Arkansas Colleges of Health Education: Nurturing Future Healthcare Leaders
The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE), located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, stands as a beacon for aspiring healthcare professionals. With a strong dedication to serving rural and underserved communities, ACHE provides comprehensive programs designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and compassion necessary to excel in their respective fields.
Mentoring and Achievement Preparation (M.A.P.) Program
ACHE demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity and student success through its Mentoring and Achievement Preparation (M.A.P.) Program. The College of Health Sciences Admissions Department, School of Occupational Therapy (ACHE OT), School of Physical Therapy (ACHE PT), and the Office of Diversity jointly launched the M.A.P. program in Spring 2023.
The second cohort for the ACHE M.A.P. Program was hosted on June 16, 2024. The program offers participants an immersive three-day on-campus experience. Participants also receive ongoing mentorship from faculty members and current students in the ACHE OT and/or ACHE PT programs after completing the program. The ACHE College of Health Sciences Admissions also extends invitations to future admissions-related workshops and events.
Dr. LaTisha Standokes, Executive Director of Admissions at ACHE College of Health Sciences, highlights the importance of the program, stating, “The ACHE M.A.P. Program is a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive healthcare environment."
Abigail Boudreaux, a Miles College senior and a participant in the 2024 cohort, lauded the program's holistic and inclusive approach. She shared, “The ACHE M.A.P. Program was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…Being part of this outstanding program allowed me to learn extensively about ACHE’s School of Physical Therapy and its offerings for prospective students like myself. I was fortunate to receive mentorship from both a professor and a student, providing invaluable advice and guidance from now until I graduate from undergrad. The administration at ACHE took the time to personally get to know each of us and prepare us for our next steps after graduation."
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School of Physical Therapy
The Mission of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education School of Physical Therapy is to educate highly skilled and compassionate physical therapists who will exemplify, through leadership, scholarship and clinical advancement, a dedication to the profession, society, and the underserved.
The ACHE School of Physical Therapy Program cultivates a safe, open, and welcoming learning community focused on interprofessional, evidence-based practice and the development of clinical reasoning skills. The dedicated and expert core faculty represent a wide range of clinical specialty practice, research expertise, and service to the profession and community and serve as faculty mentors to our students.
The curriculum is a three-year, 123-unit entry-level program. Classes are held in a 66,000 square foot state-of-the-art building designed to optimize the learning experience. Students benefit from 32 weeks of full-time clinical education, alongside early integrated clinical experiences with faculty in the on-site pro-bono clinic. These experiences are designed to allow students to transfer knowledge from the classroom to real life patient care beginning in the second term and continuing throughout the didactic portion of the curriculum.
The campus provides a range of resources, including a human anatomy lab, high-fidelity simulation center, a Live and Learn Center, and a branch of the Arkansas iCAN assistive technology project.
Research and Wellness Institute
ACHE is developing an innovative 120,000 square foot Research and Wellness Institute. It is focused on transforming health and wellness education using community engaged holistic approach. The Institute will be guided by the eight domains of wellness including, emotional, environmental, social, occupational, financial, spiritual, intellectual, and physical allowing students to integrate evidence-based models that address the social determinants of health, access to care, the physical environment to affect community health behaviors.
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Admissions
Admissions Interviews will be conducted on site. However, if the need arises, the interviews can be held virtually. Interviews are required for admissions and are scheduled on a rolling basis throughout the fall and early spring semesters. The non-refundable enrollment deposit will be applied to the first year's summer semester tuition. Students receiving admission offers after January 15, 2026 will have two weeks to pay deposit. Missing your deposit deadline will forfeit your seat in the incoming class.
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