Rachel Rodemann Putman
Associate Director for Strategic Communications
The Peak Innovation Center at the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith will welcome its first students Monday, March 28, 2022.
“At the Peak Innovation Center, students complete college courses and earn credentials while still attending high school,” explained Dr. Latisha Settlage, Dean of the College of Busines and Industry at UAFS. “Through WATC, we can offer concurrent credits that not only bolster college portfolios and shorten the timeline to earning bachelor’s degrees, but which also lead to completion of technical certificates, certificates of proficiency, and even associate degrees in high-demand fields while students are still in high school.”
“We are thrilled students from around the region will have the opportunity to experience hand-on training in labs that feature state-of-the-art equipment unmatched in our state, ensuring that we can continue to raise the trajectory of students’ success,” said Dr. Gary Udouj, director of Career Education and District Innovation for Fort Smith Public Schools.
The following courses will be active at Peak Innovation Center on March 28.
- Automation & Robotics,
- Computer Integrated Machining,
- Electronics Technology/Industrial Maintenance,
- Emergency Medical Responder,
- Medical Office Assistant,
- Network Engineering,
- Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Students enrolled in Automotive Technology, Computer-Aided Drafting, and Welding will remain at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith campus. The Certified Nursing Assistant and Licensed Practical Nursing programs will finish the spring semester at the University of Arkansas- Fort Smith campus, but will be offered at Peak this fall.
“Peak Innovation Center is a key component of the Fort Smith Public Schools’ Vision 2023 Strategic Plan and the result of Fort Smith and Barling citizen investment and a collaborative partnership between our public schools, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, business and industry partners, and state and national support, securing an impactful investment for the growth of our students,” Udouj added.
The UAFS WATC program serves 22 school districts from Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Scott, and Sebastian Counties, providing concurrent credit classes at no charge to participating high-school students.
