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Jay Silveria shared the newly developed UA System Strategic Pillars plan with attendees.
Image by Andrew Vogler
UA System President Jay Silveria Speaks to UAMS Employees
| Jay B. Silveria, president of the University of Arkansas System, spoke to employees at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) during a town hall meeting April 1.
UAMS Chancellor Lowry Barnes, M.D., introduced Silveria, who shared the newly developed “UA System Strategic Pillars,” a plan that lays out his vision for the state’s premier higher education system.
UAMS Chancellor Lowry Barnes, M.D., opened the Town Hall and introduced Jay Silveria.Andrew Vogler
“UAMS’ strategic plan, ASPIRE 2033, is certainly connected to a broader vision, one that spans 21 campuses, divisions, and units across the state, through the UA System,” said Barnes. “We are honored to have with us President Jay Silveria who will share the guiding pillars that will shape the strategic decision making across the UA System.”
Silveria, a retired three-star general fighter pilot and former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, discussed UA System’s strategic plan’s creation, how it helps students, staff, and Arkansans, and its long-term goals.
“In order for us to talk about what the UA System does, I’d like to talk to you about where we are, where we’re going, and how we’re going to get there, and to ground us in that, it is important to discuss what we do and why we are doing it,” said Silveria. “Through the UA System mission statement, what we do is advance Arkansas through education, scholarship, and service, but more importantly is why we do it, and that is to strengthen Arkansas’ economy, health, and culture.”
Silveria talked about the UA System Strategic Pillars, the first update of the direction of the UA System in more than a decade and its first new mission statement in more than three decades. Silveria discussed the six pillars that include:
- Expanded access to high-quality, diverse educational opportunities
- A systemwide commitment to student success
- Advancing scholarship, innovation, and discovery
- Stewardship of talent, resources, and public trust
- Responsiveness to statewide needs and priorities
- Collaboration and integration through technology and business innovation
Silveria also discussed challenges in higher education as it relates to demographics, research funding, intercollegiate athletics, the return on investment of college, and health care education.
“This audience knows better than everyone that these challenges are especially difficult to health care as it relates to staffing, research funding, and health care in rural communities,” said Silveria. “These challenges are not going to get easier, so we should look for creative ways to solve these obstacles to education and health care. As a system, I believe we can take on all these changes better.”
Jay Silveria spoke to a packed auditorium.Andrew Vogler
Barnes and Silveria brought the town hall to a close by taking questions about artificial intelligence, expansion of the UA System, workforce development, stewardship of public trust, and public safety across the system’s campuses.
“I am sincere about thanking you for your time because the work that UAMS does is important for every single Arkansan. Thank you very much for everything you do,” said Silveria.