To meet the objectives of this project, three universities established a partnership—the University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University.

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas (UA) is dedicated to innovative teaching and learning. A major university initiative is to become a Top 50 Research Institution by 2021. In order to reach this goal, Chancellor Gearhart released a progress report in 2012 entitled Providing Transparency and Accountability to the People of Arkansas. The report identified 15 critical goals including Goal 1, “Enhancing academic programs while keeping costs as low as possible” and Goal 14, “Expand outreach through distance education and partnerships with other institutions.” In February 2012, UA announced it would explore innovative opportunities for students to experience the university through dynamic and novel digital environments. Currently, the University of Arkansas Global Campus collaborates with faculty to develop and facilitate cutting-edge opportunities to educate students so they may be competitive in the future. The Global Campus is a supporter and contributor to this project.

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University has a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary academics and research collaborations from a service learning perspective. The University’s Aggies Commit to Learning for a Lifetime program is a university-wide initiative creates a culture of commitment to high impact opportunities that work towards developing leaders throughout the professional sectors with a dedication to serving the greater good. As part of this initiative, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has committed to tackling the Grand Challenges in an “interdisciplinary, faculty-driven initiative to chart our top priorities for the future. This year-long process, which included a series of lectures, white paper development, and a town hall meeting, culminated with the identification of five grand challenges – feeding our world, protecting our environment, improving our health, enriching our youth, and growing our economy.” In further support of the Aggies Commit initiative, CAES launched Aggies for Global Food Security (AGFS), an initiative that engages students throughout campus in a variety of opportunities related to complex interdisciplinary issues that are complex in nature. TAMU also houses the renowned Borlaug Institute, whose namesake, Norman Borlaug, is known for his global commitment to feeding the world.

Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University has a strong commitment to both teaching and research excellence and has attained Carnegie Tier One classification in 2015. This is a reflection of the dedication the faculty, administration, and students have toward the educational, research and service missions of the institution. Two of the strengths in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources are the International Center for Food Industry Excellence (ICFIE) and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Water Center (CWC). ICFIE addresses issues surrounding food access, stability, utilization and availability for a world experiencing increases in population and with shrinking resources. Similarly, the CWC focuses on the importance of managing water resources to produce high-quality crops with minimal water. Their goal is to educate farmers, ranchers and homeowners how to conserve this dwindling resource.