Achieving Record Success and Reaching Higher - Sept. 9, 2025

Dear Faculty, Staff and Graduate Assistants,

The second week of our fall semester started with a series of reports of active threats to our campus community that presented a challenging and difficult experience for everyone on our campus. I’m deeply grateful that there were no physical injuries during this incident and that the reports were unfounded. I’m thankful to UAPD and the other law enforcement agencies for their quick and efficient response. I have heard many stories of how our faculty, staff, and graduate assistants supported our students and each other during this difficult and challenging time and am so proud to be part of this Razorback campus community. As a university, we are assessing and considering options to strengthen our response moving forward and will keep you informed of that progress.

Despite the events of August 25, the university continues to achieve great success and break records. Over the past two months, I have learned a lot about the wonderful work occurring on our campus, and I have enjoyed meeting and working with many of you.

The university continues to have strong enrollment; our research activity continues to grow; we’ve opened new state-of-the-art facilities that will benefit our state; and our graduation and retention rates remain high.   Below are some of our recent accomplishments that are a result of your commitment to the university, research excellence and student success. The enrollment numbers are preliminary estimates and still subject to change.

  • Record enrollment of more than 34,000 students
  • Record number of Arkansans enrolled with more than 16,600 students
  • Record of over 3,000 degree-seeking new freshmen from Arkansas
  • Nearly 7,000 degree-seeking new freshmen
  • Record amount of research conducted: $230.6 million in FY24
  • Largest number of undergraduates with more than 29,000 students
  • Largest number of graduate students with about 4,900

In addition to these records, we’ve also opened or are nearing completion of several facilities that will position the U of A as a leader in the development of innovative materials.  The Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R) opened last April.  The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation opened August 29, 2025, and the Multi-User Silicon Carbide Fabrication Facility (MUSiC) is slated to open later this semester. These facilities will have a direct impact on healthcare, electronics and building affordable housing.  They will also expand our research capabilities and help us educate students and train the future workforce in new, innovative and high-tech fields.

Last spring, the university completed extensive renovations to the David W. Mullins Library to meet the evolving research needs of our students and faculty. Renovations to the Stella Boyle Music Auditorium in the Fine Arts Building are also underway and will be completed later this fall.  These upgrades will support our students who are pursuing degrees in the arts and provide the university with a new performance venue equipped with the latest and best technology.

The university’s achievements are due to your hard work and dedication, and I look forward to working with Chancellor Robinson and collaborating with you as we make more progress toward the university’s 150 Forward Strategic Plan and its second phase of “Reaching Higher.” The next phase focuses on two university-wide, long-term goals: an 80% graduation rate and $500 million in research conducted.  I’m confident we can reach these goals together, and I’m grateful for all the contributions you’ve already made and will continue to make to our university.

This month, I’ll be visiting all colleges and academic units and hope to meet and engage with you.  I will also be hosting two coffee events for faculty on Sept. 30 and Oct. 22, and details on how you can attend are included in this news story. My goals for the next year will be to learn about your strengths in teaching, research, and outreach; hear about your challenges; and find out how I can support your success.  Together, we will continue to fulfill our land-grant mission and elevate the university throughout the state and across the nation.

Best regards,

Indrajeet Chaubey, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Distinguished Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering