NWACC Government Relations
About the NWACC Advocacy Committee
The NorthWest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees Advocacy Committee supports the College’s mission through advocacy and liaison with governmental and community policymakers, and with external constituencies. Committee members advocate on the federal, state and local levels.
Purposes of the Advocacy Committee are to
- Advocate major interests of NWACC to policymakers at all levels of government
- Develop key volunteer contacts for elected officials
- Promote to interested parties the mission of comprehensive two-year colleges
- Promote NWACC as an essential resource to residents of the service area
Committee objectives are to
- Provide advice to college administrators on issues, and recommend advocacy strategies
- Assist in planning programs
- Identify and make effective use of volunteers in advancing our legislative agenda
- Effectively communicate NWACC’s messages to policymakers
- Play leadership role in carrying out college advocacy efforts; recruit volunteer advocates
Committee Scope
The NWACC Advocacy Committee has recently expanded its scope in response to changes in the political environment.
- Historically, the NWACC Advocacy Committee met once before, during and after each biennial General Assembly session, plus when ballot issues warranted the college’s attention (i.e., a bond issue).
- With the passage of Amendment 86 in November 2008, Arkansas began in February 2010 implementing fiscal sessions each even numbered years, effectively creating annual sessions of the state legislature.
- Within these annual sessions came the opportunity to advance NWACC’s strategic priorities
- As witnessed in 2009, term limits have led to wholesale changes in the NWA legislative delegation, especially within Benton County.
- The 16-member NWA delegation is likely to increase in size after the 2010 decennial census.
- NWACC has an increased interest in advocating on the federal levels for budget and appropriations, and for programs such as reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the American Graduation Initiative, increasing the Pell Grant Maximum; Perkins Act Career and Technical Education (CTE); Community-Based Job Training Grants (CBJTG), Economic Recovery (Stimulus) Legislation, and Strengthening Institutions (Title III-A of the HEA).
- The NWACC Administration has made major commitments to increasing the visibility of the institution by maintaining a regular presence in and around the State and Federal Capitols.
For questions/comments on this content, please contact Jim Hall.
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