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Committee approves two provisional ARPA-funded positions for Pulaski Technical College
Summary
The committee approved two provisional positions funded by an ARPA grant for Pulaski Technical College after staff clarified the roles, salary levels and that the positions are temporary; the campus will provide a follow-up letter on funding termination contingencies.
The Personnel Committee approved two provisional positions requested by Pulaski Technical College and funded by ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grant dollars, after a university representative explained titles, salary levels and paperwork discrepancies.
Melissa Rust, representing the University of Arkansas System, told the committee the request was for two provisional positions at Pulaski Technical College and that the campus had not completed the usual provisional‑position paperwork before submitting the appropriation packet to PEER. She said, “These positions are provisional.”
Why it matters: the positions are temporary and funded by federal ARPA grant money; the committee approved the job titles and salary lines, but members sought clarity on the grant’s total costs and what would happen to the positions when grant funding ends.
Staff described the item as an ARPA request that had appropriations and positions authorized through a PEER review the prior day, but noted the personnel committee’s role is to review the titles assigned to provisional positions. Melissa Rust said the document shown to the committee listed a $503,000 total for the project, and explained that amount covers the two positions, fringe benefits and salary for some faculty already employed at the campus. She said, “The $503,000 is money. It's ARPA funding through the hired grant that Pulaski Tech received and it does pay for those 2 positions and their fringe. And it also pays salaries of some faculty members that are currently employed at Pulaski Tech.”
Staff provided title and salary details for the two provisional positions: a project program specialist (line‑item maximum salary listed as $88,572; the actual salary to be paid is $56,000) and an admissions analyst (line‑item maximum $51,526; actual salary to be paid $40,000). Rust said the campus would provide additional information to the committee on whether ARPA funding replaces existing salary lines or supplements them.
Committee members asked that the campus provide a follow‑up letter clarifying what happens to the provisional positions and to the funded faculty salaries when the ARPA grant expires. The committee then voted to approve the titles and salaries as submitted; the motion passed by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally or named mover/second.
