Preliminary enrollment figures show combined undergraduate and graduate headcount up 5% and nearly 300 students for fall 2026, with student semester credit hours up 11% compared with the same time last year. Undergraduate enrollment continues to lead that growth, with headcount up 7%, or more than 325 students, and undergraduate credit hours increasing 12%, as of July 27.

Growth is particularly strong among new students. First-time freshman enrollment is up 17%, and more than 60 students, while transfer student enrollment is up 29%, more than 100 students.

鈥淭hese preliminary results show that more students and families are recognizing both the quality and affordability of a UA 糖心视频logo education,鈥� said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. “That reflects years of work to strengthen the value we offer students through affordability, academic quality, hands-on learning, and the support they need to succeed. We look forward to welcoming the first fall class of our second century in just a few weeks.”

The increase in student semester credit hours is another encouraging sign, Drale said, because it indicates students are enrolling in more coursework as they progress toward their degrees.

鈥淐redit-hour growth matters because it reflects students making meaningful progress toward completing their degrees,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淥ur responsibility now is to make sure every student who joins us this fall has the resources and support to thrive from their first day through graduation.”

Those students will arrive at a university entering its second century with momentum across academics, research, student success, and athletics. Students entering this fall will be the first fall class of UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 second century, as the university began its yearlong Centennial celebration July 1, recognizing 100 years of expanding educational opportunity and serving Arkansas. This summer also marked the university’s move into the United Athletic Conference following the baseball program’s historic season and first appearance in an NCAA Super Regional.

The university continues to expand opportunities for students through nationally recognized artificial intelligence research, a growing cybersecurity initiative that provides hands-on learning while serving communities across Arkansas, and a new graduate certificate in health informatics launching this fall.

鈥淪tudents are looking for a university that delivers both opportunity and value,” said Dr. W. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “These preliminary numbers suggest more students are finding that at UA 糖心视频logo. We still have several weeks before classes begin, and our team will continue working with prospective and admitted students as they complete the enrollment process.”

While undergraduate enrollment continues to grow, graduate enrollment remains an area of strategic focus.  Preliminary graduate headcount is down 5%, a decline of less than 40 students, while graduate student semester credit hours are down 2%. The decline is concentrated primarily among international students. UA 糖心视频logo is responding by strengthening graduate recruitment, adding workforce-focused programs, and increasing financial support. Beginning this fall, minimum graduate assistant stipends will increase to $10,000 for master’s students and $15,000 for doctoral students 鈥� the university’s largest investment in graduate assistant stipends in more than a decade.

Students who are still considering UA 糖心视频logo have time to join the fall 2026 class before classes begin Aug. 24. Eligible incoming freshmen may qualify for the Trojan Guarantee, which covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees after other financial aid is applied, or the university’s Half-Off Scholarship. More information about admissions, scholarships, and enrollment is available at or by calling 501-916-3127.

“Every fall brings a new class of students with their own goals, ambitions, and potential,” Decker said. “We’re excited to welcome them to campus and help them take advantage of everything UA 糖心视频logo has to offer. As we prepare to begin our second century, there’s tremendous energy around where this university is headed, and it鈥檚 an exciting time to be a Trojan.鈥� 

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The achievement places UA 糖心视频logo alongside many of the world’s leading universities,
technology companies, and research laboratories, highlighting the university’s contributions to
cutting-edge AI research.

The paper was co-authored by Agarwal, director of the Collaboratorium for Social
Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center, Maulden-Entergy Chair, and
Donaghey Distinguished Professor of Information Science at UA 糖心视频logo, along with
collaborators from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and the University of Florida.

COSMOS is an interdisciplinary research center that studies online behavior and develops data
analytics tools to better understand online communities and emerging cognitive threats in online information environments.

鈥淣eurIPS is where many of the most influential advances in AI are first introduced,鈥� said
Agarwal, whose research on cognitive security has been recognized by the U.S. Department of
War, NATO, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States), the World Health Organization, and other
organizations. 鈥淗aving a paper accepted means the research has undergone an extremely
rigorous peer-review process and has been recognized by leading experts in the field as making a meaningful contribution to advancing AI.鈥�

As one of the world鈥檚 most selective AI conferences, the acceptance process is highly
competitive, drawing thousands of submissions from top universities, research labs, and
technology companies across the globe.

鈥淎cceptance reflects both novelty and technical excellence,” said Agarwal, an Arkansas
Academy of Computing fellow, an Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) fellow, and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Distinguished Visitor and Senior Member. 鈥淔or COSMOS and UA 糖心视频logo, it demonstrates that the research being conducted here is competing successfully on a global stage alongside some of the world’s leading AI institutions. It reinforces that impactful, internationally recognized AI research is being developed right here in Arkansas.鈥�

Agarwal and his team鈥檚 paper introduces MANGO: Multimodal Attention-based Normalizing
Flow Approach to Fusion Learning, a new framework designed to improve how AI systems learn from and combine multiple types of information, including images, text, and other data sources.

The research centers on multimodal AI, a type of artificial intelligence that learns from multiple
forms of information 鈥� such as text, images, or audio 鈥� simultaneously. While people naturally combine different sources of information to understand the world around them, AI systems often struggle to do so effectively because the data doesn’t always match up in obvious ways. MANGO is designed to help AI better understand and combine different types of data. Unlike many existing AI models that simply merge information together, MANGO identifies which sources are most relevant and how they relate to one another, allowing AI systems to make more accurate and reliable decisions.

鈥淭he real world is inherently multimodal, so if we want AI to better understand people and
complex environments, it needs to learn from multiple sources simultaneously rather than
treating each independently,鈥� Agarwal said.

Research like this helps AI evolve to provide more context-aware analysis, enabling systems to
make more informed and trustworthy decisions.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life and industry, MANGO could improve
applications across various fields. In healthcare, it could help physicians make more informed
decisions by analyzing medical images alongside patient records and clinical notes. In self-
driving vehicles, it could improve safety by allowing AI to better interpret data from cameras,
radar, and other sensors. The technology could also strengthen security by analyzing social
media to identify coordinated influence campaigns or emerging cognitive threats through the
combined analysis of text, images, videos, and patterns of online behavior.

鈥淯ltimately, research like this helps build AI systems that are more reliable, more explainable,
and better suited for solving complex real-world problems,鈥� Agarwal said.

The publication also reinforces the COSMOS Research Center’s role as a hub for collaborative,
interdisciplinary AI research. By partnering with researchers at UA Fayetteville and UF, the
project demonstrates how UA 糖心视频logo is contributing to advances at the highest levels of the international AI community.

鈥淭his publication further demonstrates that UA 糖心视频logo is producing AI research that is
recognized at the highest international level,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淚t enhances the university’s
visibility within the global AI community, strengthens our research collaborations, and creates
new opportunities for our students to work on cutting-edge problems.鈥�

Looking ahead, Agarwal and his collaborators plan to expand MANGO to work with additional
data types, larger AI foundation models, and real-time decision-making environments while
continuing to improve the transparency and reliability of AI systems. Their goal is to develop AI
systems that not only achieve high performance, but also operate reliably in complex applications where accuracy and trust are essential.

Disclaimer: This research was funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S.
Army Research Office (awards W911NF23S0001, W911NF2410078, and W911NF2510147), U.S. Office of Naval Research, U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Australian Department of Defense Strategic Policy Grants Program, Arkansas Research Alliance, the Jerry L. Maulden/Entergy Endowment, and the Donaghey Foundation at the University of Arkansas at 糖心视频logo. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding organizations.

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By expanding the CORE Cybersecurity Clinic through the CLN, UA 糖心视频logo is creating new opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience while meeting needs in communities across the state, bringing together students and faculty from 11 colleges and universities. The CLN extends cybersecurity services to more communities than any one institution could alone, while fostering collaboration, shared expertise, and experiential learning. Through this network, the CORE Cybersecurity Clinic is expanding to Ouachita Baptist University, the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana, and North Arkansas College of the University of Arkansas this fall.

“Every partner site is another place where our students get to apply what they鈥檙e learning to a real problem with real stakes,” said Dr. Sandra Leiterman, director of cybersecurity education and outreach. “That kind of experience is hard to replicate in a classroom, and it鈥檚 what makes our graduates ready to contribute on day one.”

The CORE Cybersecurity Clinic鈥檚 goal is to make cybersecurity expertise available to organizations such as small nonprofits, school districts, health clinics, rural utilities, and small businesses that provide essential services but lack their own cybersecurity staff. These organizations face increasing cyber threats and lack access to costly risk assessments or enterprise security programs.

CORE Center teams, made up of students and faculty experts, work directly with organizations to evaluate their systems, identify vulnerabilities, and deliver actionable recommendations. The clinic identifies the most likely ways hackers could attempt to gain access, then provides prioritized recommendations and safeguarding strategies to help organizations anticipate the top threats and proactively strengthen their defenses.

For Nathan Thomason, a student researcher at the CORE Center, those experiences helped launch his career.

“UA 糖心视频logo’s CORE Center provided me with a foundation of excellence to rely on throughout my studies as an undergraduate student and at the beginning of my cybersecurity career,” Thomason said.

He said working directly with Arkansas organizations and emerging cybersecurity technologies gave his education a deeper sense of purpose.

“The opportunities to engage with my local community and pursue bleeding-edge cybersecurity technologies that I was presented with as a researcher allowed my studies to have a measurable impact on my community,” he said.

The clinic鈥檚 work is also shaped by ongoing research at the CORE Center, where faculty and students are developing new approaches to cybersecurity defense. Rather than remaining in the research phase, many of these ideas are tested and refined through the clinic鈥檚 work, allowing researchers and students to evaluate new methods while providing clients with recommendations informed by the latest cybersecurity research.

One of the center鈥檚 newest research projects explores how artificial intelligence can help organizations identify the most likely paths a cyberattack could take through their systems and prioritize the security improvements that will have the greatest impact. The CORE Center is also collaborating with the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy, a national nonpartisan AI policy think tank, on initiatives that support cybersecurity policy and the protection of the nation鈥檚 critical infrastructure, helping connect the center鈥檚 applied research with broader national conversations about emerging cyber threats.

The clinic also provides students with valuable, real-world experience beyond the classroom. Working with organizations across Arkansas, they learn not only how to identify cybersecurity risks but also how to explain technical concepts in ways that help non-technical leaders make informed decisions. Those communication skills are just as critical as technical expertise in preparing students for careers in cybersecurity.

“Working at the CORE Center has been wonderful because it’s given me real-world experience in my field,” said Divija Vijay, a sophomore double majoring in computer science and cybersecurity. “On the projects I get to work on, I’m always learning new concepts and technical skills. It’s a really supportive environment that genuinely cares about our growth.”

Through the CLN, the CORE Center is helping schools, nonprofits, utilities, and businesses better understand their cybersecurity risks while giving students opportunities to gain practical experience addressing the challenges organizations face every day.

“Arkansas has cracked the code for making these partnerships work,” said Dr. Philip Huff, director of the CORE Center and assistant professor of computer science. “Communities across the state need practical help defending against cyberattacks, and our students are ready and able to meet that need. Now our job is to clear the path so these partnerships can thrive and strengthen cybersecurity across Arkansas.”

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The project focuses on developing socio-computational methods to strengthen community resilience against cognitive attacks. These attacks include coordinated online efforts to manipulate beliefs, influence behavior, and spread harmful narratives through social media and digital platforms. The research builds on nationally recognized work underway at UA 糖心视频logo’s Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center, which Agarwal founded and directs.

The COSMOS Research Center at UA 糖心视频logo conducts interdisciplinary research focused on social computing, AI-enabled socio-cognitive threat mitigation, narrative analytics, online behavioral modeling, and cognitive security.

The award was championed through support from U.S. Sen. John Boozman, who highlighted the importance of the research to national security.

鈥淚 am pleased to support UA 糖心视频logo and its Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies,鈥� Boozman said. 鈥淭his award recognizes the significance of this program to our national security. The important research conducted here will enhance our ability to counter the use of novel social media tactics by foreign extremists and terrorist groups threatening the United States and our allies.鈥�

Agarwal said the funding will allow researchers to continue developing advanced tools and capabilities to better understand how online narratives influence behavior and how communities can build resilience against coordinated manipulation efforts.

鈥淲e are extremely grateful for the support from UA 糖心视频logo leadership and U.S. Sen. John Boozman for championing this vital research,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭his funding allows the COSMOS Research Center to continue advancing analytical capabilities that strengthen our nation’s defense against cognitive threats.鈥�

As social media platforms increasingly shape public discourse, coordinated influence operations have emerged as a growing challenge for governments, organizations, and communities. The project seeks to provide science-driven approaches for detecting harmful narratives, understanding how they spread through online networks, and informing effective intervention strategies before they result in real-world consequences.

鈥淪ocial media has evolved into a contested cognitive battlespace where narratives can be weaponized to manipulate beliefs, sow discord, and influence collective behavior at unprecedented speed,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭his project aims to strengthen community resiliency by developing computational methods that help identify harmful narrative dynamics early, understand how they spread across networks, and inform effective intervention strategies.鈥�

The project will advance research in six key areas, including narrative and network modeling, toxicity in online communities, mob dynamics, churn analysis, contextual network characterization, and large-scale data collection and dashboarding.

Researchers will develop new methods to analyze how narratives emerge and evolve across digital ecosystems, examine how online communities amplify coordinated campaigns, and adapt epidemiological modeling techniques to better understand the spread of toxicity in online environments.

In addition to advancing research, the initiative will support workforce development and training opportunities in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and security applications, helping prepare the next generation of AI and cybersecurity professionals in Arkansas and beyond.

The award continues a longstanding partnership between the COSMOS Research Center and the U.S. Department of War in advancing research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, social computing, and national security.

With this award, UA 糖心视频logo continues to expand its national research footprint, leveraging expertise in artificial intelligence and social computing to develop solutions that strengthen communities and enhance security in an increasingly connected world.

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Drs. Ann Robinson and Monica Meadows of the UA 糖心视频logo School of Education recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to present at an invitational colloquium organized by the Children (NAGC) conference and hosted by the (AFT). As a national leader in research, professional learning, and advocacy for gifted and talented students, the NAGC partnered with the AFT 鈥� the nation鈥檚 second-largest teachers鈥� union, representing more than 1.7 million members 鈥� to bring together experts and educators dedicated to advancing opportunities for all students.

The , brought together educators, researchers, and policy leaders from across the country to address the increasing need for teacher preparation programs that enable educators to recognize and support gifted, creative, and talented students in today鈥檚 classrooms.

鈥淓very child deserves to learn something new every day 鈥� including advanced and precocious children and youth,鈥� Robinson, director of the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, said.

During the colloquium, UA 糖心视频logo was recognized as a national leader in gifted education and was invited to present its work to attendees. The university is one of only two undergraduate teacher preparation programs in the U.S. 鈥� alongside Purdue University 鈥� that requires a course in gifted education as part of the middle childhood education curriculum.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the combination of our faculty鈥檚 commitment and collaboration in both middle childhood and gifted education, along with innovative elements like a rigorous, year-long online residency and a required undergraduate course in gifted education, that sets our program apart. This is innovative thinking at its best,鈥� Robinson said.

The course that started the undergraduate gifted education initiative is GATE 40003, 鈥淕ifted, Creative, and Talented Education for Classroom Teachers,鈥� developed about five years ago through a collaborative effort led by Dr. Lundon Pinneo, coordinator of the middle childhood education program. The course was created after Arkansas changed its middle school teaching licensure requirements, creating space in the curriculum for additional specialized training. 

鈥淚 wanted to use that opportunity to better meet both state requirements and, more importantly, the needs of our students,鈥� Pinneo said.

Using feedback from mentor teachers and faculty, Pinneo identified key areas where future educators needed additional support. She reached out to Robinson to adapt graduate-level gifted-education concepts for undergraduate teacher candidates.

鈥淲ithout collaboration among faculty, the undergraduate course in gifted education at UA 糖心视频logo would never have taken place,鈥� Meadows said.

Since its introduction, the course has become a defining feature of the middle childhood education program, with faculty collaboration playing a critical role in its success. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e been given an exciting opportunity for our School of Education to take the lead in demonstrating to the rest of the country how important pre-service preparation programs are in filling the gap that can exist between general education and specialized gifted education,鈥� Robinson said. 

At the colloquium, organizers focused on the persistent 鈥済ap鈥� in educator preparation nationwide: while most teachers receive training to support students with disabilities, far fewer are prepared to recognize and meet the needs of advanced learners. Through their presentations, Robinson and Meadows offered UA 糖心视频logo’s approach as a model for addressing that challenge, demonstrating how gifted education can be integrated into undergraduate teacher preparation programs.

鈥淭here was a lot of excitement around the course and the work we shared at the colloquium,鈥� Meadows said. 鈥淧eople wanted to know how we made it happen, how students are responding to it, and how they might implement similar approaches at their own institutions.鈥�

As universities across the country examine how to prepare educators for classrooms with an ever-growing range of needs, the discussion shows the role gifted education can play in helping teachers recognize talent, tailor instruction, and best support students with advanced learning needs. 

鈥淧re-service teachers come to us with a wide range of experiences and abilities, and all students deserve to be both challenged and supported,鈥� Pinneo said. 鈥淥ur graduates are leaving the program with more tools to support the different learning needs of their future students.鈥�

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At the University of Arkansas at 糖心视频logo, psychology researchers are exploring these questions through a growing network of labs focused on sleep, cognition, and human-AI interaction.

Across three specialized lab spaces, faculty and students are examining how biological, cognitive, and technological forces intersect to shape human behavior. From tracking brain activity during sleep to modeling how stress affects memory and studying how people interact with AI systems, their work is helping answer questions that are increasingly relevant in everyday life.

Measuring Sleep and Its Consequences

In the department鈥檚 Biobehavioral Laboratory, often referred to simply as the sleep lab, Dr. David Mastin studies how sleep and sleepiness affect everyday life.

Sleep affects nearly every aspect of daily functioning, from reaction time and memory to mood and overall health. According to Mastin, many people operate at a deficit without realizing it.

鈥淎lmost everyone carries a sleep debt,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like being overdrawn in your checking account. You owe your body sleep.鈥�

He also notes that modern life makes that debt difficult to avoid, as artificial light, technology, and constant stimulation can disrupt natural sleep patterns and keep people from getting the rest they need.

That deficit can have serious consequences. Even one night without sleep can significantly impair performance.

鈥淚f you pull an all-nighter and we put you on a driving simulator, you would make as many mistakes as someone who is legally drunk,鈥� Mastin said.

The space is equipped with tools designed to measure brain activity, including electroencephalography (EEG), which tracks brain waves during different stages of sleep. A nap bed and observation room allow researchers to monitor eye and body movement without disturbing participants, while biofeedback equipment measures the body鈥檚 physiological responses to different stimuli.

Beyond these tools, the lab also relies on controlled sleep tests that measure alertness and fatigue, providing objective data that can be compared with how participants report feeling.

Much of the lab鈥檚 research extends beyond campus. Mastin and his students frequently work in the community. Right now, for instance, they are studying firefighters to better understand how sleep impacts performance in high-stakes environments. 

As part of this research, Mastin and his students attended a firefighter convention in Hot Springs to interview participants about their sleep habits. The next step is to digitize the survey to reach firefighters across different regions and cultures, with the goal of improving both their well-being and performance. 

Students play an active role in the research process, contributing to ongoing studies and developing their own projects under faculty guidance. Through this work, the lab connects physiological measurement with real-world behavior, bridging psychology with biological and health sciences to show how sleep quietly shapes nearly every part of daily life.

Understanding How We Think Under Stress

Just down the hall, Dr. Colton Hunter鈥檚 cognitive psychology lab focuses on how stress shapes the way people process and remember information.

Hunter鈥檚 research centers on working memory, the short-term ability to hold and manipulate information. Specifically, he studies how socioeconomic status influences cognition, examining how stress from factors such as income, education, and environment contribute to changes in how people process and recall information 鈥� highlighting how psychological processes are shaped by broader economic and social forces.. His primary research examines the effects of financial worry on working memory.

鈥淭he idea is that your financial problems might be occupying mental resources,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like the equivalent of having too many tabs open on your computer. It鈥檚 going to slow down performance.鈥�

In one common task used in his lab, participants are briefly shown a set of colored squares before the image disappears and reappears. They are then asked to determine whether anything has changed. While the task appears simple, it allows researchers to measure how much information a person can hold in mind, how accurately they respond, and how quickly they process what they see. 

These tasks are paired with socioeconomic survey data and written responses in which participants reflect on financial stressors, personal challenges, and neutral daily experiences. Hunter鈥檚 research explores whether financial stress uniquely impairs cognitive performance compared to other types of stress.

鈥淭he idea is that for participants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, writing about financial worries would potentially take away from their working memory performance more than a neutral event, but also more than any other type of stressor,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something special about financial stress.鈥�

A key feature of the lab is a high-powered computing system that allows Hunter to run complex statistical models and analyze large amounts of data quickly 鈥� work that would otherwise take days or even weeks.

The lab integrates students into every stage of the research process. Undergraduate participants contribute to ongoing studies as participants, while others serve as research assistants through independent study, gaining hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. This approach also allows Hunter to examine how financial worry affects cognition specifically within the student population.

Studying the Future of Human-AI Interaction

In the department鈥檚 newest lab, Dr. Mohsen Rafiei is exploring one of psychology鈥檚 quickest evolving frontiers 鈥� how humans interact with artificial intelligence.

Rafiei鈥檚 lab focuses on human-AI interaction, examining how people use, interpret, and trust increasingly sophisticated systems. 

鈥淲e are trying to understand how people interact with AI,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淲e want to understand how you as a human being interact with a smart system so we can learn to optimize that system for you.鈥�

One current project looks at how students use AI in their daily lives, including whether they trust the results from their questions 鈥� and whether or not that trust is warranted.

鈥淎I systems are probabilistic, which means there is always a good chance they are wrong,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any students don鈥檛 know this and trust whatever answer they are given. Our goal is to learn how to optimize this so we can address this problem.鈥�

To study these interactions, Rafiei鈥檚 lab is equipped with advanced tools that allow researchers to observe both behavior and brain activity in real time. Eye-tracking technology reveals where users focus their attention on a screen, while EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems measure which areas of the brain are active during interaction. Virtual reality headsets allow researchers to build immersive environments 鈥� such as a classroom with an AI assistant 鈥� and study how people respond in more lifelike scenarios. 

The lab also houses an incredibly powerful computer, known as an AI cluster, that allows researchers to run and customize AI models locally. By operating outside of internet-based systems, the lab can test models in a controlled environment without privacy concerns, giving researchers the ability to study how people interact with AI systems specifically designed for the experiment.

Together, these tools allow Rafiei and his students to examine not only what people do when interacting with AI, but also what is happening in their minds as they do it.

The work is inherently interdisciplinary, combining psychology with neuroscience, computer science, and physiology to better understand how humans engage with increasingly intelligent systems.

Students play a key role in that process, gaining hands-on experience working with AI models and advanced research tools. Skills gained in this lab prepare them for emerging careers in human-AI interaction.

鈥淭his is a new field,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淲e know about human cognition and perception, but how do we interact with another intelligent system? We don鈥檛 even know all the questions we need to ask yet.鈥�

As AI systems become more advanced and increasingly human-like, the challenge becomes even more complex.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not like interacting with a tool,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more like interacting with another intelligent being. And there are still so many open questions we need to answer.鈥�

Looking Ahead: Expanding Innovation in Psychology

Across all three labs, a common thread is clear: the future of psychology at UA 糖心视频logo is increasingly hands-on, interdisciplinary, and grounded in real-world impact.

For Dr. Sherwin, chair of the Department of Psychology, the new labs mark a turning point in the department鈥檚 identity.

鈥淩esearch has clearly become more prominent,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e intentionally building a department that is more uniformly engaged in research.鈥�

That shift is being driven in large part by new faculty hires, whose work is expanding both the scope and scale of research opportunities available to students. In the past, demand for research experience often outpaced availability. Now, that dynamic is reversing.

鈥淲e went from having more students than research opportunities to suddenly being in the opposite situation,鈥� she said.

As the department grows, so does its emphasis on preparing students for careers beyond the classroom. Through lab work, students gain practical experience in skills Sherwin says are valuable across industries such as data analysis, problem-solving, and communication.

To support that growth, the department is also introducing a new 鈥淩esearch Experience鈥� course this fall, designed to give students earlier and more accessible entry into lab work. The course allows students to begin developing research skills before moving into more independent, advanced projects.

鈥淧eople don鈥檛 always realize how marketable research skills are,鈥� Sherwin said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really where our discipline shines at the undergraduate level 鈥� teaching students how to manage and present data, think critically and analytically, and answer questions effectively.鈥�

As psychology continues to intersect with fields like artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and data science, the work happening at UA 糖心视频logo is positioned at the forefront of that shift.

With new labs, advanced technology, and a growing emphasis on student-driven research, the department is not only keeping pace with the future of the discipline 鈥� it is helping define it.

The post Exploring the Human Mind: Inside UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 Innovative Psychology Labs appeared first on News.

The new initiative builds on the university鈥檚 leadership in the Cyber Learning Network, a collaborative effort that brings together colleges and universities across the state to strengthen cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.

鈥淭his is an important step forward for our students, our partners, and communities across Arkansas,鈥� said UA 糖心视频logo Chancellor Christina S. Drale. 鈥淎t UA 糖心视频logo, we are committed not only to preparing students for the future, but to applying what we do in ways that directly strengthen our communities. This initiative does both.鈥�

The Cybersecurity Clinic Network will connect students, faculty, and partner institutions to provide real-world cybersecurity services to underserved organizations, including small utilities, municipalities, rural healthcare providers, K鈥�12 schools, nonprofits, and small businesses.

Support from Google.org makes it possible to scale this work statewide, expanding access to hands-on learning while strengthening cybersecurity capacity for organizations across Arkansas. In addition, prior funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), secured through Senator John Boozman鈥檚 office, supported the development of key technologies that enable the clinic鈥檚 cybersecurity assessment and remediation services. 

“Navigating the recent increase in disruptive cyber attacks on essential services鈥攆rom local power grids to hospitals 鈥� will rely on a strong cyber workforce capable of defending against everyday threats,” said Maab Ibrahim, Head of Knowledge, Skills, and Learning for the Americas, Google.org. “Cyber clinics are a crucial part of this effort: it gives students the hands-on experience they need to start careers, while at the same time providing vital, no-cost security services to local organizations that need them most. It鈥檚 a smart investment in both our workforce and the critical infrastructure that communities depend on.鈥�

Students participating in the clinics will work under faculty supervision to conduct cybersecurity assessments, recommend secure systems, deploy monitoring tools, and assist with remediation planning using industry best practices.

鈥淥ur goal is to ensure students have meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare them to succeed in critical fields like cybersecurity,鈥� said Provost Ann Bain. 鈥淭his model connects classroom learning with real-world challenges, giving students the opportunity to build practical skills while making a meaningful impact across our state.鈥�

The program is expected to train more than 500 students and support more than 150 organizations statewide over the next six years. It will also be part of the , providing students with access to expanded training, collaboration, and career pathways.

Dr. Philip Huff, director of the UA 糖心视频logo Center for Research in Cybersecurity Engineering (CORE), said the initiative reflects years of collaboration across Arkansas.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen the tremendous potential of connecting education directly with service,鈥� Huff said. 鈥淭his investment allows us to expand a proven model that strengthens our workforce pipeline while improving the resilience of critical infrastructure across the state.鈥�

The Cybersecurity Clinic Network is a systemwide effort involving institutions across the University of Arkansas System, community colleges, and private partners, ensuring access and impact in communities across Arkansas.

鈥淭his effort brings together higher education institutions across the state to expand opportunity and strengthen our economy,鈥� said UA System President Jay B. Silveria. 鈥淏y building a skilled cybersecurity workforce and supporting critical infrastructure, this initiative will benefit every corner of Arkansas.鈥�

By strengthening the state鈥檚 cybersecurity workforce pipeline while supporting critical infrastructure, UA 糖心视频logo is leading a model that delivers real results for Arkansas communities.

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UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is ranked No. 107 in the nation for public affairs in the 2026 rankings. The recognition reflects the program鈥檚 continued focus on preparing students to lead in public service and nonprofit sectors.

UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 public affairs programs, including the MPA, emphasize hands-on learning and applied research. 

Students gain real-world experience through community partnerships, internships, and applied projects that address challenges facing Arkansas and beyond. Graduates are equipped with the management, analytical, and leadership skills needed to serve in government agencies and nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

鈥淏eing recognized by U.S. News & World Report speaks to the strength and consistency of our programs,鈥� said Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the UA 糖心视频logo School of Public Affairs. 鈥淥ur faculty and students are deeply engaged in work that matters鈥攆rom community partnerships to applied research鈥攁nd these rankings reflect that ongoing commitment to public service and leadership development.鈥�

Slagle noted that contributing factors to the rankings include continued growth in faculty and student publications, conference presentations, service, excellence in teaching recognized through accreditation, and strong community partnerships.

Graduates of UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 public affairs programs go on to serve in a wide range of roles across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based initiatives, helping drive meaningful change across Arkansas and beyond.Learn more about the MPA at UA 糖心视频logo by visiting, /academics/graduate/public-administration/

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These rankings highlight UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible education to students nationwide.

鈥淭his ranking underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality online graduate education that鈥檚 both accessible and career-relevant,鈥� said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, associate professor and chair of the Department of Information Science. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to represent Arkansas with a program that competes nationally, giving students in 糖心视频logo and worldwide the skills they can apply immediately in the workplace and the foundation for long-term growth.鈥�

The information technology ranking assesses online master鈥檚 degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. For UA 糖心视频logo, this ranking includes the online Master of Science in information quality and Master of Science in information science programs. UA 糖心视频logo has earned a spot on the list for the past four years.

The online master鈥檚 degree in information quality is a 33-hour program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to prepare students for industry and government careers as well as advanced doctoral studies. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, the curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art technology.

The online master鈥檚 degree in information science is a 33-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. Students learn how to compete in an industry with an ever-present demand for new innovations in data science and analytics, advanced information systems design and development, and emerging information technologies. Both degrees serve as a stepping stone for other advanced graduate degrees, such as UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 Ph.D. in computer and information science.

The School of Criminal Justice and Criminology (SCJC) offers an online Master of Science in Criminal Justice that equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to excel as practitioners and supervisors in the criminal justice system.

SCJC has also been ranked 89th out of 683 colleges in the U.S. for criminal justice programs by Niche, placing it in the top 13% nationwide.

U.S. News & World Report evaluates programs based on data from institutional surveys and peer assessments. Rankings are determined by performance across five categories: student engagement, services and technologies, student excellence, faculty credentials and training, and expert opinions.

You can find out more about UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 varied online education opportunities at .

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The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed Thursday in H. Tyndall Dickinson Hall, creates a clear and affordable pathway from associate to bachelor鈥檚 degree while strengthening Arkansas鈥檚 workforce in two of the state鈥檚 highest-demand fields.

UA 糖心视频logo Chancellor Christina S. Drale said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to student success and the future of Arkansas.

鈥淲e鈥檙e especially proud to be here with our colleagues from UACCB to celebrate this step forward together,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 signing represents our shared dedication to student success, and I鈥檓 excited for what it means for future educators and nurses in our state.鈥�

Provost Ann Bain said the agreement provides a practical solution for students balancing college with work and family responsibilities.

鈥淭hrough this 2+2 partnership, students beginning at UACCB can now pursue seamless transitions into bachelor鈥檚 degrees in middle-level education and our RN-to-BSN in nursing 鈥� two fields that are critical to the health and strength of Arkansas,鈥� Bain said. 鈥淚t provides students with a clear and affordable path to a meaningful career while helping address real workforce needs. This can change the lives of their families as well as those in their communities.鈥�

UACCB Chancellor Brian Shonk said the partnership connects students to the education they need to compete for good-paying jobs.

鈥淥ver the next decade, two out of every three good-paying jobs will require a bachelor鈥檚 degree,鈥� Shonk said, citing data from Georgetown University鈥檚 Center on Education and the Workforce. 鈥淭his partnership gives our students direct access to that opportunity and the chance to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.鈥�

UACCB Provost Zach Perrine said the agreement ensures students can move smoothly from a two-year college to a four-year university without losing time or credits.

鈥�2+2 partnerships like this ensure students can transparently and seamlessly move from their community college to a university,鈥� Perrine said. 鈥淏y connecting students to critical pathways in education and health care, we are improving families, our community, and our state.鈥�

UACCB serves students throughout north-central Arkansas with affordable associate degrees and technical certificates, and the new agreement is designed to reduce transfer barriers while expanding access to bachelor鈥檚 degrees in high-demand fields.

Drale said the collaboration is just the beginning.

鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to see this partnership is a win for our campuses, but ultimately for Arkansas students,鈥� she said.

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