UAFS prepares students to succeed in an ever-changing global world while advancing economic development and quality of place.
Report to the Public
Letter from the Chancellor The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s mission statement, while brief, is the guiding principle in all the university’s efforts: “UAFS prepares students to succeed in an everchanging global world while advancing economic development and quality of place.” That short, focused mission statement encompasses the core of our efforts here at UAFS. We help students develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills to navigate a workforce constantly disrupted by technology. We develop the greater Fort Smith region by responding to the needs of business and industry and leaving an indelible economic impact. And we tirelessly work to improve the
quality of place in Fort Smith through the arts, service projects, and community initiatives. The UAFS mission statement also guides our efforts in serving a diverse student body with a large portion of first-generation students. And as the most affordable four-year university in the state, we provide an accessible education to those students without burdening them with massive debt. With 85 percent job and graduate school placement rates, those students are able to find well-paying jobs that lead to them becoming taxpaying citizens. In this report, we want you to see firsthand our accomplishments in each aspect of our mission. This is but a small piece of our overarching
efforts in each of these areas, efforts which wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community. We are very lucky to have a symbiotic relationship with the Fort Smith region. We exist to serve and support the area, but we also wouldn’t be able to succeed without its support as well. We are grateful to be able to serve such a diverse community of great people, and we look forward to helping Fort Smith grow and prosper in the coming years. Paul B. Beran, Ph.D. Chancellor