The Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway will shift its focus toward student programs after facing donor challenges that left the program with less funding.
ACRE isn’t closing down, but the center will no longer employ full-time researchers. Instead, ACRE will hire three student researchers. The center typically employed three to five full-time researchers a year. The last set finished their contracts at the end of June.
The center is known for its public policy academic research. And while scaling back, Director Jeremy Horpedahl said, ACRE will continue some policy research through the faculty at UCA and the student researchers, as well as research promotion when relevant to current events.
ACRE will continue to publish its Access Arkansas: County and City Web Transparency index, as well as existing research from faculty concerning tax policies, the Legislature and current events. The center’s blog will also continue.
Less funding meant ACRE had to decide where to focus efforts, and student programs “jumped out as the thing we’re most excited about and want to make sure that we continue,” Horpedahl said. He will remain in his position as director, focusing on supervising student programs and mentoring the student researchers.
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