Staff Appreciation: Thank You for Helping the U of A Reach Higher

May 11, 2026

Dear Staff, 

Looking back to the year 2000, when we were both early in our careers here, we remember a university that had tremendous promise. We were proud of its successes, respected the people who made them possible and believed deeply in its land-grant mission to serve Arkansas. 

At the time, the U of A had nearly 15,400 students, annual research expenditures approaching $50 million and a 45% graduation rate. Like many others, we recognized that there was room for growth and improvement. But we could hardly have imagined that an institution already 129 years into its history would make such great strides in only 26 years. This year, we celebrated record enrollment of 34,161, record research expenditures of $252.9 million and a record graduation rate of 70.9%.   

That dramatic transformation was no accident. It was the result of thousands of dedicated faculty and staff working year after year to make the university better.  

During Staff Appreciation Week, we are especially grateful to the staff members who helped make this progress possible. Whether you support students directly, advance research, manage operations, maintain our campus, provide essential services or work behind the scenes in ways many people may never see, your contributions have helped us get to where we are today and will be vital to our continued success.   

As proud as we are of the progress the university has made, we’re even more excited about where we are headed. Thank you for all you do for our students, your colleagues and the communities we serve. Have a great Staff Appreciation Week.  

Sincerely,