The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), Arkansas’s only public land-grant HBCU, announced it has been awarded $2,000,000 by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to launch PRIDE RISES, or Prioritizing Recruitment to Innovate and Drive Enrollment: Reimagining Institutional Strategy for Enrollment Success. This institution-wide initiative will strengthen enrollment pipelines, modernize student services, and build long-term fiscal sustainability through a coordinated, data-driven approach. UAPB is one of eight HBCUs to receive a total of $16 million in grant funding.
“PRIDE RISES is a bold, student-responsive plan to modernize how UAPB recruits, enrolls, and supports learners of every pathway, including first-time freshmen, transfer, adult and nontraditional, international, and returning students,” said Chancellor Anthony Graham. “With targeted resources, modern technology, and cross-campus coordination, we will rebuild our pipelines and deliver the high-touch, data-informed supports students deserve.”
“By aligning people, processes, and technology around unified enrollment and retention goals, the university is creating a stronger foundation for student success,” said Dr. Moses Goldmon, vice chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Success. “Moving beyond isolated initiatives to an integrated ecosystem allows us to meet students where they are and provide the support they need to finish strong.”
“When we invest in HBCUs, we invest in the future of our nation,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “Through this investment, we are equipping UAPB and other HBCUs to thrive as engines of economic mobility and academic excellence so that our institutions can continue to lead, innovate and transform lives for generations to come.”
PRIDE RISES is anchored in six major priorities designed to strengthen student pipelines and modernize the enrollment experience. A comprehensive strategic enrollment plan will guide recruitment, retention, and student success, supported by technology upgrades that enhance outreach, engagement, and data-informed decision-making. The university will introduce a streamlined, centralized advising model to ensure consistent guidance throughout the student journey, while a new Office of Transfer and Adult Student Services will expand access for nontraditional, returning, and transfer students. Recruitment efforts will grow through expanded outreach across Arkansas and bordering states, paired with targeted campaigns and counselor engagement. Finally, new policies and student re-engagement programs will make it easier for students who have paused their education to return and complete their degrees.
Chancellor Graham, who convened the grant writing team in May prior to his official arrival on campus, emphasized the collaborative approach behind the proposal.
“I am especially grateful to Mrs. Rita Conley, who chaired the effort and helped bring together the right people and ideas,” Chancellor Graham said. “Thanks to her leadership and the dedication of the entire team, we were able to develop a strong, student-centered proposal that reflects the very best of UAPB.”
