Building on record-breaking momentum, the University of Arkansas is reaching higher to boost student success, improve lives through research and innovation, and expand its impact on the state of Arkansas.
The activation of the 150 Forward Reaching Higher strategic plan provides transformational goals, a clear path to reaching them and unprecedented support to ensure success.
The Plan
Three strategic pillars are the foundation of the third phase of the university’s strategic planning and implementation process.
PILLAR I
Student Success
Helping our students grow, lead and make a difference supports their long-term personal success while strengthening communities across the state and nation.
Learn MoreStudent Success Metrics
PILLAR II
Research Excellence
Growing our research activity improves lives through innovation, knowledge creation and creative works while increasing our economic impact to the state.
Learn MoreResearch Excellence Metrics
PILLAR III
Employer of Choice
Supporting our people, providing needed resources and a sense of purpose is foundational to advancing the university’s land-grant mission and growing our impact.
Learn MoreEmployer of Choice Metrics
Activating the Plan
The 150 Forward Reaching Higher activation includes transformational goals, a clear roadmap to reaching those goals and a newly established office to support the effort.
Reaching Higher Overview Handout
Transformational Goals
- Achieving an 80% graduation rate
- Reaching $500 million in annual research expenditures by 2032
Refined Initiatives
- Growing graduate student enrollment by 2,000
- Providing at least one experiential learning opportunity for every undergraduate student
- Ensuring AI literacy for all undergraduates
Clear Roadmap
Integrate Student Success
Targeted financial assistance, increased academic support and opportunities aligned with the state's workforce needs, and comprehensive student services.
Grow Research in Priority Areas
College and unit-level plans, disciplined investment and the growth of priority research areas while supporting all of the university’s research, scholarship and creative endeavors.
Support data-enabled decisions
Data-enabled decision-making, using shared dashboards, allowing better visibility into performance, faster risk assessment and timely adjustments.
Transformation Management
A newly created Transformation Management Office (TMO) supports the 150 Forward Reaching Higher by ensuring strategic alignment, coordinating campuswide collaborations, tracking and reporting milestones, and discovering and implementing ways to accelerate the work.
Three Phases
The 150 Forward Reaching Higher activation is the result of three phases of strategic planning and implementation. The planning process for the third phase kicked off in January 2026 with campuswide engagement and external guidance, with campus activation beginning in Fall 2026.
Phase I
150 Forward Strategic Plan
Established through a campuswide effort, the 150 Forward Strategic Plan fueled record-breaking momentum by providing a guide for colleges and units to align their own strategic plans with the university’s top priorities, defined by the three pillars of student success, research excellence and enhancing the institution’s status as an employer of choice.
Phase II
150 Forward Reaching Higher
Defined two specific goals:
- Reaching an 80% graduation rate
- Growing to $500 million in annual research expenditures
Phase III
150 Forward Reaching Higher Activation
The current phase further refines transformational goals, provides a clear roadmap to reaching them and establishes a new office to support the campus as it mobilizes to accelerate our progress and maximize the university’s impact.
Record-Breaking Momentum
With record-breaking progress set in motion by the initial phases of 150 Forward Reaching Higher, the University of Arkansas has never been better positioned to make an unprecedented leap.
Student Success
- Record Graduation Rate
- #1 Graduation Rate in Arkansas
- #1 Retention Rate Growth in Arkansas
- #2 in SEC for Retention Rate Growth
- #1 for Pell Recipient Growth Rate in Arkansas
- #5 in SEC for Pell Recipient Growth Rate
- #4 in SEC for Most Affordable Tuition and Fees
- $200M Land of Opportunity Scholarship
- #1 in Enrollment for Arkansas
- #11 in SEC for Enrollment
- #5 in SEC for Enrollment Growth
Research Excellence
- Only Top-Tier ‘R1’ Research Institution in Arkansas
- Record Investment in Applied Research Facilities
- Record $252.9M in Research Expenditures
- #4 in SEC for Research Growth Rate
- #3 in SEC for Federal R&D Growth Rate
- Record $3 Billion Annual Economic Impact on Arkansas
Employer of Choice
- $18M Compensation Increases for Faculty and Staff
- $11.9M Graduate Assistant Compensation Increases
- 90% Tuition Waivers for Employees
- 50% Tuition Waivers for Family Members
- Consistently Ranked Among Best Employers in Arkansas
Why We’re Reaching Higher
We've built tremendous momentum over the past few years in areas that are crucial to fulfilling our land-grant mission. We’re proud of those records, but only because of what they represent.
Enrollment growth means more Arkansans have access to the life-changing benefits of higher education. A record graduation rate means more students are leaving our campus with knowledge and skills that will help them make a meaningful difference for themselves, their families, and communities across the state. Research growth means more discoveries and innovations that can strengthen Arkansas industries and address some of society’s most pressing challenges.
Our progress is worth celebrating, but many promising young Arkansans still believe that higher education is out of reach. Too many students are forced to leave college due to financial pressures. The industries that drive our state’s economy continue to face pressing challenges. Communities across our state need more educators, healthcare providers, business leaders, engineers, community servants and skilled professionals across various fields.
That's why we're reaching higher.
The needs facing Arkansas today are different from those of previous generations, and they will continue to change. Our responsibility is not simply to respond to the moment, but to prepare our students, our university and our state for the decades ahead.
I am grateful for the record-breaking momentum we have accomplished together. But what excites me most is the records we will break, the lives we will improve and the impact we will provide to Arkansas in the future.
- Charles F. Robinson, Chancellor
Want to Know More?
Find answers to specific questions about the activation of the strategic plan.
Frequently Asked Questions