Students will pay approximately $456 more to live and eat on campus next year.
The UCA Board of Trustees approved a 5% increase in room and board fees for the 2025-2026 academic year at its Feb. 28 meeting.
SGA President Phoenix Vu said, “Any increase in fees is a tough pill to swallow for students.
“The proposal on the table is to increase the room and board rates by 5% which will cost an average student about $456. For a large number of students who are working part-time minimum wage jobs, this is an entire paycheck or more that will be lost to an already expensive cost of attendance. That being said, I understand that high-quality room and board is expensive, and it’s vital that students continue to have fresh water and fresh food,” Vu said.
The current room and board rate for a double room and the total access meal plan is $9,110 per year. It will be increased to $9,566 per year.
According to the meeting agenda, the increase should generate an additional $495,690 for the university, and these funds will help cover the 3.6% increase in the Aramark contract.
According to graphics provided at the meeting, the approved increase still keeps UCA in the middle pricepoint for Arkansas public universities. For example, Arkansas State University room and board is $11,939 and University of Arkansas at Little Rock room and board is $9,904.
The board also approved a $1.31 million purchase of property on Farris Road, adjacent to Buffalo Hall and Stadium Park Apartments. The property is four duplexes on approximately 1.5 acres that will be used for student housing.
The board approved the renewal of the contract with BSN Sports and Nike for five more years. According to the meeting agenda, the university currently spends approximately $430,000 per year on this contract.
Kevin Thomas, vice president for enrollment services and student success, gave an update on what enrollment is looking like for the next academic year.
“As we look forward to this fall ‘25 class that’s coming, our admitted students right now is up 2%,” he said. “Nationally, for institutions like ours, they’re down 3% — so we’re doing really well there.”
Thomas said UCA has 1,018 UCA Commitment applications for fall 2025.
“This program is not slowing down. Momentum continues to move forward, and we’re very, very proud of that as well,” Thomas said.
The board passed a resolution of appreciation for Amy Denton, the 2024 board chair.
UCA President Houston Davis said, “Denton served with honor and distinction, and because of her leadership, the university had a very successful year in 2024.”
Seniors Cooper Horton and Dylan Silverman-Barnes were recognized for receiving the Bear CLAWS award.
Davis said the Bear CLAWS Award is to “honor an individual student or students or student organizations on this campus that are making an incredible impact, not only on UCA but on the world.”
Former professors John Murphy and Michael Rubach were recognized for receiving the Distinguished Professor Emeritus Award.
Murphy taught psychology from 1995 to 2022, and Rubach taught marketing and management from 1997 to 2023.