Paul Gatling’s Post

I am excited to share some incredible results from the first year of the University of Central Arkansas Commitment (UCAC) program, a last-dollar scholarship program available to Arkansas residents who are Pell-eligible or have a household income of $100,000 or less. It removes financial barriers for academically qualified students, offering a debt-free pathway for all tuition and academic fees.  As reported last week, UCA welcomed 765 freshmen into the program—representing a third of all first-time students this fall. These students are diverse, with 54% being first-generation college attendees. Their academic achievements are strong, too, with an average GPA of 3.6 and an ACT score of 22. And they come from 69 of Arkansas’ 75 counties. One of the best parts? We've helped these students claim financial aid that was already available to them, reducing their average annual unmet need from $4,000 to just $1,294. This intentional support has made a huge difference—68% of UCAC students have $0 in unmet need this fall. This helped keep the program far under budget and is a massive point of pride for UCA as we share our success nationally. We've also seen a 25% annual increase in our freshman class and a 23% annual improvement in forecasted net tuition revenue, climbing to a projected $14.5 million for fall 2024. The UCAC program is making a real impact, and I’m so proud to be part of an institution that's removing financial barriers and helping more students achieve their academic dreams. UCAC’s next application period opens on Oct. 1, 2024. Visit uca.edu/commitment to learn more.

Several colleges and universities across the state reported increased student enrollment this week. University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis discusses factors behind the surging numbers on this week's episode of "Arkansas Week" on Arkansas PBS. (Head to the 13:55 mark).

I've mentioned here on a couple of occasions the optimism we have at the University of Central Arkansas about our freshman (and overall) enrollment. Today, we released the 2024-2025 enrollment data, and the numbers are even better than we had anticipated.

Looking to level up your career with a graduate degree? Let’s make it happen at the University of Central Arkansas.

Dr. Heather E. Yates, Ph.D., a political science professor at the University of Central Arkansas, appeared on the statewide television program "Capitol View" on Sunday morning to discuss the dynamics of the presidential race. In this interview with Roby Brock, Dr. Yates offers some sharp insights and maybe a few surprises to keep an eye on.

Congratulations to these exceptional University of Central Arkansas College of Business faculty and staff members for continually setting a high standard of excellence. Well deserved!

The University of Central Arkansas seeks a Senior Director of Development for the UCA College of Business. The potential candidate will primarily serve the College of Business by raising support for its initiatives, priorities and student scholarships through partnerships with donors who share these interests and passions. UCA recently completed its $100M comprehensive capital campaign, UCA Now: Impact Arkansas and Beyond, ten months early and $9M over the goal. There is significant momentum for success for the university overall and fundraising specifically. We offer great benefits, including retirement, paid time off, tuition discount, life insurance, health and dental insurance, growth opportunities, and the list goes on! Contact me at [email protected] for more information or apply using the link below.