On Wednesday, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) announced a new partnership designed to expand access to affordable four-year degrees in eastern Arkansas.

This new collaborative program will allow students to complete select bachelor’s degrees through UAM while remaining on PCCUA campuses, creating a true “start here and finish here” program for students from the Delta and surrounding communities.

Through this partnership, PCCUA students will have the chance to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in K-6 elementary education degree beginning in May 2026 and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree starting in August 2026. The partnership plans to expand to include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a targeted start date of fall 2027.

This initiative is designed to increase access, strengthen workforce development and provide a seamless transition for students who are ready to continue their education close to home. By combining resources and expertise, PCCUA and UAM aim to improve degree completion rates while offering some of the most affordable tuition rates in the state.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Division of Music will host a lecture recital by Dr. Kylan Bigby, assistant professor of percussion at UAM, on Thursday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building’s Harris Recital Hall, Room 101, on UAM’s Monticello campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The lecture recital will feature selections from Dr. Bigby’s newly written solo timpani book, “Echoes of the Orchestra.” This innovative collection explores the rich musical language of the orchestra through the lens of the timpani, transforming characteristic orchestral gestures, textures and dramatic moments into compelling solo works for the instrument. Drawing inspiration from the expressive and technical demands that timpanists encounter in symphonic repertoire, “Echoes of the Orchestra” bridges the gap between orchestral performance and contemporary solo artistry, offering performers new ways to develop musical sensitivity through advanced techniques.