The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) is proud to announce the successful graduation of its latest Fiber Optic Technician class hosted at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The program, offered through UAHT’s Industry Training Program, equips students with the technical knowledge and hands-on skills needed to meet the growing demand for high-speed broadband infrastructure across Arkansas and beyond.

This year’s class achieved a remarkable milestone—100% of students successfully passed the OpticPath Fiber Technician exam and will be awarded the nationally recognized Fiber Optic Technician Certification. The graduates are now prepared to enter the workforce in a rapidly expanding industry that is essential to connecting communities, supporting businesses, and driving innovation in the digital economy.

In addition to their fiber certification, students were also offered certifications in CPR/First Aid and OSHA 10 Construction, further enhancing their readiness for safe and effective employment in the field.

The program, a part of the Arkansas Fiber Academy, is co-designed with industry partners to provide participants with the opportunity to embark on a meaningful and rewarding career in the fiber broadband industry. Classroom and hands-on field experiences equip students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities employers seek when hiring Fiber Optic Technicians to install, maintain, and troubleshoot fiber networks.

“This training is a model of how Arkansas can meet workforce needs in broadband and beyond,” said Akili Moses Israel, Director of Industry Training at UAHT. “Through strong partnerships, we are giving students the skills that translate directly into high-demand jobs while strengthening the state’s infrastructure for the future.”

The Fiber Optic Technician Program is part of UAHT’s broader mission to provide short-term, high-impact workforce training that addresses the immediate needs of employers while offering residents a clear pathway to stable, well-paying careers.

Interim Chancellor Laura Clark points out the significance of the program, saying, "Partnerships that span across the state are an important strategy to help improve the area workforce. Sharing resources and information helps us be more efficient and effective for all of Arkansas."

UAPB Chancellor Dr. Anthony Graham agrees. "UAPB is proud to have hosted this impactful training and to celebrate the success of every graduate in earning a national certification that is immediately of use,” Graham said. “Their achievement demonstrates how collaboration across our institutions directly equips students with the skills to enter high-demand careers and strengthens Arkansas’s workforce."

The Fiber Optic Technician Program was offered free of charge thanks to the support of the Office of Skills Development and the University of Arkansas System Workforce Response & Training Center through Arkansas Economic Development Institute funds.

The mobility and flexibility to lift an existing training program on a UA System campus and shift it to another campus is a worthy collaboration, according to Chris Thomason, Vice President for Strategic and Community College Partnerships and leader of the UA System’s workforce training efforts.

“These types of ‘lift and shift’ programs have been extremely successful in utilizing resources we have within the UA System,” Thomason said. “We have the ability to identify workforce needs by region, existing training programs by region, and then match them up through collaboration so everyone benefits. This Fiber Optic Technician Program is a shining example of what UA System campuses are doing to meet the state’s workforce needs and provide opportunities for Arkansans.”

For more information about upcoming industry training programs, please contact the UAHT Industry Training office at 870.722.8568 or visit http://www.uaht.edu/fiber-optic-technician.php.