SEARK RESPIRATORY PROGRAM SEEKS ACCREDITATION

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

The respiratory care field of study at Southeast Arkansas College could be gaining new significance should accreditation be approved this month.

SEARK’s Nursing and Allied Health took over the program that was formerly at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and has since sought accreditation, Diann Williams, vice president of the program, told the SEARK Board of Trustees Wednesday. This will allow students to take the certification exam through the National Board for Respiratory Care.

During a site visit by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care programs Oct. 9-10, officials reviewed a submission of a self review from SEARK, said Williams. A recommendation for accreditation has been forwarded to the Committee on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs.

“We are confident that we will receive accreditation,” said Williams. “Our referee recommended that we receive it.”

Also Wednesday, the board heard that progress has been made on the new technology building. The interior of the 41,180-square-foot, $6.41 million structure is coming together despite repeated weather delays throughout construction, said Clayton Vaden, architect for the project with Lewis Architects & Engineers. Belk Construction of Bald Knob has installed sheetrock and the ceiling grid. Remaining work is expected to be completed by the proposed completion date in January.

The new library construction was also reported to be on track after hitting a snag in the bidding process because the wording didn’t include a key requirement from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said Melionee Knight, vice president for fiscal affairs at SEARK.

A winning bid on the 10,000-square-foot library building was accepted from Wilkins Construction, said Dr. Phil E. Shirley, SEARK president. Artist renderings have also been submitted by Mark Mann of Mark Mann Architects with the building expected to cost approximately $2.2 million and has an estimated completion date of fall 2009. Preparations for laying a foundation are underway.

Other announcements made at the meeting include:

  • J. Thomas May, chairman and chief executive officer of Simmons First National Corp. and Simmons First National Bank, has been chosen as commencement speaker as 240 students graduate Dec. 12.

  • The $240,000 Title III matching grant funds for the Technical Scholarships Campaign have been raised.

  • The Early Childhood Development Center renovations may be finished as early by the end of the semester.

  • Rebecca Benton of Ferrilli Information Group has been selected to fill the I.S. director position on an interim basis.

  • Karla Harper, job placement coordinator at SEARK, has been promoted to interim vice president of student affairs, a position she will fill when Harvey Post leaves SEARK early next year.

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