The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock has earned accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration through its Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation.
Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, NASPAA accreditation represents the global standard in public-service education. The Clinton School is one of only six graduate programs nationwide to earn NASPAA accreditation during 2026, joining a cohort of public-service institutions dedicated to academic excellence and student success, according to a press release.
“Our journey toward NASPAA accreditation began with a shared faculty commitment to setting the highest national standard for public service education,” Clinton School Dean DeFrancesco Soto said. “This achievement is the result of years of collaboration with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, Dean’s Advisory Board members, community partners and University of Arkansas System leadership. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Professor Al Bavon, whose dedicated leadership brought this vision to life.”
The Clinton School was founded in 2004 to prepare individuals for service that advances the common good in Arkansas communities and beyond. A graduate school, it offers the nation’s first Master of Public Service (MPS) degree. Unlike traditional graduate programs, the Clinton School’s 46-credit-hour MPS program integrates three hands-on field service experiences directly into the core curriculum.
“This achievement bookends a remarkable season of growth for the Clinton School. We celebrated our 20th graduating class in May, and we recently moved into our new home at One World Avenue [in the old Heifer International headquarters],” Soto said. “Looking ahead, we are excited to build on this success as we continue to enrich our programs and support the public service leaders of tomorrow.”
Through this practical training, the Clinton School’s nearly 750 graduates have completed more than 1,500 projects locally and globally. Students have worked in 100 countries to address critical issues like public health, education and economic development.
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