HCR 1020 Summary

• Encourages the Division of Higher Education to study the need for new policies and review current policies related to expanding applied baccalaureate and workforce degrees in high-demand career fields throughout Arkansas

• Requires collaboration among the Division of Higher Education, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and state-supported two-year and four-year institutions in the policy study and review process

• Mandates direct involvement from both system-affiliated and independent institutions that are representative of the state's geography in the collaborative effort

• Identifies the Bachelor of Science in Nursing as an example of a targeted high-demand career field degree program for potential expansion

• Emphasizes the establishment of formal partnerships among colleges and universities to increase collaboration between two-year and four-year institutions of higher education