The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees hosted a regular meeting on Friday, Feb. 28, in which they were presented with strong current year enrollment and budget performance as well as a positive outlook for fall 2025.
“Looking at several data points, we have strong indicators that our incoming freshman class for 2025 will show another significant increase and contribute to the sustained overall growth,” said UCA President Houston Davis. “While we are cautiously optimistic, we feel very positive about our incoming class.”
The current data shows that the number of submitted applications for first-time freshman students for fall 2025 has increased by 3%, above the record numbers realized in fall 2024, and the number of first-time freshman students already admitted is also on the rise at 2%.
UCA Commitment will enter its second year of implementation in fall 2025. The inaugural class in fall 2024 boasted 765 participants. As of this month, UCA Commitment applications are more than 1,000 with the application deadline of May 5.
Additionally, early registrations for Summer Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) stand at 910, which is 3% higher than this time last year. That number is expected to continually increase as those interested in the summer SOAR sessions may still apply at https://uca.edu/fye/soar/.
In other business, the Board of Trustees voted to increase room and board rates for 2025-26 by 5%. This increase will result in students living on campus paying an additional $456 per year. The current room and board rate is $9,110 per year, based on a double-occupancy room and the Total Access meal plan with $250 declining cash balance. The increase will help to support necessary service enhancements and upgrades, as well as make repairs and renovations to university residence halls and apartment complexes.
UCA President Davis, Board of Trustees Member Amy Denton, Board of Trustees Chair Michael Stanton
The board recognized Amy Denton, 2024 UCA Board of Trustees chair, with a Resolution of Appreciation citing several accomplishments under her leadership including welcoming the first-year cohort of UCA Commitment students and maintaining an A2 Stable Moody’s rating.
UCA Board of Trustees Chair Michael Stanton, Michael Rubach, Executive Vice President and Provost Michael Hargis
The Board of Trustees approved two retired professors to receive the designation of Distinguished Professor Emeritus. John Murphy and Michael Rubach had received unanimous recommendation from UCA’s Distinguished Faculty Emeritus/Emerita Committee.
Murphy served as a professor of school psychology from 1995 to 2022. Rubach served as a professor of marketing and management from 1997 to 2023. A formal presentation for both Distinguished Professor Emeritus recipients will be conducted during May commencement.
The Board of Trustees also approved the following measures:
- Purchase of four duplexes on Farris Road in the amount of $1,310,000. The properties are adjacent to Buffalo Alumni Hall and Stadium Park Apartments and will initially be used for student housing.
- Offer a post-master’s certificate in change leadership that will be 100% online
- Offer 50% of the Bachelor of Science in psychology online
