At North Arkansas College (Northark), students aren’t just reading about heavy equipment — they’re running it. Northark’s Heavy Equipment Program is the only program of its kind in the county, offering students the rare opportunity to learn the ropes on real, working construction jobsites, preparing them for rewarding careers in the construction industry.
Real People, Real Work — Real Stories
Learning by Doing — On Real Jobsites
“This is North Arkansas College’s Heavy Equipment Program,” says Chad Hathaway, program instructor. “We typically take on about 12 students each year and teach them how to operate everything from dozers, scrapers, graders, and backhoes, to smaller machines.”
While many programs rely on simulations or controlled training grounds, Northark’s approach is different — students take on community-focused projects that make a real impact. From airport expansions to local ballfields, students get their hands dirty solving real-world challenges.
“We are the only heavy equipment program in the U.S. that does real work on real jobsites,” Hathaway explains. “We work for schools, charities, and local counties — and it’s good for the students because they encounter the real problems they’ll face when they leave here.”
Current Projects: Boone County Regional Airport and Valley Springs Ball Field
The program is currently working at Boone County Regional Airport, constructing a parking lot for a new hangar complex. It’s exactly the kind of project that gives students the hands-on experience needed to build confidence and problem-solving skills.
“And the next job we’ve got lined up is at Valley Springs,” Hathaway adds. “We’ll be building a baseball field and constructing three large ponds for fishing tournaments.”
Powered by CASE Equipment and Community Support
Much of the success of Northark’s program is thanks to strong community partnerships, including a long-standing relationship with Luby Equipment and CASE Construction Equipment.
“Jim Richiert and the team at Luby Equipment here in Harrison have been a huge supporter for years,” says Hathaway. “They’ve loaned us equipment, helped us out on rentals — they’ve really gone out of their way to help us keep this program alive.”
Having access to reliable, professional-grade equipment like CASE dozers, graders, and excavators ensures that students are learning on the same machines they’ll encounter in the field after graduation.
Filling a Critical Workforce Need
“There’s a huge, huge gap in the workforce right now — especially in heavy equipment operators,” Hathaway shares. “We have construction companies coming to us all the time looking for operators.”
And the results speak for themselves. Many students secure employment before graduation, walking straight into careers with local contractors and companies who are eager to hire well-trained operators.
“For me, the best part is seeing these students move on and start a career,” says Hathaway. “To see them be successful — that’s why we do it.”
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