The University of Arkansas announced today that two University of Arkansas alumni are giving millions of dollars to create a construction management program at the university.
Sam and Janet Alley are contributing $2 million to the University of Arkansas to create the interdisciplinary Sam and Janet Alley Master of Science in Construction Management program.
Sam Alley, a graduate of the civil engineering program at the University of Arkansas, is a Little Rock resident and VCC’s chairman and chief operating officer.
“When I think about how important the University of Arkansas has been to me and my family, this gift is just a small manifestation of that gratitude,” Sam Alley said in a statement. “There is no denying how critical the role my education from the U of A and the relationships I built there played in our lives. I’m excited to help create a program where future leaders in our state can learn about the great work we do in construction and find their place to add value. Being able to give back and establish a Master’s in Construction Management Program is an honor and a dream come true.”
The program will be an interdisciplinary program housed in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. It will also involve the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and the School of Law.
The program is approved by the U of A Board of Trustees and is pending approval from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education on July 31.
According to a University of Arkansas press release, the Alley’s endowment will support creating the Master of Science in Construction Management, which includes instructor salary costs, course development, advertising tactics, online support and speaker seminars.
The Alley’s donation will also count in Campaign Arkansas, the University of Arkansas’ $1.25 billion capital campaign that furthers educational opportunity.
