A rendering of the planned student activity center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. (AMR Architects)
Funding for the construction of a new Health and Wellness Center at Arkansas’ largest HBCU increased by $3 million on Friday, following an allocation from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is the state’s oldest Historically Black College and University, and the only one within the UA system. The school is currently undergoing major construction projects, including a $36 million Health and Wellness Center.
Through new construction, renovations on existing buildings and plans for future developments, UAPB is working to “enhance the living/learning community and to spur innovative academic and research collaboration,” according to a campus master plan .
“As a Pine Bluff native, I know how important UAPB is to the success of that city and our entire state,” Sanders said in a Friday press release announcing the funding. “I’ve been proud to support the school throughout my governorship and today, we are doubling down on that investment by providing $3 million for a new Health and Wellness Center. UAPB is our state’s foremost HBCU and deserves support for its unique and critical mission.”