UMKC Forward

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To meet the needs of Kansas City, the state of Missouri and the world in a post-COVID age requires UMKC to achieve new heights. That’s why we launched UMKC Forward — to reimagine our future in innovative and creative ways that would grow our excellence and financial stability.

Learn more from UMKC Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal and Provost Jenny Lundgren on how UMKC Forward will position the university for excellence.

The video describes UMKC Forward’s five key investments, identified through a collaborative process that included UMKC faculty, staff, students and community partners.

Investments

We commit $50 million to $60 million over five years, as well as $5 million in hiring tenure and tenure-track faculty over three years. Our investment will focus on five key areas.

Investments Overview (PDF)

Professional Career Escalators

We are investing in our students on the academic journey, so they can achieve their goals quickly and efficiently and enter the workforce prepared for career success.

Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE)

We are investing in our faculty, creating a comprehensive program of mentoring and training so we can attract and retain high-quality and engaged faculty.

Blueprint of Research Excellence

We are investing in our research capacity and infrastructure, identifying high-impact research collaborations, training and mentoring researchers as well as investing in faculty hiring.

Career Expansion through UMKC TalentLink

We are expanding TalentLink, our adult learner and corporate development program, by adding a robust offering of badges and certificates alongside high-quality professional, online and continuing education opportunities.

Student and Faculty Engagement Network

We are investing in our community, connecting students with civic, business and nonprofit organizations for service learning, internships and career development.

Academic Realignment

students by the library, painting on a blanket outside on a sunny day.

The purpose of UMKC Forward is to invest in excellence. To fulfill that purpose and maximize our resources, UMKC is realigning its academic units and sunsetting some programs. The realignment will create three new schools: the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences; the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; and the School of Science and Engineering.

Academic Realignment (PDF)

Updates

Below are updates and communications regarding UMKC Forward.

June 29, 2022: Academic Unit Realignment

November 11, 2021: Academic Unit Restructuring

June 29, 2022: Campus Letter with UMKC Forward Details

July 12, 2021: Leaders Appointed for Professional Career Escalator Program and Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence

March 18, 2021: Campus Letter With UMKC Forward Details

March 18, 2021: Webinar Recording of Campus Announcement

March 18, 2021: UMKC Forward Rollout Announced

March 18, 2021: CAFE is the New Faculty Excellence Program

March 18, 2021: Introducing Professional Career Escalators for Student Success

March 4, 2021: Kansas City Business Journal Guest Column by Ramon Murguia

January 6, 2021: The Kansas City Star Guest Column by Marc Hill

December 3, 2020: UMKC Forward Thank You

August 12, 2020: UMKC Forward Immediate Actions

July 10, 2020: UMKC Forward Progress Report

June 16, 2020: More Than 80 Ideas Submitted for UMKC Forward

May 27, 2020: Faculty, Staff Participate in UMKC Forward Town Halls

April 22, 2020: UMKC Forward Committees Announcement

UMKC Forward FAQs UMKC Forward Progress Checklist UMKC Forward Committee Archives Town Hall Videos and Committee Documents