The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will play a central role in a new statewide effort to expand Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, following the award of nearly $2 million in federal funding to Arkansas State University over the next five years.
The funding, provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education within the U.S. Department of Education, establishes the Consortium for Inclusive Postsecondary Education and Transition (CIPET), a statewide coordinating center designed to strengthen transition pathways and practical skill-building programs across Arkansas.
As part of the initiative, UAPB is launching a new IPSE program within its School of Education, expanding access to postsecondary education for students and families throughout the Delta and Pine Bluff region. The university has also welcomed Robbin Hudson Huntley as IPSE Program Coordinator. Huntley will oversee campus programming and serve as the primary point of contact for students, families, and community partners.
Dr. Kimberley Davis-Hunt, Dean of the UAPB School of Education, said the launch of the program reflects a long-standing commitment to inclusive education and community partnership.
“Launching an IPSE program in the School of Education at UAPB is both deeply personal and profoundly meaningful,” Davis-Hunt said. “It reflects our unwavering promise to the Delta and the Pine Bluff community to ensure that every individual, regardless of ability, has access to transformative educational opportunities close to home. This milestone is the result of more than two years of intentional collaboration with Arkansas State University, whose successful program served as both a model and an inspiration.”
Hudson Huntley, a native of Dumas and a UAPB alumna, brings extensive experience in student support services, administration, and disability-focused programming. She earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and her graduate degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, with an emphasis in Addiction Studies, from UAPB.
Hudson Huntley said she is excited to help lead a program that expands access to higher education and meaningful career pathways for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“As IPSE Coordinator, I am eager to collaborate with campus partners, community stakeholders, and families to ensure the program’s success and long-term impact at UAPB,” she said. She can be reached at [email protected] for more information.
Through CIPET, UAPB joins Arkansas State University–Jonesboro and Arkansas State University–Mountain Home in a three-campus consortium designed to serve urban, rural, and historically underrepresented communities. Each institution contributes unique strengths, including academic programs, faculty expertise, facilities, and community partnerships, to create a sustainable and scalable model for inclusive education statewide.
The consortium will be led by the RESTORE Hub at Arkansas State University under the direction of Dr. Kristin N. Johnson, executive director and principal investigator. RESTORE will serve as the technical assistance and data evaluation hub, drawing on its experience operating A-State’s H.O.W.L. Transition Program.
“This initiative represents a timely and transformative response to one of the most significant gaps in services,” Johnson said. “Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities remain among the most underserved populations. By partnering with UAPB and ASU–Mountain Home, we are breaking barriers and building futures.”
At UAPB, the new IPSE program will expand institutional capacity, align academic programming with workforce development, and strengthen student support services to promote employment, independence, and community engagement.
ASU–Mountain Home Chancellor Bentley Wallace said the initiative will enhance life skills training, credential attainment, and employment opportunities for adults with learning differences across the region.
Arkansas State University leaders also praised the collaborative effort behind the grant.
Dr. Travis Marsico, Vice Provost for Research, Innovation, and Discovery at Arkansas State University and Executive Director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, called the award “a very competitive win” and credited the shared statewide vision for making the initiative possible.
CIPET is grounded in the belief that every student, regardless of ability, deserves access to high-quality postsecondary experiences that are meaningful, measurable, and sustainable. Through the consortium, best practices will be shared statewide to strengthen programs serving students with intellectual disabilities and support long-term success across Arkansas.
