The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is one of three partnering institutions in a new statewide initiative to expand inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The HBCU joins Arkansas State University-Jonesboro and Arkansas State University-Mountain Home to form the Consortium for Inclusive Postsecondary Education and Transition (CIPET).
Funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, CIPET will be led by the RESTORE (Research, Education, Service, Transition, and Outreach through Reflective Engagement) Hub at ASU-Jonesboro. The program will provide technical assistance to IPSE programs across the state of Arkansas, lead data collection and evaluation efforts, and disseminate best practices to strengthen postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. As a member of CIPET, UAPB will establish its own IPSE program within the HBCU’s School of Education.
“Launching an IPSE program in the School of Education at UAPB is both deeply personal and profoundly meaningful,” said Kimberly Davis-Hunt, dean of the School of Education. “It reflects our unwavering promise to the Delta and the Pine Bluff community to ensure that every individual, regardless of ability, has access to transformative educational opportunities close to home. This milestone is the result of more than two years of intentional collaboration with Arkansas State University, whose successful program served as both a model and an inspiration. Together, we have turned vision into reality, creating a pathway that affirms dignity, expands opportunity, and reimagines what’s possible for students and families in our region.”
Robbin Hudson Huntley has joined UABP as the new program coordinator for IPSE. Her background includes experience in student support services, administration, and disability-focused programming.
“As IPSE Coordinator, I am eager to collaborate with campus partners, community stakeholders, and families to ensure the program’s success and long-term impact at UAPB,” said Hudson Huntley.
Hudson Huntley received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and her graduate degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling with an emphasis in addiction studies from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
