STRENGTHENED UNIQUE DISCIPLINES AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR APPLIED LEARNING SET UCA APART
At the University of Central Arkansas, our nationally recognized Honors College programs which include the Schedler Honors College and the University Scholars Program, continue to develop citizen-scholars ready to lead social change and impact the campus community, Arkansas, the region and beyond. Additionally, our student-athletes continue to dominate on the field and excel in the classroom.
Schedler Honors Council president and peer coach Richard Ware made change happen as he interned at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in summer of 2023. He credits the Honors College for preparing him for a diverse world, “You get to meet different people from different walks of life and backgrounds. It’s taught me the importance of diversity and inclusion and how we can bring different people of different backgrounds together and make an equal playing field that everybody can participate in. I think what makes Honors truly unique is the fact our students aren’t just trying to better themselves, they’re also trying to better the world.”
Schedler Honors College President
Political Science & Philosophy Double Major, Peer Coach
Schedler Honors ambassador and council member Cooper Horton cites the Honors College’s curriculum structure, emphasis on collaboration, support of travel abroad opportunities, and worldview supporting community service as integral components to the impact its students make as leaders. The program “starts with the self and then slowly expands to the community and a community service project and then expands further to the wider world community. So you have Honors students all around the world and the Honors College is helping get them there. I know a bunch of people, myself included, that will take the lessons given to them by the Honors College that will have them doing things that impact the world,” said Horton.
Linguistics & International Studies Double Major, Schedler Honors Ambassador, Honors Council Member
UCA had more than 450 student-athletes who competed in UCA’s Athletics programs last year. Additionally, UCA’s student-athletes earned a GPA greater than 3.0 for 19 consecutive semesters showing their dedication to athletics and academics. Baseball player Jesse Barker, a pitcher from Benton, Arkansas, cites the culture of success in and out of the classroom as a major factor in the long-time success of student-athletes. “Any team or departmental success starts with leadership. Academics are no exception, and we have the best when it comes to advisors, coaches, professors, and more. When paired with the buy-in from each individual, UCA athletics has established a culture of success in the classroom seen over the years,” said Barker.
Post Baccalaureate Student, Baseball Pitcher