AM&N/UAPB Alumni Assembly
Friday, October 10, 2025
Facilitator: Anthony Graham, Ph.D., Chancellor (870) 575 – 8470, grahama@uapb.edu
Part One
Welcome, Conversation Overview, and Framing Remarks
Purpose-Driven Text
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Beyond Vietnam” (1967)
“Rarely do we find [people] who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.”
Brief Overview: Who I Am
• Chancellor, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2025 – Present)
• Chancellor (interim), Winston-Salem State University (2023-24)
• Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (2018 – 24)
• Dean, College of Education, NC A&T State University (2015 – 18)
• Chairperson, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (2010 – 14)
• High School English Teacher, Guilford County Schools (1997 – 99)
• Chairperson, Governor Cooper’s Develop a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education (DRIVE) Task Force
My Core Values
TRUST
RESPECT
EQUITY
TEACHER
EXCELLENCE
ACCOUNTABILITY
Unapologetic Emphasis on Excellence
“Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.”
~Will A. Foster
Part Two
A Brief Overview of the State of Higher Education in the US
Contextualizing Today’s US Higher Education
Activity at the Federal and National Levels
“One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1)
Student Loans and Borrowing Caps
Parent Plus Capped at $65K ($20K Annually)
Potential Impacts on Public Regional
Other Notable Impacts
• Department of Education cut by $124 billion (15% reduction);
Year IHEs
Eliminates Forbearance and Deferment for Hardships
Workforce Pell Grants for Vocational and Trades Education
Accountability Measures Linking Earnings to University Outcomes
• Federal Work Study cut by $980 million (80% reduction);
• Proposes to eliminate TRIO, GearUp, Teacher Quality Partnership, FIPSE (Hawkins Centers of Excellence)
US Public High School Graduates by
Race/Ethnicity
Activity at the State Level
Legislation in the State of Arkansas
New Metric in the Productivity Funding Formula—”Return on Investment (ROI)”
Proposed ROI Calculation over 8 Years
PostCompletion
Earnings
Potential Wages based on Discipline
Cost of Attendance
Financial Aid Received
Activity at the University of Arkansas System Level
University of Arkansas System
Data-Informed Direction
Proposed Strategic Pillars*
End of Previous Strategic Plan
New U of A System President
*Strategic Pillars:
• Expand Access to High-Quality Educational Opportunities
• Commitment to Student Success
• Advance Scholarship and Innovation
• Stewardship of Talent, Resources, and Public Trust
• Responsiveness to Statewide Needs
• Collaboration through Technology
Productivity Funding Formula Model
Method of Calculation
• Points earned by each institution based on the success of students in each metric where, generally, 1 point is earned at the basic metric success level.
• Additional points are earned for:
• Underserved populations:
• Hispanic or Black/African Americans
• Pell Grant Recipients
• Age 25 – 54 (i.e., Adult Learners)
• STEM and High Demand Programs (e.g., Nursing, Education)
Method of Calculation, Continued
• Affordability: Bachelor’s and Associate Degrees
• Metric: Credits At Completion
Example: Degree Program Plan = 120 Credit Hours
• Student completes with 120 credits = 1 point
• Student completes with 121-132 credits = .875 point
• Student completes with 133-150 credits = .40 point
• Student completes with 151 credits or above = 0 points
• Note: Remedial Credit Hours are excluded; Accepted Transfer Credit Hours are included.
Method of Calculation,
Continued • Affordability: Bachelor’s and Associate Degrees
• Metric: Time to Degree
Example: Bachelor’s Degree Time to Degree Completion
• Student completes within 4 years = 1.000 point
• Student completes within 5 years = 0.875 point
• Student completes within 6 years = 0.400 point
• Student completes after 6 years = 0 points
Part Three
The Current State of UAPB—
A Data-Informed Evaluation
Productivity Outcomes AY 2020 - 2023
Fall and Spring Total Enrollment
Retention & Attrition Rates
First-Time In College (FTIC)
Full-Time (FT)
Cohorts
1st Year 2nd Year
Entering Yrs. 2021–2023
Retention Yrs. 2022-2024
• No. Entering 1,476
• Retention: 62.2% (918)
• Attrition: 37.8% (558)
3rd Year
Entering Yrs. 2019-2021
Retention Yrs. 2022-2024
• No. Entering 1,676
• Retention: 41.5% (695)
• Attrition: 58.5% (981)
Entering Yrs. 2020–2022
Retention Yrs. 2021-2023
• No. Entering 1,698
• Retention: 44.9% (763)
• Attrition: 55.1% (935)
4th Year
Entering Yrs. 2018-2020
Retention Yrs. 2022-2024
• No. Entering 1,649
• Retention: 41.6% (685)
• Attrition: 58.4% (962)
Productivity Funding Formula Outcomes
Part Four
The Future of UAPB—
The Path to Preeminence
UAPB Leaders Responsible for “D-A-C”
Source: McCauley, C. & Fick-Cooper, L. (2020). Direction, Alignment, Commitment: Achieving Better Results through Leadership. Center for Creative Leadership: Greensboro, NC.
Our Collective Direction
Vision
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will be widely recognized as the University of choice for students, faculty, staff, and future employers of our students. UAPB will be renowned nationally and internationally for excellence in teaching, research, service, and outreach with exceptional academic programs and globally competitive students. As a pre-eminent land-grant institution, UAPB will enrich the lives of people in the Arkansas Delta and beyond.
Preeminence is the “Gold(en) Lions” Standard
Enrollment Growth,
Rates, and 4 - Year Completion
High-Impact Practices, Certificates, Microcredentials
Accreditations, Employment Rate, Average Salary
Employee Commendations, Honors and Awards
Research Portfolio, R&D Expenditures, “R2” Status
“Preeminence
Part Five Paving the Path to Preeminence:
Momentum toward Preeminence
$15 Million
$5 Million Windgate Foundation for Art Tower (Largest Gift in UAPB History)
Momentum toward Preeminence
Ranked #6
Top Regional Public
Schools in the South
Ranked #19
Regional Colleges South
(Up from #21)
Ranked #20
Top Performers in the South Social Mobility
(Up from #27)
Momentum toward Preeminence
Top 20% Nationwide
According to Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce’s A First Try at
ROI: Ranking 4,500 Colleges Report (2020).
No. 858 of 4,500 Institutions
40-Year Net Present Value of $1.25 Million
Next Steps toward Preeminence
Most Frequently Received Alumni Response:
“Just Tell Me What You Need from Me to Help”
1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000
Alumni Giving Comparison Report 2022-2025
HBCU Giving Comparisons
Note: Annual Alumni Giving to UAPB has ranged from 3%-7% over the past nine years based on 18,000 alumni of record
We Need Your Investment in UAPB (#1)
Investment in Student Scholarships for Educational Attainment
We Must Have a Collective Goal to Ensure Students within Our Region Attain a Four-Year Degree and Credentials that Improve Our Economic Development
01
“Lions at the Goal Line” Completion Funds
($3 Million)
02
“The Pride Promise” for Transfer Students
($3 Million)
03
“A Golden Start” for New Freshmen
($4 Million)
Support Experiential Learning (#2)
Serve as an Ally and Conduit to Capital (#3)
Share Your Expertise and Knowledge via Board of Visitors and Other Advisory Boards
Advocate for Legislation and Funding that Modernizes Our Facilities and Infrastructure
Connect UAPB with Persons and Organizations within Your Network who Can Support our StudentFocused Mission
Co-Teach (or Teach) Appropriate Courses to Bring “Real World” Lens
Support with Physical Presence (#4)
Attend University Events and Purchase Tickets for UAPB Sporting Events
Serve as Mentors and Host Mentoring Lunches or “Career Conversations”
Participate in Career Fairs and Mock Interviews
Host Admitted Student Receptions for New Students from Your Cities
Allow Me and the Team to Come Visit
And Please ….
“UAPB is a Hidden Gem”
“We Should Just Do What We Did Back in 19____”
“Blasting the University on Social Media”
Purpose-Driven Text
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Beyond Vietnam” (1967)
“Rarely do we find [people] who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.”
AM&N/UAPB Alumni Assembly (UAPB TV Video Link)
Friday, October 10, 2025
Facilitator: AnthonyGraham,Ph.D.,Chancellor (870) 575 – 8470, grahama@uapb.edu