Henderson State University
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| Henderson State University | |
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| Motto: | The School With A Heart |
| Established: | 1890 |
| President: | Dr. Charles Welch |
| Undergraduates: | 3,182 |
| Postgraduates: | 331 |
| Location: | Arkadelphia, Arkansas, USA |
| Campus: | 145 acres |
| Colors: | Red and Gray |
| Mascot: | Reddies |
| Website: | http://www.hsu.edu |
Henderson State University, founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College,[1] is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.[2] It is Arkansas' only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.[1] Henderson's curricula are predicated by the belief that a liberal arts education is essential for all undergraduates; Henderson therefore utilizes a program based on a comprehensive core of courses in the arts and sciences.[3]
[edit] Overview
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Henderson has 26 major buildings on its 145-acre main campus in Arkadelphia, which is located in an area of rivers and lakes and has been recognized as one of the “Fifty Fabulous Places to Live in America.” [4]Henderson’s campus includes the Garrison Student Center which serves as Henderson’s 103,000-square-foot hub of activities. Located in the center of campus, it includes broadcast studios, racquetball courts, basketball courts, fitness rooms, modern publication labs, dozens of conference rooms, lounges, and study areas for commuting students.[4]
The University’s International Student program boasts approximately 100 students from 35 countries around the world.[4] The International Student Center which opened in the fall of 2000, houses 27 students and provides a year-round living environment for students of different nationalities.[4]
Henderson is one of only 17 member institutions nationwide in COPLAC, the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. In 2007, one third of all participants in the annual Arkansas Undergraduate Research Conference were Henderson students.[4]
Programs in aviation are among the nation’s most highly accredited.[4] Aviation majors may choose from five different Bachelor of Science tracks offered at the Caplinger Airway Science Academic Center, which features high-tech classrooms, flight simulators, distance learning equipment, and on-site computerized FAA written test facilities.[4]
The department of nursing seeks to promote, preserve, and improve the quality of life of the citizens of Arkansas and elsewhere. The course of study leads to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Thirty-five students are selected for this competitive program each fall.[4]
Henderson State University officially dedicated the $7.6 million dollar Donald W. Reynolds Science center in the fall of 1999, housing state-of-the-art facilities, and Arkansas’s premier planetarium.[4] The latest laboratories and equipment provide exceptional educational opportunities previously unavailable on campus, allowing physics, biology, and chemistry departments to better serve Henderson students.[4]
Henderson’s theatre department has its home in the renovated and expanded Arkansas Hall, which was dedicated in the spring of 2004. The two-story building contains a 965-seat auditorium, as well as a 162-seat studio theatre, dance studio, HTV studio, classrooms and offices for the theatre arts and communications departments.[4] The theatre department participates in the American College Theatre Festival and also participates in internships and summer seminars with area resident theatres in New York.[4]
Henderson’s student-operated radio station - KSWH - and student-operated television station and video lab - HTV - help prepare students to secure jobs in a fast-paced and highly competitive society.[4]
Henderson offers more than enough outlets for the involved student with a collection of nine governing councils, 10 honorary societies, 13 service organizations, 40 departmental organizations, four communications/media organizations, 10 religious organizations, nine national social fraternities, six national social sororities, six NCAA Division II sports for men, six NCAA Division II sports for women, plus intramurals for everyone.[4]
[edit] History
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Of the nine Arkansas public universities, Henderson is one of only two originally established as a four-year, degree-conferring institution.[citation needed]
Henderson State University's history dates back to its founding in March of 1890, when it was incorporated as Arkadelphia Methodist College. The college opened in September of that year with over 100 students and 10 faculty members.[4] In 1905, the name was changed to Henderson College to honor Charles Christopher Henderson, a trustee of the college and prominent businessman in Arkadelphia. In 1911, the name was amended to Henderson-Brown College to honor Walter William Brown, who was also a trustee.[4]
From its founding in 1890 until 1925, the college also operated an academy which provided instruction for local students desiring high school courses, and for those who were not prepared to enter into college.[4]
In the late 1920s, the state-wide Arkansas Methodist conference decided that it was not necessary to operate two Methodist colleges in the state (Henderson-Brown in Arkadelphia and Hendrix in Conway).[4] They proposed the merger of Henderson-Brown and Hendrix to a new campus in Little Rock, the center of the state both geographically and politically. Both schools resisted this change.[4] Because Hendrix was an older and more-established institution, the decision was made to merge Hendrix and Henderson-Brown into the Hendrix campus in Conway to form Hendrix-Henderson College, now known as Hendrix College.[4]
The Henderson-Brown campus in Arkadelphia lay untouched, but not for long.[4] That same year, the religious leaders who had created the college arranged to surrender the campus to the state of Arkansas.[4] The Arkansas General Assembly agreed to turn the old Methodist school into Henderson State Teachers College, the only state-supported school named for an individual.[4] The name of the institution was changed to Henderson State College in 1967, and finally to Henderson State University in 1975.[4]
In 1951, Henderson became a graduate center for the University of Arkansas and, in 1955, instituted its own graduate program. The University now offers graduate degrees in three areas of study.[4]
Students and alumni have achieved national and international recognition, including Rhodes, Fulbright, and Rotary International Scholarships.[citation needed]
[edit] Academic Divisions
[edit] Ellis College of Arts and Sciences
The Matt Locke Ellis College of Arts and Sciences provides a comprehensive core of courses in liberal arts at Henderson State. The college is named after the University’s 10th president, and was created in 1989 through a reorganization of three existing schools: Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, and Natural Arts. The Ellis College offers majors in disciplines from fine arts to science and technology as well as providing general education for all university students. In the fall of 2002, Henderson dedicated Roy and Christine Sturgis Hall: The Honors College. The new facility provides housing for students of the Honors College, as well as faculty offices, classrooms and labs. The Honors College program is directly involved in actively recruiting, challenging, and supporting those students who are among the most highly motivated toward achieving academic success.
[edit] School of Business
Henderson’s School of Business offers its students the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), the Bachelor of Science (BS) in aviation, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. The business programs are accredited by AACSB-The International Association for Management Education (American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business). Presently, only 324 schools in the nation have both programs accredited by AACSB. This accreditation enhances the ability of the School of Business to place its graduates, and continue to attract and retain high quality faculty.
[edit] Teachers College, Henderson
Hundreds of students are attracted to Teachers College, Henderson, which receives national and regional recognition for its mentor-teacher program for first-year instructors. Recognizing the importance of preparing the highest quality teachers and school service personnel, the university views teacher education as a total institutional responsibility. The Education Center opened in the fall of 2001. It houses multi-media classrooms, a computer lab, teacher resource center, and an early childhood laboratory school.
[edit] Traditions
[edit] The Reddie Spirit
The Reddie Spirit was born on a tragic morning in the town of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. This small town was (and still is) home to two major colleges, Henderson-Brown College (was a Methodist institution; now Henderson State University, a public institution) and Ouachita Baptist College (now Ouachita Baptist University).
The year was 1914. It was a chilly morning in southwest Arkansas. The college students of Henderson-Brown were mostly still asleep in the pre-dawn hours of that third day of February.
An employee noticed a fire burning in the kitchen of Main Hall, the schools primary structure that included library and classroom space as well as female housing for the small Methodist college.
"The Bell" that was used to signal class changes was used to awaken the residents of Main Hall. The male students, most of whom lived in houses near campus, began to gather at their school. They immediately started getting their female classmates out of the burning structure. Once all the girls were safe and secure, the men returned to salvage what they could from the Main building. Remarkably, they saved numerous pianos, trunks full of personal belongings, and the entire school library collection of some 3,000 volumes.
By the time the Arkadelphia Fire Department made it to Henderson, it was too late. That morning, Main Hall and most of the campus burned to the ground.
Henderson-Brown students seemingly had two options: transfer to across-the-street rival Ouachita Baptist or go home. The students, however, had different plans. They had such a great love and passion for their school that they vowed to rebuild it.
Classes resumed the very next day - students took it upon themselves to organize classes on the lawn where Main Hall once stood, beneath the stalwart pine trees which still stand today.
Ouachita Baptist offered the school the use of some of its grounds for classes, and local churches also opened their doors to the school. Within weeks, Henderson had a new temporary dining hall constructed thanks to funds raised by the community, the students, and the local churches.
Main Hall was replaced with College Hall in time, and the school continued to grow.
The mascot of Henderson has been some form of the color Red since at least 1908, and no other color could better portray the courage and pride exhibited by its students. Overtime, the name was altered to Reddies. After the fire of 1914, the students had nothing left to cling to except the bond that brought them all to Arkadelphia in the first place - they were all Reddies. The spirit that saw them through the tough fire and reconstruction was dubbed the "Reddie Spirit."
Since the fire, a lot has changed at Henderson, including its name. Henderson-Brown College was turned over to the state of Arkansas in 1929 resulting in Henderson State Teachers College. HSTC became today's Henderson State University.
The Reddie Spirit draws students to HSU every year. When Henderson celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1990, the student body presented its beloved school with "The Centurium," a structure that takes the place of a fountain that once stood in front of Main Hall. The South Lawn, which was the site of Main Hall, is now scenic green space with walking trails, benches, and the same stalwart pine trees that the students of Henderson-Brown held classes under nearly 100 years ago.
[edit] Alma Mater
"Alma Mater, Henderson" was adopted as the Henderson alma mater by former President James W. Womack in 1929, the year the school was turned over to the state of Arkansas. He composed the words and melody for the song as he walked around the campus during the last days of Henderson-Brown College. The arrangement was made by Frederick Harwood, Director of the Conservatory of Fine Arts; Paul Dewitt Shultz, Bachelor of Music, ’29; and Eliza Harris Workman, Bachelor of Music, ’24.
[edit] Alma Mater Lyrics
Breathe, stalwart pine trees, mem’ries of living shadows;
Whisper, acorn bearers, from thy living fountains;
Beauty and friendship, eternal as the holly,
Into all they children, Alma Mater, Henderson!
Spirit of strong men, wrought through storm and silence,
Into communion eternal as the heavens;
Romance and tragedy, in victory and in losing
Thou turnest all to gain, Alma Mater, Henderson!
From childhood's weakness, thou with love of mother,
Through youth's daring with love and friends;
Into full manhood for church and state and nation
Thou leadest us upward, Alma Mater, Henderson!
As through the ages, joy and living friendship,
Mix crucifixion's red with gray of truth;
Out of gray ashes rise up men and women
new born, strong, adoring, Alma Mater, Henderson!
[edit] Showband of Arkansas
"The Showband of Arkansas" consists of 160-170 members and includes winds, percussion, and flags. It is open to any student by audition, regardless of major. The band performs at football games, pep rallies, parades and exhibitions at marching band contests.
[edit] "That Old Reddie Spirit," The Reddie Hymn
The official fight song of Henderson State University, "That Ole Reddie Spirit," was introduced in 1923 by cheerleader Anna Lee Chidister and is affectionately known as The Reddie Hymn. This song is sung to the tune of “That Old Time Religion.” Originally the song was used because of a lack of school spirit being shown at football games. At the time, cheerleaders were positioned throughout the bleachers to lead the fans in the song. In the lyrics displayed below, the word me is often replaced with random names of Reddie football players during the games. You can use the console below to play "That Old Reddie Spirit." Turn up your volume and sing along. Note that it is a large file and could take some time to load.
Gimmie that old Reddie Spirit, Gimmie that old Reddie Spirit, Gimmie that old Reddie Spirit, It's good enough for me.
[edit] "B Flat to G"
Though it does not contain any lyrics, “B Flat to G” was originally arranged as a fanfare to “That Old Reddie Spirit,” to serve as modulation from one key to the other. It was played when the marching band would come on to the field before each game. Today, however, the fanfare is played after the marching band takes its place on the south hill overlooking Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.
[edit] Bench 13
On Henderson's historic South Lawn sits many stone benches that were donated by classes, organizations, and other entities throughout the institutions history. Perhaps the most famous is Bench 13. The bench is in memorial to the former sponsor of the "Heart and Key" organization. It is told that when a girl is asked to marry someone while she is sitting on the bench she won't say no.
[edit] Battle of the Ravine
Any athletic contest between the Reddies and cross town rival Ouachita Baptist University is known as the Battle of the Ravine. This name is derived from the ravine that runs through both college campuses.
[edit] Clubs and Student Organizations
[edit] Greek Life
- Panhellenic Sororities
- Alpha Sigma Alpha
- Alpha Sigma Tau
- Alpha Xi Delta
- IFC Fraternities
- Phi Sigma Kappa
- Phi Lambda Chi
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
- Sigma Tau Gamma
- Theta Xi
- National Panhellenic Fraternites and Sororities
- Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Delta Sigma Theta
- Kappa Alpha Psi
- Omega Psi Phi
- Phi Beta Sigma
- Zeta Phi Beta
- Christian Organazition
- Chi Alpha
[edit] University Presidents
[edit] George Childs Jones (1890-1897) (1899-1904)
In June of 1890, the Board of Trustees of Arkadelphia Methodist College had authorized George Childs Jones, president-elect at the age of 30, to tend to the administrative affairs so that the College could open in September as planned.
Jones had earned two academic degrees: the Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern Baptist (now Union) University in 1876 at the age of 16. He was valedictorian of his class. Jones received his Master of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1879.
In 1897, Jones requested the Board to grant him a two-year rest from the “excessive and burdensome responsibilities” of the presidency, but to retain him on faculty as professor of mathematics.
Associated with schools all of his life, Jones was a scholar, an excellent, innovative teacher, and a devout Christian man. He came to Arkadelphia well qualified to assume the duties as president of a church-related college. Arkadelphia Methodist College had a first-year enrollment of 150.
[edit] Cadesman Pope (1897-1899)
Reverend Cadesman Pope was appointed to fill in for George Childs Jones for a period of two years, beginning in 1897. During his two years at the College, Pope effected a few changes, including the addition of a military department, and the addition of bible study in all classes.
At the termination of his contract in 1899, Pope was remembered as a perfect gentleman and a completely honest man.
[edit] John Hartwell Hinemon (1904-1911)
In 1903-1904, Hinemon was serving his first full term as State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Therefore, in 1904, because he held that office, he could not officially assume the official title as President of Henderson College until the expiration of his second term in 1906. However, he was still referred to as President.
Hinemon was a politically active man while President of the College. In 1907, he announced his candidacy for governor of Arkansas for the Democratic primary in March of the following year. He finished the race in third place, roughly 20,000 votes behind the winner. When urged by friends to run again in 1909, Hinemon respectfully declined, a decision that was applauded by his Henderson College students.
During Hinemon’s administration, C.C. Henderson began a drive to change the name of Henderson College to Henderson-Brown College, to honor his business associate Walter W. Brown.
In 1906-1907, a faculty of five men and seven women served the College. Hinemon published the first list of faculty committees, established a list of officers of the college, and initiated the first football contest between Henderson and Ouachita. Hinemon was very interested in athletics for the boys, and accompanied the football team on many of their trips out of town.
Hinemon tendered his resignation in 1911 at the age of 48. It was during his administration that Key Music Hall was constructed. It was one of only two buildings to survive the Fire of 1914.
[edit] George Henry Crowell (1911-1915)
In the face of disaster, Crowell kept the College alive in the aftermath of the Fire of 1914 that swept away the entire campus, except for Key Hall and the President’s Home. He encouraged students to stay, immediately arranged for temporary accommodations for the College, and was the leader of a fundraising drive to rebuild. He succeeded, and a new structure was ready for use in February of 1915, thanks in large part to “the untiring energy and unconsecrated devotion” of the president.
During his first three years in office, Dr. Crowell strengthened curriculum and improved the appearance of the property at Henderson-Brown. In his second year, he concentrated on internal development by further developing the departments of Domestic Science, Business, Dairying, Gardening, and Canning. He also separated the faculty into a College faculty and High School faculty, or Academy faculty. Remaining distinct from the College, Henderson-Brown Academy was a “high-grade” preparatory school.
In a special program on February 3, 1917, the third anniversary of the fire, Rev. A.O. Evans paid tribute to Dr. Crowell, “who did more than any other person to enter the new college building only one year after the fire.” At the close of Rev. Evans’ remarks, the student body gave 15 “rahs” for Dr. Crowell.
[edit] James Mims Workman (1915-1926)
The tenure of Dr. Workman saw enrollment at Henderson-Brown College rise from 72 in 1915-16 to 248 in 1925-26. With 43 members, the Class of 1926 was the largest in the history of the College to that date.
He assumed the presidency at a time when Henderson-Brown faced paying off the debts incurred by rebuilding and equipping the new main building. The college did, however, achieve an endowment fund of $200,000, whereas in 1915-16, with no endowment, Henderson-Brown struggled to pay for the rebuilding program.
Besides seeing the end of the Henderson Academy in 1925, Workman’s administration saw the beginnings of two things with which Henderson is closely associated. The first was the adoption of two phases of its curriculum to adjust to the demands of the War: a Military Department (which had been discontinued in 1912) and the Student Army Training Corps. The first organized attempt of a summer school session also began in 1921.
Workman also popularized the slogan The School With a Heart In It. He would use the phrase in advertisements in newspapers. Even today, Henderson is known as The School With a Heart.
Through financial and enrollment campaigns, through the World I years and later, Workman, with the help of others, had saved the College from auction and had generally improved the institution.
[edit] Clifford Lee Hornaday (1926-1928)
In his first address to the student body in 1926, President Hornaday had announced that scholarship would be the prime goal at Henderson-Brown College and any activities tending to hamper the accomplishment of that goal would be modified or eliminated.
Hornaday was true to his word, abolishing two traditions that he believed were harmful to achieving the goal of higher scholarship: hazing in the men’s dormitory and young men serenading the young women who lived in the third-floor dormitory of the Main Building.
President Hornaday took a great interest in the appearance of the College property. In the spring of 1927, roadways were widened to accommodate two-way traffic, ravines were filled, and flowers and shrubs began to dot the campus.
[edit] James Warthen Workman (1928-1929)
Although only president at Henderson-Brown College for one year, Workman’s one year would be the most historical year to date for the institution.
During his one year in office, Workman would see the forces for the unification of Methodist institutions of higher education in Arkansas lead to the consolidation of Henderson-Brown with Hendrix to form Hendrix-Henderson, located in Conway. He had spent most of the year exploring ways to solve the problem and had accepted the solution as the most feasible choice. Commencement exercises in June of 1929 marked the official close of the 39 years of the College under its sponsorship by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the beginning of its transfer to the State of Arkansas--to become Henderson State Teachers College.
[edit] Joseph Pitts Womack (1929-1938)
Henderson State Teachers College began operation in 1929 with a faculty of 27 and an enrollment of 175. H.S.T.C., a full four-year college, would offer three degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Oratory.
President Joseph Pitts Womack led the phasing out of Henderson-Brown into H.S.T.C. during that hectic summer of 1929. Even though the institution was faced with the chronic plight of Henderson-Brown, severely limited resources, the college made great progress. In 1931, it received first class recognition from the American Association of Teachers Colleges, and in April of 1934, it attained full membership in the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Womack promoted a liberal course in physical education for all students. As a result, the College was the first in the State to offer even a minor in P.E. To assist students in securing a job after graduation, President Womack established a Teacher Placement Bureau, which earned the reputation as being efficient and highly organized. In 1936, the War department approved the College’s application for the establishment of an infantry unit of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
During Womack’s administration, the College made several visible gains. The enrollment increased from approximately 200 to 700, including summer students. H.S.T.C. also obtained several new buildings: a gymnasium, two dorms for women, a dorm for men, a President’s home, a central heating plant, a student recreation hall, a classroom building, a stadium and field house, and a science building. Today, Henderson’s administration building, Womack Hall, is named in his honor.
[edit] Joseph Day (1938-1941)
In his three years of service to the College, President Day, in general, continued the program established by former President Womack. During his administration, the College began to be funded on a millage basis, rather than by appropriations from the General Fund of the legislature.
President Day was also largely responsible for obtaining Federal Funds for construction of a large armory on the campus. It would later be named the Joseph A. Day Memorial Armory.
By 1940, the College began to feel the effects of impending European war in its curriculum. As part of the national defense program, Henderson State Teachers College was approved to offer instruction in flying. In 1941, the College was granting three degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education.
[edit] Matt Locke Ellis (1941-1945)
Dr. Ellis was a former professor at Henderson and a current professor at Hendrix when elected President in May of 1941 at the age of 40. He was a graduate of Henderson-Brown College.
During his four years as president, Dr. Ellis dealt with not only the problems of a college at peacetime, but also the unusual problems of a college in wartime. Curriculum was adjusted to meet the needs of students in wartime. To honor a contract with the Air Corps, he shifted faculty members to new assignments as the College provided facilities and instruction for the 66th College Training Detachment in 1943-44.
Dr. Ellis was part of an agreement between college presidents and coaches to suspend intercollegiate athletics for the duration of the War. This led to the addition of physical education as a major in 1945.
Dr. Ellis also took steps to see that H.S.T.C. faculty could be eligible to participate in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, which was approved in 1941.
Today, the Matt Locke Ellis College of Arts and Sciences is named in his honor.
[edit] Dean D. McBrien (1945-1963)
It was a period of adjustment and expansion for the College in the years after World War II, and President McBrien had supervised advances for Henderson in several areas.
He was the first President to develop a written policy to govern promotions, leaves, and retirements of faculty. He was also the first to chart the organizational structure of the College.
In curriculum at the College, McBrien established Departments of Home Economics and Art. The degree of Bachelor of Science in Education was also added. During his administration, he sponsored a building program that was instrumental in the construction of six dormitories, ten faculty houses, a classroom building, a library-auditorium, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and a student union. He considered these new buildings vital to the growth of the institution.
He established a Graduate Division for teachers to earn the Master of Science in Education degree, and coped with and solved he problem of desegregation of the College, which was done in the 1950’s.
The enrollment of the College for the regular term was almost tripled from 571 in 1945-46, to 1,433 in 1959-60.
[edit] M.H. Russell (1963-1969)
During his term, President Russell had expanded the curriculum and the physical plant of the College, and had introduced a data processing program. To enlarge the curriculum, he expanded the Division of Business, enabling the College to confer its seventh degree, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He also established the Center for Economic Education in 1966.
To enlarge the physical campus, he sponsored a program that included two high-rise dormitories, a library, a new stadium and field house, and renovations to McElhannon Hall, Caddo Cafeteria, Student Union, and Arkansas Hall.
In 1967, the word Teachers was dropped from the institution, following the trend in the country at that time. Russell commented at the time that it would emphasize the fact that “we are a multi-purpose institution.”
There were about 20 men and 18 women on faculty throughout the decade. Plant assets of the College grew from $4.5 million in 1961 to $13.8 million in 1969. The decade also saw students enroll at the College in the greatest numbers in the school’s history. In 1968-69, regular term enrollment was at 3,300 students.
Russell also initiated a major change when he reorganized the curriculum at the College from 13 divisions into 5 schools, each to be administered by a dean: Business, Education, Fine Arts, Liberal arts, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He also reorganized the administrative areas of the College into 4 “major areas of concern”: Instructional, Business, Public, and Student Affairs.
[edit] Martin B. Garrison (1970-1986)
From 1929 to 1970, Garrison, a Baptist, was the first President of the institution during the State years who was not a Methodist. During his administration, he approved a voluntary program in R.O.T.C., decided on official dates to be used indicating the founding of the College, and formalized a cooperative relationship with Ouachita Baptist University that eventually led to the formation, along with the Ross Foundation, of the Joint Educational Consortium in 1974. The College also changed its name to Henderson State University in 1975, signaling its progression from state college to regional university. Also in 1975, President Garrison established the University Archives, to preserve the history of the institution since its founding in 1890.
The physical plant was improved with the addition of a Ceramic and Sculpture Studio, Chile Service Center, and a greenhouse, just to the south of McElhannon Hall. Other improvements included the mall area to the north of McBrien Hall, which is a main gathering area of students today.
[edit] Charles D. Dunn (1986-2008)
As the fourteenth president of the University, Dunn steered Henderson through many dramatic changes since 1986. With over $60 million in building and renovation projects underway or completed during his tenure, the face of the Henderson campus has changed. Increased admission standards have made Henderson students among the best in the South. The stronger academic program also led to the success of the Honors College, membership into the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, and accreditation by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
In 1992, Dunn led Henderson into NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference, two organizations in which he previously served as an active leader. Under the guidance of Dunn, Henderson continued toward fulfilling its mission as Arkansas’s public liberal arts university.
[edit] Charles Welch (2008)
After an extensive search of several highly qualified individuals, Dr. Charles Welch has been named Henderson State University’s 15th president. Welch, who previously served as chancellor at University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, has vowed to reveal Henderson as "the best kept secret in the South." He assumed presidential duties at Henderson on July 1, 2008.
[edit] Degrees Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
- Communication
- English
- History
- Mass Media
- Music
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Theatre Arts
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Studio Art
- Digital Art and Design
- Bachelor of Science
- Athletic Training
- Aviation
- Professional Pilot Track
- FAA Airway Science Curriculum-Aircraft Systems Management Track
- Airway Science Management Track
- Airway Computer Science Track
- Aviation Maintenance Management Track
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science-Math
- Family and Consumer Science
- General
- Child Care Management
- Dietetics
- Education
- Fashion Merchandising
- Foods and Nutrition
- Human Services
- Mathematics
- Medical Technology
- Physics
- Psychology
- Recreation
- Sports Medicine/Athletic Training
- Sports Management
- Recreation and Park Management
- Therapeutic Recreation
- Tourism and Commercial Recreation
- Church Recreation
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Music
- Education
- Choral Keyboard
- Instrumental
- Vocal
- Performance or Composition
- Instrumental and composition
- Vocal
- Keyboard
- Education
- Bachelor of Science in Education
- Art
- Early Childhood (P-4)
- Elementary/Secondary Physical Education
- Middle School (4-8)
- Social Science
- Vocational Business Education
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Accounting
- Business Computer Science
- Business Administration
- Marketing
- Management
- Finance
- Educational Certifications
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Spanish
- Mathematics
- Special Education
- Pre-Professional
- Law
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Veterinarian
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Associate of Applied Science Degree in Child Care
- Master of Science of Education
- Master of Science in Community Counseling
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Liberal Arts
- Educational Specialist
[edit] Notable Alumni
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- George L. Jones, '72, current president and chief executive officer of The Borders Group, former president and chief executive officer of Saks Department Stores and Warner Bros. Worldwide Distribution
- Dwight Adams, ‘58, vice president of Player Personnel for the Buffalo Bills.
- W.H. “Dub” Arnold, ‘57, former chief justice, Arkansas Supreme Court.
- Dr. Sam Barker, ‘64, president of U.S. pharmaceutical division, Squibb Corporation.
- Col. Lloyd L. Burke (deceased), ‘50, Medal of Honor recipient
- Dr. Ann Chotard, ‘64, director and founder of the Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts.
- Ken Duke, professional golfer
- Steve Eddington, ‘84, Vice-President of Executive Communication, ALLTEL
- Robert C. Fisher, `70, President of Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.
- Irene Calloway Harrower, ‘49, Fulbright Scholar to Italy who made her operatic debut with the Teatro dell Opera of Rome.
- Bishop P.V. Galloway (deceased), ’26, first native-born Arkansan to be consecrated a bishop in the United Methodist Church
- Lawrence Hamilton, ‘76, Broadway actor, credits include Timbiktu, Ragtime, The Wiz, Porgy and Bess, Sophisticated Ladies, Uptown-It’s Hot, Jelly’s Last Jam, and Play On.
- Richard B. Hoover, ‘67, solar physicist for NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center, also a member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute.
- Lonnie Lee Ivory, ’81, Publisher and Executive Editor, Baseball Weekly magazine
- David Kerr - National Champion Collegiate Debater [5]
- Wayne Mays, ‘70, Director-External Affairs for Southwestern Bell
- Gen. John P. McConnell (deceased), ’27, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
- Sid McMath, (deceased, attended), two-term governor of Arkansas
- Jan Paschal, ‘67, Presidential appointee, Secretary’s Regional Representative (Region I) with the U. S. Department of Education.
- Hosea Sanders, ‘78, award-winning anchor/reporter for Chicago’s Eyewitness News 7.
- Derrick Sims, award-winning cinematographer and editor.
- Randy Stewart, ‘74, competitive shooter on 1980 and 1984 United States Olympic Teams and member of 1983 Pan American Team where he won gold and silver medals. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Shooting Hall of Fame in 1983.
- Billy Bob Thornton, (attended), Academy Award-winning American screenwriter, actor as well as occasional director, playwright and singer.
- C. Vann Woodward (deceased), ‘59, Sterling Professor of History at Yale University; Pulitzer Prize-winning historian
[edit] Athletics
Henderson State University is an NCAA Division II school and competes in the Gulf South Conference.
- Baseball
- Basketball (Men and Women)
- Cross Country (Women)
- Football
- Golf (Men and Women)
- Softball
- Swimming (Men and Women)
- Tennis
- Volleyball
[edit] Facilities
[edit] Carpenter-Haygood Stadium
Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, with seating for more than 9,600, serves as the site for all of Henderson State’s home football games. The bowl-enclosed stadium is considered one of the finest small college stadiums in the country.
Renamed in April of 1990 to include the name of former coach Ralph “Sporty” Carpenter, who died Feb. 16, 1990 after serving 19 years as the Reddies’ head coach, the stadium opened in 1968 and has hosted five NAIA national track and field meets, the NAIA national playoffs, several high school playoff games, as well as Special Olympics, state track meets, countless marching contests, graduation ceremonies and even a Centennial Celebration in its time.
The home football facilities at Henderson have been known as Haygood Stadium since 1936, when seating was expanded at Haygood Field, which was named in honor of Jimmy Haygood, the school’s football coach from 1907-1924. When the school built a new stadium on the north campus in 1968, the Haygood Stadium name carried over.
The school’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to add Carpenter’s name to the stadium. The board’s resolution read:
“Whereas, the Board of Trustees of Henderson State University laments the loss of Coach Ralph “Sporty” Carpenter on February 16, 1990; and
“Whereas, it is appropriate to recognize Coach Carpenter’s long and loyal service to the students of Henderson State University;
“Resolved, that the university’s football stadium will from this day forth be named Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in honor of Coach Carpenter.”
[edit] Duke Wells Center
The Henderson State University Wells Center, named for former HSU Coach Duke Wells, was erected in 1971 and has recently gone under several major renovations.
The Wells Center is home for the men's and women's basketball teams, the Lady Reddie volleyball team and the Red Wave men's and women's swimming and diving teams. New bleachers, a new scoreboard, a new paint job and new backboards were some of the changes made to the gymnasium in recent years. The pool was also the recipient of a new Colorado Timing system and scoreboard, which were donated by Coca-Cola. The pool area also got a new paint job and new duraflex diving stands.
The Wells Center is also home to Henderson State's weight room, which is open to all HSU students, staff and faculty members. Offices for various coaches and athletic staff, as well as the entire Health, Physical Education and Recreation department, are also located in the building.
Many classrooms are located on the second floor, and Henderson State's other athletic facilities are located nearby. Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, home of the Reddie football team, is directly behind the Wells Center, as is the Reddie Fieldhouse.
West of the Wells Center are intramural fields used for sports such as softball and flag football, as well as the HSU softball field. The intramural fields are also used by the Henderson State soccer club and the Henderson State band.
[edit] Facts
Henderson State operates the state's only four year aviation education program.
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Henderson State University - Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
- ^ GetReddie for Henderson. Henderson State University. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
- ^ GetReddie for Henderson - Academics. Henderson State University. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Quick Facts and History. Henderson State University. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_public_debate_association#E-Mail
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