Updated: April 20 2026
By: Dr. Rick Massengale (President, UA Northark)
At 2:10 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, UA Northark officially merged with the University of Arkansas System. Welcome everyone to UA Northark of the University of Arkansas (UA Northark)!
Updated: March 24, 2026
By: Dr. Rick Massengale (President, UA Northark)
I wanted to share that today Northark received official confirmation from HLC approving the merger between UA Northark and the University of Arkansas System.
While the process is not yet complete, this was the final major milestone we needed to reach. All that remains is the formal signing, which will most likely take place within the next 30 days. I will keep you updated as details are finalized. At this point, the remaining steps involve only Northark and the UA System.
The end is in sight—we are nearly across the finish line.
By: Dr. Rick Massengale (President, UA Northark)
Both the UA Northark Board of Trustee Chair and the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustee Chair have signed the Agreement of Merger and Plan of Transition Agreement.
UA Northark is now in the process of filing the necessary paperwork with the Higher Learning Commission to start the “Change of Control” process.
Target date for the closing date and the full transition to be completed is May 01, 2026. (However, if required paperwork is completed / delayed the closing date could be adjusted accordingly).
If timelines are met and the merger is completed by May 01, 2026, then any student graduating in May 2026 would be eligible for the University of Arkansas Fayetteville Transfer Scholarship that allows Northark students who obtain one of the degrees below to transfer to the University of Arkansas and pay UA Northark Tuition rates.
Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship: https://scholarships.uark.edu/transfer-scholarships/index.php
Both the UA Northark Board of Trustee Chair and the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustee Chair have signed the Agreement of Merger and Plan of Transition Agreement.
UA Northark is now in the process of filing the necessary paperwork with the Higher Learning Commission to start the “Change of Control” process.
Target date for the closing date and the full transition to be completed is May 01, 2026. (However, if required paperwork is completed / delayed the closing date could be adjusted accordingly).
If timelines are met and the merger is completed by May 01, 2026, then any student graduating in May 2026 would be eligible for the University of Arkansas Fayetteville Transfer Scholarship that allows Northark students who obtain one of the degrees below to transfer to the University of Arkansas and pay UA Northark Tuition rates.
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Science
- Associate of Arts in Teaching
Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship: https://scholarships.uark.edu/transfer-scholarships/index.php
The official name in the Change of Ownership paperwork and the Agreement of Merger and Plan of Transition Agreement is.
UA Northark of the University of Arkansas
UA Northark of the University of Arkansas
Pioneer Pete will remain the mascot of UA Northark Athletics
Efforts are underway to rebrand the general college logo. The Diamond and N will be replaced with the new logo as part of the official renaming of the college. More on this as the process evolves.
It is unlikely that that this process will be completed before the end of the Fall 2025 semester (December 2025).