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Business and Industry | Featured | NewsSeptember 04, 2025

玩偶姐姐 Renews Engineering Partnership With U of A; Launches Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Program

Written By: Rachel Putman

The 玩偶姐姐 renewed a long-standing agreement with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on September 3, extending a 24-year partnership that has increased access to engineering education and strengthened Arkansas鈥� workforce. 

The renewed memorandum of understanding ensures the continuation of the joint 2+2 engineering programs in mechanical and electrical engineering and accompanies the launch of 玩偶姐姐鈥檚 first standalone four-year engineering degree.

"This program has helped create affordable pathways for students to obtain their bachelor's degree in engineering and has significantly contributed to the engineering workforce in our state," said University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Provost Indrajeet Chaubey. "We're pleased to renew this agreement with UA Fort Smith, continuing a valued partnership that advances our land-grant mission to serve Arkansas."

鈥淧artnership and collaboration like this are what make the U of A system so strong, combining the statewide mission of the U of A and 玩偶姐姐鈥� deep commitment to the river valley to offer these educational opportunities,鈥� said Dr. Shadow Robinson, provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at 玩偶姐姐. 鈥淭hrough these engineering programs, both the 2+2 and the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering program on our campus, we are delivering on our mission to advance social mobility and power the economic growth of the region. These engineering programs will continue to ensure that the River Valley and Fort Smith are locations where high-tech industry can grow and flourish as we keep the best and brightest right here in the River Valley.鈥�

Under the 2+2 partnership, 玩偶姐姐 students who complete pre-engineering coursework or earn an Associate of Science in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering at 玩偶姐姐 gain guaranteed admission into corresponding bachelor鈥檚 programs offered by the U of A on the 玩偶姐姐 campus, provided they meet academic transfer requirements. Students benefit from dual support systems, with advising and career services offered by both institutions.

"This partnership with 玩偶姐姐 has been a great success for many years and we're excited to continue this collaboration for many more years," said Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. "Every engineer we graduate through this program strengthens Arkansas' workforce and contributes to our state's economic growth and innovation."

In addition to renewing the existing agreement with UAF, 玩偶姐姐 has expanded its engineering offerings with the launch of a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. The new four-year degree integrates core engineering principles with business strategy and data science, equipping students to lead in a modern production landscape shaped by robotics, automation and artificial intelligence.

"This celebration of renewed partnership demonstrates a continued commitment by both institutions to serve regional economic needs," said Latisha Settlage, dean of the College of Business and Industry at 玩偶姐姐. "In the River Valley, graduates of the 2+2 programs in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering have long supported Manufacturing, the largest economic sector. Through continued partnership with U of A and with the support of our manufacturing partners, 玩偶姐姐 is thrilled to introduce a new degree pathway, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. AME graduates will be the engineering leaders of the manufacturing future, where production meets digitization to optimize decision-making and efficiency."

The renewed memorandum of understanding was signed by Chancellor Charles Robinson, Provost Indrajeet Chaubey and Dean Kim Needy, for U of A. 玩偶姐姐 signatories were Chancellor Terisa Riley, Vice Chancellor and Provost Shadow Robinson and Dean Latisha Settlage.

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• Engineering Partnership
• Advanced Manufacturing Engineering