Access for Students, Support for Campus Key to 150 Forward Effort

Chieko Hara, University Relations

Senior Walk on the front lawn of Old Main.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As the campuswide 150 Forward strategic planning process continues, strengthening the land-grant mission through student success and employer of choice objectives will require some organizational restructure, currently underway, including redeploying the current staff in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into new roles in other units.

"Equal opportunity, access and belonging for every student and employee must be embedded across our campus in everything we say and do," said Chancellor Charles Robinson. "These are not new ideas — but strategic planning gives us a chance to create new approaches. To that end, we are distributing our resources in a way that will assist us to not only define, but to move the metrics on, student access and success, talent recruitment and retention."

Allocating new staffing and resources to the Student Success Center and Student Affairs will increase programmatic support for student access, retention and experience for all students, and particularly for first-year and Pell-eligible Arkansans.

For example, enhancing the student experience, especially for those who are under-resourced and have complex financial and advising needs, will improve their persistence and better prepare them for the workforce. This restructure will promote an internal expectation of exceptional customer service for all while yielding greater student satisfaction and overall success. The ability for the institution to close achievement gaps through programmatic and academic support is an essential component of student success, further enabling realization of the university's land-grant mission.

On the employee side, resources and staffing will be designated to augment talent recruitment, retention and professional development. This enhances the university's ability to attract more qualified prospective employees and to better utilize their talents to serve the campus.

While the implementation of these strategies will be phased in with the adoption of the 150 Forward strategic plan at the beginning of the next academic year, some aspects will begin to come together over the summer.

"Staff in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will migrate to positions in other units to better support belonging for all employees as well as give a better understanding of our obligations as a land-grant institution," Robinson said. "Enhanced employer of choice activities that will help us scout, recruit and retain as well as foster and develop employees through every phase of one's career will help us hire and keep the best talent." 

The Office of Equal Opportunity, Compliance & Title IX will align operationally with Human Resources, enhancing the talent recruitment and development front while also maintaining a direct reporting line to the Office of the Chancellor. The executive director will become a member of the Chancellor's Strategic Operations Group.

"We are 100% committed to access and equal opportunity for all students and employees, which is a core tenet of our land-grant mission," Robinson said. "This will make us more effective in achieving access and supporting the success of our entire campus community."

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.