The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees received an update during its regular August meeting Thursday, Aug. 6, on the UCA Innovation Campus set to open this fall. University leadership highlighted continued progress on the project, which is expected to strengthen workforce partnerships, expand research opportunities and support economic development in Arkansas.
“The Innovation Campus represents the next chapter in UCA’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers while strengthening Arkansas’s economy,” President Houston Davis said. “By bringing together education, research and industry in one collaborative environment, we are creating opportunities for our students, faculty and partners to solve real-world challenges and drive innovation that benefits our region for years to come.”
UCA College of Science and Engineering Dean Stephen Addison shared the latest developments on the Innovation Campus, including updates on the new electronics laboratory, the robotics and electronics teaching areas, new classroom spaces, and progress on the buildout of the new Fab Lab and spaces to be shared with University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. Addison spoke of the excitement about the expanded learning opportunities and room for growth the campus will provide.
“This is not just a change of space – it’s going to completely change how we teach these classes,” Addison said. “Our effective and forward-thinking teams have designed this campus to enable UCA to be at the forefront of workforce development and the changes that technology will bring to us.”
UCA will offer six courses at the Innovation Campus this fall for returning students, with introductory-level courses to be added in the spring semester. Until now, most laboratory classes have been a three-hour lecture class with a separate three-hour lab.
“In this new facility, we will change that to three, two-hour sessions per week with an integrated lab and mini-lecture environment, which is the modern way of bringing project work and teamwork into the beginning classes,” Addison said. “Every employer I’ve talked to talks about the ability of the student to participate effectively in teams.
“This way we’ll have our students working in teams from the beginning of their education.”
Among the action items approved by the board were revisions to Board Policy No. 410, Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, reflecting the current intellectual property environment and the university’s approach to innovations, inventions, patents and copyrights. The revised policy encourages the development and disclosure of new innovations while clarifying protections for student-created intellectual property.
Trustees also authorized the administration to proceed with the competitive bid process for replacement of the track surface at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex. The approximately $1.6 million project will replace the existing surface, allowing UCA Track and Field facilities to continue operating at NCAA competition standards. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027. Other action included approving a five-year contract extension with Illumia for the university’s integrated cashiering and payment system.
Trustees received notification that the Department of Music will become the School of Music, reflecting the program’s size, scope and national recognition and accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Other notifications included the following additions:
- Certificate of Proficiency in Child Advocacy, which will address specific child advocacy needs in Arkansas and provide students with applied training by connecting them to local, regional and statewide agencies and interprofessional teams.
- Minor in Film Studies, which will focus on the aesthetic and contextual study of film as a form of art and communication.
- Minor in Japanese Culture and Language, which will include three new courses in Japanese culture and language that will build on the existing curriculum and allow students to complete an 18-credit-hour minor in Japanese.
- Minor in Spanish Proficiency for Health Professionals, which will prepare students pursuing medical or health careers to understand and effectively communicate medical information in Spanish.
The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be Friday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m.