University of Arkansas at Little Rock

UALR and Tulsa Community College Partnership

An interstate collaboration between the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Tulsa (OK) Community College began with the spring 2008 semester, whereby students who had an Associate’s Degree with Tulsa Community College’s Interpreter Education Program continued their studies to complete the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s BA degree in Interpretation: ASL/English via a hybrid model of distance education (i.e. on-site in Tulsa, interactive video classroom, and online).

The program involved distance delivery, contracting with local instructors in Tulsa, and travel of the UALR faculty to the Tulsa area in summer institutes to deliver the content-specific courses to complete the BA degree. Students were required to travel to Little Rock for the service learning component of one course. Other courses with service learning components permitted students to satisfy course requirements in their home vicinity. All students were required to complete a minor in Educational Interpreting, which included courses in related disciplines that were taken either at local institutions in Tulsa or online at UALR. All courses originating at UALR were web-enhanced, so students must have access to high-speed internet and have a DVD player/recorder available to them.

This model was designed to provide advanced interpreter education at the baccalaureate level through a collaborative effort across state lines. The critical shortage of interpreters in rural communities demands a new look at the delivery system in interpreter education such as this program allows. UALR is at the forefront to fill the gap in higher interpreter education within the northeast Oklahoma, southwest Missouri, and northwest Arkansas region.

During its initial trial period (2008-2010), a cohort of 10 students began taking classes in the summer of 2008. All 10 of them graduated in the spring of 2010. 

The second cohort of ten students began taking classes in the summer of 2011. The anticipated graduation date for this cohort is spring of 2013. Future cohorts will be scheduled as the need demands and is dependent on grant funding.

How to Participate in the UALR/TCC Partnership

Those who are interested in participating in this next cohort, should send a letter of interest to the UALR Interpreter Education Program. The admission process will begin and a maximum of 25 students will be admitted. More information is available by contacting the UALR Interpreter Education Program Coordinator, Linda Stauffer at mailto:lkstauffer@ualr.edu or Tulsa Community College project liaison, Sharon Limas at slimas@tulsacc.edu.

Admission Requirements

1. AA Interpreting degree from Tulsa Community College or equivalent with GPA of 2.0 or higher
2. QAST Level 1/1 or equivalent
3. UALR Admission (complete application, send transcripts)

Scholarships

Students pursuing the UALR Interpreting BA in Tulsa are eligible to compete for semester-by-semester scholarships from the OSEP grant operated by UALR’s Interpreter Education Program. Contact Ray James for more information at rajames@ualr.edu.

For additional information on the program, please refer to the Tulsa Brochure.