The University serves primarily the needs of the Seventh-day Adventist membership in the five states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The University welcomes students from all religions and geographical areas, as well as from diverse ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds.
To achieve its purpose effectively, the University recruits and retains well-qualified teachers, who are dedicated to teaching and advising and who are willing to spend time with students both in and out of the classroom. The University encourages research and scholarly endeavors on the part of its faculty.