Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan has proclaimed Aug. 19 "WE CARE Day" in honor of the College of Education and Health Professions, and the college is celebrating all week.

The college's strategic plan, WE CARE — which stands for Wellness and Education Commitment to Arkansas Excellence — advances three priorities: a caring culture, impactful research and service to Arkansas.

This week marks a year since the WE CARE strategic plan officially launched.

The mayor read the WE CARE Day proclamation at the college's faculty and staff fall kickoff meeting on Aug. 16. He lauded the work its faculty, staff and students do to improve people's everyday lives in Arkansas and beyond, noting that its diverse programs make the college uniquely qualified to lead with care and advance growth and innovation in education and healthcare.

The proclamation reads, in part, "WE CARE Day is an opportunity to recognize the college's dedication to fostering a CARING CULTURE that empowers all students, faculty, staff­ and external stakeholders to thrive, advancing IMPACTFUL RESEARCH that generates knowledge and promotes innovative solutions in education and health, and expanding SERVICE TO ARKANSAS through transformative educational experiences and meaningful partnerships."

Dean Kate Mamiseishvili invites the college community, alumni and friends to participate in the WE CARE movement. "As the college of the caring professions, we are beyond thrilled to have our own WE CARE Day," she said. "We hope everyone will join our excitement and help us promote WE CARE in any of these three ways: show how you care through an act of kindness or service; share the WE CARE message on social media and with personal connections; or support WE CARE through a gift."

For those who want to give, the college is requesting contributions that correlate to these fun facts:

• $8.19 to celebrate the official proclamation of WE CARE Day in Fayetteville.
• $30.60 to applaud the $30.6 million in research grants awarded to the college last year.
• $61.99 to recognize the 6,199 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the last academic year.
• $350 to spotlight approximately 35,000 alumni of the college.
• $971 to track the 971 miles traveled by WE CARE-A-VAN tours.

The college celebrated the WE CARE Day announcement at its fall kickoff event that evening at the Fayetteville Public Library. In addition to faculty and staff and their families, guests included the college's emeritus faculty, Dean's Executive Advisory Board members and various university leaders.

"The mayor's proclamation has set the tone for this academic year," Mamiseishvili said. "Our enthusiasm is high, and we're doubly committed to advancing our WE CARE vision."

Visit wecare.uark.edu or watch the college's newly unveiled WE CARE video below for more information about its three priorities and the tangible ways its faculty, staff, students and partners have united to improve education and health outcomes across Arkansas and beyond.