FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 18 November 2020

CONTACT: Ben Renfrow, Marketing Coordinator

College-Employer Partnerships at UA Cossatot Prove to be Successful

UA Cossatot is a community college that is proud to partner with local industry. While supporting businesses in our area by helping them fill the demand for more skilled and trained workers, UA Cossatot is thrilled to create a pathway for more students to find local employment resulting in a high salary career.

Industrial Maintenance is a popular career choice right now and will continue to hold a bright job outlook for the next decade. Industries need more skilled and technical workers, which is why UA Cossatot’s Lockesburg Industrial Maintenance Institute has received so much industrial support. UA Cossatot serves four counties and has partnerships with American Electric Power, Ash Grove, Domtar, Husqvarna, Weyerhaeuser, and Tyson Foods. UA Cossatot students have more opportunities than ever before to receive their education in a skilled and technical career here at home and then find employment without leaving Southwest Arkansas.

Tyson Foods in Broken Bow, OK, and Nashville, AR, have both offered internship opportunities for UA Cossatot students. While accommodating the student’s class schedules, Tyson Foods offers students, in the internship program, the chance to earn experience while learning new skills. Most students who have completed the internship program were hired immediately following graduation. “Our internship program can help a student decide if a career in industrial maintenance is a good match for their personality, lifestyle, passions and goals. This way a student can avoid spending time and money on training for a career that does not really suit their abilities or needs.” said Tem Gunter, Complex HR Manager for Tyson’s Nashville facility.

(from left to right) Ernan Gomez of Blevins, UA Cossatot Instructor Randy Thompson, and Cameron Lane of McCaskill

Adding, “The team at the LIMI has done a tremendous job identifying and preparing high-performing IM students for these internships.”

Tyson’s Broken Bow plant currently has two refrigeration and five maintenance positions available. Donna Duggan, Complex HR Manager for Tyson’s Broken Facility says, “The Lockesburg Industrial Maintenance program prepares both high school and adult learners for careers in industrial maintenance utilizing part-time and full-time employment opportunities with industry to complement classroom instruction. These employment opportunities within Tyson allow students to earn while they learn which leads to productive careers and upward mobility paths within the company.” Students interested in the internship positions may visit www.tysonfoods.com/careers to apply.

High school students looking to get ahead can also earn college credit in industrial maintenance at UA Cossatot’s Lockesburg Campus through the college’s Secondary Career Center. Students who begin taking classes in their junior and senior year of high school would lack approximately one year of course work before achieving a technical certificate, allowing them to graduate their freshman year of college.

The industrial maintenance program at UA Cossatot offers two career pathways. Students can choose to pursue their education in industrial technology, which requires 37 credits, or industrial electricity, which requires 33 credits. After completing the 37 or 33 credits, students will earn a technical certificate in that area. Many students choose to major in both, which qualifies them to receive an associate’s degree in General Technology. As students earn college credit throughout the program, they can also receive stackable certificates of proficiency as they continue in their chosen focus area to help build up their resume.

In as little as one semester or year, students can graduate from UA Cossatot with a certificate and start out making possibly $30,000 to $50,000 a year with the potential to earn up to $60,000 a year or more.

(from left to right) Zach Backus of Nashville, Corta Young of McCaskill, and UA Cossatot Instructor Randy Thompson

UA Cossatot’s Workforce Development department looks for opportunities to help local businesses and industries, while also assisting students in finding jobs. For any questions about college-employer partnerships UA Cossatot is involved in, please contact UA Cossatot’s Workforce Development department at 870-584-4471 or e-mail workforcedevelopment@cccua.edu. For more information about the Industrial Maintenance Program or other skilled and technical programs UA Cossatot offers, please contact Skilled and Technical Sciences and Professional Programs Academic Advisor Sarah Chesshir at 870-584-1338 or schessir@cccua.edu.###

University of Arkansas Cossatot is a community college in Southwest Arkansas accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Offering technical certification and Associate degrees, UAC also collaborates with other colleges and universities to offer bachelor's degrees on its three campuses. UAC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965 and other Civil Rights laws and offers equal opportunity for admission and employment. Employment preference is given to applicants possessing a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) with all other qualifications being equal. Programs and activities of UAC are provided to all students without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, Vietnam era veteran or special disabled veteran status, or sex. Questions or concerns regarding affirmative action can be directed to the Compliance Officer, c/o UA Cossatot, 183 College Drive, De Queen, AR 71832. For Arkansas RELAY Voiced Services call 711 or 800-285-1121. Visit www.cccua.edu for more information.