Little Rock, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The state of Arkansas has officially launched a new portal that is designed to simplify the admissions process for high school seniors wishing to further their education.

Announced Tuesday by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), the ACCESS portal allows students to use a single application and login to apply to multiple higher education institutions in the state.

Under the new system, students can apply up to five participating colleges without paying application fees. It features full participation from all of Arkansas’ public four-year universities and two-year colleges, as well as 50 percent of the state’s private institutions.

According to a news release, the system integrates with the ADE’s electronic transcript system to automatically populate a student’s coursework, grade point average, and standardized test scores.

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Students who meet the baseline requirements of their chosen institutions will then be granted provisional admission and receive further instructions from those schools.

Arkansas Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said the platform consolidates what can often be a “confusing, repetitive” process for families.

“With one application and one login, students can reach nearly every campus in Arkansas without fees or barriers,” he said.

The release states to encourage adoption of the new system, high school counselors and career coaches will introduce the portal to students during senior advisory periods, FAFSA nights, and dedicated application days. ADE’s goal is to have every high school senior submit at least one application before priority deadlines.

The ACCESS portal is currently live and can be accessed by clicking here.

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