The Saline County Career Technical Campus (SCCTC) is the first secondary career center in the state of Arkansas to become a Leadership School member of the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3).

NC3 is a 501(c3) non-profit organization dedicated to national skills training and industry-recognized certifications. The international network represents over 1,000 secondary and post-secondary institutional members including over 200 Leadership Schools that are leading innovation in CTE.

“Saline County Career Technical Campus is not only a leader and pioneer in the state of Arkansas but across the nation. By leveraging the NC3 network, building partnerships with NC3 industry leaders, and embedding industry-recognized certifications into its curriculum, SCCTC is elevating and developing its students, and community, for high-skilled and high-demand careers in the technical trades,” states Roger Tadajewski, Executive Director of NC3.

From the beginning of conversations that ultimately lead to the SCCTC, the ability to partner with local industry to create a pipeline for the students of Saline County to be able to train, work and live in the area has been at the core of the institution’s mission.  Before breaking ground in January of 2020, the program’s leadership engaged with over 200 industry partners to ensure that the programs that were to be offered were consistent with the need of the region. That focus is further realized with the national perspective offered through the NC3 partnership.

Opening its doors to the first cohort of students in August 2021, Saline County Career Technical Campus plan to incorporate more than 15 industry-recognized certifications in 10 programs and partner with NC3 global leaders including Festo, Lincoln Electric, Snap-on, Trane, and Greenlee for facility and program development in advanced manufacturing, welding, industrial maintenance, electrical training, and building trades.

According to Scott Kuttenkuler, ASU Three Rivers Assistant Vice Chancellor for SCCTC, the ability “to offer first-class programs that align industry expectations and needs with the students from our 6 partner schools (Bryant, Bauxite, Benton, Harmony Grove, Glen Rose, and Sheridan) will open doors for students to be able to build a successful career that will afford them to the ability to live comfortably and take care of their future families.  The partnership with NC3 advances that goal at warp speed and allows for SCCTC to catapult the programming using the expert guidance of NC3.”   

“SCCTC is at the cutting edge of CTE, especially in secondary education,” states Hannah Peltier, Membership Manager of NC3. “Not only will these students be able to attend a state-of-the-art facility, they will have access to hands-on, competency-based certifications developed for the technology of today’s workforce. NC3 is honored to partner with SCCTC to train and educate the next generation in Saline County and beyond.”

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Media Contacts:

Hannah Peltier
Executive Project Manager | NC3
Hannah.peltier@nc3.net
608.220.7408

Scott Kuttenkuler
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Saline County Career Technical Campus
Arkansas State University Three Rivers
skuttenkuler@asutr.edu
501.332.0264

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About NC3

NC3 was established to help build a workforce prepared to meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s industries by connecting employers and educational institutions in synergistic partnerships that foster effective training, elevation of skilled careers, and employment opportunities. In fulfilling its mission, NC3 builds deep industry-educational partnerships and develops, implements and sustains industry-recognized portable certifications built on national skills standards. We envision an industrial labor market where all workers have jobs they need to thrive and all companies have well-trained employees they need to operate and grow. Learn more at www.nc3.net.

About Saline County Career Technical Campus (SCCTC)

Saline County Career Technical Campus is the product of an innovative partnership involving six area school districts, Saline County municipalities, the Saline County Judge, state legislators, the Saline County Economic Development Corporation, Saline County business community and chambers of commerce and Arkansas State University Three Rivers. Students will have the opportunity to take classes in 10 pathways. The campus will serve students from the Bauxite, Benton, Bryant, Glen Rose, Harmony Grove, and Sheridan school districts.  Students will be able to take classes related to careers while they are enrolled in high school in Automotive Technology, Construction, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, HVAC-R, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing, CNA, Networking and Welding. Saline County residents voted in 2018 for a temporary 3/8-cent countywide sales tax to finance the construction of the 135,000 sq. ft. facility on 22 acres near Exit 114 on I-30. Over 450 students will be a part of the initial class of students that began in August 2021.