Walton family eyes 2028 opening for new university, seeks president committed to STEM education | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

BENTONVILLE — The Walton family has put out a call to find the inaugural president of a new business-oriented university focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with the aim of opening in 2028.

The family is seeking a “visionary, creative, entrepreneurial and collaborative leader” committed to innovation in STEM education to head the planned Walton STEM Institute, according to a brochure advertising the position from the Oak Brook, Ill.-based executive search and leadership advisory firm WittKieffer.

The brochure — published in June — also outlined the family’s plans for the institute.

“The institute is part of the Walton family’s larger commitment to help improve the quality of life, increase access to quality of healthcare, expand high-quality education opportunities, nurture an entrepreneurial talent pipeline, develop a skilled workforce and build a diversified economy in Northwest Arkansas for everyone’s benefit,” the brochure states.

The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine welcomed its first students July 14. The school is marketed as a companion piece to the Heartland Whole Health Institute, which philanthropist Alice Walton founded in 2019 to improve quality, costs and access to health care. It opened in May.

Tom Walton and Steuart Walton — grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton — said May 8 at the annual Heartland Summit in Bentonville that Walton family members will create the Walton STEM Institute as part of the mixed-use development planned for the former Walmart headquarters, which the brothers own. However, the university didn’t have a name at that point. The school expects the first graduating class to consist of about 500 students.

The Walton-backed Heartland Forward, which calls itself a “think and do” tank, sponsors the Heartland Summit.

INSTITUTE PLANS

The Walton STEM Institute — described as a partnership of five Walton family members — is expected to open with its first class of students in August 2028, according to the WittKieffer brochure. However, resources will be provided to start hiring faculty and staff immediately. The Walton family will establish the institute as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

“The institute’s educational model is focused on STEM education with an experiential, hands-on orientation, along with a business-infused ethos and an entrepreneurial mindset,” the brochure states. “It is designed to meet 21st century workforce needs with a cadre of talented, well-prepared and highly motivated students.”

The institute will initially offer bachelor’s degrees and certificate programs through a “flexible, stackable curriculum,” the brochure states. This means students will be able to enter programs at multiple points in the curriculum, get the education they want and need, then leave to pursue career options while having the opportunity to return if or when they need further education.

The institute’s initial education tracks — which will evolve based on employer needs and technology shifts — will consist of computing, artificial intelligence and information technology; entrepreneurship and technical management; automation, robotics and logistics; and health/medicine and technology.

“Each of the tracks includes hands-on practicums and internship programs to expose students to real-world problems and relevant work environments,” the brochure states.

The enrollment expected when the institute reaches its steady state is about 1,500 full-time, for-credit students and about 500 non-degree students pursuing technical skills, according to the brochure.

A preliminary design estimates the space required for the school at about 7½ acres and just under 360,000 gross square feet. This includes academic and administrative space, innovation space, student services, housing and dining for first-year students, public safety, campus operations and parking, according to the brochure.

The inaugural president will serve full-time with a yearlong appointment, according to the brochure. The brochure didn’t provide a specific salary but said it will be “highly competitive” with benefits to match. The president will ideally start working this summer or fall and be expected to live full time in the Bentonville area.

The president will initially report to a committee of Walton family members and other advisers, the brochure states. However, he or she will ultimately answer to a board of trustees governed by institutional bylaws.

POTENTIAL IMPACT

Dennis Rittle, president of Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, said via email Wednesday he couldn’t be more pleased about the Walton STEM Institute. He said the new university will bring incredible partnership opportunities for the college.

“I find it comforting that those who have been so good and generous with their support over the years are joining alongside NWACC in offering top-notch professional and life skill development to students,” he said.

Alex Vasquez, a spokesman for the college, said having another institution in Northwest Arkansas to help meet the growing demand for STEM education is a positive development. The college has expanded its offerings to help meet that demand, he added.

April Wallace, the college’s director of communications and public relations, said the college added a phlebotomy program in spring 2024; biotechnology and robotics programs in fall 2024; and medical laboratory technician and medical assisting and pharmacy technician programs this year. It also added noncredit and college credit AI classes in spring and fall 2025, respectively, and offers AI in the Workplace workshops for personnel from major companies, nonprofits, entrepreneurs and owners of small- to medium-size businesses.

Vasquez said it will be exciting to explore ways the college’s students can continue their education at the Walton STEM Institute through its flexible, stackable options. He noted the college takes a similar approach through accessible micro-credentialing, certifications and associate degree options.

Micro-credential programs are designed to be completed in under a year and equip students with specific competencies, according to the college’s website. Micro-credentials can be “stacked” toward a degree.

“We look forward to having a collaborative, supportive relationship since both NWACC and Walton STEM Institute have the shared goal of providing education that’s needed in our community,” Vasquez said. “While it’s too early to say for sure what any specific impacts will be, our desire is to make the addition of the new university a win-win for everyone at NWACC, the STEM Institute and, most importantly, all our students.”

Debbie Jones, superintendent of the Bentonville School District, said Friday she believes the Walton STEM Institute will present more opportunities for district students to work with professionals on different kinds of projects. She noted students have been involved in high-level research with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; created an app that detects oral cancer; and worked with NASA engineers to create a 360-degree camera they flew into space as part of a process to build a virtual reality tool, among other accomplishments.

“We have 20,000 students, and we need more engaging opportunities like this because when they do rigorous work like that, it inspires them to create and improve,” she said. “Every year it gets better.”

Jones said she believes AI will replace more routine or administrative occupations. The Walton STEM Institute will prepare students to fulfill the job needs of the technology market, as well as fields that haven’t been created yet.

“Really, we just have to make sure that we’re teaching kids how to think because I don’t think that AI’s ever going to replace the human creativity or analysis, but we have to get kids plugged into these real experiences to engage in the field and have the experience in the field, and I’m telling you, they love it,” she said.

Brandom Gengelbach, president and CEO of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, said many businesses in the area cite workforce as a major challenge they face. He believes the entire local business community will welcome having another university to help provide a stronger workforce alongside existing assets such as the Bentonville School District, Northwest Arkansas Community College and the University of Arkansas.

The Walton STEM Institute will provide another tool to attract workers to the area to study, as well as stay and work for local employers afterward, according to Gengelbach. He said the institute will also benefit the local economy by way of “education-oriented development.”

“Just like you have health-oriented development around hospitals, you’re going to have similar type of development around this, and that’s going to be education-related, but it also can just be in terms of just general services and retail that will be able to come to fruition because of such a large gathering of students in one development,” he said.