A Message from UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson

From the beginning UALR has had the advantage of place given its location in the state’s capital and its largest city. It also has the responsibilities of place.

UALR is a different kind of university – a metropolitan university. Embracing its role as a full partner, the University is inextricably linked and committed to improving and enhancing the current and future livelihood, viability and progress of Little Rock, Central Arkansas and the entire state.

UALR is frequently called an emerging university, an apt description. Although UALR has in many respects “arrived,” it is not yet what the state needs today in its capital city – nor what the state has needed for a number of decades. Arkansas is playing catch-up. UALR has a critical role to play in that state effort and is also playing catch-up. When realized, the university’s vision and strategic plan will fast forward the university to a level of development that is overdue.

UALR sees the larger community’s well-being and its own well-being as intertwined and interdependent; as one advances or suffers, so does the other.

Not only is it in the best interest of UALR and Arkansas to be partners in strengthening the state’s economy, but it also will lead to a more enlightened path for the future. More and more business leaders are discovering UALR’s ability to solve their most complex problems as well as provide them with a highly skilled, professional workforce that can compete in the global economy. UALR has an opportunity, indeed an obligation, to respond to state workforce priorities and to grow as one of the state’s most valuable assets in the fulfillment of the education, health, and social service needs of its urban residents.

Over 90% of UALR’s students are from Arkansas and over 90% of UALR graduates remain in Arkansas after graduation. The significant and serious challenge associated with university graduates leaving their respective communities in many other states is fortunately not an issue for UALR and central Arkansas. The University provides an educated workforce which stays in Arkansas and fuels economic growth.

A university contributes more to the regional economy than college graduates, research and development assets, technical assistance and an infusion of money into the local economy. UALR is a major community employer, purchaser, investor, and developer that will not move out of state.

The vision for UALR’s and Arkansas’ future is urgent, compelling, and is firmly in place.

• Arkansas must have a top-flight workforce to support existing businesses and industries and attract others to the state.
• Arkansas must keep its best students and graduates in the state.
• Arkansas must address critical shortages in the fields of engineering, teacher education, nursing, science, mathematics, technology, and foreign languages.
• Arkansas must ensure its future economic vitality through cutting-edge fields such as nanotechnology.
• Arkansas must erase the scourge of illiteracy.
• Arkansas must shed its perennial place as 49th or 50th in key national rankings.
• Arkansas must take up residence ahead of the curve.
• Arkansas must give up “good enough” thinking and dare to excel.

The time for implementation is at hand. UALR must emerge immediately as a “powerhouse” university in the center of the state and as a critical asset for the region and for Arkansas.

The vision, the future we are planning and reaching for, will challenge and stretch everyone on campus as well as all friends, supporters, and partners of the University. It is appropriately ambitious, but the realities in our state and community require an ambitious vision.
It is a vision that can be achieved, with much hard work and a substantial investment of talent and resources, in the next seven to ten years.

UALR must pursue a more diversified funding strategy now and over time to fulfill its vision on behalf of its responsibilities and commitments to the betterment of the city, the region and the state.

Universities nationwide are incorporating a diversified, integrated approach to financing their goals and effectively leveraging all available funding sources - including institutional, public, and private contributions. Like their private counterparts, public universities are increasingly dependent on revenues from tuition and fees, and are aggressively pursuing private support to advance their visions.

The traditional model for funding public colleges and universities is less viable given funding realities in Arkansas as with many other states across the country. State funding for public higher education nationally has eroded over the past 15 to 20 years. When adjusted for inflation, the purchasing power of increased public dollars for public higher education in Arkansas remains essentially flat.

Clearly, fulfilling the University’s vision for itself and Arkansas requires additional resources and more private support. UALR must become more focused and intentional about developing increased levels of private support for critical areas including capital improvements, technology, program development, student support, support for instructional and research innovations, and faculty recruitment and retention.

These conditions and aspirations constitute the framework for UALR’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. UALR is seeking unprecedented investment from its family of external stakeholders and partners.

UALR’s inaugural comprehensive campaign will seek investments totaling $75 million from partners, alumni, friends, faculty, staff, businesses, corporations, and philanthropists. The funds will address strategic priorities including student support, faculty support, program support, and the learning environment.

Having partnered with its external constituents throughout its more than 80-year history, UALR needs both new and sustaining partners willing to invest in and support the institution’s future for the good of Arkansas. Philanthropy, alumni partnerships, and community engagement are essential. Arkansas must be able to boast of UALR as a first-class institution, which its capital city and primary metropolitan area require and deserve. UALR is committed to responding to opportunities and reaching for excellence, and, with the help of its friends, alumni, donors, supporters, students, faculty, and staff, UALR and its community will achieve their joint vision.