Check out why the University of Central Arkansas received a D grade in our Report Card below.
The University of Central Arkansas is a public university in Conway, Arkansas with an undergraduate enrollment size of 8,244. The university is located in a suburban setting 30 minutes northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas. The university has a moderately-sized Greek life presence. Students at the University of Central Arkansas can enjoy restaurants and shopping in downtown Conway, attend sporting events within the university, experience a wide range of art at the Baum Gallery, and go sightseeing at Cadron Settlement Park. Their official mascot is Bruce D. Bear. Members of the University of Central Arkansas community are referred to as “Bears.”
The University of Central Arkansas offers more than 150 programs of study in multiple undergraduate degree programs. Notable former students include Japanese internet entrepreneur Hiroyuki Nishimura, former All-Star small forward and NBA champion Scottie Pippen, singer-songwriter Kris Allen, and socialite and philanthropist Julia Koch.

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “B” grade by <a href="https://www.whatwilltheylearn.com/schools/3468">What Will They Learn?</a> which takes into account the university’s educational prowess. Factors include composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural science.
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What Will They Learn? Academic Score

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “D-” grade for the Average Salary of Recent Graduates. As of 2021, alumni with 0-5 years of experience after graduating from the University of Central Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree make $48,100 on average according to <a href="https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/bachelors">Payscale</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-106" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/13102645/d-minus-e1671666923723.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Average Salary of Recent Graduates

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “D” grade for the Average Salary of Graduates Mid-Career. As of 2021, alumni with 10+ years of experience after graduating from the University of Central Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree make $86,900 on average according to <a href="https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/bachelors">Payscale</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06165831/d-e1671666996995.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Average Salary of Graduates Mid-Career

The University of Central Arkansas receives an “F” grade for Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff. According to <a href="https://uca.edu/engagement/online-courses/">the university</a>, &#8220;All UCA Faculty, Staff, Student Workers, and Graduate Assistants are required to complete specified course assignment [sic] during the academic year.&#8221;
Additionally, &#8220;The 2023-24 required seminars are:
<ul>
<li>Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging</li>
<li>IT Browser Security Basics</li>
<li>Building Supportive Communities: Clery Act &amp; Title IX</li>
<li>Campus on Campus: Keeping Minors Safe&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-83" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06163659/f-e1671666890828.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “C” grade for having a Bias Reporting System but not a Bias Response Team. Bias Reporting Systems and Response Teams are systems or teams of faculty, staff, and sometimes law enforcement.
According to <a href="https://speechfirst.org/bias-reporting-systems/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpeechFirst</a>, students are “encouraged to report ‘bias incidents’ to these boards (or teams) in the name of inclusion and tolerance, but it’s often unclear what the school considers ‘bias’ in the first place. Overly broad or vague definitions of bias put all kinds of speech at risk of being reported – even unpopular speech which is protected by the First Amendment.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06151308/c-e1671667169543.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Bias Reporting System or Bias Response Team

The University of Central Arkansas receives an “A” grade for the Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs. Out of a list of 20 clubs (10 from each side), <a href="https://uca.campuslabs.com/engage/organizations">the university</a> has two right-leaning clubs compared to two left-leaning clubs. Turning Point USA and Students for Life are the two right-leaning clubs. Prism and Feminist Union are the two left-leaning clubs.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs

The University of Central Arkansas receives an “A” grade due to having an active and thriving <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tpusa.uca/">Turning Point USA chapter</a>. Unfortunately, universities and Student Governments around the country often use their power to prevent certain clubs from operating on campus.
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Denied Turning Point USA Chapter

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “D” grade for In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants. According to <a href="https://uca.edu/registrar/uca-arkansas-act-844/">the university</a>, “UCA students may be classified as in-state, limited to the terms and purpose of tuition and fees applicable to all programs within the institution, if the student satisfies one of the following requirements:
<ul>
<li>the student personally holds, or is the child of a person who holds, a Federal I &#8211; 766 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-issued Employment Authorization Document, or as it is also known, a work permit;</li>
<li>the student has verified that he or she is a resident legally in Arkansas and has immigrated from the Republic of the Marshall Islands; or</li>
<li>the student&#8217;s request for an exemption under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has been approved by the United States Department of Homeland Security. The student&#8217;s exemption shall not have expired or shall have been renewed.</li>
</ul>
AND satisfies the following requirements:
<ul>
<li>Resided in Arkansas for at least three (3) years at the time of application to UCA; and</li>
<li>Either: (i) Graduated from a public or private Arkansas high school; or (ii) Received a high school equivalency diploma in Arkansas.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06165831/d-e1671666996995.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “B” grade for Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students. <a href="https://uca.edu/academicbulletins/ld-uca-core/">The university</a> requires students to take a course in its &#8220;Responsible Living&#8221; category as part of its Core program. Examples of courses in this category include, but are not limited to:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Topics in Social Justice in Teaching &amp; Learning&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Gender, Race, &amp; Class&#8221;</li>
</ul>
However, these courses can be easily bypassed in favor of unbiased options like &#8220;Introduction to Insurance&#8221; and &#8220;Personal Finance.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154915/b-e1671667012553.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “B” grade for Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes. The university hosts three segregated <a href="https://uca.edu/student/graduation/">graduation ceremonies</a> (Lavender Celebration, Minority Celebration, and Latino Celebration).
The university does not have any segregated dormitories or classes.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154915/b-e1671667012553.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes

The University of Central Arkansas receives an “A” grade for Protests and Canceling Speakers. Since 2021, no instances of protests, speech cancelations, or violence/attempted violence against speakers have occurred.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Protests and Canceling Speakers

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “C” grade for Mask and Vaccine Mandates. <a href="https://uca.edu/coronavirus/bearsvax-toolkit/">The university</a> runs a social media campaign to encourage students to vaccinate against COVID-19. According to the university&#8217;s #BearsVax Toolkit, &#8220;The University of Central Arkansas has launched the #BearsVax social media campaign aimed at sharing factual information about the COVID-19 virus and encouraging vaccination among campus constituents.
The UCA community is invited to share stories throughout the semester on why they got vaccinated by using the hashtag #BearsVax on social media. Use video, photographs, testimonials or graphics to share your messages, but be sure to use the hashtag #BearsVax. Throughout the semester, the primary UCA social media accounts will share testimonials from those using the hashtag in order to promote safety and wellness among the campus community.&#8221;
The <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zoOyO6T5vYv71LpjPnI1C-5kexHOM6h5?usp=sharing">toolkit</a> includes a &#8220;Vax Facts&#8221; folder, a &#8220;BearsVax&#8221; informational document, and a &#8220;Testimonial Sample.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06151308/c-e1671667169543.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Mask and Vaccine Mandates

The University of Central Arkansas receives a &#8220;D” grade for the Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees. According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Center (<a href="https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data">IPEDS</a>), as of 2020, 2.85% of the current undergraduate student population graduate with a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree. Across the United States, students who graduate with STEM degrees tend to earn more on average than their other student counterparts.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06165831/d-e1671666996995.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees

The University of Central Arkansas receives a “C+” grade for Crime Rates in University City or Town. According to the <a href="https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a>, the Conway, Arkansas violent crime rate was 541.07 per 100,000 people in 2018, higher than the 2018 national average of 380.56 per 100,000 people. While campus safety is of utmost importance, it is also pertinent to consider the crime rates of the surrounding town or city as students often tend to venture off campus, especially after their freshman year.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154124/c-plus-e1671667027604.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Crime Rates in University City or Town

The University of Central Arkansas receives an “A” grade for Required Western Civilization Courses for Students. <a href="https://uca.edu/academicbulletins/files/2022/06/ld-uca-core-20220628-printable.pdf">The university</a> requires students to choose one course within its &#8220;American History and Government&#8221; course category. Examples of courses in this category include, but are not limited to:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;The Making of America&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;America in the Modern Era&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;US Government &amp; Politics&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Art History, Renaissance to Modern&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Required Western Civilization Courses for Students

University of Central Arkansas

Check out why the University of Central Arkansas received a D grade in our Report Card below.

The University of Central Arkansas is a public university in Conway, Arkansas with an undergraduate enrollment size of 8,244. The university is located in a suburban setting 30 minutes northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas. The university has a moderately-sized Greek life presence. Students at the University of Central Arkansas can enjoy restaurants and shopping in downtown Conway, attend sporting events within the university, experience a wide range of art at the Baum Gallery, and go sightseeing at Cadron Settlement Park. Their official mascot is Bruce D. Bear. Members of the University of Central Arkansas community are referred to as “Bears.”

The University of Central Arkansas offers more than 150 programs of study in multiple undergraduate degree programs. Notable former students include Japanese internet entrepreneur Hiroyuki Nishimura, former All-Star small forward and NBA champion Scottie Pippen, singer-songwriter Kris Allen, and socialite and philanthropist Julia Koch.

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Screen Shot 2020-07-21 at 3.48.33 PM

m-shelly-conner

M Shelly Conner

<a href="https://uca.edu/ftcw/facultystaff/mshellyconner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shelly Conner</a> is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Central Arkansas. According to her university profile, Conner’s teaching specialties include “Creative Writing,” “Gender &amp; Women’s Studies,” and “African American Literature.”
Her profile describes her as a “multi-genre writer” who is the “creator of the Quare Life web series and has published essays on dapperqueer aesthetics, black womanhood, self-sustainable living and their intersections in various publications.”
One of Conner’s articles <a href="https://thegrio.com/2020/03/05/twenties-queer-black-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">describes her reaction</a> to the show “Twenties,” a show “written by a black queer woman with a black queer woman lead.” In discussing the main characters, Conner discusses her “rapt attention” in learning that a lesbian relationship in the show was “strictly casual.” However, she writes:
“I was midway through mental applause for presenting a lesbian relationship that wasn’t invested in chasing the model of heteronormative monogamy when I learned that Hattie’s [main character] partner is regarded as straight.” 
Conner goes on to describe how Hattie’s friends tell her to stop dating straight women, but Conner is disappointed to learn that the friends are also straight. She writes:
“It’s like when a caring white friend (but white nonetheless) gives genuine advice on something you experience as a Black person. No matter how sound or solid the advice, it’s mitigated through a person who not only hasn’t experienced the matter but also has de facto benefited from it at some time.” 
Conner finishes her article by commiserating that “Black queer/lesbian communities” tend to “remain outside of the scope of shows relegating us to always being the token.”
Another one of Conner’s articles was featured in <a href="https://thefeministwire.com/2014/11/male-desire-of-unconscious-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Feminist Wire</a> and titled “Don’t Get Caught Sleeping: Male Desire of Unconscious Women.” <a href="https://www.thecollegefix.com/1-in-3-college-women-are-raped-jesuit-womens-conference-tells-attendees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The College Fix</a> wrote about the article saying Conner “argued that men are taught that sex is better when women are in a passive state.” The article states:
“Not only are young boys taught that it is their duty to initiate sexual contact with women, it is also presented that it should occur when women are in their most passive states.”
&nbsp;
Updated &#8211; August 2024

<a href="https://uca.edu/ftcw/facultystaff/mshellyconner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shelly Conner</a> is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Central Arkansas. According to her university profile, Conner’s teaching specialties include “Creative Writing,” “Gender &amp; Women’s Studies,” and “African American Literature.”

Her profile describes her as a “multi-genre writer” who is the “creator of the Quare Life web series and has published essays on dapperqueer aesthetics, black womanhood, self-sustainable living and their intersections in various publications.”

One of Conner’s articles <a href="https://thegrio.com/2020/03/05/twenties-queer-black-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">describes her reaction</a> to the show “Twenties,” a show “written by a black queer woman with a black queer woman lead.” In discussing the main characters, Conner discusses her “rapt attention” in learning that a lesbian relationship in the show was “strictly casual.” However, she writes:
“I was midway through mental applause for presenting a lesbian relationship that wasn’t invested in chasing the model of heteronormative monogamy when I learned that Hattie’s [main character] partner is regarded as straight.” 
Conner goes on to describe how Hattie’s friends tell her to stop dating straight women, but Conner is disappointed to learn that the friends are also straight. She writes:
“It’s like when a caring white friend (but white nonetheless) gives genuine advice on something you experience as a Black person. No matter how sound or solid the advice, it’s mitigated through a person who not only hasn’t experienced the matter but also has de facto benefited from it at some time.” 
Conner finishes her article by commiserating that “Black queer/lesbian communities” tend to “remain outside of the scope of shows relegating us to always being the token.”

Another one of Conner’s articles was featured in <a href="https://thefeministwire.com/2014/11/male-desire-of-unconscious-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Feminist Wire</a> and titled “Don’t Get Caught Sleeping: Male Desire of Unconscious Women.” <a href="https://www.thecollegefix.com/1-in-3-college-women-are-raped-jesuit-womens-conference-tells-attendees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The College Fix</a> wrote about the article saying Conner “argued that men are taught that sex is better when women are in a passive state.” The article states:
“Not only are young boys taught that it is their duty to initiate sexual contact with women, it is also presented that it should occur when women are in their most passive states.”
&nbsp;
Updated - August 2024

University of Central Arkansas

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