FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas now has a higher goal for its capital campaign, Campaign Arkansas, which began on July 1, 2012, and will end on June 30, 2020. At its spring meeting in April, the Campaign Arkansas Executive Committee brought forward a motion to raise the goal from $1 billion to $1.25 billion, and the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee passed the motion with a unanimous vote of approval.

“I applaud our campaign volunteers and benefactors for the commitment they’ve already shown to the campaign, and I appreciate the confidence they have in our ability to reach a higher goal,” said Chancellor Joe Steinmetz. “Reaching this goal will help us meet the university’s strategic goals including providing additional scholarships for Arkansans while enhancing our academic programs and facilities.”

At the committee’s spring meeting, it was reported that $904 million had been raised toward the original goal of $1 billion.

Mark Power, vice chancellor for advancement, says the increase makes sense, since there are still campus priorities to address.

“We’ve had a phenomenal year so far, but we still have significant unmet needs in many areas across campus,” he said. “The steering committee felt like our goal should be increased so we could address those strategic priorities and continue the momentum we’ve created through the end of the campaign.”

Campaign Arkansas seeks to raise private gift support for the university’s academic mission and other key priorities, with funding going toward academic and need-based scholarships, technology enhancements, new and renovated facilities, undergraduate, graduate and faculty research, study abroad opportunities and other innovative programs. The university provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in a wide spectrum of disciplines as it works to fulfill its public land-grant mission to serve Arkansas and beyond as a partner, resource and catalyst.