Copyright Arkansas Online
Your browser does not support the audio element. The University of Central Arkansas is celebrating homecoming this week in part by offering high school seniors the chance to apply for free. Starting Wednesday and continuing through Saturday, seniors can use the promo code HOME2UCA to have their application fee waived, according to Tiffany Head, UCA's director of media relations. UCA increased undergraduate enrollment by 2% from last fall, keyed by improved retention rates and incoming transfer students. The freshman class topped 2,000 for the second-consecutive year, with an average high school GPA of 3.63 and average ACT score of 22, according to Kevin Thomas, vice president for enrollment services and student success. They hail from 71 Arkansas counties and 20 states, and 40% are first-generation college students, up 1% from last year. UCA also offers its UCA Commitment, which allows students from Arkansas households with less than $100,000 in income to attend without paying tuition or mandatory fees out of pocket, according to President Houston Davis. UCA helps participating students receive all federal and state aid due to them, as well as scholarships, then assists in making up any remaining balance through UCA scholarships and work study programs. UCA is also increasing its presence in the fastest-growing region of the state, announcing a Northwest Arkansas Advisory Council comprised of a select group of UCA alumni leaders who will serve as strategic partners and advocates, according to the university. They'll help connect the university's people, programs and resources with the energy and innovation that define Northwest Arkansas. "Northwest Arkansas is one of the most influential regions in the South, and UCA needs to be part of that story," UCA's Senior Director of Northwest Arkansas Engagement Paul Gatling said in a news release from the university Monday. "This council is how we start treating it like a partner in shaping the university's future." The council's mission is to strengthen UCA's presence and impact in the region by unlocking untapped potential and deepening alumni engagement, according to UCA. Members will advise university leadership, identify opportunities for collaboration and help shape initiatives that enhance UCA's visibility and influence in the area. "UCA has more than 4,000 alumni in Benton and Washington counties, but we haven't fully tapped into the opportunity that represents," Davis said in the news release. "This council is how we begin to change that – by building stronger relationships, opening new doors, and ensuring UCA plays a visible, lasting role in this region's future." The university is also committed to international students, with the University of Central Arkansas' Center for Global Learning and Engagement receiving the 2025 Governor's Award for Excellence in Global Trade -- International Impact in Education earlier this month. The award recognized the center's efforts to recruit, admit, and support international students, according to UCA. The center welcomed 98 new international students from 70 countries this fall, bringing its total international student enrollment to 321 students. The center is responsible for all immigration reporting required by the U.S. government and manages semester study abroad opportunities at more than 20 partner universities on five continents and the National Student Exchange Study Away program throughout the U.S. and Canada, according to the university. UCA's "Global Classroom" initiative provides UCA students and faculty the opportunity to participate in collaborative online learning with partners around the world.
