As the economy has grown increasingly global, Arkansas State University has worked to prepare its students for the even more competitive job market. With strong academic programs in place, many of ASU’s students come from abroad. ASU has become a destination university for those seeking learning opportunities that involve research through the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) as well as through the individual colleges on the Jonesboro campus. Students from more than 60 countries study on the ASU campus; in turn, ASU continues to enter into mutual-opportunity global agreements with nations worldwide. 

While the traditional careers of Nursing and Early Childhood Education continue to be popular majors, Arkansas State University has started to realize an increase in the number of students graduating in the Biological Sciences. Now the third most-popular undergraduate degree sought at ASU, biological science students have the benefit of conducting research in college laboratories, the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and the 1,168-acre Bearitage Farms wildlife laboratory in Poinsett and Cross counties. Strong undergraduate and graduate degrees in the Biological Sciences, along with doctoral degree offerings in Environmental Science and Molecular Bioscience, continue to attract some of Arkansas’ best and brightest students. These students go on to obtain careers in the fields of medicine, agricultural research and other innovative fields. In addition, many are able to parlay the research and ideas they foster while on the ASU campus into innovative start-up companies. 

Construction of Greek sorority housing is underway on campus, with occupancy expected by Fall 2013. Stand-alone sorority housing is a first for ASU; sororities have outgrown the space they’ve shared during the last several decades in University Hall on campus. 

Baptist Health Schools – Little Rock 
Few other schools give their students the hands-on training that Baptist Health Schools Little Rock provides. In fact, upon graduation, students are “work ready” because of all the clinical hours they have logged while enrolled. Learning environments include laboratories, patient rooms and diagnostic testing areas.

While banks no longer offer federally backed student loans, private loans are still available, such as the one offered by Arkansas Federal Credit Union (AFCU). Arkansas Federal’s Student Choice Loan covers the cost of an education without charging high interest rates, says Cory Liebhardt, AFCU Jacksonville Service Center manager.

Free Checking 
At First Security, a checking account can be opened the day before the student leaves for school, says Scott Brady, the bank’s senior vice president of marketing.  If it’s the student’s first checking account, he recommends a parent’s name be listed on the account as well as the student’s.  He also recommends the instant-issue debit cards, which can be fashioned with your school’s mascot design and ready for you on the spot. And if you lose it, you can obtain a new one just as quickly.

The Army National Guard can pay up to 100 percent of your college tuition and general fees, up to $4,500 per year. Over four years, that can add up to $18,000. The amount is based on in-state public institution rates, and can be applied to other financial assistance programs from the Army, like the Montgomery GI Bill. Under that bill, in addition to paying your college tuition, the Army sends you a monthly expense allowance of more than $300 – about $11,000 over a four-year period. Best of all, this money is sent directly to you (not to your school) to spend on books, supplies – or anything you want.

Standardized tests like the ACT are very important for college admissions.  They are one of a handful of things –GPA, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores- that colleges use to choose which students to accept.  With colleges becoming more competitive and scholarship money becoming scarcer, why wouldn’t you want to give yourself every advantage?  And just like studying for a test in class or practicing for the big game in sports, preparing for the ACT is important and greatly benefits the student.

Unfortunate tragedies at colleges and universities in recent history, like the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting rampage that took the lives of 32 people, have prompted the examination of safety measures at campuses nationwide. In Arkansas, many institutions have implemented varying kinds of alert systems in recent years with the help of new technology. Text message alert systems have been one of the most popular measures. These systems allow emergency messages to be sent directly to cell phones. Any member of the campus community can voluntarily register for them. Of course, these types of messages can also be sent via email, posted on an institution’s web site, announced over PA systems in campus buildings, and posted on digital message boards around campus. Many of Arkansas’ colleges and universities use some or all of these measures.