A video that can seen below the photo starts during the first minutes of the meeting.
Tompkins said roughly half of that amount—about $968,000—is directed toward operations within Hempstead County, and he emphasized that those dollars are reinvested locally. “The school in total has an $18.8 million budget. "I can promise you it’s not all going to Texarkana,” he said.
He outlined how those funds are used, pointing to salaries, campus maintenance, and ongoing capital improvements, including a recently completed $550,000 covered walkway area and roof repairs at Hempstead Hall and future large-scale projects such as parking lot and roadway replacement, drainage work, and facility upgrades. “The only way we’re able to do this is because of the support which we receive,” Tompkins said, adding that the college is working to be “good stewards of the resources that the taxpayers are giving us.”
Tompkins also highlighted the broader community role played by the college, including use of Hempstead Hall for events, partnerships with nonprofits, and family-oriented programming. He cited upcoming offerings such as live entertainment, free movie events, and the annual Kids College program, much of which is supported through scholarships.
He also touted events occurring next month at Hempstead Hall, including Dinosaur Live, an event both children and adults will enjoy that takes place May 1st at 7:00 p.m. There will also be a showing at the Hall of Zootopia 2 with popcorn and water made available May 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Turning to academics, Tompkins said UAHT currently offers about 50 programs and continues to add to these based on workforce demand. Welding remains the largest technical program, driven by employer need, while additional growth areas include commercial driver training and non-credit workforce programs. He noted that the college is preparing to add a construction management program, tied in part to economic activity related to lithium development in south Arkansas.
Tompkins said UAHT serves more than 1,600 students across in-person, online, and hybrid formats, with one of the fastest-growing segments being high school students enrolled through concurrent credit and the Collegiate Academy. “All the statistics show that a student that takes a college credit class in high school… their success rate [in finishing a college degree] goes up around 70 percent,” he said.
He also pointed to a new partnership with the University of Arkansas at Monticello that will allow students to complete four-year degrees in education on the Hope campus, calling it an important step in expanding local access to higher education.
In discussing student outcomes, Tompkins said the University of Arkansas remains the top transfer destination for UAHT graduates, followed by Southern Arkansas University, with Texas A&M-Texarkana among the fastest-growing transfer options.
Near the close of the meeting, Justice of the Peace Ed Darling cautioned fellow members to remain attentive to developments at the state level during the current fiscal session of the Arkansas Legislature. Darling said counties should be prepared to communicate with lawmakers regarding potential unfunded mandates. “Keep your ears to the ground,” he said, while also noting a proposal he heard is in committee that would provide $2 million to each county.
The court also approved several measures during the meeting:
- An ordinance authorizing Hempstead County to join with five other counties in forming the Red River Intermodal Authority to support regional economic development and transportation infrastructure.
- A resolution approving an equipment lease-purchase agreement with Caterpillar Financial Services for the acquisition of road grading equipment. Four graders would cost $329,350 each.
