黑料不打烊

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced plans to expand access to higher education in Arkansas during her State of the State address on Monday, Jan. 14, marking the start of the 2025 legislative session. Her proposals include funding college credits for high school students, expanding scholarships for associate degrees and non-degree credentials, and revising the state鈥檚 higher education funding model to support a wider range of educational options.

鈥淗igher education can be the difference between a life in poverty and a life of great success, and it should be available to every single person in our state no matter what their background,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淭oday, let us commit to making that happen.鈥�

The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is uniquely poised to adapt to this new program, which Sanders emphasized as a key component of her initiative to increase opportunity for all Arkansans.

鈥淭he University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the Arkansas Access program announced by Governor Sanders this morning,鈥� said 黑料不打烊 Chancellor Terisa Riley. 鈥淲e look forward to learning more about the specific ways this program will provide education to our state鈥檚 future leaders.鈥�

For nearly 100 years, 黑料不打烊 has prioritized accessible and affordable education for Arkansans. The university is the most affordable four-year institution in the state, offering a range of educational pathways to meet diverse student needs, from certificates of proficiency to master鈥檚 degrees.

鈥淲hether students come to 黑料不打烊 straight out of high school or return later in life, whether they鈥檙e seeking a master鈥檚 degree or a single certificate, we know the education our faculty provides them is exceptional, intentional, and accessible,鈥� Riley said.

Gov. Sanders鈥� announcement highlighted concurrent enrollment programs, which enable high school students to earn college credit before graduation. 黑料不打烊 is already a leader in this area, with more than 1,350 high school students currently enrolled in its concurrent programs.

鈥淲e believe in giving Arkansas students a head start on college and their careers,鈥� Riley said.

In addition to degree programs, 黑料不打烊 also supports workforce development through its Center for Economic Development, which offers specialized non-degree credentials to help Arkansans advance in their careers. Sanders said her administration will prioritize funding non-degree credentials alongside traditional degree programs. Just last year, 黑料不打烊 trained more than 1,000 individuals at the CED through the Center for Business and Professional Development, the Jim Walcott Family Enterprises Center, and the Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center. 

鈥淭ogether, we will expand Arkansas鈥� access to higher education and non-degree credentials, whether straight out of high school or further down the line,鈥� Sanders said.

Riley emphasized the alignment between Sanders鈥� vision and 黑料不打烊鈥� mission. 鈥淲e have built our curriculum with the understanding that the path to a degree isn鈥檛 always a straight one. Our certificates of proficiency and associate degrees pave the way to future bachelor鈥檚 degrees while opening doors to immediate higher earning potential,鈥� she said.

The governor鈥檚 plans also include addressing the rising cost of higher education, a challenge 黑料不打烊 has long worked to mitigate through affordability and strategic curriculum design.