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Arkansas Universities Expand Online Degree Programs

  • By Kevin Hudson
  • 02/06/13

The University of Arkansas System (UA System) has partnered with a global online learning company to expand the degree offerings of its institutions.

Academic Partnerships (AP) was selected to deliver the UA System's undergraduate and graduate degree programs online. The company was chosen for its expertise in online delivery of instruction, along with the global marketing and recruiting capabilities to extend the UA System's brand and increase access to higher education for qualified students in Arkansas and beyond, according to a company release.

"Today's technology allows students to access our high quality curriculum through dynamic and innovative digital environments," said Donald Bobbitt, president of the University of Arkansas System, in the release. "We are excited to work with Academic Partnerships--a company with an excellent track record and a commitment to quality--as it assists us in achieving the System's expansion of online academic offerings while maintaining the University's rigorous, robust academic standards."

AP's track record includes partnerships with more than 40 public institutions that have expanded access and scaled the delivery of their online degree programs. The company has also assisted more than 750 professors in converting more than 1,500 traditional courses into an electronic delivery format, along with aiding the recruitment of students into online degree programs for its partners in the United States and the world.

The UA System enrolls more than 70,000 students, employs more than 17,000 employees, and has a total budget exceeding $2 billion. The system includes five four-year universities, five community colleges, an academic health sciences university, a presidential graduate school, a mathematics and sciences high school, and units related to agriculture, archeology, and criminal justice.

Academic Partnerships is based in Dallas and partners with universities to deliver full degree programs online. The company was founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Randy Best, an 18-year veteran of developing learning solutions to improve education. Academic Partnerships helps universities increase access to education by providing the technology, student recruitment, and faculty support necessary to serve online students.

For more information about the University of Arkansas System, visit uasys.edu. Go to academicpartnerships.com to learn more about Academic Partnerships.

About the Author

Kevin Hudson is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached at [email protected].

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