UA System Releases Updated Mission and Strategic Pillars

Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the U of A and President Jay B. Silveria, the UA System Administration has developed an updated mission and set of pillars to guide the state’s largest higher education system into the future. The U of A's 150 Forward Strategic Plan is in alignment with these strategic pillars and system mission, which was updated in late 2025, and will continue to support the broader goals of the entire UA System.

Mission

The UA System is a publicly supported, multi-campus institution committed to advancing Arkansas through education, scholarship and service. Rooted in the land-grant tradition, the UA System expands access to academic, practical and professional opportunities; fosters intellectual growth and student success; promotes discovery and public service; and strengthens Arkansas’ economy, health and culture. It remains focused on continuous improvement through resource stewardship, statewide responsiveness and strategic collaboration across its campuses, divisions and units.

Pillars

Pillar 1: Expanded Access to High-Quality, Diverse Educational Opportunities
Pillar 2: A Systemwide Commitment to Student Success
Pillar 3: Advancing Scholarship, Innovation and Discovery
Pillar 4: Stewardship of Talent, Resources and Public Trust
Pillar 5: Responsiveness to Statewide Needs and Priorities
Pillar 6: Collaboration and Integration Through Technology and Business Innovation

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Below is a message from Lt. Gen. (Retired) Jay B. Silveria, UA System President:

The University of Arkansas System is a vibrant network of institutions dedicated to serving the people and communities of Arkansas through education, research and public service. I am honored by the trust placed in me by the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas to lead our state’s university system as we navigate the challenges and opportunities facing public higher education in the 21st century.

After nearly a year as president of the UA System, I presented this document to the board to articulate the guiding pillars that will shape our strategic decision making—both within the UA System administration and across our 21 campuses, divisions and units—in the months and years ahead.

The diversity of our institutions and the breadth of our geographic reach are among our greatest strengths. We have identified six strategic pillars—access, student success, innovation, stewardship, responsiveness and collaboration—because they represent shared areas of mission and responsibility across the system. These pillars provide a common framework that allows our institutions to advance their unique missions while working collectively toward systemwide goals. In the years ahead, we will monitor our progress and report on both our successes and opportunities for continued growth through this lens.

As leaders in public higher education, we bear a profound responsibility to strengthen the economy, health and cultural vitality of the communities we serve. I am energized by the work before us and confident that, guided by these strategic pillars, the UA System will continue to expand opportunity and deliver meaningful impact for Arkansas.

Sincerely, 

Jay B. Silveria, president, UA System 

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To read the full document of the UA System's updated mission and stratetic pillars, you can find it on the UA System website. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy  through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.