by Chloe McGehee –
Arkansas’ higher education admissions, scholarships and funding are getting a refresh.
Signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on March 18, Arkansas ACCESS, a legislative overhaul of the state’s higher education system, aims to transform how Arkansas colleges and universities operate.
In what Arkansas Division of Higher Education Commissioner Ken Warden called a “common-sense approach,” one of the legislation’s top priorities is preparing students for the workforce through diverse types of higher education, not just four-year degrees. It also aims to make it easier for Arkansas students to receive education past high school.
At a press conference announcing the plan, Sanders said ACCESS addresses an education system that is too complicated, too “woke” and that doesn’t “fully prepare students for the jobs of the future.”
The acronym ACCESS represents six focus areas: acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships and standardization.
Though some of the changes outlined in the ACCESS plan will take place immediately, many aspects require the Division of Higher Education to promulgate rules and regulations.
“Where there is ambiguity, the division will be required to update coordinating board policies,” Warden told Arkansas Business. “Some changes will be immediate; others will take time. Throughout the next year, rules will be fully implemented, and policies should reflect the necessary changes.”
Streamlined Admissions
ACCESS creates the Arkansas Direct Admissions Program, which will begin with the high school class of 2027.
The program establishes a statewide college application and introduces admissions criteria based on grade-point average, assessment scores and course completion. Students who meet the criteria receive “provisional acceptance” to state-sponsored institutions of higher education, community colleges and technical colleges.
Universities will still retain their existing application systems.
“The more opportunities a student has to apply to our university, from our point of view and to any university from the state’s point of view, is a good thing,” Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, said.
The law also expands eligible admission exams beyond the ACT and SAT to include the Classic Learning Test (CLT). The CLT is a two-hour exam that was mostly accepted by private Christian universities before Florida became the first state to approve its use in high schools and public universities in 2023.
But this won’t affect institutions like the UA, which is already test-optional for applicants with a GPA higher than 3.2, McCray said.
The University of Central Arkansas in Conway also doesn’t require the traditional admission exams for students with a GPA higher than 3.0.
McCray said most of the admissions changes will be programming. “We’ll have to update our portal where students apply, and we’ll have to make sure we have a place to store that test score.”
The law also aims to make it easier for students to transfer between institutions by implementing a common course numbering system, which will be developed by the ADHE in collaboration with all state-supported institutions of higher education.
Brendan Kelly, president of the Arkansas State University System, said that Arkansas State is in a good place because the system was already developing a single application portal and common numbering for all ASU System institutions.
“We welcome any initiative to make the admissions process easier for students and to make transfers easier,” Kelly said. “We are reviewing our policies and procedures to ensure we are in compliance with various aspects of ACCESS.”
The bill expands what it dubs “accelerated learning” opportunities by broadening Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework in high schools, as well as adding new opportunities.
Beginning in the fall, ACCESS requires all public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools to offer at least four accelerated learning courses.
“With its focus on accelerated learning at the high school level, one major benefit of Arkansas ACCESS is hopefully producing better prepared students to both be admitted and complete a post-secondary program,” University of Arkansas System President Jay Silveria said in an email.
He also said the system “looks forward” to implementing ACCESS.
One of the new law’s most significant changes eliminates costs for high school students pursuing concurrent credit, stating a student or a student’s guardian “shall not be responsible for tuition, fees or materials” for participation in a concurrent credit course. ACCESS provides that funding through the newly established ACCESS to Acceleration Scholarship Program, school district funds and other available sources.
“Students really could get associate degrees for free,” McCray said.
University Funding
The law doesn’t introduce new funding to universities, Kelly said. Though there are “minimal reimbursements” for concurrent classes.
Universities could even face less funding in the future.
ACCESS introduces a metric to assess the return on investment of academic programs, according to Warden.
“This means funding decisions may increasingly consider factors such as graduate employment rates, postgraduation earnings and workforce alignment to ensure state higher education resources are directed toward high-value programs,” Warden said.
Additionally, he said ACCESS expands the focus on noncredit workforce training, “encouraging” institutions to track the success of programs based on metrics like job placement rates, industry partnerships and enrollment growth in short-term credential programs.
“While overall funding structures remain intact, these added performance measures could influence program development and resource allocation over time,” he said.
The productivity-based funding model will begin in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Social Advocacy Rules
Universities can also lose state funding by not complying with new social advocacy rules, like eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion policies and a prohibition on excused absences for students to attend political protests or try to influence government policy.
“It is the policy of this state that a state-supported institution of higher education educates students on how to think and not what to think,” the law states, noting that institutions that fail to demonstrate compliance “shall not be eligible for state funding.”
Additionally, ACCESS restructures faculty performance reviews, requiring an annual review of all full-time faculty members. The review process may result in remedial training or removal of tenure status. Institutions must report a proposed review process by Dec. 1, with an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2026.
Industry Alignment
A central goal of ACCESS is better aligning higher education with workforce needs. The governor emphasized this when signing the bill at a business community luncheon, stating “it means the state is going to be supplying the jobs that you and our entire economy need in order to compete in the 21st century.”
The law increases scholarship funding, doubling the first-year Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship award from $1,000 to $2,000. It also establishes new scholarships, including the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients and the Governor’s Higher Education Transition Scholarship Program for students with disabilities.
It also expands Workforce Challenge scholarship opportunities, which Kelly said “will help reduce the financial investment required of students and families.”
“Arkansas is one of only a handful of states that offers scholarships to students seeking a skilled credential that is not for academic credit,” Warden said. “This gives not only traditional students a chance to gain valuable skills necessary for today’s workforce, but also for adult learners to return for upskilling.”
Kelly expressed support for ACCESS while acknowledging there may be “some bumps in the road” as changes are implemented. Silveria agreed.
“The challenge for our institutions is not unique when it comes to responding to policy changes,” Silveria said. “We must make every effort to be nimble in our approach so that we can quickly retool existing and create new programs that respond to the workforce needs of our employers.”
Warden feels that Arkansas’ higher education institutions are “ready to accept the challenge,” of implementing ACCESS, and that the legislation is a “huge win” for the state.
“Arkansans need more opportunities to prosper,” Warden said. “A more highly educated population increases economic prosperity, but it also has societal benefits such as citizens who are living happier and healthier lives.”
by Mark Friedman –
by Marty Cook –
by Chloe McGehee –
Arkansas Business Publishing Group
114 Scott St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
Toll free: (888) 322-6397
Main line: (501) 372-1443
Customer Service: (501) 455-9333
Email Us
