Governor Asa Hutchinson recently appointed Bill Allison, vice president for workforce
at National Park College to the Arkansas Apprenticeship Coordination Steering Committee.
Allison’s term will expire Dec. 1, 2025.
The committee, appointed by the Governor, oversees the operation and funding of apprentice
training programs in the State of Arkansas. According to Arkansas Code § 6-50-703,
the primary purpose of apprenticeship programs is “to provide financial assistance
to Arkansas business and industry for upgrading the knowledge and skills of the existing
workforce or a potential new workforce and to increase the capacity of state-supported
educational institutions to supply the ongoing training needs of Arkansas companies.”
The statue states that the committee is responsible for recommending a statewide plan
for the development of a comprehensive program of apprenticeship training.
“I am incredibly humbled for this opportunity to represent higher education on this
committee. I am a strong proponent for apprenticeships and firmly believe this learning
model fast tracks students to increased earning power while maintaining high academic
rigor. This results in highly qualified professionals whose services we, as consumers,
directly benefit from,” said Allison.
