The University of Arkansas at Little Rock announced Monday that it has raised $203 million toward its Centennial Campaign.
It is the largest amount ever raised in a UA Little Rock campaign, exceeding the previous campaign by $100 million. The overall campaign goal is to raise $250 million by 2027.
Launched to commemorate UA Little Rock’s 100th anniversary, the Centennial Campaign aims to enhance the university’s programs and initiatives. The campaign is centered around four pillars, which include student scholarships, student success initiatives, the living and learning environment and program excellence.
The campaign so far has led to 453 new foundation funds, 235 new scholarships, 173 new endowments, 32 gifts for student support, 19 sponsored classrooms and labs, six named professorships and two directorships.
“This $203 million milestone is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our donors and partners who believe in the transformative power of education,” Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement, said in a press release. “These contributions are already making a significant impact on the lives of our students, and as we continue forward, we are excited about the future opportunities this campaign will create for UA Little Rock and the entire community.”
The Fall 2024 semester resulted in the university’s largest enrollment growth in 15 years, with undergraduate enrollment increasing by 3.7%. UA Little Rock saw increases in first-time freshmen of 28.9% and transfer students of 18.2%.
Some of the most notable gifts of the Centennial Campaign include:
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A $25 million anonymous donation for student scholarships and student success initiatives
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A $8.5 million donation from the Donaghey Foundation to support the Trojan Way Project
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A $6.75 million gift from the Yupo and Susan Chan Charitable Trust honoring the late Dr. Yupo Chan, the founding chair of the Department of Systems Engineering, to support student scholarships and an endowed directorship for the School of Engineering
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A $3.5 million gift from the Windgate Foundation to support an endowed directorship for the School of Education
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A $3 million gift from the Windgate Foundation to create a building maintenance endowment for the Windgate Center of Art + Design
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A $1.4 million gift from Greg Hatcher to support the creation of a Division 1 wrestling program and the building of the Greg Hatcher Wrestling Center
“As we celebrate this milestone, we will continue to emphasize the importance of the student experience by enhancing our academic, research, athletic and student support programs, as well as our living and learning environment.” Chancellor Christina Drale said in the release. “As our enrollment grows, we want to make sure that accessibility and the quality of the learning experience remain high.”
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