▁with ▁the ▁Board ▁of ▁Trust ees ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Ark ansas ▁to ▁merge ▁with ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Ark ansas ▁System ▁as ▁a ▁four - year ▁institution . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁the ▁Sebastian ▁County ▁elect or ate ▁voted ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁mer ger . ▁A ▁formal ▁request ▁to ▁change ▁affili ation ▁status ▁to ▁that ▁of ▁a ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degree - gr ant ing ▁institution ▁under ▁the ▁name ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Ark ansas – F ort ▁Smith ▁was ▁submitted ▁to ▁the ▁High er ▁Learning ▁Commission ▁in ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁and ▁approved ▁by ▁the ▁Institution al ▁A ctions ▁Council ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁ ▁The ▁mer ger , ▁which ▁became ▁official ▁on ▁January ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁end ors ed ▁the ▁concept ▁of ▁U AF S ▁as ▁a ▁unique ▁university , ▁one ▁that ▁offers ▁applied ▁and ▁traditional ▁b ac cala ure ate ▁degree ▁programs , ▁one - ▁and ▁two - year ▁associate ▁and ▁technical ▁programs , ▁and ▁non - cred it ▁business ▁and ▁industry ▁training ▁programs . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Ark ansas ▁state ▁sen ator ▁David ▁Bis be e ▁attempted ▁to ▁review ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Ark ansas – F ort ▁Smith ' s ▁legal ▁status . ▁Bis be e ▁claimed ▁he ▁wanted ▁to ▁make ▁sure ▁the ▁institution ▁was ▁in ▁good ▁legal ▁standing . ▁ ▁Colleg es ▁▁ ▁Through ▁its ▁five ▁colleg es , ▁U AF S ▁provides