Partnerships and Initiatives

Atomic Absorption (A.A.) Spectrophotometer

The Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer is an advanced analytical instrument that students are allowed to use during our water quality course. Students gain experience and techniques with flame emission spectroscopy that are commonly used in advanced certified laboratories.

DOL Alliance

3-1-05 NorthWest Arkansas Community College Joins Arkansas Department of Labor and US Department of Labor (OSHA) to Form  a Safety, Health, and Teen Alliance

Bentonville, AR. – Fostering workplace safety and health is the goal of a new Safety, Health, and Teen alliance between Arkansas Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s Division of Science, Math, Aviation, Regulatory, and Technology.

OSHA Safety, Health, and Teen alliance is part of ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of workers.  OSHA alliances provide an opportunity to participate in a cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication, and promoting a state wide dialogue on workplace safety and health...|Press Release| (.doc)

DOL Alliance Pictures

Environmental Projects

Environmental projects are ongoing field studies conducted at a federal Civil War battlefield park and a local state park. Water quality, deer spotlight census, collecting deer biological data during hunting seasons, spring turkey gobble survey and an acorn mast survey are currently being conducted and studied by students at NWACC.

Students in the Environmental Management class (ENSC 2003) study the human impact on resources and ecosystems and the changing role of management from economic exploitation to environmental conservation and protection, along with multiple use strategies. The Environmental Management teams evaluate various wildlife and habitat management techniques and review environmental policies dealing with water, air and soil pollution, abatement and animal migration.

Since 1995, NWACC students have participated with Turkey Census, Deer Census, and Mast Survey at the Hobbs State Management Area. During the muzzle loading and modern gun seasons, students assist with the area Bio-check by welcoming the hunters, checking them in and out for their day of hunting and conducting a brief survey to determine the areas hunted and the amount of wildlife seen. For more information, see Larry Suchy's Faculty Web Site.

• Deer Census

Deer that are brought in are checked for diseases, weighed, aged by examination of their teeth, sexed, and have their antler measurements taken. Also, hunters are asked about their hunting experience. This information is vital. It tells the Hobbs State Management Area what kind and condition of deer are being taken and it demonstrates some other aspects of other wildlife in the area. This information is used to make decisions on how to better the deer herd. It is the Hobbs State Management Area’s goal to create the best and healthiest deer while providing their hunters the best hunting experience possible.

Aging of deer at the bio-check stations is an important aspect of maintaining a good deer herd. Antler size does not indicate the age of a deer and neither does the size of its hooves. The most accurate way of determining a deer’s age is by examining its teeth.

Once the part of the lower jawbone has been extracted and examined, the procedure for determining the deer’s age is as follows: Deer have six “jaw teeth” on each side of their lower jaws, three pre-molars, and three molars. Deer teeth wear from the center of the jaw forward and backward.

Deer Census Pictures

• Water Quality

Fifteen sites at Hobbs State Management Area are being tested periodically, in order to monitor the water quality. These sites range from springs to caves and include Beaver Lake and the War Eagle River. All sites are tested for specific properties and for the presence of certain minerals. Of these properties, some are indispensable to maintaining water quality, while others are detrimental to the environment. 

This report reviews the methods and instruments used in testing water quality. Results obtained will be compared and contrasted with water quality standards established by the EPA. These results will also be displayed along with other pertinent information concerning water quality.

From the results of experiments, we examine possible trends occurring at each site and try to offer an explanation for these occurrences. Then, students assess the results by comparing them to the national water quality standard.

Water Quality Pictures

• Marv's Pond

Marv's Pond Pictures

Nature Trail

In 2000, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department responded positively to efforts to begin an Arkansas Recreational Trails Program project, initiated by Dr. Marvin Galloway. In 2003, $13,293.00 was awarded to NWACC by the Planning and Research Division for a Central Campus Nature Walk. This area was developed to provide a place for bicycling, for interpretive analysis (a place to gather samples), and for jogging and fitness, in an environment that would be accessible to the handicapped.

Nature Trail Pictures

Solar Greenhouse Demo Project

The Arkansas Department of Economic Development Energy Office Team said, "This grant is awarded pursuit to the authority of Public Law 101-440 and is subject to legislation, regulation and policies applicable to Part C of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and Arkansas Act 7 of 1981." The instrument number is AEO-NACC-99 and the agency project manager is Reda L. Bowen, Grants Manager. This grant was awarded to NWACC in 2003.

The proposal included the following description of the project:

The State of Arkansas proposes to allocate $10,000 of Stripper Well funds to Northwest Arkansas Community College to assist with the construction of a solar greenhouse. The greenhouse will be part of the central education's Botany facility, a 33,600 square foot addition that will be used for instruction and academic support. Comparison studies of air quality and energy usage will be conducted on the Botany facility and neighboring room and used in the course instruction at the college. The greenhouse will be attached to the south side of the Botany lecture/lab room. Components of the greenhouse will harness the sun's renewable resources and provide passive solar energy for heating the lecture room in the winter. Deciduous trees will be installed around the East, South, and West sides of the greenhouse for summer shading. It was determined that a spider plant would reduce formaldehyde and carbon monoxide concentrations within a sealed chamber from 37 ppm (parts per million) to 8 ppm in six hours, and to about 0 in 24 hours respectively.

Dr. Marvin Galloway was appointed to oversee this project.

Greenhouse Pictures