End Note ASMSA integral part of UA System

Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt President, University of Arkansas System

As president of the University of Arkansas System since 2011, I’ve participated in countless conversations, lectures, speeches and roundtable discussions concerning most aspects of the approximately $4 billion annual enterprise that constitutes the state’s largest higher education system. One component that typically generates the most curiosity is the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA). It’s also the one piece of our puzzle that I’m always eager to talk about because of its uniqueness among UA System entities. ASMSA plays a key role in our ability to completely fulfill our mission to deliver the highest-quality educational and professional opportunities for all Arkansans.

It’s always rewarding for me to tell people about the transformational experiences students at ASMSA undergo that lead to engaging and successful futures. Through ASMSA, Arkansans from any corner of the state can attend one of this country’s finest high schools, move on to one of our seven (soon to be eight with the addition of EACC) twoyear colleges, attain a bachelor’s degree at any of our five four-year institutions and continue on to post-graduate study within the UA System with the ultimate goal to obtain a Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., Pharm.D. or M.D.

But ASMSA provides much more than just an opportunity for me to highlight the system’s high school students. It is truly a top-tier unique early college experience, as students graduating ASMSA typically accrue nearly 50 hours of college credits. This provides them with a monumental advantage as they move on to college. More than $24 million in college scholarship offers were earned by the 2024 ASMSA graduating class, further demonstrating the quality of the state-of-the-art educational experience ASMSA students receive.

I often get asked about the tangible results of having the school alongside the UA System’s traditional college opportunities. In short, “Why does the UA System even have a high school?” It’s not an easy answer, as many of the benefits are mutually received between and among the 21 campuses, divisions and units under our umbrella. Most often the answer is simply that efforts are more streamlined and efficient because of the fact that resources are comprehensively and unselfishly shared. For instance, the minimum of 30 college credits that are earned by ASMSA students is made possible through the school’s partnership with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Statewide transfer of those credits is seamless.

Because of the first-rate education and college preparedness ASMSA students earn during their time at the state’s only public residential high school (and one of only 17 nationally), the UA System also reaps the benefit of those students matriculating to one of our traditional college campuses. While 100 percent of ASMSA graduates go on to college or the military, nearly 60 percent continue their post-high school education in Arkansas, with nearly 37 percent at one of our UA System institutions.

So as ASMSA celebrates its 30th anniversary, I want to bring attention to the fact that this is also the school’s 20th anniversary of being an integral and unique part of the UA System. The UA System is privileged that the state has allowed us to include ASMSA in our portfolio of high-quality educational programs serving Arkansas and the world, and we look forward to continuing to provide this competitive educational experience for the next 30 years. I personally want to congratulate the school, its past and present faculty and staff as well as the UA System Trustees for their continuing support of this unique and important resource of the System and the State.