Ozarka College in Melbourne has been awarded a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch a five-year initiative aimed at enhancing student success and career readiness. The Title III, Part A Strengthening Institutions Program grant will fund the Comprehensive Learning, Academic, and Success Strategies (CLASS) initiative, which seeks to increase retention and graduation rates and deepen the connection between education and career opportunities.
The CLASS program will support a major redesign of Ozarka’s student success strategies, including expanded student services, a new career development model, improvements in mental health services, and the redesign of at least 40 courses to better meet students’ needs. The initiative will also introduce open educational resources, modernize instructional spaces, and provide expanded professional development for faculty and staff, the college said in a statement.
“This grant represents a tremendous investment in Ozarka students and in the future of the communities we serve,” said Ozarka College President Josh Wilson. “CLASS will allow us to take a comprehensive look at how we support students from the time they walk through our doors to the time they reach their educational and career goals.”
The initiative is designed to address key objectives by 2031, including boosting retention and graduation rates among first-time students, expanding career exploration and planning, improving support for students facing academic difficulties, and increasing enrollment in degree-seeking programs. Additional priorities include fostering connections between education and employment by strengthening employer partnerships, expanding career advising, and introducing workforce-aligned credentials and work-based learning opportunities.
Specific projects under the CLASS initiative include implementing recommendations from a Student Services Lean Audit, offering financial literacy workshops, enhancing academic programs, and adopting updated learning management and student information systems. The plan also calls for stronger engagement in institutional development and expanded capacity for the Ozarka College Foundation.
As a rural institution, Ozarka qualified for the federal program’s rural priority, which supports colleges serving rural areas in their efforts to expand educational access and workforce development. Members of Arkansas’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton and U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, expressed support for the grant and its goals.
“Ozarka plays an important part in helping students in north central Arkansas gain the skills and education they need to succeed,” Boozman said. “Our congressional delegation was pleased to support the effort to enhance its resources and modernize its approach to strengthening our workforce and meeting the needs of local and regional employers.”
The effort will also involve collaboration with employers and workforce organizations to connect students with employment opportunities and build stronger local and regional partnerships.
Ozarka College serves communities in north central Arkansas, offering a range of degree programs, workforce training, and academic support services. With the CLASS initiative, the college aims to amplify its role as a driver of educational and economic growth in the region.