UAPB Chancellor Dr. Laurence Alexander has announced that the Synchrony Bank Foundation has made a gift of $500,000 to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) as part of the company’s continuation of its Education As Equalizer Program. The university will use the donation to advance UAPB scholarship support to students and expand Synchrony’s support to enhance learning by students in business, finance, and leadership. This contribution represents the foundation’s second gift to UAPB and the Education as Equalizer initiative as part of their million-dollar commitment that started in September 2021.
According to Alexander, Synchrony has been a great partner in supporting the university and expanding opportunities for UAPB students. “Synchrony has proven to be an industry leader in giving back to UAPB. The level of support provided allows us to create new opportunities to assure success for hundreds of UAPB students.”
As part of Synchrony’s commitment to increasing educational and financial access for the communities they serve, the donation to UAPB fulfills the foundation’s mission. “Synchrony is proud to support and partner with UAPB,” said Denise Yap, president of the Synchrony Foundation. “In addition to monetary funds, our employees serve as mentors, advisors, and speakers to the students and faculty, sharing our stories of challenges, perseverance, and opportunity. This partnership aims to provide UAPB students with tangible pathways to future success.”
UAPB’s Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, George Cotton, Sr., views Synchrony’s support as a game-changer for UAPB. According to Cotton, “Synchrony has literally redefined what it means to be a corporate partner. The level of their generosity will allow UAPB to help generations of students as they pursue a college degree”.
Synchrony launched the Education as Equalizer program in 2021 and has since expanded its focus to include educational and institutional readiness. Since its initial launch, the foundation has provided more than $4 million to HBCUs, including UAPB, to increase educational access for first-generation college-bound students and underserved populations. The award will be paid out in two installments of $250,000 each over the next two years.
