected based on their committed leadership, use of evidence to improve programs and services, broad engagement, and systemic institutional improvement.
- The PCCUA-Stuttgart Grand Prairie Center (GPC) has a strong arts program featuring a performance season, which provides opportunities for some of the artists to reach out to younger audiences with free shows for school children and special workshops and opportunities for some of the artists to connect with the community.
- Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA)-Helena has a partnership with Helena Little Theatre allowing the College and Little Theatre to collaborate on community productions, such as Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and many other musicals. In addition, it has a partnership with the Warfield Concert Series, which funds the performances of operas, musicals, symphonies, and other musical performances at no cost to the public. Some presentations include Swan Lake performed by the Moscow Ballet, Step Africa, Alvin Ailey II and many more world class performances.
- PCCUA has Food Pantries and Clothes Closets on all of its campuses.
- The PCCUA Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs receives national ranking in the top five Arkansas Best Colleges. See Bestcolleges.com.
- PCCUA has administered the GEAR UP Partnership since 2005 and is in its third GEAR UP grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Education with a dollar-for-dollar match requirement for the partnership. PCCUA is the only Arkansas college awarded a grant. The current $8.2 million grant supports junior high and high school students in eight area school districts (Barton-Lexa, DeWitt, Dumas, Helena-West Helena, Lakeside, Lee County, Marvell-Elaine, and Stuttgart) by providing faculty development, student programs, and direct programming for students through a summer program.
1991 Asa. W. Bonner Student Center dedicated
1992 Mitchell Science Annex added to Nursing Education Complex
1993 Gifted Pillow-Thompson House
1996 Became part of the U of A system, Added DeWitt & Stuttgart campuses
1997 Pillow-Thompson House reopened after renovation
2003 Dr. Steven Murray named 3rd Chancellor of PCCUA, Technology Training Center in Stuttgart leased
2011 Grand Prairie Center opened on the Stuttgart campus
2015 Dr. Keith Pinchback named 4th Chancellor of PCCUA
2017 Elmer & Gladys Ferguson Community Room dedicated in DeWitt, Food Pantries opened on each campus
2019 Fine Arts Center renovated and renamed the Hendrix Fine Arts Center
2020 Rowdy Ride bus added on Helena campus