The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) announced it has been awarded $2,000,000 by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to launch PRIDE RISES, or Prioritizing Recruitment to Innovate and Drive Enrollment: Reimagining Institutional Strategy for Enrollment Success.
This institution-wide initiative will strengthen enrollment pipelines, modernize student services, and build long-term fiscal sustainability through a coordinated, data-driven approach.
UAPB is one of eight HBCUs to receive a total of $16 million in grant funding.
“PRIDE RISES is a bold, student-responsive plan to modernize how UAPB recruits, enrolls, and supports learners of every pathway, including first-time freshmen, transfer, adult and nontraditional, international, and returning students,” said Chancellor Anthony Graham. “With targeted resources, modern technology, and cross-campus coordination, we will rebuild our pipelines and deliver the high-touch, data-informed supports students deserve.”
“When we invest in HBCUs, we invest in the future of our nation,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “Through this investment, we are equipping UAPB and other HBCUs to thrive as engines of economic mobility and academic excellence so that our institutions can continue to lead, innovate and transform lives for generations to come.”
PRIDE RISES is anchored in six major priorities designed to strengthen student pipelines and modernize the enrollment experience.
It includes a comprehensive strategic enrollment plan to guide recruitment, retention, and student success, supported by technology upgrades that enhance outreach, engagement, and data-informed decision-making.
The university will introduce a streamlined, centralized advising model to ensure consistent guidance throughout the student journey, while a new Office of Transfer and Adult Student Services will expand access for nontraditional, returning, and transfer students.
Recruitment efforts will grow through expanded outreach across Arkansas and bordering states, paired with targeted campaigns and counselor engagement.
Finally, new policies and student re-engagement programs will make it easier for students who have paused their education to return and complete their degrees.