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Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP News

A family poses with Numa at Roar and Explore on February 13.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPPFeatured

Accepted Students Day Roars Back with New Name

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith welcomed nearly 400 students and guests to campus on Friday, Feb. 13, for Roar and Explore. Previously known as Accepted Students Day, the day-long event hosted students who have all been admitted to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP.

February 16, 2026
Assorted candies of multiple colors
Arts and SciencesAsk the ExpertFeatured

There's A Reason Why We Like Candy, Chemistry Explains It All

An associate professor of chemistry at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith details how science explains candy preferences and composition. Chemistry, down to the molecular level, is why certain sweet treats are favorites.

February 13, 2026
Parker Reed, right, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP alum Joseph Jones Jr. prepare a salad while volunteering at the Salvation Army of Fort Smith.
Community

Students Fill Hearts Through Homemade Meals

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith students, a professor, and an alum teamed up to cook and serve meals at the Salvation Army of Fort Smith to unhoused on Feb. 7.

February 11, 2026
Tracie Griffith, administrative specialist for mathematics, stands in front of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Math Science Building
AlumniArts and SciencesFirst GenerationLion Voices

Tracie Griffith’s Unretirement – Putting Students First

When Tracie Griffith left the classroom after more than 20 years as a K-12 teacher, she realized something was missing. It was students. In her first year at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith, she is finding that she's still making a difference...

February 05, 2026
an artists rendering of the new uafs center for health innovation building
Bell TowerFeaturedHealth Education and Human Sciences

$15M Federal Appropriation to Fund Center for Maternal and Infant Healthcare

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP is set to receive $15 million in federal funding to construct and equip a state-of-the-art Center for Mother and Infant Healthcare, following congressional approval of key FY2026 appropriations bills.

February 04, 2026
Dr. Cheryl Holden, executive director of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Master of Healthcare Administration program, stands on the second floor of the Pendergraft Health Sciences Building overlooking the lobby.
Bell TowerHealth Education and Human SciencesLion Voices

Lifetime in Healthcare Spurs Education

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith's Master of Healthcare Administration program is led by Dr. Cheryl Holden, the executive director, who joined Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP after more than four decades of healthcare experience.

February 04, 2026
Class notes graphic
AlumniClass Notes

Class Notes, Spring 2026

Class notes from alumni coming from October 2025 to January 2026. If you have any information you'd like to share with your fellow alumni and us, follow the link below the notes to the Class Notes submissions!

February 02, 2026
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Bell Tower
Chancellor

Campus Update, January 30, 2026

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley offers a warm welcome back after winter weather forced the campus closure and shares upcoming events with students.

January 30, 2026
A chalkboard has the Mandarin translation of the English word
CommunityNews

Learning Mandarin Made Easy

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP professor Dr. Ann-Gee Lee leans on her heritage to bring back a free Mandarin course for students, faculty, staff, and the community.

January 30, 2026
A red and white triangular roadsign with a  black snowflake stands with snowflakes falling around it to convey caution for snowfall.
Chancellor

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP to Resume Normal Operations Friday, January 30

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP will open for normal operations Friday, January 30, 2026 with some limitations.

January 29, 2026
A red and white triangular roadsign with a  black snowflake stands with snowflakes falling around it to convey caution for snowfall.
Chancellor

Inclement Weather Update: Wednesday, January 28

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith is closing campus again on Thursday, January 29, 2026 due to treacherous travel conditions.

January 28, 2026
A red and white triangular roadsign with a  black snowflake stands with snowflakes falling around it to convey caution for snowfall.
Chancellor

Inclement Weather Update: Tuesday, January 27

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith is closing campus again on Wednesday January 28, 2026 due to brutally cold weather and road conditions.

January 27, 2026
A red and white triangular roadsign with a  black snowflake stands with snowflakes falling around it to convey caution for snowfall.
Chancellor

Campus Update: Inclement Weather Notice

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith is closing campus again on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 due to brutally cold weather and road conditions.

January 26, 2026
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP alum, Jordan Miesner-Davis, works with a multi channel pipette.
AlumniArts and SciencesFirst Generation

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Alum Builds Career Through Science and Persistence

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith alum, Jordan Miesner-Davis, is helping change lives as a scientist. He helps companies develop and test safe medications for distribution.

January 23, 2026
A young American Goldfinch on an icicle
Arts and Sciences

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Ornithologist Gives Snowday Birdwatching Advice

As snowfall blankets the River Valley, bird watchers are flocking to their windows and feeders, enjoying the return of familiar winter species and hoping for rare visitors. Dr. Ragupathy Kannan, professor of ornithology at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP...

January 23, 2026
A red and white triangular roadsign with a  black snowflake stands with snowflakes falling around it to convey caution for snowfall.
ChancellorFeatured

Campus Update: Inclement Weather Notice

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith is preparing for a significant winter weather system by pivoting to remote work and canceling all classes after 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23.

January 22, 2026
Three members of The Pokémon Guild at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP hold out their phones together while playing Pokémon GO.
EventsStudents

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Students Try to ‘Catch ‘Em All’

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP - Fort Smith students kicked off the new semester and Pokémon's 30th anniversary with an afternoon playing Pokémon GO.

January 22, 2026
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP campus sign covered in snow
CommunityNewsStudents

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Crews Prepare Campus for Winter Storm with Updated Ice Control Plan

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP grounds crews prepare the campus as winter storm approaches in order to make certain students, faculty and staff remain safe and can access the areas they need

January 21, 2026
chemistry lab under construction with bench tops removed awaiting new ones
Arts and SciencesNews

New Lab Benches to Modernize Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Chemistry Laboratory

Bench in the chemestry lab in the Math-Science buidling at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP are being updated and replaced with new tops and space.

January 16, 2026
Statue of Martin Luther King Jr.
CommunityEventsFeaturedNews

River Valley MLK Commission to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Events

Several events are scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, both on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP campus and across the River Valley.

January 05, 2026

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Media Relations

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAPP Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

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Rachel Rodemann Putman

  • Director of Strategic Communications
  • 479-788-7132