The Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing $3 million in support provided to students, marking a significant advancement in the University of Arkansas’s mission to enhance student success and broaden educational accessibility across Arkansas. Since its inception in 2019, this scholarship has made higher education more financially feasible for numerous transfer students from various corners of the state.
The ATA Scholarship facilitates students graduating from U of A System community colleges to seamlessly transfer to the University of Arkansas while maintaining the same tuition rate they paid at their two-year institutions. As awareness of the scholarship has spread and the University of Arkansas has fortified its partnerships with each of the seven two-year colleges in the U of A System, transfer enrollment from these schools has surged by 253% since 2019, with over $3 million in total support being extended to 406 students.
Chancellor Charles Robinson emphasized the scholarship’s embodiment of the university’s commitment to dismantling financial barriers and furnishing life-altering educational opportunities for Arkansans. “By upholding affordability and accessibility through initiatives like ATAS, we’re not only investing in individual students but also in the future prosperity of our state,” remarked Chancellor Robinson.
Impact of the Scholarship
Danterrion Swanigan, a junior majoring in communications, echoes Chancellor Robinson’s sentiments regarding the scholarship’s transformative impact on students. Swanigan, who first learned about the transfer scholarship from a billboard while studying at Phillips Community College, attested, “I’d say the scholarship made my attendance possible.” He further expressed his conviction that the scholarship opened doors to countless opportunities at the University of Arkansas that he wouldn’t have encountered elsewhere.
Shelby Pederson, a junior majoring in psychology with a focus on childhood development, emphasized the significance of graduating debt-free, a decision bolstered by the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship after earning her associate degree from Pulaski Technical College. Pederson noted that the scholarship enabled her to make career decisions based on factors such as her capacity to aid others, rather than solely on financial constraints.
Anticipated Growth
Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions, anticipates continued growth in the impact of the ATA Scholarship. “As transfer applications continue to surge this spring, we’re delighted to witness the ongoing influence of the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship in broadening opportunities for students across the state,” remarked McCray. She emphasized the university’s expectation of witnessing even greater numbers benefit from affordable and transformative educational opportunities at the University of Arkansas as awareness of the scholarship expands.
For further information on the eligibility criteria for the ATAS, visit the Academic Scholarship Office’s website. Additionally, prospective students can explore the seamless process of transferring community college coursework to the University of Arkansas through Transfer Central, offering a comprehensive step-by-step guide to transferring to the U of A.
