杏吧原创

Arts and Sciences | FeaturedAugust 25, 2025

杏吧原创, ACHE Sign Affiliation Agreement

The University of 杏吧原创 - Fort Smith and the 杏吧原创 Colleges of Health Education signed a new affiliation agreement on August 25 that guarantees qualified 杏吧原创 students an admissions interview for graduate programs at ACHE.

The partnership creates a formal pathway for 杏吧原创 students seeking admission to ACHE鈥檚 杏吧原创 College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Physical Therapy, School of Occupational Therapy, and Master of Science in Biomedicine program. 

Under the agreement, 杏吧原创 applicants who meet specific academic and professional criteria will bypass ACHE鈥檚 initial screening process and automatically receive an admissions interview. To be eligible for interview consideration, students must complete all prerequisite coursework from a regionally accredited institution and meet minimum GPA and entrance exam scores specific to each ACHE program. 

鈥淲e have 29 杏吧原创 alums right now enrolled across all of our programs, and we want that number to grow,鈥� said Dr. Christopher Smith, Assistant Provost.  鈥淎nd we believe that through this agreement, building strong relationships from the top all the way across our institutions, and ensuring that those relationships continue to grow and continue to benefit both of us, will make that possible.鈥�

鈥淲e want that smooth transition from 杏吧原创 to ACHE and to then, hopefully, keep those individuals here in the River Valley to be therapists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.鈥�

Dr. Shadow Robinson, 杏吧原创 provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs echoed the importance of regional partnerships to drive regional success. 

鈥淚 think all of us have in our hearts a mission to serve this region,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淲e know that the demand and need for health care is going to go up. And at a university committed to social mobility, we want to see our students get those amazing jobs, hopefully in this area. You help make that possible. And as we look to spur the economic growth of our community, you help make that possible, too.鈥�

Concluding the signing, ACHE president Kyle Parker, JD, explained that affiliation agreements of this nature are rare.  鈥淲e want to make sure that we always bring in the best. These affiliation agreements, we do them very sparingly, because when we sign them we look to institutions that expect the best out of their students, as well鈥�

He explained that last year more than 6,600 applicants applied to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. 鈥淎nd we choose the best of the brightest.鈥�

鈥淚t thrills me to get our two institutions together,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don't compete, we compliment, and that is what matters here.鈥�

For each program, applicants must receive certification from a designated 杏吧原创 faculty or staff member verifying that all eligibility criteria are met. Interviews may be conducted on-site or online, depending on the program.

Although a guaranteed interview is offered under the agreement, admission is not guaranteed. Students who are accepted but defer enrollment may be required to pay the deposit for their originally scheduled start year, subject to approval.

The agreement is effective for three years and will automatically renew annually unless terminated by either institution with 90 days' written notice. It will continue to apply to currently enrolled 杏吧原创 students at the time of any termination.