Since 1871, the U of A has been on a mission — a land-grant mission to provide access to higher education for all Arkansans.

This fall, the university welcomed a record number of Arkansans from all 75 counties, joining students from 49 states and more than 100 countries to achieve a record enrollment of more than 32,000 Razorbacks. 

As part of One University Week, the U of A is releasing “Fulfilling Our Land-Grant Mission” as its October Short Takes episode. Chancellor Charles Robinson, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Suzanne McCray, alumna Ayana Gray and students Amelia Southern Uribe, Erick Soto and Jenna Klewsaat all share what makes the U of A unique in this special edition of Short Takes. 

In the video, Robinson notes, “Let us work together to better ensure that no student, particularly an Arkansas student, who demonstrates the ability and the grit necessary to attain a degree, is denied that opportunity simply because he or she cannot afford the cost of attendance.”

Scholarship funding for Arkansas students has grown by $7 million since 2019, and 98% of freshmen from Arkansas who applied for scholarships last year received a scholarship or an award. Additionally, thanks to the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship, $2.5 million in tuition savings has been delivered to students who have transferred to the university from two-year institutions in the U of A System. These scholarships match the tuition from the U of A System’s seven two-year community and technical colleges across the state.  

“With every hire, with every policy, every program development, every budget decision, we must remember that our primary purpose is to improve the lives of every Arkansan,” Robinson says. 

As the university looks forward to the next 150 years, its focus will continue to be on student success, as well as sharing its excellence in research and strengthening its position as an employer of choice. 

“Fulfilling Our Land-Grant Mission” will inspire viewers with the words of the university’s students, alumni and campus leadership — not to mention the picturesque shots of campus. For additional Short Takes videos, visit shorttakes.uark.edu. 

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 $2.2 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.