The mission of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture is to maintain excellence in teaching, research and outreach to enhance the health and vitality of the environment through sustainable management, conservation, and protection of our forests and natural resources. This mission consists of the following objectives:

The college is dedicated to comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education, basic and applied research programs, and service.

In the educational program, students receive classroom and field-based experiences to prepare them for their professional careers. Academic courses provide learning opportunities that encourage and inspire students to approach forest resource, social and environmental issues in a critical yet creative manner, identify and analyze key elements, and articulate ethical solutions.

The college has a strong commitment to a research program that encourages basic and applied studies in natural resource management, environmental topics and social values. Although research projects are centered predominantly in east Texas, the issues addressed and results obtained often have national and international implications.

To complete the mission, a service program provides professional expertise, information and training. Practicing professionals, industrial landowners, non-industrial landowners, public agencies, and society in general are beneficiaries of these services.