Arkansas State University System

06/03/2026

The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees today approved a combined $402.6 million operating budget, as well as tuition and fees, for 2026-2027.

Interim System President Robin Myers said the overall system budget reflects investments in retaining and recruiting employees, the addition of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Arkansas State University and increased costs for utilities and insurance.

“Our campuses continue to prioritize student success and quality higher education while working hard to hold expenses under control and keep tuition as affordable as possible,” Myers said. “We are also seeing a lot of reallocation of resources to meet the demands for new programs.”

The Board of Trustees approved the following FY2027 budget and tuition plans for each ASU System institution:

• Arkansas State University – a 6.3% increase in operating budget from $236.4 million to $251.4 million, which includes the new College of Veterinary Medicine. Combined tuition and fees will increase 4% to $10,850 annually.

• Henderson State University – a 2.6% increase in operating budget from $52.2 million to $54.8 million. Combined tuition and fees will remain at $10,560 annually.

• ASU-Beebe – a $31.1 million operating budget with a combined tuition and fees increase of 3.5% to $4,440 annually.

• ASU-Mountain Home – a $12.8 million operating budget with a combined tuition and fees increase of 2.9% to $4,320 annually.

• ASU-Newport – a $20.1 million operating budget with a combined tuition and fees increase of 2.8% to $4,410 annually.

• ASU Mid-South in West Memphis – a $14.8 million operating budget with combined tuition and fees remaining flat at $4,770 annually.

• ASU Three Rivers in Malvern – a $9.2 million operating budget with a combined tuition and fees increase of 6.6% to $5,300 annually.

Trustees approved $132.5 million in capital improvement and $3.2 million in deferred maintenance projects across the seven system institutions, which have identified some $475 million in total deferred maintenance needs.

Henderson full-time faculty and staff will each receive a $2,000 salary increase, which is their first positive compensation adjustment since they took a 20% pay reduction and 40% retirement benefits cut in 2019. Henderson Chancellor Trey Berry said he is hopeful about being about to do more for employees as enrollment trends continue to improve.

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06/01/2026

Arkansas State University-Newport has named Charles Walker as its next vice chancellor for finance and administration, effective June 1, 2026.

Walker brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across higher education, healthcare and manufacturing, with expertise in finance, administration, operations, workforce strategy and human resources.

https://asusystem.edu/asu-newport-names-charles-walker-vice-chancellor-for-finance-and-administration/

05/29/2026

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University (NYITCOM at A-State) honored Shane Broadway with the inaugural Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., Higher Ground Award during last Friday’s Commencement and Hooding Ceremony.

Broadway is vice president for university relations for the Arkansas State University System and interim chancellor of ASU Three Rivers in Malvern. He is a former Arkansas State Representative, Senator and Speaker of the House, and prior to joining the ASU System he served as the director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

According to Dr. Shane Speights, dean of NYITCOM at A-State, Broadway’s expertise in higher education, policy, and development were crucial to the creation of NYITCOM at A-State and its continued success.

The Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., Higher Ground Award was established to honor the extraordinary legacy of Barbara Ross-Lee, a pioneering physician, educator, and transformational leader in American medicine. Dr. Ross-Lee broke historic and cultural barriers as the first African American woman to serve as dean of a U.S. medical school, while also advancing osteopathic medicine, reshaping medical education, and championing access and innovation across the healthcare system.

Significant to Arkansas, Dr. Ross-Lee was the founding dean of NYITCOM at A-State, which in 2016 became just the second medical school and first osteopathic medical school to open in the state.

05/28/2026

Five graduates of Arkansas State University System two-year institutions have been selected as 2026 Charles L. Welch Presidential Scholars.

The Presidential Scholars program was created in 2024 to honor the legacy of Welch, President Emeritus of the ASU System, for his nearly 13 years of service. The annual program honors a deserving scholar from each ASU System two-year institution who transfers successfully to an ASU System four-year university. Each of this year’s honorees will receive a $1,000 stipend.

The 2026 Welch Presidential Scholars are:

• ASU-Beebe – Emma Lee Joplin of Mountain Home. She received an Associate of Science degree in agriculture, Associate of Science degree in liberal arts and sciences and a Technical Certificate in agriculture.

• ASU-Mountain Home – Ty Tilton of Gassville. He received an Associate of Science degree in business and will transfer to Arkansas State University to pursue his bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a focus in healthcare administration.

• ASU-Newport – Eli Jamar Tate of Concord. He received an Associate of Arts degree in secondary education and will transfer to A-State to pursue studies as a physical education educator.

• ASU Mid-South – Cedarius Sanders of West Memphis. He received an Associate of Arts degree and will transfer to A-State to pursue studies in mechanical engineering.

• ASU Three Rivers – Savanna Null of Malvern. She received an Associate of Arts degree in general education and will transfer to Henderson State University to pursue studies in psychology.

Contributions to the Charles L. Welch Presidential Scholars fund may be made through the ASU System Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR 72467, with “Charles L. Welch Presidential Scholars Fund” designation on the memo line. If you wish to make a donation online, use this link and note “Welch Scholars Fund.”

05/27/2026

Arkansas State University Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields has been selected to serve as president of the ASU System beginning July 1.

As president, Shields will lead the ASU System, which oversees Arkansas State University in Jonesboro; Henderson State University in Arkadelphia; ASU-Beebe; ASU-Newport; ASU-Mountain Home; ASU Mid-South; ASU Three Rivers; and A-State Campus Queretaro in Mexico. In this role, he will help guide systemwide priorities, partnerships, and long-term strategy while continuing to advocate for A-State’s growth and success.

The ASU System Board of Trustees unanimously approved Shields’ appointment during a special meeting, along with the appointment of Dr. Calvin White, A-State’s executive vice chancellor and provost, as interim chancellor.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by the confidence the ASU System Board of Trustees has placed in me through my appointment as president,” Shields said. “I am grateful for their trust, their leadership and their steadfast commitment to expanding educational opportunity across our state and beyond. While I am excited about this new opportunity to serve, my heart is filled with gratitude for the relationships that my wife Karen and I have built in Jonesboro. We have had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and community partners who believe deeply in this university and its ability to transform lives and strengthen our region.”

Since joining A-State as chancellor in 2022, Shields has led a period of significant momentum for the university, including an enrollment increase of nearly 30%, the launch of the state’s first College of Veterinary Medicine, the establishment of the Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing, and expanded workforce training partnerships across Northeast Arkansas.

“As I begin this next chapter, please know that my commitment to A-State remains unwavering,” Shields added “As system president, I will continue to be a strong advocate and resource for A-State, working to ensure that the university has every opportunity to build upon its success and continue changing lives. The future of A-State is bright, and I look forward to helping facilitate continued achievements in the years ahead.”

Executive vice chancellor and provost Calvin White will serve as interim chancellor during the transition beginning July 1, helping continue the university’s momentum and priorities.

Letter from Dr. Shields and Full ASU System Release: https://t.e2ma.net/webview/iyihlh/6a7244fb5e1d3dd5cd09457c5e5e7167

05/27/2026

“As the trailblazing Jonesboro DO school celebrates its 10th anniversary, it's worth noting that while true perfection is never possible, NYITCOM at A-State has come pretty close.”

It’s been an exhilarating few days celebrating our 10th anniversary Thursday and the Class of ‘26 Commencement and Hooding on Friday. A huge thanks to Dana D. Kelley for his thoughtful column in Friday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / ArkansasOnline.com

05/26/2026

The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees today in a special meeting selected Dr. Todd Shields, chancellor of Arkansas State University since 2022, to become the fourth president of the ASU System effective July 1.

At the recommendation of interim president Dr. Robin Myers, the board also voted to name Dr. Calvin White, executive vice chancellor and provost at A-State, as interim chancellor effective July 1.

Following an executive session, the board unanimously voted to approve both appointments. Shields will succeed Dr. Brendan Kelly, who left the system in December to become president of his alma mater, Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Robin Myers will continue to serve as interim system president until July 1.

Chair Robert Rudolph said Trustee Price Gardner of Little Rock will work to negotiate contracts with both Shields and White prior to the board’s next regular meeting on June 3.

05/26/2026

Congratulations to NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University on 10 years of success! 🩺 🥼 💙 💛

For the past decade, NYITCOM at A-State has made a lasting impact on medical education, healthcare access and the future of physicians in Arkansas and beyond. This milestone is a celebration of the students, faculty, leaders, community partners and supporters who have helped shape its success.

A 10th anniversary celebration dinner will be held tonight to honor this important milestone, featuring remarks from Barbara Ross-Lee, founding dean of NYITCOM at A-State, along with NYITCOM leadership and community partners.

Read more about the celebration: https://events.nyit.edu/event/nyitcom-arkansas-10th-anniversary-celebration

05/19/2026

Henderson State has been awarded a $440,000 grant from the Windgate Foundation to expand its nursing program and address critical workforce needs across Arkansas and the region. This investment will allow Henderson to increase its nursing cohort size with the addition of nursing faculty, renovations within the nursing building, and the purchase of additional high-fidelity simulators.

Read more at go.hsu.edu/windgate2026!

05/15/2026

Check out the May edition of the ASU System E-Newsletter, featuring news and initiatives that highlight academic and workforce partnerships throughout the state. These are our stories about impactful initiatives that are serving students, building the talent pipeline for Arkansas employers and promoting our seven outstanding universities and colleges.

Highlights this month:
• New college scholarship targets nontraditional students in Arkansas.
• Collaborative CREST Center will develop Northeast Arkansas job-ready talent.
• Henderson, Mid-South serve aviation industry .
• A-State partners with Epicenter Memphis and Kalmer Solutions.
• Arkansas State Media Network launched.

Arkansas State University System # Campus News & Workforce Initiatives Welcome to the Arkansas State University System monthly e-newsletter, which highlights academic and workforce initiatives and partnerships throughout the state. These are our stories about impactful initiatives that are serving s...