UCA Board of Trustees approves strategic plan, budget, tuition at May meeting

UCA 2035 roadmap, investment in employees, student fee updates among key agenda items

The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees adopted the new UCA 2035 Strategic Plan, approved the university’s operating budget for fiscal year 2026-27, and approved updates to tuition, fees, and room and board rates during its regular meeting Wednesday, May 27.

During the 2025-26 academic year, the university engaged in a comprehensive strategic planning process to develop a new long-range plan to guide the institution through 2035. More than 1,400 individuals – including faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees and community partners – contributed through surveys, community conversations, feedback labs and working groups.

The resulting UCA 2035 plan was approved by trustees to guide university priorities and planning around four strategic imperatives: Centering Student Success; Arkansas Campus of Innovation; Discovery in Action; and Future-Ready Foundations. This integrated roadmap will strengthen student outcomes, expand innovation and workforce partnerships, advance research and creative activity, and ensure that the university’s people, systems and infrastructure are prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges of the next decade.

“UCA 2035 is rooted in who we have always been as a university – an institution that believes education strengthens lives, communities and opportunities,” Provost Michael Hargis, who led the effort, said. “This plan builds on more than a century of preparing students for successful careers and engaged citizenship while positioning UCA to meet the opportunities of the next decade.

“It reflects our commitment to student success, innovation, mentorship, applied learning and community engagement, while ensuring our graduates continue to leave UCA prepared to contribute immediately and meaningfully in Arkansas and beyond.”

In other action, the Board approved a $218.4 million operating budget for FY27, an increase of 3.23% over the prior year budget. The budget prioritizes student success, stable reserves and minimizing financial impact on students and families, while supporting strategic investments in employees, facilities and campus infrastructure.

Included in the budget is continued progress toward bringing faculty and staff salaries to competitive market levels, along with funding for faculty promotions and academic position adjustments.

“UCA’s proposed operating budget reflects a careful balance between strategic investment and long-term sustainability,” UCA President Houston Davis said. “This budget allows us to continue investing in our people, maintaining vibrant programs and strong support systems for students, and positioning the university for future success.”

Trustees also approved a FY27 Voluntary Employee Retirement Incentive (VERI) plan for eligible faculty and staff. The program is designed to support long-term institutional planning and workforce transitions across several fiscal years and in support of strategic priorities.

The Board approved a 4.06% increase in mandatory tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate students for the 2026-27 academic year. The revenue generated from this increase will be applied to employee compensation, the District Loop & Hydronics project, deferred maintenance, a one-device policy as part of a technology refresh plan and operational support for the student recreation center.

UCA has seen continued demand for quality housing from returning students and expects housing to again be at full capacity in the fall semester. New apartment options based on double or single occupancy will be available this fall at newly leased facilities. To meet these needs, the room and board rate for 2026-27 will be $11,210 annually, a 6.50% increase, based on a double-occupancy room and the new Bear Flex 3 meal plan. This increase supports ongoing maintenance and upgrades to housing facilities and expanded meal options.

The Board also authorized the renovation and preparation of the UCA Innovation Campus through a contract for approximately $1.16 million, with the Conway Development Corporation contributing $500,000 of the total. The estimated completion date of the project is Aug. 15, 2026.

Under notifications and deletions, trustees were informed of several proposed academic program additions and revisions, including:

• A new Associate of Science in General Education, earned in progress toward a Bachelor of Science degree.
• New revisions to the Associate of Arts in General Education.
• A new Certificate of Proficiency in Professional Selling.
• A revised Master of Science in Nursing degree with a new Family Nurse Practitioner concentration.
• A new concentration in Substance Use Prevention within the MS in Health Promotion degree.
• A classification code update for the Master of Science in Nutrition.
• A new minor in Bioinformatics.

The May Bear C.L.A.W.S. (Celebrating the Lofty Achievements of our Wonderful Students) honoree was the 2026 VITA for Preparers course, in which students made a significant impact on the Conway community and Central Arkansas during the 2026 tax season through participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. UCA students prepared approximately 450 tax returns for community members, resulting in more than $400,000 in tax refunds returned to local families and an estimated savings of $80,000 in tax preparation fees.