PINE BLUFF, ARK - Congratulations to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, an historically black college/university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, seeing an increased in applications for admissions for the 2015-16 academic year with new freshman applications increasing 33% since April 2014. Administrators credit the increase to focused recruitment and enhanced opportunities for new students.

"The university has put together a very strong recruitment and admissions staff to attract and admit new freshmen," said Dr. Linda Okiror (Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management). "Departmental faculty and staff have been empowered to reach out to applicants who have already chosen a major offered at UAPB, and have provided additional opportunities to those students to make a positive connection to the department and academic major."

The university also announced that they are offering new opportunities that help make college affordable for new students such as a larger pool of academic scholarships; the Neighbors of Arkansas out-of-state tuition assistance program that helps cover the cost of out-of-state tuition for students from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois; and a fully supported LIONS summer program for new freshmen to help with transitioning to college life.

According to the university, over the past five years the university's most popular majors are Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Computer Sciences, Human Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Agricultural Sciences, and Music. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is well know for its Aquaculture/Fisheries program, is a leader in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, fourth in the State in research funding, and is part of the Arkansas Research Alliance.

Students applicants for Fall 2015 represents 42 states and the District of Columbia including 1,600 applicants from Arkansas. Students from 31 of the states including Arkansas have been admitted. Students have applied for admission from 19 countries in Central and South America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean with the largest number of students coming for Nigeria.

"Greater numbers of academically well-prepared students are choosing to attend UAPB, enriching the academic environment and experience for those who are college ready and providing motivation to those who need additional support," Okiror said.

UAPB is taking the initiative steps in taking their H-B-C-U campus to the NEXT level and we commend the university on a job well done. We at HBCU Campaign supports the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and willing to campaign for the institution in any way possible we can help.

If you are interested in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff or want to apply for admission, you can do so by visiting www.uapb.edu or call the Office of Admission at (870) 575-8492.