Dillard University's mission is to produce graduates who excel, become world leaders, are broadly educated, culturally aware, and concerned with improving the human condition. Through a highly personalized and learning-centered approach, Dillard's students are able to meet the competitive demands of a diverse, global and technologically advanced society. The university houses several endowed chairs and a strong list of senior vice presidents, including a provost, the first in the university’s history. A major realignment of academic units has created two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Professional Studies, to better serve students' need in today's growing global economy. With 141 years of academic excellence to its name, Dillard University continues its historical commitment to excellence in education and strives to position itself as one of the nation’s premier centers for undergraduate research.