With state legislatures cutting funding for higher education across the nation, the state of Arkansas received a bit of good news this week.

According to 5newsonline.com, the state will receive $2 million in funding from the United State Department of Education.

“Several Arkansas officials announced $2 million in funding for Arkansas Higher Education under the  U.S. Department of Education Student Support Services Program.”

The article further states how many colleges and universities will receive money from the program.

By way of ualrpublicradio.org, the program–or grant– is there for academic development.

“The competitive grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements and to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.”

Some of the schools on the list to receive funding are Ozarka College, Pulaski Technical College, National Park Community College, and John Brown University.

While $2 million isn’t a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, any new funding that will go towards furthering the cause of academic development is a plus.

Programs like Student Support Services, according to ualrpublicradio.org, “aim to provide services promoting persistence in and graduation from postsecondary institutions for low-income, first general students and students with disabilities.”

In short, this program is a necessity. When states land any sort of academic funding in the face of such drastic cuts everywhere else. I hope to be able to report on some more higher education funding infusions in other areas in the coming months.