From early literacy to lifelong learning, UCA partnerships connect students, alumni and communities through education, research and outreach
ELSE PARTNERSHIP WITH ANNE WATSON ELEMENTARY
Since 2012, the UCA Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education (ELSE) partnership with Anne Watson Elementary in Bigelow, Arkansas, has set the gold standard for clinical teacher preparation and community impact. By embedding highly trained interns directly into partner schools, this partnership delivers intensive, evidence-based reading interventions that transform lives. This collaboration bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring our “Bear Cubs” receive high-quality, individualized instruction rooted in the science of reading while UCA interns gain unparalleled real-world expertise.
This program is defined by a rigorous, data-driven approach to literacy. This course is currently instructed by Ashley Wilson, a faculty member in the Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education Department in the College of Education at UCA. Interns use diagnostic tools to engineer precise intervention plans tailored to each student’s unique needs. This is not just tutoring; it is a clinical masterclass in instructional design. By integrating advanced behavioral progress monitoring with weekly professional debriefs and collaborative “handoff” protocols, this program maintains instructional continuity and accountability, ensuring that all students’ needs are met.
The results of this collaboration are nothing short of extraordinary. Over a 14-week cycle, interns produce professional-grade progress reports that empower parents and teachers with actionable data. This synergy between pre-service interns and in-service educators creates a powerhouse of professional development, fostering deep mentorships and significant academic gains. School districts partnering with the K6 and Special Education programs at UCA in the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education aren’t just hosting students; they are participating in an elite educational engine dedicated to cultivating the next generation of master reading teachers.
BEARS BUILDING BRIDGES
Strengthening Mental Health at UCA
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the School Counseling Program at UCA Odunola Oyeniyi and Community Leadership Concentration Leader and Assistant Professor Evan Faidley from UCA’s Department of Leadership Studies secured funding from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas to support comprehensive mental health programming at UCA. This initiative aims to improve mental health awareness, reduce stigma and enhance campuswide support systems.
During spring and fall 2025, the program directly reached 1,138 individuals, significantly expanding mental health literacy and suicide prevention capacity at UCA. Of those impacted, 1,013 students participated in classroom-based mental health programming, self-care sessions and suicide prevention events held in academic spaces, the Ronnie Williams Student Center and the Thomas C. Courtway Student Recreation Center. These sessions emphasized recognizing warning signs of distress, understanding risk and protective factors, and learning how to seek help for oneself or others. For many participants, this marked their first exposure to structured mental health education in a collegiate setting.
Additionally, 125 faculty, staff and student leaders completed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification through 13 intensive training sessions. Trainees represented 18 departments and five academic colleges, strengthening UCA’s campuswide safety net by equipping student-facing personnel with evidence-based tools to identify, respond to and support individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
The initiative also included community-centered awareness events such as the Out of the Darkness Walk and Talk Saves Lives, which fostered dialogue, reduced stigma, and honored the lived experiences of loss and resilience.
Together, these efforts reflect a powerful, measurable impact that positions UCA as a leader in proactive, inclusive campus mental health support and demonstrates how targeted funding can translate into lives informed, empowered and supported.
BRAIN FITNESS
Since its start in 2013, UCA’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) has been bridging the gap between clinical excellence and community connection. Through the Brain Fitness program, UCA graduate clinicians are bringing cutting-edge cognitive wellness directly to the residents of College Square, our on-campus retirement community.
The program focuses on the core pillars of cognitive health, ensuring participants remain sharp, engaged and empowered. Essential skills included are attention and memory, language mastery, executive functioning and social cognition. This holistic approach to brain health is designed to allow participants to learn strategies to boost cognitive reserve in daily life, to find community by connecting with peers who share similar experiences and concerns, and to engage actively by putting research into practice through stimulating learning activities.
It is offered every spring and fall semester, serving 18 residents per semester. The program is led by six CSD graduate students and supervised by two licensed speech language pathologists, Amber Goff and Dr. Towino Paramby.
CONWAY AREA YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (CAYLI)
In April 2026, UCA Outreach celebrated the completion of the 30th class of the Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute (formerly the Faulkner County Youth Leadership Institute). This leadership program for high school students is the premier leadership development program in Central Arkansas, with more than 500 students having completed it since its founding in 1995.
Students involved in the program learn about local government and industries, explore career and college opportunities, develop their leadership skills and engage in hands-on projects that benefit their communities.
This cooperative effort between UCA Outreach and Community Engagement, Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute and school districts throughout Faulkner County gives area youth greater awareness of opportunities for community involvement and improvement.
STEM POSTERS AT THE CAPITOL
Since 2012 (except 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), college students have presented STEM-based research through poster presentations on the second floor of the Arkansas Capitol Rotunda. Arkansas STEM Posters at the Capitol is open to the public with invitations to elected officials.
The Arkansas STEM Posters at the State Capitol is modeled after the STEM Posters program at Murray State University in Kentucky. Both are designed to mirror the Posters on the Hill event at the U.S. Capitol.
One of the goals of the event is to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the level of complex research in natural sciences and mathematics conducted by students at Arkansas colleges and universities. Another goal is to increase student enrollment and retention in STEM fields.
On March 4, 2026, STEM students presented research to an audience of peers, educators, elected officials and more. More than 100 students from 13 Arkansas colleges and universities presented 72 original works encompassing all aspects of science and technology.
GIRLS WHO CODE
What began in fall 2022 as a small group of eight students has quickly grown into a community of 49 members through the Girls Who Code College (GWC) Loop at UCA. The organization’s rapid growth and impact were recognized campuswide when the UCA GWC chapter was named the 2023 New Registered Student Organization (RSO) of the Year. The award highlighted the group’s commitment to building community, promoting technology education and expanding outreach opportunities for students.
Girls Who Code, a national organization, encourages students to explore programming, develop leadership skills and build supportive communities. While many members study computer science in the College of Science and Engineering (COSE) and engineering or computer information systems and analytics in the College of Business (COB), this organization intentionally welcomes students from every major and gender. This reflects a collaborative effort across campus, bringing together faculty and students from multiple disciplines with a shared goal of helping students discover their purpose and vision for the future. This interdisciplinary approach has helped create a supportive environment where students from across campus can explore technology together.
Beyond campus, GWC members are actively involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) outreach throughout Arkansas. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Museum of Discovery, local schools and statewide STEM initiatives, students introduce K-12 learners to programming through hands-on activities, while encouraging them to imagine their own futures in STEM.
On campus, they also volunteer with programs such as UCA’s IT Camp, the Museum of Discovery Girls in STEM Camp and STEM Day activities throughout the year.
Since its founding, the organization has grown into a statewide outreach effort, introducing thousands of students across Arkansas to coding, mentorship and the possibilities of technology.
AMERICA AT 250 EVENTS
America’s Semiquincentennial was celebrated in grand fashion the week of Feb. 9, 2026. Art exhibitions, readings, artists-in-residence and more were all featured during the weeklong celebration.
Artists-in-Residence ShoutHouse, a genre-defying musical collective blending instrumental music, vocals and hip-hop, were on campus for a multi-day residence with events that highlighted collaboration, contemporary music-making and live performances. Their residency included open rehearsals with the UCA Wind Ensemble, conversations focused on entrepreneurship in music, pop-up concerts across campus and a public concert.
Thursday, Feb. 12, in Baum Gallery in McCastlain Hall there was A 250 Gathering (with Cake) event. This celebration included a spirited reading of the Declaration of Independence by UCA President Houston Davis dressed in period clothing; a fife and drum performance by Katie McManus (percussion) and Kami Curtis (flute); a performance of 18th century American music by Ben Thorburn (harpsichord and vocals), Clara Spivey (flute), Mary Ruth Kitchens (vocals) and the UCA Collegium Singers. There were also exhibits, interactive activities and a special birthday cake and punch.