2025-2026 Institute for Health Sciences Catalog

Welcome to the academic catalog for the Lyon College Institute of Health Sciences!

One thing you should know: Lyon College has always been service-oriented.

Back in the deep recesses of history, in 2019, the leadership at Lyon embarked on a serious conversation about the future of the College, and how we could expand our work beyond our traditional undergraduate mission.  Our dialogue required that we fully understand the strengths of our liberal arts curriculum and that we imagine ways to leverage those foundational strengths to move into unexplored territory, supporting where there is demonstrable need.  When we examined areas that could benefit from new eyes and perspectives, we settled on the healthcare space in Arkansas.  The healthcare providers throughout the state are skilled and dedicated to the support and care of their communities – that has never been in question. The problem is that there are not enough people to do all the work, keeping Arkansans healthy and their communities thriving. In particular, we found that some of the greatest professional needs were in the fields of dentistry, nursing, and veterinary medicine. Consequently, Lyon College embarked on a period of research, discernment, and planning that has resulted in the creation of both undergraduate and graduate healthcare programs.

Our first healthcare program, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, was launched in 2022 with the support of the local Batesville hospital system, White River Health. Our first graduate professional healthcare program opened in 2025 at the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine in Little Rock, where students are currently working toward the Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree, while providing tremendous support for dental education in and around Central Arkansas.  The Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine is under construction in the central Arkansas community of Cabot, as we await our final accreditation visit in August of 2026, and anticipate seating our first class in Fall, 2027.

All of these programs are congruent with the mission of Arkansas College/Lyon College, which we have faithfully pursued for over 150 years.  Although now no longer exclusively an undergraduate institution, Lyon College is still committed to “…preparing students for fulfilling personal and professional lives through service and lifelong learning.”  We are so pleased to welcome students with purpose, dedication, and a desire to serve, whatever the program and career path. As we continue to grow and seek more ways to prepare students for careers in healthcare, we will always hold fast to the Lyon College ethos that informs the preparation of technically proficient practitioners who also recognize and honor the inherent humanity of their patients.

Welcome to your future. Welcome to the family.

My very best,

Melissa Taverner, PhD

President, Lyon College