UMKC Forward

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.

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.

What faculty, staff and students are saying about UMKC Forward

Karen King

Senior grants coordinator, School of Education, UMKC Staff Council chair
“The goal of the UMKC Forward plan is realizing the best UMKC possible — the version of Kansas City’s university which will effectively meet the needs of the whole community. The effective implementation of the UMKC Forward plan means long-term success for this institution, present and future students and the Kansas City metropolitan community.”

Tom Mardikes

Professor and head of graduate sound design, Conservatory, UMKC Faculty Senate chair
"The heart of any university is the relationship of the student to the faculty. Our current administration has embraced the goal of putting the student/faculty relationship first and foremost. Investing in our faculty to better secure student success is a winner, and I'm very excited to see how impactful and productive this new approach can be for UMKC.”

Mahreen Ansari

Student, UMKC Student Government Association president
“We took COVID-19 as an opportunity to reimagine how our campus works. UMKC Forward is going to be the initiative that continues to push the university into the future, even further than we previously thought.”