Scoop: Walton family launching STEM university in former Walmart headquarters

Two grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton plan to launch a private university focused on science and tech, located on the company's old HQ campus near downtown Bentonville, Arkansas.Why it matters: The future university plans to offer innovative, flexible pathways to jobs in automation, logistics, biotech and computing — fields crucial to Northwest Arkansas' future. Building talent in STEM (science, tech, engineering, and math) is a priority for the U.S., China and other countries racing to compete in the global economy.State of play: Steuart and Tom Walton, grandsons of Sam Walton, are set to announce the school Thursday at the Heartland Summit in Bentonville, an invitation-only gathering of policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors focused on economic development in the middle of the U.S.Plans call for the yet-to-be-named STEM-focused higher education institution to be a model of modern, flexible learning, based on the site of the "home office" where the world's largest retailer was built from Sam Walton's five-and-dime.The inaugural undergraduate class, in coming years, is expected to be roughly 500 students, "growing to about 1,500 undergraduates and 500 non-degree learners over time.""The school will offer stackable, flexible credentials aligned with fast-moving, in-demand fields such as computing, technical management, automation and logistics, and biomedical technology," the announcement says. What they're saying: Steuart Walton, a member of Walmart's board, told Axios in an interview with Axios that higher education "should move at the speed of innovation. This institution will stay agile and grounded, built to meet the world as it changes.""We have the opportunity to build a new model of higher education, designed for the realities of today's economy and the challenges of tomorrow, and set a new standard for what's possible," he added in a news release. Tom Walton said in the interview: "Our grandad, Sam Walton, built Walmart from Bentonville. There's no reason the next great enterprise can't rise from here, too."The big picture: The university is the latest in a string of philanthropic work from the Waltons that continues transforming this town of about 60,000 people and the larger Northwest Arkansas region of nearly 600,000 into a regional powerhouse.In the past 20 years family members have invested in world-class art museums, a medical school and holistic wellness, as well as trails, public art and other civic-oriented development. All have been economic engines for Arkansas.Flashback: Walmart's original home office campus is being vacated in phases as nearly 15,000 employees populate a new flagship 350-acre campus across town.Steuart and Tom Walton said in 2022 they would buy the old HQ and surrounding parcels for about $60 million.A mixed-use development, which would include the new university, is now planned at the site.The grandsons acquired nearly 3,000 acres of mostly undeveloped land in nearby Bella Vista last year. They've not announced plans for the parcels but said they would be centered on outdoor recreation, hospitality and retail development.The Alice L. Walton Foundation bought 100 acres in Bentonville for a future health care campus earlier this year.

Comments

World news

Burn patients face excruciating recovery as medicines dwindle under Israeli blockade of Gaza

washington times

John Fetterman reduced a female staffer to tears with outburst of ‘why does everyone hate me!’ at teachers’ union meeting

about 2 hours ago

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other US tech leaders testify to Congress on AI competition with China

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Scoop: Former UN food program director in talks to lead new Gaza aid foundation

Scoop: Democrats urged to ditch immigration message after Biden failures

‘We’re still broken’: Métis 60s Scoop ruling offers justice to some, not all

Scoop: Trump envoy Witkoff to brief UN Security Council on Gaza aid plan

Scoop: HHS to reinstate some specialized workers hit by layoffs

Scoop: Senate Democrats to host Ezra Klein as retreat special guest

Man who scooped £126m lottery jackpot lands himself behind bars days later

Scoop: Trump plans to announce D.C. will host 2027 NFL Draft

Scoop: Hegseth plans Israel visit ahead of Trump's Middle East trip

Scoop: Trump to hold summit with Gulf leaders during Saudi Arabia trip

Scoop: U.S. and Israel near agreement on aid delivery to Gaza

Scoop: Trump coins spark Democratic feud over crypto legislation

Scoop: GOP poll shows Medicaid messaging risks

Scoop: 87-year-old Holmes Norton Holmes Norton passes on Oversight bid after talk with leadership

Scoop: White House launches Drudge-style website to promote Trump

Scoop: Trump releasing 2026 budget tomorrow

Scoop: Senate GOP freezing out House lawmakers ahead of 2026

Scoop: Rubio looks to cut security coordinator role for West Bank, Gaza

Scoop: Pro-Paxton group courts Trump with anti-Cornyn ad

MTG scooped up plummeting stocks during market chaos sparked by Trump tariffs

World news

Burn patients face excruciating recovery as medicines dwindle under Israeli blockade of Gaza

Toyota reports booming sales but stays cautious on profit because of various costs

Long-haul carrier Emirates reports record annual profit of $5.2 billion

Yes, New Zealand still has more sheep than people. But humans are catching up

Combat continues between India, Pakistan, as retaliation follows retaliation

White smoke, new shepherd: Catholic Church has a new pope

What's in the U.S.-U.K. trade deal? A broad agreement with limited details

Robert Prevost, first American pope in history of the Catholic Church, will take the name Leo XIV

Ukraine accuses Russia of violating its own truce over 700 times as Kyiv ratifies U.S. minerals deal

Trump asks Supreme Court to allow him to end humanitarian parole for 500,000 people from 4 countries

Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, overcame a taboo against a U.S. pontiff

Aid group closes soup kitchens across Gaza due to dwindling supplies

Turkey and Iraq reaffirm commitment to work against Kurdish militants and other security threats

Ivanka Trump to push healthy foods as her company echoes MAHA mindset sweeping DC

New video emerges that allegedly shows suspect Bryan Kohberger’s movements on night of Idaho murders

Donald Trump gushes over British ambassador’s ‘beautiful accent’ during trade deal announcement

Jill Biden responds to accusations she limited Joe Biden’s interactions in ‘cocoon’

Trump and Starmer put lipstick on a pig of a trade deal

A woman donated her brain so scientists could study a pioneering treatment. A laboratory accidentally threw it out

Trump’s ‘concepts of a plan’ trade deal with the United Kingdom won’t save him

DOGE plans to roll out new software to speed up job cuts even as Elon Musk steps back

Trump is pushing ‘good friends’ Rubio and Vance as possible successors – can they take the mantle in 2028?

Woman strangles 20-year-old commuter on NYC subway and yells ‘I’m gonna kill you’

Who Is Pope Leo XIV? Robert Prevost becomes 267th pontiff and first from the United States

King issues warning on world conflicts as huge concert in London ends VE Day celebrations

Newfoundland echoes Danielle Smith's call to fix equalization

How does the new Pope compare to his predecessors?

The demands and challenges facing the new pope

Germany shows UK how it's done in new plan to turn migrants away at the border

EU dealt 'Irexit' warning as support for bloc in Ireland falling

Why Cardinal Robert Prevost has to change his name to Pope Leo XIV

New Pope Leo XIV slammed Donald Trump and JD Vance in migrant row

The EU will hold talks later this month on reviewing ties with Israel as concern mounts over Gaza

The conclave to elect Pope Leo XIV was short, but it wasn’t the shortest ever

John Fetterman reduced a female staffer to tears with outburst of ‘why does everyone hate me!’ at teachers’ union meeting

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other US tech leaders testify to Congress on AI competition with China

Pope Leo XIV: What the new pope’s name choice says about his future plans

Warning issued for common appliance - found in two out of five homes - that increases cancer risk for children

‘We can’t let it go down the drain like Detroit’: Jon Voight is Trump’s Hollywood ally looking to save US production

Conclave live: Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV, becomes first US-born pope

Jennifer Aniston's alleged stalker appears in court shirtless and a judge orders a mental evaluation

Trump welcomes new American-born pope and says he can’t wait to meet him - despite Leo XIV once blasting Vance

Who is the new Pope Robert Prevost? As Francis’s successor is named

Who is the new pope?

'Habemus Papam': New pope elected - and name he will take is Pope Leo XIV

How India and Pakistan Can Pull Back From the Brink

Who is new Pope Robert Prevost? Pope Leo XIV first US leader of Catholic church

Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz targeted by man 'with knives' in murder bid

New Pope Leo XIV's brutal 4-word JD Vance comments resurface

VE Day: 'My Polish grandad woke up with night terrors after WW2 - he chose to come to Britain to keep fighting'

Watch Pope Leo XIV's first public address - in full

Charity linked to Prince Harry admits human rights abuses in Congo park

Bill Gates plans to give away most of his fortune by 2045

Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?

Tempers flare as Trump taps doctor-turned-influencer for surgeon general

Blairmore, Alta. man charged with child sexual exploitation offences

WestJet suspends 9 U.S. routes due to lower demand