History

The two-year college is the unique American contribution to higher education, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville has played an important part in this movement by providing access to education for the people of north central Arkansas since 1991, when it was reorganized as Gateway Technical College. Among the 14 vocational-technical schools converted into technical colleges and university branch campuses by an act of the Arkansas legislature, UACCB endeavors to provide quality Technical Certificate and Associate of Applied Science degree programs in occupational technical areas, a college parallel transfer curriculum including Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, customized training for business and industry, continuing education programs for life-long learning and personal enrichment, and adult education. In October 1997, Gateway Technical College merged with the University of Arkansas System and with the passage of a county sales tax became the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville in March 1998. UACCB is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. UACCBÕs service area was defined by the State Board of Higher Education to include Independence and Cleburne Counties; UACCB shares Stone and Sharp Counties with Ozarka College.
Since UACCB's conversion to an institution of higher education, the faculty, staff, and trustees have worked diligently to fulfill its mission of expanded service. New courses and programs of study have been added throughout the Industrial Technologies, Health Occupations, Business, and General Education curricula

Renovation and expansion of the campus has also been an important part of the UACCB mission. Phase I construction was completed in the summer of 1999 and drastically changed the appearance of the campus.  This phase included an 11,000 square foot Arts and Sciences Building, main entrance signs, an arcade on the Main Classroom Building, landscaping, additional parking lots and campus infrastructure. Phase II of the construction program was completed in the spring 2001.  The corner stone to Phase II is Independence Hall, a 37,375 square foot Conference/Student Center. In 2002, the College invested in the utilities infrastructure on the newly acquired 25 acres east of the original campus property, connected the properties with a traffic bridge and constructed a new 14,000 square foot consolidated Plant Maintenance Facility and over the summer the former Business and Community Outreach building was renovated and now houses the Adult Education Center.  The renovation of the building brought it in line with the campus motif and provided an added 1000 square feet to the structure.  UACCB has a bright future and will strive to provide even greater educational opportunities for the citizens it serves.