Batesville, Arkansas – The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville is changing the way students can take classes beginning with the fall 2026 semester. College officials announced Monday that UACCB will introduce a new course delivery model called HyFlex, giving students more choices in how they attend classes and complete their coursework.
HyFlex, short for Hybrid-Flexible, brings together traditional classroom instruction and online learning. Under the new approach, students will not necessarily have to follow the same attendance format every week. Instead, they can select the option that works best for them and change that choice when their schedules or circumstances require it.
The new system is designed to provide more flexibility for students who have responsibilities outside college. Work schedules, family commitments and other obligations can sometimes make regular classroom attendance difficult. UACCB officials said the HyFlex model is intended to help students remain involved in their courses while giving them greater control over how they participate.
Students enrolled in HyFlex courses will have three participation options. They can attend classes in person on the UACCB campus, take part in live classes remotely through video streaming or complete their coursework online at their own pace. The online option will include access to recorded lectures and opportunities to participate in discussions according to a schedule that fits the student.
The choices are not permanent. Students will be able to move between the three options as needed, allowing them to adjust their participation from class to class or from week to week.
“Our goal is to meet students where they are and make it easier for them to succeed,” Blayne Stewart, Dean of Learning and Communications at UACCB, said. “Students have jobs, families and responsibilities outside the classroom, and HyFlex gives them more flexibility in how they attend and stay engaged in their courses.”
The change comes as UACCB prepares for another major development in its academic offerings. HyFlex implementation will coincide with an enhanced partnership between UACCB and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, which is scheduled to launch a campus-within-a-campus model at UACCB in fall 2026.
Through that partnership, students will have an opportunity to pursue bachelor’s degrees in Batesville rather than necessarily having to leave the area to continue their four-year education. Officials said students will also be able to benefit from the flexibility offered through HyFlex courses as they work toward their degrees.
The partnership is expected to provide a more streamlined path for students moving into four-year programs. Combined with the new course delivery model, the changes will give students additional options for balancing higher education with the demands of everyday life.
For UACCB, the introduction of HyFlex represents a shift in how courses can be delivered while maintaining opportunities for students to interact with instructors and classmates. Rather than requiring every student to attend in the same way, the model allows participation to be adapted to individual circumstances.
The new approach will take effect with the start of the fall 2026 semester, when students at UACCB will begin having access to the expanded course delivery options and the opportunities connected to the partnership with the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
