The potential for continued enrollment growth and a strong incoming freshman class for fall 2025 were key topics during the regular May meeting for the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees on Thursday, May 29.
In a briefing by UCA President Houston Davis, he presented current statistics indicating a freshman class that will top 2,100 students for a second consecutive year. Additionally, it was noted that early registrations for fall semester are robust and that overall enrollment for all levels is approximately 3.2% ahead of this same time last year.
Registration for Summer Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) sessions is on track with last year’s record numbers, and while the sessions have already begun, those interested in attending some of the remaining, open sessions may still apply at SOAR.
During the meeting, board members voted to approve several campus projects, including updates to Arkansas Hall, a residential facility for female freshman students. Also approved was the buildout of the UCA Aviation Academy Hangar, which encompasses furniture, flight simulators and other equipment. With the board’s approval of the 2025-26 budget, UCA faculty and staff will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment effective July 1, 2025.
“Facility upgrades and maintenance, faculty and staff salary increases, and a growth outlook for our overall enrollment are all indicative of the positive momentum at UCA. These are all signs of a healthy institution with a bright future,” Davis said.
In other business, the Board of Trustees voted to increase mandatory tuition and fees by 3.96% for undergraduate and graduate students. This increase will result in undergraduate students taking 15 hours per semester, paying an additional $417 for the year; graduate students taking 12 hours would pay an additional $390 for the year.
“This change in tuition and fees will help to support the campus and our initiatives beyond all of the other cost-effectiveness measures we have taken,” Davis said. “Increasing educational costs for students is never a decision taken lightly or without careful consideration of our stewardship of existing resources. We have worked to position the university to be able to invest in our people, facilities and programs through our Resource Optimization Initiative and other reallocation means and will continue to do so to provide the best possible educational experience for our students.”
Other board agenda items included:
- The 2028-29 academic calendar
- A new Bachelor of Science in Education in Science and Technology
- A new Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language
