As the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) celebrates 60 years of service to students and the community, one of its most distinctive programs is marking a milestone of its own. This year, the UAHT funeral service program is celebrating 30 years of preparing funeral directors and embalmers to serve families in Arkansas and beyond.
What began as a need in Arkansas has grown into a respected, fully accredited program with national impact. Thirty years ago, Arkansas had no in-state college offering a degree in funeral service. Students who wanted to enter the profession had to travel out of state to complete their education. The state even offered scholarships to help offset the burden.
In 1995, UAHT began exploring what it would take to bring a funeral service program to Arkansas. Bobby Taylor, vice chancellor for academics at the time, led the effort to research requirements and implement the program. From the start of classes in 1996, the goal has been simple: Give Arkansas students the opportunity to train close to home and strengthen the funeral service workforce in the region.
The program’s early days were modest. Its first home was a single classroom with one casket. Over time, it expanded into its own wing of the UAHT administrative complex, which now includes a merchandising room and restorative-art lab. As accreditation standards evolved, a mock prep room was added to meet new requirements, as well. Each advancement reflects the program’s commitment to keeping pace with professional expectations.
In 1997, the program earned full accreditation from the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). By meeting strict standards and maintaining pass rates above required thresholds, UAHT has maintained continuous accreditation ever since. This consistency remains one of the program’s proudest accomplishments.
To date, more than 268 students have graduated with funeral service degrees or certificates from UAHT. Last year, the program had an 81% graduation rate and a 100% overall employment rate – a clear sign that its graduates are prepared and in demand.
The Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service degree is a 60-credit-hour distance-learning program designed to prepare students for the funeral service profession. But technical skills are only part of the training. As Brad Sheppard, UAHT funeral service program director, explained, the program focuses on not just competence but also compassion. Graduates leave with the skills and the heart to care for families during life’s most difficult moments.
Karen Davis, UAHT dean of health professions and the original program director, echoed this perspective. From the beginning, the curriculum has emphasized both the care of the deceased and the care of the bereaved.
Over the past three decades, the funeral service profession has changed significantly, and the UAHT program has adapted alongside it. ABFSE provides curriculum guidelines and oversight to ensure programs meet national standards. Within those standards, UAHT has evolved to reflect major shifts. The cremation rate, for example, now exceeds 60% nationwide. In response, coursework has expanded to include cremation practices and newer disposition options, such as alkaline hydrolysis and human composting. Students also learn how technologies such as those that facilitate livestreaming and digital communication with families play a growing role in funeral service.
One of the biggest shifts in the program’s history came in 2022, when it transitioned to a fully online format. Moving from face-to-face instruction to entirely online delivery opened the door to students who could not relocate or leave full-time jobs.
For Davis, who joined UAHT as the funeral service program director in 1997, the move marked a major evolution. For Sheppard, it represents access and opportunity. The online format allows students to remain rooted in their community while pursuing a career in funeral service.
Enrollment has remained steady through the years, with noticeable growth since the move online. The flexibility has attracted a wider range of students and strengthened the program’s reach.
As the program has expanded online, its ties to the local funeral service community have remained strong. An advisory committee made up of local funeral service practitioners provides guidance and ongoing input. Students complete hands-on training in funeral homes so they can gain real-world experience while serving families. Many graduates later return to work in those same communities.
Additionally, partnerships have enriched the learning experience. Through valued relationships with Texarkana funeral homes, students are able to tour facilities, observe cremations and participate in mock funeral services at local churches. These experiences connect classroom learning with professional practice in meaningful ways.
For Davis, the 30-year anniversary is deeply personal. She taught members of the program’s second graduating class and has seen every class since. “It is rewarding for me to see the positive changes and improvements we have made over the years,” she said, noting the pride she feels knowing she has helped provide the profession with well-trained graduates.
Sheppard shares the same sense of pride. He said the milestone feels both humbling and meaningful when he considers the students he has taught, the careers they have built and the families they have served. According to him, witnessing the program’s long-term impact has been one of the greatest rewards of his career.
Looking forward, both Davis and Sheppard hope the program continues to evolve. They want the online format to expand its reach even further and the curriculum to remain current. More than anything, they hope UAHT continues to be known not only for educational excellence but also for its preparation of compassionate professionals who are ready to step into their local funeral homes and serve immediately.
Thirty years after filling a critical gap in Arkansas education, the UAHT funeral service program continues to shape the profession one graduate at a time. UAHT.edu/Funeral-Service.php