(a) A technical institute may offer programs which lead to an Associate of Applied Science degree.
(b) Each technical institute shall operate within a service area assigned by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(c)
(1) The board of directors of the technical institute may contract with existing institutions of higher education for the operation of any associate degree programs offered at the institute.
(2) Such programs must be approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and may be offered either on-site at the institute or at a satellite location.
(d)
(1) Any degree at or above the associate degree level offered at a technical institute or any state-supported postsecondary institution must be approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(2) Those degrees offered at a technical institute must be awarded by an Arkansas higher education institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
(3) Any such degree program must be offered through the institute's Center for Collegiate Instruction.
(e)
(1)
(A) The technical institute shall be required to establish a policy that specifically outlines a plan to work with local business, industry, and agriculture to meet technological and training needs.
(B) The plan shall be submitted annually to the local board of directors and the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board for approval.
(C) The plan shall incorporate a study of local needs, including interviews with local business, industry, and agriculture.
(2)
(A) The technical institute shall be required to offer courses to address business, industry, and agricultural needs, and when appropriate, teach the course at those sites.
(B) The technical institute may use adjunct faculty or professors under contract to meet this requirement.