Academics
Little Rock’s Philander Smith College is an academically rigorous private institution that offers 21 degrees (including a bachelor's in Business Administration), as well as certificates and a dual-degree program in both Engineering and Public Health), all with an emphasis on experiential learning and research. The school’s mission is to educate students to become “advocates for social justice,” and its Social Justice Institute makes that possible by being a centralized resource for community engagement and research activities. The Institute’s visiting speaker program exposes students to leading social justice activists, and it sponsors local events such as the Law & Justice Summit, which examines the intersection of the law, policing, and equity in central Arkansas. All students must complete General Education requirements in order to graduate, and are placed into foundational courses based upon their SAT and ACT scores. For first-years, the S.T.A.R.T. Summer Bridge Program is a five-week development program that allows incoming students to be better prepared to transition to college and get a head start on their education.
Career
The school’s religious foundation remains strong, and weekly chapel services, curricular, and co-curricular activities (organized by the Campus Office of Religious Life and Campus Culture) help students stay grounded in their spiritual and ethical beliefs, including an annual Religious Emphasis Week. Students can take part in the Chosen Generation Gospel Choir, which provides music for First Thursday Chapel experiences, or the Ministers’ Alliance, for students who feel that they have been called into ministry. The Social Justice Mission Project provides training and internships, preparing students to serve in mission through churches and community organizations in the greater Little Rock area. A Mister and Miss Philander Smith College are crowned each year during the school’s big Homecoming Week; the week also features events such as a Greek step show, pep rally, and block party.
Culture
Philander FORWARD is the college’s commitment to elevate itself through strategic initiatives, including the Workforce Innovation Strategic And Economic Public Private Partnerships (WISE P3), which addresses the skills gap causing underemployment in Arkansas through training and education aligned with the region’s needs. The Office of Professional Development assists students in career growth through workshops, career and graduate school fairs, volunteer/community service projects, and internships. Notable alumni include former Harlem Globetrotters player and coach “Geese” Ausbie, former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, and Arkansas senator Stephanie Flowers.
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