As the new semester kicks off at Arizona’s public universities, students remain at the heart of the state’s higher education priorities, with a focus on innovation, affordability and workforce readiness. The 2025-26 academic year marks a new chapter in Arizona’s higher education evolution, led by the Arizona Board of Regents’ AZ Opportunity campaign.
AZ Opportunity is a comprehensive plan to align higher education with the state’s long-term economic and workforce goals. The aim is to ensure that more Arizonans can access and complete a college degree or workforce credential that leads to a good job and strengthen our state’s position in the competitive global landscape.
To advance its vision for workforce-ready universities, the board and Arizona’s public universities – Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona – are narrowing the AZ Opportunity campaign to focus on a set of opportunities that closely align with Arizona’s current workforce needs.
Here’s what it means for our region:
Strengthening Arizona’s Health Care Workforce
Arizona faces a critical shortage of health care providers. To meet the state’s growing demands and keep more graduates in Arizona, the board is looking to expand its AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative through new partnerships and state support in order to strengthen the pipeline of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. This includes two complementary strategies: expanding university health care programs and, pending state approval, launching a loan assistance program for newly certified medical professionals.
Retaining Arizona’s Talent Pipeline
Affordability and talent retention are essential to Arizona’s long-term competitiveness. The board is working with legislators and stakeholders to expand the Arizona Promise Program, which has proven to be one of the most effective ways of ensuring opportunity and choice for Arizona’s college-prepared students. The board is also looking at opportunities to fund a new Excellence Scholarship that will help retain top-performing Arizona students. It is essential that we continue to find ways to maintain and grow state support for these students and their families. At the same time, Arizona must send a clear message to its best and brightest students that the state is invested in keeping them here to make Arizona stronger.
Securing Arizona’s Prosperity and Protecting Arizona’s Natural Resources
Arizona’s long-term prosperity depends on resilient communities and strong natural resource management. The board and Arizona’s public universities are leveraging university expertise in water, forestry, wildfire and related fields to provide practical innovations and leadership to protect the state’s sustainability and resiliency. Through its Future of Arizona series, the board has engaged state, federal, tribal and industry leaders to outline collaborative research opportunities that support the state’s evolving wildfire resilience strategy and sustainable agriculture needs.
Fueling Talent for High-Demand Careers
Arizona’s growing industries require a steady supply of highly trained and workforce ready professionals. In the coming year, the board is working the legislature and Governor’s Office to explore the launch of a loan assistance program to support graduates in high-demand specialties like science, manufacturing, water, technology and engineering. These investments will help meet industry needs, strengthen regional competitiveness and ensure that Arizona’s innovation economy has the skilled professionals it requires.
As business and civic leaders, we share a responsibility to ensure Arizona’s workforce is prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Whether it’s training the next generation of nurses or preparing students to lead in artificial intelligence and renewable energy, the AZ Opportunity initiative ensures that Arizona graduates are equipped to thrive in the modern workforce.
Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 academic year, Arizona’s public universities are not just preparing students for the classroom, but for the future of work. The AZ Opportunity campaign offers a clear blueprint for growing talent, strengthening our economy and expanding opportunity for all Arizonans.
To learn more or get involved, visit AZOpportunity.com.
Chad Sampson is the Executive Director for the Arizona Board of Regents.