Admissions | Arts and Sciences | Business and Industry | Featured | Health Education and Human Sciences | News | StudentsFebruary 28, 2025

More Students Picking UAFS, Admissions Team Continues to Break Records

Written By: Ian Silvester

Following consecutive record-setting Den Days, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith admissions team welcomed more than 270 students from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee to Accepted Students Day. With 501 people attending between students and guests, it was the largest turnout since the event began in 2022.

Friday’s Accepted Students Day highlighted the next step for students interested in continuing their education. All students in attendance have been admitted to UAFS and used the day to explore life as a Lion.

“Accepted Students Day allows students to better see themselves as UAFS students,” explained Maddie Hardwick, assistant director for recruiting at UAFS. “This is a day where it kind of ‘clicks’ for them, and it’s an exciting thing to watch and play a part in.”

For D’Andre Andrews of Fort Smith, Friday was his first time coming to the UAFS campus. He said one of the day's highlights was everyone he had the chance to meet, a sentiment shared by many in attendance, like Charity Burgess of Poteau, Oklahoma.

“It’s the community and how nice people are here,” she said.

Students were treated to lunch, given a campus and housing tour, attended a majors expo, sat in mock classes, and got a head start on scheduling individual advising appointments for fall class registration with the completion of a New Student Form.

Nevaeh Dever of Jonesboro, Arkansas, said she was grateful for the form because it was a small way to show her that UAFS had her best interests in mind.

“(UAFS) really cares about (its) students. This is a smaller college, so I feel like there is a focus more on the individuals and trying to help us stay ahead,” she explained.

The UAFS admissions team's goal since the spring semester's Den Day was to offer students the ability to complete their New Student Form as early as Accepted Students Day to keep students moving in the admissions process.

“The UAFS Admissions Office is noticing that students are more eager this year to complete their next steps,” said Brooke Magallanes, associate vice chancellor for enrollment and director of admissions. “The ability to complete new student tasks at Accepted Students Day helps boost their confidence and strengthens their connection to UAFS.”

This year’s Accepted Students Day was the largest since its inception and filled with diversity.

Roughly 17% of admitted students registered for the event are from out of state. To Darbi Owen, coordinator of recruitment events and tours and admissions advisor, having so many students come to Fort Smith indicated the growing popularity of UAFS.

“It shows great growth and a new population of students that we may not have seen before,” Owen said. “Whether it’s two minutes up the road, five hours away, or a whole different state, we’re letting them know they have a place here at the university.”

Additionally, more than a quarter of the attendees identify as Hispanic/Latino.

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• Accepted Students Day
• New Students
• Admissions