2025 REPORT CHANCELLOR’S 2025
To our incredible community, I am honored to present the Chancellor’s Report for the 2024–25 academic year.
Each year, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith drives progress in our community through education, service, and an unyielding belief in the potential of our students and our region.
This year, we witnessed extraordinary achievements across campus, from tremendous academic and athletic accomplishments to launching a groundbreaking campaign that will advance our mission through the next century. Our students continue to pursue their goals with courage and clarity, whether they are the first in their family to attend college, returning to the classroom to forge a new path, or stepping into leadership roles that will shape their professions and communities for decades to come.
As costs rise nationwide, our promise to keep education within reach is more vital than ever. Our base costs remain among the lowest in the state, and a slate of new scholarships fully cover tuition and mandatory fees for many of our students. Beyond scholarships, emergency assistance, health and wellness, career preparation, and academic support services enable us to build an environment where students can thrive holistically.
Innovation has also been a defining theme of this academic year. With continued investment in our academic programs and centers of excellence, we are meeting the demands of a changing workforce and expanding what it means to be truly responsive. Our faculty and staff have embraced this momentum with dedication and distinction, leading research, presenting at national conferences, and receiving well-earned recognition for their service and scholarship.
Our campus has also remained a vibrant center of community and culture. Student-led events and traditions, intramural competitions, public events, and summer camps welcomed thousands to our campus this year.
As you read through this report, I hope you remember that behind each number is the story of students, families, and entire regions transformed by the power of higher education.
Thank you for your belief in UAFS and for your role in supporting our mission.
Sincerely,
Terisa C. Riley, Ph.D. Chancellor
The UAFS campus is located at 5210 Grand Ave. Its 46 buildings boast 10,916 square feet of laboratory space, demonstrating the university’s emphasis on hands-on learning.
MISSION STATEMENT
At 15-feet-long, Numa is among the largest leaping lion statues in the world. Unveiled April 28, 2010.
UAFS empowers the social mobility of its students and the economic growth of the River Valley through exceptional opportunities and robust community partnerships.
STUDENT OUTCOMES
This past year, more than 56% of UAFS students qualified for Pell Grants, the federal indicator of extreme financial need, and more than half were the first in their families to attend college. We know that for these students, access is often the biggest barrier to a degree, so we are incredibly proud to have awarded financial aid to 94% of first-year students this year.
2,051
Credentials awarded this academic year
More than 5,400 students enrolled this fall, and the majors they chose reflected the workforce needs they saw around them. Business administration, nursing, biology, computer science, psychology, organizational leadership, elementary education, pre-radiography, and engineering earned top ranks. And as these students became graduates, they entered the workforce exceptionally prepared, many of them choosing to launch their careers, start their businesses, and step into leadership roles right here in our local community.
Master’s degrees awarded this year
Each of these graduates—more than 1,700 this year—is a testament to our mission. Their time on our campus has paved the way for brighter futures and set a powerful example for generations to come.
Students who are non-traditional (25 and older)
Pell-eligible undergraduates
First generation undergraduates
First-year students who received financial aid
Students who identify as Hispanic
Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List honors 1,767
Students earning
“As a creative, attending UAFS afforded me the opportunity to both study and gain practical handson experience in the field of photography. Now, as a photojournalist for the River Valley Democrat Gazette, I’ve been able to continue my creative work and utilize the skills I developed during my undergraduate studies in a professional setting every day.”
Johnathan Brewer ‘25
RECREATION AND WELLNESS
In 2025, UAFS will reimagine the Office of Campus Recreation and Wellness to more holistically support the physical and emotional health of our students, faculty, and staff.
As the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC) celebrates its 10-year anniversary, its offerings of intramural sports, fitness programs, club sports, climbing and bouldering walls, and outdoor programs have seen tremendous growth. The office now also oversees the Powell Student Health Clinic and the Student Counseling Center.
At the Powell clinic, students can be seen on campus throughout the week for minor illnesses, prescription refills, wound care, immunizations, annual physicals, health screenings, and testing, all at no out-of-pocket cost. And at the counseling clinic, students receive dedicated support for psychiatric, behavioral, and emotional needs from licensed, compassionate mental health professionals. At least eight counseling sessions are free for students.
Next year, Meighan Pendergrass, Executive Director, Campus Recreation, Health, and Wellness, hopes to increase awareness of services for both the counseling and health clinics by improving marketing, developing programming outside the clinic spaces, and providing health and wellness tips and information to the campus community.
In 2024, the RAWC also opened two intramural sports, softball and volleyball, to alumni and employees, creating fun, deep rivalries in the process. In the inaugural year, 22 alumni and 10 current staff
Overall, 61 teams competed in intramural flag football, softball, outdoor soccer, 5-on-5 basketball, ping pong, pickleball, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball and indoor soccer. Teams also participated in “Minute to Win It,” March Madness, and trivia challenges.
More than 70 students also participated in club football, pickleball, and volleyball, organizing student-run teams that competed against other collegiate teams.
Outside of the RAWC, Lion’s Loop, an ADA-accessible paved trail, offers the campus community a safe and well-lit, one-mile walking or running path.
42,514
Swipes at the RAWC this year
872
Appointments at the health clinic
786
RAWC guest passes purchased
Participants in group fitness classes 1,397 Services performed at the counseling center 595
“The Office of Campus Recreation and Wellness strives to provide meaningful activities and services for students to engage in and connect outside of the classroom.”
Meighan Pendergrass, Executive Director, Campus Recreation, Health, and Wellness
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Accessible education has always been a priority at UAFS–where extensive scholarships, a low base cost, and initiatives like the newly launched Tuition and Mandatory Fee Guarantee and Transfer with Pride programs keep education within reach.
Still, many of our students are just one emergency away from being forced to abandon their academic dreams.
When these setbacks hit, the Student Emergency Assistance Program is there to help with everything from housing insecurity to emergency medical and dental care to transportation repairs and job loss, thanks to generous donor funding.
“Oh, my goodness, I am literally crying right now. Thank you all so, so much! God bless you all, I don’t think thank you is even sufficient for how grateful I am right now,” said a student who received help with rent and an electric bill when unexpected illness and job loss hit their family at the same time as a damaged roof.
Financial burdens also can be prolonged instead of catastrophic at times, and we work to ease that burden as well.
The Dave Stevens Lion Pride Pantry provides our students with food, school supplies, and necessities to help ensure students who are struggling financially don’t have to attend class hungry or without basic supplies. During the holidays, the pantry sends home food boxes with full meals, shelf-stable snacks, and a whole turkey to help families make it through the breaks.
$19,800
Total aid provided by the SEAP this year
200
$825
2,263 Thanksgiving boxes provided this year
Average gift per student provided by Student Emergency Assistance Program
Food and necessity bags distributed by pantry services since it opened in 2020
24
Students assisted by the Student Emergency Assistance Program this year
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Office of Campus and Community Engagement offers students a wide array of co-curricular programs that help students build relationships and connections, develop their leadership skills, and become more engaged citizens. This year, almost 1,300 events brought the world to our campus, nearly all led by our students.
“Our student organizations get to reach out to the community in so many unique ways. They host community events like Haunted University, which provides a safe Halloween experience for almost 2,000 people in Fort Smith and share their cultures through events like Salsa at the Belltower, Asian American Pacific Islander Festival, and Lunar New Year, all of which have grown substantially over the past several years,” said Dyllan Newell, Coordinator of Student Activities and Civic Engagement. “Because cultural activities are open to the public, our students can build these amazing relationships with the entire River Valley and make it such an amazing place to live.”
More than 70 Registered Student Organizations offer something for virtually every interest group on campus – and if a student does not see what they are passionate about when they tour them all at Campus Block Party, the CACE office will help them start their own. This year, our 10 cultural clubs boasted hundreds of members, and nine faith-based organizations built communities of belief.
Beyond RSOs, our eight fraternities and sororities, along with organizations like LionHeart, continually give back to our community through philanthropic work.
From the Native American Student Organization’s annual stickball tournament and the Garden Club’s community herb garden to FCA’s Fields of Faith and Kappa Sigma’s annual first responder pizza delivery on Sept. 11, these students are bettering our region every day.
Fraternity and sorority members in 2024 193
Cultural events held on campus this year 114 44
Traditions celebrated in the UAFS Alumni
Traditions Keeper guide
1,277
Campus events this year
Registered Organizations 73
FACULTY AND STAFF
Across our three academic colleges, students can learn, research, and build resumes in more than 80 credentialed programs, with 33 certificates, 12 associate degrees, 34 bachelor’s degrees, and two master’s degrees available. Many of these credentials are stackable, allowing students to earn certificates and degrees that build upon each other, potentially saving time and money.
Over the past year, dozens of research projects took shape across these programs, while state, federal, and private grants amplified their impact. From NASA-funded student training on lunar terrain vehicles through the Arkansas Space Consortium to comprehensive workforce development projects for incumbent workers through the HIRED grant, UAFS is providing one-of-a-kind opportunities to learners in the River Valley.
Other standout grant-funded projects this year include:
The inaugural Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education; an Early Childhood pre-apprentice pilot program with the Arkansas Department of Education; and the Center for Economic Development’s work to better serve marginalized communities, made possible by a $1.3 million EDA University Center Grant.
To truly fulfill our mission of empowering every student at UAFS, we must also empower our faculty and staff to be the best educators possible. This year, the Center for Teaching and Learning helped us make that effort more tangible than ever before. This newly established center was made possible by a transformative $1 million gift from First National Bank and Citizens Bank & Trust.
We’ve also continued to invest in internal leadership development with our Lion Leadership program, now in its fourth year. This program leads 12 current faculty and staff members through a yearlong journey of professional development, shaping the leaders who will guide UAFS into the future.
ART AND DESIGN
Close, lifelong mentorship is a signature feature of Art & Design at UAFS, where students learn in state-of-the-art classrooms located within the inspiring Windgate Art and Design Building. Small class sizes ensure everyone receives an individualized experience, allowing for creative exploration. A vast alumni network brings creatives working in the nation’s largest media markets and practicing art across the globe back to campus with insights from the professional arts scene.
15,000
Square feet of additional space added in the Windgate Building expansion
With an average of 95 students each year, the Graphic Design program operates at full capacity, offering comprehensive education in print, publication, interactive and motion design, user experience, packaging, advertising, and augmented reality.
The design program has close ties with the Studio Art curriculum, giving both design and art students a holistic, versatile, and skilled approach to their professional careers. These students hone their digital skills on the same computer and software systems used by industry-leading agencies, refining their artistic techniques under the guidance of practicing designers.
Next year, with the 15,000-square-foot expansion and 4,000-square-foot renovation of the Windgate Art and Design Building, we will launch an even larger and more dynamic Book Arts studio, expanding our impact on the regional and national art scene. This studio will enable community members to engage alongside our students in a unique discipline that demands conceptual depth and material exploration. With typography, page layout, and the interplay of text and image at the heart of their studies, Graphic Design students in the Book Arts classes gain meaningful access to a rich artistic tradition.
286
Works in the permanent, university art collection
Artists in residence hosted since Spring 2022 7
144
Students in the Art & Design program this fall
HEALTH SCIENCES
The College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences at UAFS is beginning preparation for a new respiratory therapy program, once again addressing a critical healthcare need in the River Valley.
With the planned introduction of an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy, UAFS is deepening its commitment to healthcare education and responding to the River Valley’s acute shortage of medical professionals.
“As the demand for respiratory therapists continues to grow—both locally and nationwide—there’s never been a more important time to invest in training the next generation,” said Jeff Carrier, Region President for
Mercy Fort Smith and Baptist Health-Fort Smith have been critical in our development of this program, discussing the challenges of recruiting respiratory therapists and the importance of having qualified therapy staff at the bedside with university leadership. Filling the many open, good-paying, respiratory therapy jobs with UAFS students will benefit the entire River Valley community, said Cheryl Earls, Respiratory Therapy Director for Mercy Hospital.
Pending approval from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, and the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, the program could launch
The addition of this program is the latest in the college’s continued push to substantively improve healthcare outcomes across the state.
The Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing’s new two-year RN program, launched in Fall 2024, has already seen 36 students enroll in its inaugural two cohorts, and growth is continuing across its bachelor’s degree program thanks to expanded night and weekend classes.
Respiratory therapists needed immediately between the two largest acute care facilities
Students expected to be admitted to the RT program per year 12
Patients treated by the UAFS Dental Hygiene Clinic this year 638
Nurses graduated from the BSN program this year 76
Community service projects completed by student volunteers in the nursing program this year 31
“UAFS has long been a trusted partner in preparing skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals, and we’re confident they will continue to be a vital pipeline for the high-quality therapists our community needs.”
Jeff Carrier, Region President, Baptist Health
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
This fall, UAFS will deliver on a promise to meet critical workforce needs in one of our region’s largest sectors through two new academic offerings, a Bachelor of Science in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Advanced Manufacturing.
These programs were designed in response to local industry demand and developed in direct partnership with leading employers. It takes profound agility and commitment to create a program this way, but this kind of collaboration is how UAFS has approached higher education since its inception.
$2.91 TRILLION
Value added to the US GDP from manufacturing in 2024
The Bachelor of Science in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering program, the state’s first, blends principles from mechanical and electrical engineering, business, and data science to ensure graduates are ready to lead in automation, systems integration, quality control, supply chain management, smart factory design, and more.
Available Fort Smith jobs over the next five years with a bachelor’s degree in advanced manufacturing engineering Up to 156
The Certificate of Proficiency in Advanced Manufacturing is embedded within the bachelor’s curriculum, but also stands alone for learners seeking skill development in the industry who are pursuing different majors. The certificate delivers advanced knowledge in quality assurance, risk analysis, process management, and more - preparing them to lead digital and managerial projects in modern manufacturing.
Starting salary in Fort Smith with a bachelor’s degree in advanced manufacturing engineering Up to $75,000
Available Fort Smith jobs over the next five years with a certificate of proficiency in advanced manufacturing Up to 121
The economic benefits of these new programs are significant. In Fort Smith, the number of manufacturing jobs is twice the national average. These jobs drive more economic impact than any other sector, rippling across industries and sustaining families in the River Valley.
$6.7 million
State and private funds already invested in the Advanced Manufacturing program
1,678
Students attend events sponsored by the Babb Center for Career Services this academic year
CAREER SUPPORT
The Babb Center for Career Services provides so much more than just career fairs to help students find their first post-graduation job. Throughout the student experience, and well into alumni’s lives, the Babb Center provides assistance with everything it takes to land and progress in their careers, helping students create strong resumes, prepare for successful interviews, and meet future employers. The center even offers students a professional clothing closet to ensure they can get the interview clothes they need at no cost.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, staff reviewed and posted 835 resumes and hosted 90 events, including the All-Majors Career Fairs, specialized industry career fairs, employer events, classroom presentations, and workshops each year.
Nearly 1,700 students attended these events during the 2024-25 academic year, and more than 110 regional employers visited campus to recruit them.
To track their impact, the Babb Center also administers surveys using NACE First Destination standards to understand post-graduation outcomes.
Our 2023-2024 class, the most recent surveyed, saw nearly 97% of all UAFS graduates employed, continuing their education, or serving in the military or through voluntary service – proof that our campus is fulfilling its mission to empower social mobility throughout its graduates’ lives.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Center for Economic Development serves as a shining example of our mission to serve and strengthen our community. With training options for every stage of business and professional development through its three existing centers, and the brand-new Center for Nonprofits launching services this fall, there is truly no facet of the River Valley economy the CED doesn’t support.
Located in the heart of downtown Fort Smith at the Bakery District, the CED comprises the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Center (ASBTDC), the Center for Business and Professional Development (CBPD), and the Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center (FEC).
The CBPD offers a mix of niche, customized training services that can be tailored to meet specific industry or technological needs, as well as nationally recognized programs like GRIT and Lean Six Sigma.
The Jim Walcott FEC personalizes the CBPD’s offerings for the state’s familyowned businesses, building a community of family-owned businesses while fostering intergenerational learning.
The ASBTDC supports the River Valley’s small businesses and entrepreneurs, offering the critical support they need to both establish and run their enterprises. This year, the center will launch a new partnership with the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, establishing a dedicated presence in Crawford County. Ty Barrett, the center’s director, will begin spending time at the Van Buren office this fall to ensure business owners on both sides of the Arkansas River can access ASBTDC services.
The UAFS Center for Nonprofits will soon round out the CED’s suite of services, with the center’s inaugural executive director beginning August 1. The fully endowed center will offer professional development, capacity building, grant funding, localized academic research, internships, and comprehensive operational support to more than a thousand nonprofit organizations in the River Valley.
1,353
Individuals served by the CED
52 Trainings held 83
Gift to establish the Center for Nonprofits $7.5 Million Employers served at the CED 94 Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center member organizations
2,055
Credentials earned at the CED this year
“Whether someone in Crawford County wants to earn a certification, launch a business, or find a new career path, we want them to know they don’t have to drive to Fort Smith to get started. We’re bringing the resources closer to them, and that’s a major win for our region’s economic vitality.”
Kendall Ross, Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic & Workforce Development
ATHLETICS
At UAFS, the “student” comes first in “student-athlete” for a reason. These Lions are here to get a degree and to grow into leaders of character long after their playing days. Despite demanding practice schedules and travel seasons this year, student-athletes maintained an impressive 3.2 combined GPA. Dozens were named to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Academic Honor Roll, and they spent more than 700 hours volunteering in their community. Whether they’re high-fiving elementary school students to kick start their Friday mornings, reading in local classrooms, or volunteering in community clean-up or cancer awareness efforts, these students model love, service, and growth.
“Seeing our student-athletes walk the stage and get their degrees, that is invaluable,” said Curtis Janz, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Athletics, Recreation, Health and Wellness. “But seeing how their leadership and character has grown and knowing they are truly worthy of being role models is wonderful.”
To foster leadership development, the Lions Impact Series brings moving speakers to address student-athletes on topics including leadership, mental health, volunteering, team building, and the unique challenges faced by international students. These conversations ensure our students understand what it means to live with purpose.
During our first year as members of the MIAA, our Lions rose to the challenge. Our teams made appearances in the MIAA golf championship and regional championship, with Jeremy Tandoy honored as an NCAA Division II PING All-Central Region selection. Ali Perry won the NCAA Central Regional in women’s golf, and the team advanced to the NCAA II championships for the first time in program history. In women’s basketball, an MIAA conference tournament appearance capped off a slate of individual honors, including Anna Trusty, who earned MIAA Freshman of the Year and All-MIAA Third Team honors, and Morgan Browning, who earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention.
“We are building transformational relationships with our student-athletes.”
Curtis Janz, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Athletics, Recreation, Health and Wellness
UAFS ADVANCEMENT
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is special. It is a place where dreams become reality, a powerhouse of economic development, and a place where every student is both empowered and engaged. And every year, as we watch more than 1,000 graduates cross the commencement stage, we know our hospitals, corporations and communities are better off because of the power of education.
This transformation – in our students and in our community – is only possible because of our donors.
On April 2, we marked the next era of our university with the public launch of Intrepid Ambition, the Campaign for the River Valley. This $85 million campaign is the largest in the university’s history. With pillars focused on student success, academic excellence, and regional impact, it reflects our deepest values and highest aspirations. Today, we are more than 85% to our goal, with more than $72 million already committed.
The UAFS Foundation remains one of the largest private foundations in the state, a testament to the profound confidence our donors place in us and in our mission. Their gifts provide an umbrella of support through scholarships, making a post-secondary education possible for students who dream of making a better life. They enhance our physical spaces through capital projects and fuel academic advancement by helping UAFS recruit, retain, and equip innovative faculty and staff.
Their belief in our future propels us toward a world where every student receives a scholarship, where access is never an obstacle, and where our progress and development immediately fuel our region’s success.
In new fundraising commitments this year $15.6 million Raised during Day of Giving $103,375
Donors who have given to the UAFS Foundation this year 853
Individual gifts to the UAFS Foundation this year 1,922
$3.1 Million
In scholarships awarded by the UAFS Foundation this year
THE NATURAL CAMPUS
Our designation as a nationally recognized arboretum is a natural extension of a state celebrated for the beauty of its forests, waterfalls, mountains, caves, and rivers.
Over the past 97 years, UAFS has evolved from a small junior college into a thriving university, yet through every chapter of growth, one thing has remained constant: Our deep reverence for the trees that have stood beside us.
As an arboretum, the UAFS campus enhances our educational mission by serving as a living laboratory for students studying the physical sciences. It strengthens public engagement as friends of UAFS visit campus and as children play under the trees during Symphony on the Green or dart through them in costume during Haunted University. It supports the wellness of our community, as our faculty, staff, students, and neighbors can be seen at all hours of the day walking and running the Lions Loop.
Today, our campus is home to nearly 1,200 GPS-inventoried trees. Each one is a living testament to our commitment to beauty, biodiversity, and sustainability. With many species of oak, pine, cypress, and maple, the landscape transforms each fall into a breathtaking canvas of crimson, amber, and gold, creating a vibrant backdrop for educational pursuits.
These trees have watched generations pass. The century-old post oaks on the South Greens and the stately magnolia near the Wilhauf House in Van Buren were preserved with intention.
Many of the trees and shrubs on our campus are native to Arkansas, grounding us in the heritage of our state. They flower in the spring, they support local pollinators. Throughout the summer and fall bees, butterflies, and a host of other insects can be seen flitting from flower to flower.
Bells in the Donald W. Reynolds Bell Tower 43 Species of trees on campus 69 Acres
Inventoried trees on campus
“As part of The Natural State, being an arboretum aligns our campus with Arkansas’s identity, elevating our role as a leader in conservation and environmental education.”
Samantha Gillespie, Director of Facilities and Environmental Safety
– Fort Smith High School, 1927 –
In 1929, J.W. Ramsey, Fort Smith superintendent of schools, wrote of then Fort Smith Junior College “All indications are such that the college will grow from year to year until it becomes an indispensable part of the public school system.” Over the 96 years that followed, our university has lived up to those indications and fully surpassed them, becoming an essential part the educational ecosystem of the state of Arkansas.