Letter from the Chancellor: August 25, 2021
Dear U of A Community:
It is truly a great honor for me to welcome you back for a new academic year. Although the warmth of the summer season still fills our days, one can easily notice the signs of the fall semester simmering in our midst. The life and energy of our campus has returned with the presence of our wonderful faculty and staff and our large student enrollment. In every part of the campus, our community is going about the business of fulfilling our mission-providing educational opportunity and transforming lives.
I want to thank each of you for what you do every day to make our university vibrant and successful.
- You are the reason why the University of Arkansas has steadily improved its retention and graduation rates.
- You are the reason why the University of Arkansas has become a destination school for more students both in state and out.
- You are the reason why the University of Arkansas continues to grow its research footprint and its impact on the economic development of this state.
Our success as a campus is a direct result of your professional and personal commitment to our university and for that I am very grateful.
The last 18 months have been extraordinarily challenging, yet our campus community has persevered. We have demonstrated that we possess the capacity to navigate extremely difficult circumstances to execute and fulfill our mission.
Journalist Tom Brokaw popularized the notion of Americans who supported the nation’s efforts during World War II as being the Greatest Generation. Brokaw referenced their selfless sacrifice for the national cause, and he made a strong case, but the annals of American history are incomplete. There remains an opportunity for our generation to stake its claim to that title through our willingness to work together for the common good, for health and shared humanity.
I am so proud that our campus has manifested the spirit of greatness during this pandemic. Our mission-focused sacrifices have made this promising fall 2021 semester possible and will carry us to an even brighter future.
Finally, I’d like to announce that the university has more than 29,000 students enrolled for the first time in our history. One of several records that we expect to set when the enrollment numbers become official later this semester.
Thank you and have a great fall!
Sincerely,
Charles Robinson
Interim Chancellor
Professor of History