Officials say construction could begin early next year on a planned medical college in Fort Smith.
The proposed Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine is to be built at Fort Chaffee. Earlier this year, officials announced a target opening date of fall 2017, but college president Kyle Parker says the school could open as early as August 2016.
The college has hired Dr. Kenneth Heiles as dean. Heiles had served as associate dean of graduate medical education at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tenn.
Parker also said Thursday that the college has received an anonymous donation of $14 million. The Southwest Times Record reported that an architect for the college is to be selected by the end of the month.