Arkansas Governor’s School to remain at Arkansas Tech University through 2027

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech University will continue to have the Arkansas Governor's School on its campus in Russellville through 2027.

Arkansas Governor's School was founded by former Gov. Bill Clinton. School officials said it serves up to 400 students from around the state during the summer before their senior year in high school.

"Since convening its inaugural class in 1980, Arkansas Governor's School has challenged rising high school seniors to closely examine the world in which they live and how they might change it for the better," ATU president Russell Jones said. "Arkansas Tech University is pleased to serve as caretaker for this important tradition as we move forward into the future."

School officials said the Arkansas Board of Education made the decision to award the Arkansas Governor's School to the university. ATU has hosted the school since 2019.

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ATU faculty members and co-founders of the Arkansas Governor's School Jacob Grosskopf and Peter Dykema wrote the proposal for the renewal of the Arkansas Governor's School grant, officials said.

"In addition to offering an exceptional academic experience to 380 Arkansas high school students, Arkansas Governor's School also provides summer employment to ATU faculty, staff and students," Dykema said. "Due to the presence of 380 students on campus for a month, the cafeteria runs at full capacity, the library is open extra hours and the janitorial staff keeps busy. AGS provides jobs in the summer."

Dykema said the Arkansas Governor's School employed 43 faculty and staff members in 2024 with approximately half of them being ATU employees. He also said that the school employed 21 college students in 2024.

"While Arkansas Governor's School serves the entire state, a solid percentage of the students who attend call the Arkansas River Valley home," Grosskopf said. "This past summer, 50 of the 380 students were enrolled in schools ranging from Fort Smith to Conway, while no less than 18 hailed from two local schools: Pottsville and Russellville."

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Officials said the Arkansas Governor's School is scheduled for Sunday, July 6 through Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, on the ATU campus in Russellville.