FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas will offer in-state tuition to academically qualified undergraduate and graduate students in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who have been displaced from their universities by the damage from Hurricane Maria. 

Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz and Provost Jim Coleman made the decision last week to offer these Emergency Relief Awards, after consulting with Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment management and Dean Kim Needy in the Graduate School and International Education.

“In a time of a natural disaster like this the University of Arkansas has a responsibility to reach out to those in higher education who are trying to put their lives back together and move forward,” said Chancellor Steinmetz. “The U of A offered similar assistance following Hurricane Katrina and it was very helpful to both students and their institutions.”

The in-state tuition will be offered to these students for the Spring 2018, Summer 2018 and Fall 2018 semesters. The U of A will also waive application fees.  Enrollment services and the graduate school will also work with students whose academic records are not immediately available due to damage at their institutions.