Special Projects
Workforce Group has been a partner in several special projects funded by grant money, they include:
- Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
In 1998, UALR received an appropriation from HUD to assist with community revitalization in the Oak Forest community. Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) With the funds awarded from COPC, the University has been able to continue programs and expand outreach in the
Oak Forest community. Staff, faculty, and students are working with Oak Forest to implement their strategic plan. The Next Move program has expanded training to the Neighborhood Resource Center. There are waiting lists for
both the Share America and Resource Center training sites.
- Base Relocation and Closure (BRAC) impact studyThe Workforce Group and other IEA units received Department of Labor funds to analyze the economic impact troop reductions/increases would have on central Arkansas and its ability to respond to the needs of a displaced workforce.
- Task Force For the Twenty First Century Economy Report Staff from IEA including the Workforce Group provided facilitation, program design, research, and other assistance as requested by the Task Force and it's work committees.
- Arkansas Department of Workforce Education - Curriculum Content Frameworks Reformatted and updated 51 frameworks used to aid teachers in development of classroom curriculum for Career and Technical vocational training programs. Each was designed to reflect current industry standards and professional certification requirements when available.
- Pilot program – Application of ACT WorkKeys assessments and computer based training (CBT) systems in secondary vocational education This pilot sought to determine the effectiveness of CBT and one-on-one instruction to improve reading and math literacy. ACT WorkKeys assessments were used as pre and post testing instruments. Numerous “lessons learned” were documented as a result of the participation of over 300 students over the course of an academic year.
