The University of Central Arkansas has welcomed another freshman class of over 1,900 students in what is expected to be the second-largest full-time freshman class in the state for the 11th consecutive year.

“Our fall enrollment is right in line with our projections, builds on our retention gains and marks a third consecutive historically strong freshman class,” BTĚěĚĂPresident Houston Davis said. “These results reflect continued interest and confidence in UCA, and we look forward to sustaining this strength throughout the coming decade.”

The preliminary census report shows 1,940 incoming freshmen this fall, with overall enrollment at 9,468 students, including 7,903 undergraduate and 1,565 graduate students. As part of a planned multiyear shift in concurrent enrollment policy, BTĚěĚĂis not enrolling high school concurrent students this academic year. In line with their missions, local community college partners have expanded concurrent course offerings to meet regional demand.

University housing is at capacity for a third consecutive year, requiring additional apartment leases to meet returning student demand. Enrollment data point to continued student engagement and persistence, with students taking more credit hours and BTĚěĚĂattracting transfer students from across the region.

“Seeing our students carry higher credit loads reflects real momentum in degree completion at UCA,” Kevin Thomas, vice president of Enrollment Services & Student Success, said. “Our focus isn’t just on enrollment numbers, but ensuring that every student has the support and resources they need to keep moving toward graduation.”

The university welcomed 550 new students as the third cohort of BTĚěĚĂCommitment. This debt-free degree pathway covers tuition and academic fees for incoming Arkansas first-time undergraduate students who are Pell Grant eligible or have an annual household income of $100,000 or less. Since launching in 2024, more than 1,870 Arkansas families have benefited from the program. In spring 2027, the first wave of students will graduate with their bachelor’s degree through the assistance of the initiative.

“BTĚěĚĂCommitment is about giving Arkansas students the opportunity to pursue a college degree and the support they need to reduce their financial burden and reach that goal,” Davis said. “We want these students to know they belong at BTĚěĚĂand are surrounded by a community invested in their success from the moment they arrive on campus through graduation.”

Since the launch of BTĚěĚĂCommitment, the university has averaged 277 more first-year students and continues to see historically strong retention results, with 73% of first-year students returning for their sophomore year.

“As our university has expanded access and removed barriers for more students, we are proud to see that academic quality and student engagement have only strengthened through our student success strategies,” Davis said.

UCA’s emphasis on student persistence and completion is also reflected in its graduation outcomes. The university’s six-year graduation rate has increased for three consecutive cohorts, rising from 53% to 54%.

“This increase in our graduation rate represents the hard work of our students and the faculty and staff who support them along the way,” Thomas said. “We will continue refining our efforts to ensure every student has a clear pathway to completing their degree.”

UCA’s geographic appeal continues to expand as fall enrollment includes students from all 75 Arkansas counties, 48 states and 62 countries.

“We have always been committed to serving Arkansas students and families, and we are equally pleased with the growing interest we see from beyond our borders,” Davis said. “We are proud to welcome these students to BTĚěĚĂand Conway and provide an education that prepares them for very bright futures.”

Dr. Elrod joined the department in 2014 after teaching political science courses at Harding University in Searcy for nearly three decades. At UCA, Dr. Elrod taught sections of the introductory U.S. government & politics course, along with upper-division courses on the United Nations, international law, and American foreign policy. In addition, Dr. Elrod coordinated the annual Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference for hundreds of high school students from Arkansas and neighboring states each November. In his capacity as a co-faculty advisor for the BTĚěĚĂModel United Nations student organization, Dr. Elrod advised numerous BTĚěĚĂstudents who participated in collegiate Model UN conferences in Arkansas and Missouri.

Dr. Elrod earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Lipscomb College in Nashville in 1984 and a Ph.D. in political science at Vanderbilt University in 1995. Previously, Dr. Elrod served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation anti-submarine warfare operator from 1976 to 1980. Among his many roles on UCA’s campus, Dr. Elrod proudly served on the university’s veterans affairs committee in 2020-2021 and 2023-2026. Dr. Elrod was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe and served as a member of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB) Commission from 2014 to 2020. He was also an active member of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) for nearly four decades, including serving as president of the association in 2002-2003.

Dr. Elrod was a valued member of our university community, and we share in the grief of his family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who knew and cared for him. His colleagues and students in the department will especially miss his sense of humor and dedication to higher education and public service.

A service for Dr. Elrod will take place at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home in Little Rock, Saturday, Sept. 5, with visitation at noon and the service at 2 p.m.

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Film Program has been named to . Noting the impressive films by its students and faculty, top-notch equipment and facilities, its track record of visiting artists, and its affordable and competitive tuition, the magazine has included UCA’s film program with much larger and well-known programs, including those at the American Film Institute (AFI), University of Southern California (USC) and New York University (NYU).

“Being included on MovieMaker’s top 30 list of film Schools in the United States and Canada is a major honor, placing BTĚěĚĂin the same company as well-known film schools like AFI, USC, UCLA, NYU and Columbia,” BTĚěĚĂFilm Program Coordinator Bruce Hutchinson said. “Our inclusion as a smaller state school attests to our focus on developing the voice and vision of our students, the dedication of our students to commit an incredible amount of time and effort to becoming practicing filmmakers, and a faculty that cares deeply for the students while maintaining active creative and scholarly careers.

“Additionally, BTĚěĚĂFilm has accomplished this with one of the lowest tuition rates of any school on the list.”

UCA’s Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing offers a BA program focused on production, and a three-year MFA program oriented toward writers-directors that emphasizes technical skills and film studies. The 48-credit major consists entirely of film courses, and the university offers the only MFA Film Program in Arkansas. On average, BTĚěĚĂFilm has approximately 200 majors, minors and graduate students in the program.

The current issue of MovieMaker () also features Hutchinson discussing . He notes that whatever directions AI may take the film industry, BTĚěĚĂremains committed to developing the unique voice and vision of each of its students.

The magazine describes BTĚěĚĂstudent films as “strikingly daring and well-made.” BTĚěĚĂstudent films have played at a wide range of festivals from the Madrid International Film Festival, to top-quality American film festivals like the Austin Film Festival, and a wide range of regional and state festivals, including the Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland. Many faculty members are also practicing filmmakers and have screened at festivals around the world from London, Paris and Berlin, to major American festivals in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles, among others.

Nearly 175 community leaders from across Arkansas and nine other states – Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas – participated in the 40th annual Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). The five-day training session, held July 27-31, concluded with a graduation and awards ceremony.

Executive Director of the Women’s Leadership Network Dr. Shaneil Ealy received the Bill Miller Community Development Award as recognition for her leadership and support of CDI. This award recognizes an individual who has had a significant, positive impact on UCA’s CDI. Ealy serves as a CDI speaker, is a former CDI Advisory Board member and previously held various leadership roles in the BTĚěĚĂDivision of Outreach and Community Engagement, including coordinating and leading CDI training.

“During her 20-year career at UCA, Shaneil provided guidance, direction, support and leadership to the Community Development Institute in various capacities,” CDI Director Shelby Fiegel said. “Under her leadership as the associate vice president for the Division of Outreach and Community Engagement (including CDI), CDI hit record enrollment numbers and developed new partnerships that have allowed our program to thrive.

“We are thankful for her service to BTĚěĚĂand her continued commitment to CDI.”

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and the Conway Development Corporation (CDC) were honored with the Friend of the Community Development Award, offered each year to an individual or organization that demonstrates strong support for community development and CDI. The Chamber and CDC have served as a partner of CDI since its inception in 1987. Chamber and CDC staff provide support to CDI through board service, serving as CDI speakers and as sponsors of the program. Many Chamber and CDC staff are also graduates or current participants of the program.

“Conway was the birthplace of CDI and has been our home for 40 years,” Fiegel said. “For our 40th anniversary, it felt fitting to honor and thank our friends at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corporation for their support and partnership.

“Our partners are the key to our success.”

The CDI 2026 graduating class chose Tannella Gauthreaux-Foster of Entergy Arkansas as the Ernest Whitelaw Award recipient. This award recognizes an individual for exemplifying the following points: dedication to professional community development practice; proven involvement in the CDI educational experience, demonstrated by enthusiastic individual and group class participation, willingness to assume leadership roles and regular class attendance; a spirit of caring and inclusion shown by a willingness to assist, enable and involve fellow students in the CDI experience; and strong personal integrity.

Rashad Woods of ARVAC Inc. was chosen by his cohort as the CDI Year 1 Champion, and Gary Bass of the Jefferson Davis County Economic Development Association was chosen by his cohort as the CDI Year 2 Champion.

Forty-three (43) leaders from across Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas graduated from the Community Development Institute (listed below).

In addition to the graduation and awards ceremony, the week’s activities featured Dr. Richard Reeves of the American Institute for Boys and Men as the CDI 2026 Keynote Speaker. Participants also engaged in several simulations, case studies and leadership development activities. A group of CDI graduates called the CDI Advanced Year worked directly with the City of Pea Ridge to explore the community and conduct a SWOT analysis to support future community and economic development efforts.

2026 Community Development Institute Graduates:

• Adriana Fuentes Archila of ACC Capital
• Amy Burton of Main Street Searcy
• Amy Finster of FARCO/Precise
• Baylea Birchfield-Renfrow of the City of Bentonville
• Beth Wilson of the City of Marion
• Brody Wamble of Simmons Bank
• Chad Hearne of the Vilonia Community Development Corporation
• Christie Lindsey of Phoenix Youth & Family Services, Inc.
• Christy Burns of the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce
• Contrena Smith of the Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind
• Courtney Roberts of the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District
• Darrell Welch of Forward Searcy Inc.
• Mayor David Streeter of the City of Hamburg
• Mayor Ethan Barnes of the City of Hardy
• Georganna Cossey of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
• Heather Edwards of Restore Hope
• Jacqueline Wolven of Main Street Eureka Springs
• Jessica Grady of the City of Bella Vista
• Karen Hicks of the Union County Chamber
• Mayor Kasey Griffin of the City of Heber Springs
• Keith Cox of the City of Bryant
• Kelli Souter of the City of Magnolia
• LaJarlyn (LJ) Wesley of the City of Maumelle
• LaTaaka Harvey of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research & Extension
• Mayor Lisa Hicks-Gilbert of the City of Elaine
• Malik Barnes of Americans for Action (A4A)
• Mallory Nelson of the Little Rock Regional Chamber
• Megan Selman of the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce & Russellville Regional Alliance for Economic Development
• Nick Stevens of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Nicole Vogler of the City of Maumelle
• Quan Moore of Entergy Arkansas
• Rachel Jenkins of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
• Rebecca Kidder of the City of Bryant
• Rickey Gulley of the Marine Corps League
• Shannon Newerth-Henson of My HR Pros and the City of Van Buren
• Shellie O’Quinn of Half Associates
• Stephen Partridge at the State of Arkansas
• Susie Cowan of The Creek Media
• Tannella Gauthreaux-Foster of Entergy Arkansas
• Vanessa Weeks of Howard County Economic Development
• Venesha Sasser of the Lafayette County Economic Development Authority
• Walter Lambert of the Northwest Texas SBDC
• Will Hopkins of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

CDI 2027 will be held Aug. 2-6, 2027. More information about CDI is available at uca.edu/cdi.

Graduate headshots available at

Bill Miller Award (from left): Monieca West of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Joyce Miller (wife of the late Col. Bill Miller), Dr. Shaneil Ealy of the Women’s Leadership Network, Melanie Codemo (daughter of the late Col. Bill Miller), and Shelby Fiegel of the BTĚěĚĂCommunity Development Institute.

Friend of CDI Award (from left): Jordan Ester of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Brad Lacy of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corporation, Kim Williams of the Conway Downtown Partnership, Sarah Henry of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Shelby Fiegel of the BTĚěĚĂCommunity Development Institute, and Jack Pillow of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce.

Ernest Whitelaw Award (from left): Kevin Sexton of Hot Springs Village, Tannella Gauthreaux-Foster of Entergy Arkansas, Lisa Johnson of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, and Shelby Fiegel of the BTĚěĚĂCommunity Development Institute.

Year 2 Class Champion Award (from left): Chris Wasson of Entergy, Gary Bass of the Jefferson Davis County Economic Development Association, Tandee White of Entergy, and Shelby Fiegel of the BTĚěĚĂCommunity Development Institute.

Year 1 Class Champion Award (from left): Julie Murray of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, Amy Williams of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Rashad Woods of ARVAC, Shelby Fiegel of the BTĚěĚĂCommunity Development Institute and Talicia Richardson.

The University of Central Arkansas Public Appearances will present “Ann Wilson the Voice of Heart and Tripsitter” Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall.

Ann Wilson, known the world over as a founder and the lead singer-songwriter of the barrier-breaking band Heart, is here to stay. Widely praised among the greatest singers in the history of rock, Wilson’s extraordinarily powerful voice has helped form the bedrock of modern music for over five decades, earning record sales of more than 35 million, an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. As one of the first women to front a hard rock band at arena scale, Wilson helped redefine the possibilities for female artists in rock, delivering era-defining hits like “Barracuda,” “Magic Man” and “Crazy on You.”

In addition to her work with Heart, Wilson has built a dynamic solo career that highlights both her range and restless creative spirit. Her solo albums, including “Hope & Glory,” “Fierce Bliss” and “Another Door,” blend rock, folk and orchestral influences while pairing her unmistakable voice with bold reinterpretations and original material. Her newest album, “Consecrated Ground,” is to be released in September of this year. The album was created in collaboration with her band Tripsitter. Tripsitter is composed of guitarist Ryan Wariner, bassist Tony Luciod, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Moak and drummer Sean T. Lane.

She further connects with audiences through her podcast “After Dinner Thinks,” where she reflects on music, culture and the artists who have shaped her journey.

In 2026, Wilson unveils her most intimate project to date: “In My Voice,” a documentary directed by Barbara Hall that traces her extraordinary life through rare archival footage, personal journals and candid storytelling, offering an unprecedented look at the artist behind one of rock’s most enduring voices.

Tickets range from $34.50 to $57.50 for adults and $11.50 for children/students. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Reynolds box office or Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts box office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., online at uca.edu/publicappearances, or by calling BTĚěĚĂTicket Central at (501) 450-3265 or toll free at (866) 810-0012. Student and children’s tickets are only available by contacting the box office.

BTĚěĚĂPublic Appearances has continued to grow each year and now offers five unique series: Broadway, POPS, Night Out, An Evening With, and the Windgate Collection. Reynolds Performance Hall has also welcomed over 70,000 pre-K-12th grade students from across the state of Arkansas to experience live performing arts through the Main Stage Education Series. This series educates while entertaining and provides arts accessibility to all students.

(from left): Gennaro Scarfogliero of Valdosta, Georgia; George Moore of Raven, Virginia; Cecil Johnson of Simi Valley, California; Caden Heyen of Edmond, Oklahoma; Wesley Grigartis of Lawndale, North Carolina; Nathan Alden of London, England; Maverick Adams of Simi Valley, California; Axel Acosta of Lancaster, California.

Eight cadets who traveled to the University of Central Arkansas Aviation Academy from all across the nation have completed their intensive summer training program through the U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC).

BTĚěĚĂwas one of only seven universities nationwide selected for the 2026 program and was the only program to achieve a 100% completion rate for cadets. This marks the second consecutive year that BTĚěĚĂhas achieved a 100% completion rate for the eight-week program. Cadets were recognized for their accomplishments by the U.S. Air Force, the BTĚěĚĂAviation Academy and their flight instructors at a ceremony with their families at the Bill Cope Memorial Hangar at Cantrell Field on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Graduating cadets were: Axel Acosta of Lancaster, California; Nathan Alden of London, England; Caden Heyen of Edmond, Oklahoma; George Moore of Raven, Virginia; Maverick Adams of Simi Valley, California; Gennaro Scarfogliero of Valdosta, Georgia; Wesley Grigartis of Lawndale, North Carolina; and Cecil Johnson of Simi Valley, California.

“We are extremely grateful to the Air Force and very proud to have achieved a top Air Force training status in only two years,” BTĚěĚĂAviation Academy Director Dr. Brad Teague said. “The Air Force Training Program selection process is tremendous, and we have received stellar students for our two years in the program.

“As long as the Air Force will have us, BTĚěĚĂis committed to this great endeavor for years to come.”

The program, established in 2018, is designed to address the growing demand for pilots while increasing accessibility to aviation careers for high school students. Participants were selected through a competitive process and earned their private pilot license as well as college credit. The BTĚěĚĂAviation Academy utilized four primary flight instructors who helped the cadets be successful in a short amount of time.

“It’s an honor to be a part of a program that is linked to the Air Force and could potentially have an impact on future service members,” BTĚěĚĂAviation Academy Lead Flight Instructor Matthew Ganis said. “The Air Force has always been a part of my life because of my dad, and I have the utmost respect for those who serve our country.

“This makes this program special to me because I see it as a chance to give back, having not served myself. I am extremely proud of all of our cadets that went through training and believe they all have bright futures ahead of them. Hopefully I can be a part of it in the future, no matter how small that part may be.”

Air Force Junior ROTC is a Title 10 U.S. Code-mandated citizenship training program that is designed to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, and instill personal responsibility, character and self-discipline. The program achieves this through classroom education in air and space fundamentals and hands-on learning opportunities in a number of fun and challenging co-curricular activities.

The BTĚěĚĂAviation Academy offers new open-enrollment classes every three months. Multiple pilot certifications are available, including Private, Commercial and Instructor licenses, as well as Instrument and Multi-engine ratings.

More information about the BTĚěĚĂAviation Academy, including how to apply, is available at uca.edu/aviation or by contacting Brad Teague, director of BTĚěĚĂAviation Academy for BTĚěĚĂOutreach and Community Engagement, at (501) 450-5244 or bteague@uca.edu.

Driven by a record-breaking number of donors and unprecedented planned and campus giving, the University of Central Arkansas closed fiscal year 2026 with $14.4 million raised. This marks a 31% increase over the previous fiscal year and represents the ninth consecutive year that BTĚěĚĂhas surpassed its annual fundraising goal and raised more than $10 million.

Marking a major milestone in financial strength, total assets for the BTĚěĚĂFoundation officially surpassed $100 million for the first time in university history, reaching $103.4 million.

A total of 7,548 donors contributed during FY26 – a new university record – topping the previous high of 7,256 donors set in FY25.

“Our donors continue to send a resounding message: they believe in the power of a BTĚěĚĂeducation and the direction of this university,” Vice President for University Advancement Dr. Mary Bane Lackie said. “Eclipsing $100 million in Foundation net assets while setting a donor record and surpassing our annual fundraising goal by nearly $4 million speaks to the extraordinary momentum building across our entire campus community.”

Private support in FY26 was bolstered by major achievements across key areas:

• Historic Foundation Asset Growth: BTĚěĚĂFoundation total assets reached an all-time high of $103.4 million, while the university’s endowment grew to $77 million.
• Record-Breaking Planned Giving: Legacy giving experienced an extraordinary year, with $6.1 million raised in planned gifts – more than double the university’s $2.6 million goal – bringing total Doyne Legacy Society membership to 144 households.
• Surge in Faculty and Staff Commitment: Support from within the campus community reached unprecedented heights, with BTĚěĚĂfaculty and staff donating and pledging $1.1 million across 619 donors – more than double the amount pledged in FY25.
• Unmatched Day of Giving Participation: UCA’s annual Day of Giving engaged a record 3,115 donors, generating over $1.2 million in 24 hours to support student resources and academic programs.
• Transformational Leadership Gifts: BTĚěĚĂsecured 92 major gifts over $15,000 (up from 75 in FY25), including two gifts exceeding $1 million, with the largest single gift totaling $2.5 million.
• Leadership Support: The President’s Society, UCA’s leadership annual giving society, expanded to 792 members.

Gifts to the BTĚěĚĂFoundation directly fund the university’s margin of excellence, providing essential new support for signature initiatives like the BTĚěĚĂCommitment debt-free degree pathway, endowed faculty positions, experiential learning opportunities and campus facility modernizations. The BTĚěĚĂFoundation also awarded $1.5 million across 970 private scholarships, directly benefiting students across all academic disciplines.

“The ongoing generosity of our alumni, faculty, staff and friends empowers us to dream bigger and expand access for our students,” BTĚěĚĂPresident Houston Davis said. “Seeing the BTĚěĚĂFoundation surpass $100 million in net assets ensures a sustainable, long-term source of private support for our university’s mission.

“This year’s fundraising results reflect deep institutional trust and a shared commitment to elevating academic excellence across Arkansas, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who chose to invest in BTĚěĚĂthis year.”

“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.”

BTĚěĚĂCollege 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 BTĚěĚĂto be at the forefront of workforce development and the changes that technology will bring to us.”

BTĚěĚĂwill 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 BTĚěĚĂTrack 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.

Faulkner recently retired from the U.S. Army, having served more than 24 years. He is an Iraq War Veteran and retired at the rank of Master Sergeant. Faulkner is a 2005 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas. Upon retirement from the Army in 2024, he began working at BTĚěĚĂas the Veterans Benefits Coordinator.

“I believe my calling in life is serving those in need, and the Army was a great fit,” Faulkner said. “After a career in the Army, not just any job would suffice after retirement.

“As a BTĚěĚĂgraduate and resident of Conway, a second career assisting service-connected students will be just as fulfilling. Assisting veterans is a passion of mine. It helps me sleep better at night knowing I made the process easier for them.”

The Veterans and Military Resource Center assists student veterans, currently serving military members, and their dependents in better understanding and accessing the education benefits they have earned, as well as with their transition to the civilian world so that they may be more successful. The resource center hosts various outreach activities – including cookouts, presentations, camping trips and other events – throughout the year, designed to bring the student veteran community closer and give them a more enjoyable university experience.

In this role, Faulkner will lead a team of eight individuals who assist all military-connected students.

During Faulkner’s military career, he served as an Army Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer in various positions of increased responsibility. He has a strong background in operations at the company, battalion, brigade and regimental levels. His Military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Combat Infantry Badge, and many other awards and decorations.

Faulkner steps into the role previously held by Greg Pelts. Pelts was the original director of the Veterans Center and is entering a well-earned retirement.

The University of Central Arkansas will hold Graduate School commencement Saturday, Aug. 8, at 9 a.m. and noon. All ceremonies will be held at Reynolds Performance Hall and will be livestreamed.

Commencement ceremonies will be held at the following times:

Saturday, Aug. 8, at 9 a.m.

• College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
• College of Business.
• College of Health and Behavioral Sciences – Communications Sciences and Disorders, Occupational Therapy, Psychology & Counseling, Exercise Science, Sport Management, School of Nursing.

Saturday, Aug. 8, at noon.

• College of Education.
• College of Science and Engineering.
• College of Health and Behavioral Sciences – Physical Therapy, Health Science, Nutrition & Family Science.

More information about summer commencement is available at .