Arkansas Short Takes

Welcome to the home of Arkansas Short Takes, where you will find a series of short videos featuring stories about outstanding students, faculty and special points of pride at the University of Arkansas.

Give Her Space

University of Arkansas doctoral student Alyssa Carson yearns to venture into space and explore the unknown. She’s slowly building her resume as a potential astronaut and is honing her skills in the field of astrobiology. She’s attended every space camp offered by NASA, has garnered thousands of followers on social media and is well on her way to making a career out of studying the cosmos.

Art in the Natural State

The University of Arkansas School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is building something beautiful for students studying art and design. The school is increasing access to art education in Arkansas and is the first and only accredited, collegiate school of art in the state. The epicenter for the school’s studio art and graphic design programs are in the Windgate Art and Design District, which includes the Studio and Design Center. Since its opening in 2023, the Studio and Design Center has become a hub for collaboration, allowing for greater accessibility by the community and giving faculty and students the space they need to develop and showcase their creative interests.

Fulfilling Our Land-Grant Mission

For more than 150 years, the primary purpose of the University of Arkansas has been to improve the lives of every Arkansan. In 2023, the university celebrated record enrollment of Arkansans, and 98% of Arkansans who applied for scholarship support received a scholarship or other financial award. Chancellor Charles Robinson, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Suzanne McCray, alumna Ayana Gray and students Amelia Southern Uribe, Erick Soto and Jenna Klewsaat share what makes the U of A unique, as the campus looks forward to the next 150 years and focuses on student success, research excellence and strengthening its position as an employer of choice.

Trail Blazers

The Fayetteville Traverse recreational trail connects the University of Arkansas with the rest of the region and provides a source of natural beauty for the students, faculty and staff who utilize it. Designed to be accessible for all, the trail offers many scenic spots for biking, running and walking and are unique to the U of A. It’s a trail for all ages and abilities and is also one of the only natural surface trails designed for adaptive cyclists in the state of Arkansas. Read more about Trail Blazers.

A Way With Words

Alumna Ayana Gray is a best-selling author, and the first chapter of her story began as a student at the University of Arkansas. Since publishing her original novel in 2021, she can often be found touring the country, signing copies of her “Beasts of Prey” trilogy series at local bookstores or libraries. When she returns to Fayetteville, though, she’s reminded of where it all began, including the two key experiences she had as a student that inspired her to build a new world for readers.

The Heart of Student Success

The student success team in The Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence (The CORD) at the University of Arkansas is passionate about helping students grow, so they can meet the rigors of academic life and life after graduation. It’s a place where students, faculty and staff work together to not only ensure success but a sense of belonging as well. Hear firsthand how the team is dedicated to Arkansas and how this space has become the heart of student success on campus.

Determined to Succeed

University of Arkansas student Erick Soto was the recipient of the McDonald’s HACER Scholarship – an achievement that helped jumpstart his journey at the U of A as a first-generation college student. Since then, he’s found a way to help other students as a mentor in the Freshman Commuter Student Success Program, where he enjoys sharing his own experiences and motivating his peers to persevere through life’s challenges. Soto believes, “If you’re determined to succeed, I think you’ll accomplish anything you put yourself to.”

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