This is one of the few Land, Sea and Space Grant Universities in the country. Major institutional goals are grounded in Vision 2017, the university's initiative to strengthen the integration of teaching at the undergraduate level in order to position the university as the premier arctic research and teaching university and enhance the cultural and natural assets unique to this northern environment.

Our planning process involved multiple university stakeholders that provided valuable expertise and feedback and helped build consensus for a plan that supports and enhances the university's institutional vision.

The six major issues addressed in the master plan are enrollment growth, increased campus connectivity, space utilization, research expansion, housing improvements and reduced energy and water use. Campus connectivity was a unique challenge with the region's dramatic topography and harsh climate conditions. A number of solutions were considered including protected pedestrian pathways and multimodal circulation.