SAU System Board of Trustees convenes for June meeting
MAGNOLIA, AR (06/25/2026) The Southern Arkansas University System Board of Trustees met in regular session on Thursday, June 25, at the SAU Alumni Center on the Southern Arkansas University campus in Magnolia.
Dr. Bruno Hicks, SAU president, opened his report with updates on several university initiatives. The Mulerider Next Step Guarantee program continues to grow, with more than 1,000 students now enrolled following a change in approach that automatically places all incoming freshmen in the Career Study Program. The initiative, the first of its kind in Arkansas, continues to generate strong interest among students and parents alike.
Among his updates, Dr. Hicks highlighted the University’s expanding workforce development efforts, including progress on a new 4,800-square-foot SAU Workforce Development Center being constructed near the Physical Plant through the HIRED Grant. The facility will serve as a training center for LiTHIUMLEARNS and other workforce development programs, support STEM education, and house the university’s mobile STEM lab. The center will partner with SAU Tech and other campuses across the region, serve K-12 school districts, and support short-term credentials to upskill workers and build a pipeline of homegrown talent.
Dr. Hicks also reported on the university’s AmeriCorps VISTA program, noting that SAU was one of two programs in the nation highlighted during the AmeriCorps Quarterly Partners Webinar for recruiting such a large number of volunteers. More than 100 SAU students are currently participating, contributing to campus and community projects.
The Board also received updates on summer facility improvements, including football stadium renovations, window replacements in Talbot Hall, upgrades to the historic Childs Hall, the addition of pickleball and fitness courts, LED lighting upgrades at Reynolds, and updates to Bob L. Burns Fields.
SAU Tech Chancellor, Dr. Jerry Thomas, provided highlights from the College’s spring commencement, at which SAU Tech awarded 15 general education degrees, 63 technical certificates, and 55 associate degrees. The ceremony also featured the presentation of 14 transfer scholarships to students continuing their education at SAU.
Dr. Thomas reported continued growth at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, which saw significant year-over-year increases across all major metrics. The number of firefighters registered for courses grew from 16,405 to 19,758, a 20.4% increase. Firefighters completing courses increased from 15,377 to 17,539, up 14%, and total training hours completed rose from 38,550 to 47,835, a 24% increase. The Academy also issued 279 Firefighter I certification seals, 270 Firefighter II certification seals, and 3,758 IFSAC seals. The Academy serves all 75 counties in Arkansas.
Dr. Thomas also announced that SAU Tech was selected as one of two institutions in Arkansas to participate in the national Launch Initiative, a competitive grant opportunity focused on skills-based education pathways validated by employers. SAU Tech received $25,000 to develop its program, which will connect students to high-wage careers through verified skills and career navigation, with a focus on defense, advanced manufacturing, and lithium workforce development.
Dr. Robin Sronce, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Arkansas University, and Dr. Valerie Wilson, vice chancellor for academic affairs at SAU Tech, presented proposed academic program changes for their respective campuses.
Roger Giles, vice president for administration and general counsel, presented additional proposed changes to the SAU Faculty Handbook, which were reviewed and approved by the Board. Giles, along with Michael Armstrong, vice chancellor for finance and administration at SAU Tech, also presented resolutions on system provisional and pool positions, which were approved.
The Board entered executive session to review personnel items, which were subsequently approved upon return to open session. The Board also approved a one-year extension of Dr. Hicks’ contract, with a cost-of-living increase consistent with faculty and staff.
Budget approvals were made for the 2026-27 year for both SAU and SAU Tech. Shawana Reed, SAU vice president for finance, provided an overview of SAU’s extensive budget planning process for the upcoming fiscal year. Reed noted a modest 2.35% increase in undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees, reflecting rising inflation costs.
SAU was also recognized as the highest-performing institution in Arkansas under the state’s productivity formula, resulting in a base appropriations increase of $534,000. University leadership remains committed to keeping an SAU education accessible and affordable while ensuring the institution continues to deliver the quality programs and student experience Muleriders expect.
Michael Armstrong, SAU Tech vice chancellor for finance and administration, presented SAU Tech’s 2026-27 consolidated operating budget. Armstrong noted a modest increase in in-state tuition from $118 to $120 per credit hour. SAU Tech also implemented updated faculty salary schedules and a new high-deductible health plan option with a coordinating HAS.
Athletic certifications for both the SAU and SAU Tech campuses were presented to the Board and approved.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at SAU Tech in Camden.
About SAU:
Southern Arkansas University provides students with the complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees in four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to fit the needs of career and professional trends of today. As part of this commitment, SAU proudly offers the Next Step Guarantee program, ensuring that students receive the necessary resources, career guidance, and support to transition successfully from college to their chosen careers or graduate studies.
To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu.