Arkansas State University (A‑State) announced today that it is the first higher‑education institution in Arkansas to join the National Intercollegiate Mutual Aid Agreement (NIMAA). The agreement, created by the International Association of Emergency Managers’ Universities and Colleges Caucus in 2015, links more than 150 colleges and universities across the country so they can share personnel, equipment and expertise before, during and after emergencies or special events.
Why the partnership matters for Jonesboro
“I am proud to say that we are the first institution of higher education in the State of Arkansas to join this compact,” said Wyatt Reed, A‑State’s emergency operations and occupational safety specialist. “This is a major step toward continuing to build a network of relationships with outside entities that can assist A‑State in a time of need and vice versa.”
Reed explained that the network is especially valuable because local city and county emergency agencies can become stretched during large‑scale disasters. “Many disasters that affect us will also affect them, and they have a large jurisdiction to cover even excluding A‑State. As a result, those agencies may not always have the staffing and resources to support us to the extent or duration needed,” he said. “So, in the same ways that they would look to agencies outside of the county for assistance, we can use this to look for support outside of agencies that are immediately conjoined to us.”
How NIMAA works
Member institutions can request or provide resources and personnel both in‑person and virtually. The agreement can also be activated for planned events, such as large campus gatherings, or for preparatory work ahead of potential incidents. Reed noted that the ability to share staff familiar with the higher‑education environment is a distinct advantage. “Universities are unique and complex, and an individual with experience in navigating that landscape is a great benefit in a time of need,” he said.
Beyond receiving aid, A‑State can contribute to other campuses, supporting joint training exercises and offering expertise that helps shape each institution’s emergency plans. “We can also utilize this as part of exercises (and be utilized in other institutions’ exercises), and gain experience and knowledge while supporting incident management operations to evaluate and shape our own planning,” Reed added.
Community impact
The partnership aligns with A‑State’s broader mission of community‑based emergency management. By linking with a national network, the university strengthens its ability to protect students, faculty, staff and surrounding residents during storms, floods, fires or other crises that may affect the Jonesboro area. Local officials have welcomed the move, noting that it adds another layer of resilience to the region’s overall emergency response framework.
With 154 institutions already participating nationwide, A‑State joins a growing coalition that emphasizes collaboration over isolation. As the first Arkansas school in the program, the university hopes its involvement will encourage other state colleges and universities to follow suit, further enhancing regional safety and preparedness.
For more information about the National Intercollegiate Mutual Aid Agreement and A‑State’s emergency management initiatives, visit the university’s Office of Emergency Management website.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
