Arkansas Tech University
Arkansas Tech University (ATU) is a comprehensive regional institution located in Russellville, Arkansas, United States. The university offers programs at both baccalaureate and graduate levels in a range of fields. As of 2004, the University also operates a small satellite campus in the town of Ozark. This campus primarily focuses on associate and certificate education.
History
Early History (1909-1976)
The Second District Agricultural School was created by Act 100 of 1909 of the Arkansas General Assembly It was decided on February 10, 1910 to found the school in Russellville. On October 26, 1910, the first classes were held in Russellville. The original purpose of the school was to offer classes leading to a high school degree. Later on, the school took on the first two years of college instruction, and the school's name was changed to Arkansas Polytechnic College by the General Assembly in 1925 to reflect this change in purpose. At this time, the course work leading to a high school diploma was phased out and in 1931, Tech formally only offered courses leading to a college degree.
Recent History (1976-Present)
The school took on its current name of Arkansas Tech University on July 9, 1976.
In the fall of 2003, Arkansas Tech University announced it intended to overtake the state vocational school, Arkansas Valley Technical Institute, in Ozark, the seat of Franklin County. As of July 1, 2004, the Ozark campus has acted as a satellite campus of Arkansas Tech and has begun offering coursework leading toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in various subjects.
From 1997-2010, enrollment at Arkansas Tech increased by 131 percent. The university marked its 12th consecutive record enrollment in fall 2010 with 9,814 students.
Arkansas Tech has invested $180 million in upgrades to its infrastructure since 1995 and the university has added more than 40 new academic programs of study under the leadership of Dr. Robert C. Brown, who has served as president of Arkansas Tech since 1993.
Mission Statement
Arkansas Tech University, a state-supported institution of higher education, is dedicated to nurturing scholastic development, integrity, and professionalism. The University offers a wide range of traditional and innovative programs which provide a solid educational foundation for life-long learning to a diverse community of learners.
Facilities on National Register of Historic Places
Several Tech buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
- Old Art Building—Retired academic building.
- Caraway Hall—Residence Hall, renovated in 2005.
- Hughes Hall—Residence Hall, renovated in 2010
- Techionery—Academic building, mainly used as a theatre shop and performance space by the ATU Theatre Department.
- Williamson Hall—Academic building, renovated in 2003 to include kitchen facilities.
- Wilson Hall—Residence Hall.
Presidents
- A.K. Short 1910-1911
- George Cole 1911-1916
- Charles E. Scott 1916-1917
- Charles G. Lueker 1917-1918
- Hugh Critz 1918-1923
- D.G. Armstrong 1925-1926
- James R. Grant 1926-1931
- J.W. Hull 1932-1967
- George L.B. Pratt 1967-1972
- Kenneth G. Kersh 1973-1993
- Robert C. Brown 1993-Present
Academics
College of Applied Sciences
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Departments
- Agriculture
- Computer and Information Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Emergency Management
- Parks, Recreation and Hospitality Administration
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Degrees
- Associate of Science in Nuclear Technology
- Associate of Applied Science
- Information Technology
- Culinary Management
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
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- Bachelor of Science
- Agriculture Business with Horticulture Business, Animal Science, and Pre-Veterinary Medicine options
- Computer Science
- Information Systems
- Emergency Management
- Information Technology
- Hospitality Administration
- Recreation and Park Administration with emphases in:
- Recreation Administration
- Therapeutic Recreation
- Natural Resource
- Turf Management
- Interpretation
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College of Arts & Humanities
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Departments
- Art
- Behavioral Sciences
- English
- Foreign Language
- History & Political Science
- Music
- Speech, Theatre, and Journalism
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Degrees
- Associate of Arts
- Criminal Justice
- General Studies
- Bachelor of Music Education
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Creative Writing
- Creative Writing Education
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- Bachelor of Arts
- Art
- Art Education
- English
- English Education
- Foreign Language
- Foreign Language Education
- History
- International Studies
- Journalism
- Music
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public History
- Rehabilitation Science
- Social Studies Education
- Sociology
- Speech
- Speech Education
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College of Business
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Departments
- Accounting and Economics
- Management and Marketing
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Degrees
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Accounting
- Economics and Finance
- Management and Marketing
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College of Natural & Health Sciences
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Departments
- Biological Sciences
- Mathematics
- Nursing
- Physical Sciences
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Degrees
- Associate of Applied Science
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
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- Bachelor of Science
- Biology, with General, Environmental and Biomedical options
- Chemistry with A.C.S. approved General, Professional, Environmental, and Biochemistry options
- Engineering Physics
- Fisheries and Wildlife Science
- Geology with Professional, Petroleum, and Environmental options
- Health Information Management
- Mathematics
- Medical Technology
- Physical Science with General, Physics, and Nuclear Physics options
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College of Education
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Departments
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Health and Physical Education
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Degrees
- Bachelor of Science
- Early Childhood Education
- Health and Physical Education
- Middle Level Education
- Secondary Education
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College of Professional Studies and Community Outreach
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Departments
- Early Childhood Education
- General Studies
- Professional Studies
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Degrees
- Bachelor of Professional Studies
- Professional Studies
- (Areas of Concentration)
- Agriculture Business
- Criminal Justice
- Early Childhood Education
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Information Technology
- Public Relations
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- Accelerated Degree Program Track
- Bachelor of Arts in General Studies
- Associate of Science
- Early Childhood Education
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Graduate College
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Degrees
- Master of Education
- Elementary Education
- Secondary Education
- School Counseling and Leadership
- Educational Leadership
- Instructional Improvement
- Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
- Educational Specialist Degree
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- Master of Science
- College Student Personnel
- Emergency Management and Homeland Security
- Fisheries and Wildlife Science
- Health Informatics
- Information Technology
- Psychology
- Master of Science in Nursing
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- Master of Engineering
- Master of Arts
- English and English with TESL option
- History
- Multi-Media Journalism
- Spanish
- Teaching
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Master of Liberal Arts
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Academic Centers
- Academic Advising Center
- Center for Teaching and Learning
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- Crabaugh Communication Programs
- Energy Center
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- Museum
- Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center
- Student Support Services
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Student Life
Residential Halls
- Baswell Hall -- Baswell Hall is Tech's newest residential life facility and was part of Tech's successful 'Return to Glory' capital campaign. Located just west of Buerkle Field, Baswell offers a beautiful facade for our football stadium, while providing a wonderful housing experience for 233 co-ed residents.
- Brown Hall -- Brown Hall is one of our three all-male residence halls and is located on the western edge of campus between Tucker and Turner Halls. It is designed as a traditional residence hall with three floors
- Campus Court -- Campus Court, located less than one mile from the main Tech campus, was opened as a residence hall in the fall of 2006. Previously a hotel that was used by the University for “overflow” purposes, the property was purchased during the summer of 2006 and was quickly converted into a residence hall to provide much needed housing for our growing student body.
- Caraway Hall -- Caraway Hall is located on the south east side of campus, nestled between Tomlinson Hall and the Alumni House. Housing 103 women, with two students sharing a room and community bathrooms, this hall is on the National Registry of Historical Buildings.
- Critz-Hughes Complex -- The Critz-Hughes Complex comprises two residence halls, Critz Hall and Hughes Hall. Both halls have served the University as auxiliary buildings over the past few years and have recently been renovated back to residence halls. They are both traditional style residence halls, with community style bathrooms, housing 177 residents combined.
- Jones Hall -- Jones Hall is an all-female residence hall situated on the northeast part of campus and is designed as a traditional suite style Residence Hall. Two double rooms share a bathroom between them, and all rooms are carpeted with a vanity and sink.
- Nutt Hall -- This five story structure, situated in the center of campus, is a newly designed suite style residential facility housing both males and females in a variety of suite arrangements including spacious double rooms and private rooms. The typical suite in Nutt Hall houses four students either in two double rooms or one double and two single rooms.
- Paine Hall -- Paine Hall, originally designed as a traditional residence hall, was closed in the mid 1990s and went through an extensive $3.5 million renovation and reopened in the fall of 2001 as a 216 co-ed residential facility offering students double rooms with private bathrooms.
- Roush Hall -- Roush Hall, located directly north of Doc Bryan Student Center, is designed as a traditional suite style residence hall with two double rooms sharing a bathroom a bathroom between them. Similar to Jones Hall, Roush serves as its brother hall housing 108 male residents.
- South Hall -- South Hall, located two miles southwest of campus, serves as Sorority Housing for the Tech campus. Housing 28 members of two of our sororities in 14 double rooms with private bathrooms, South Hall is a new addition to our campus.
- Stadium Suites -- Stadium Suites, located directly south of Buerkle Field, houses 22 co-ed residents in 11 suites. Each suite has a living room, single room with private shower, bathroom on the first floor, a double room and a single room with a shared bathroom between them on the second floor.
- Turner Hall -- Turner Hall, a co-ed residence hall, is located on the western edge of campus, directly behind its brother hall, Brown Hall. Designed as a traditional residence hall with double rooms and community bathrooms located off a long central hallway, this three story structure houses 200 students.
- University Commons -- University Commons, located on the north east corner of campus, comprises 60 four-bedroom apartments and 23 two-bedroom apartments within seven buildings.
- Wilson Hall -- Wilson Hall, while originally designed as a traditional residence hall, was converted into an academic building during the 1960s. Due to the increased need for housing on the Tech campus, in the fall of 2005, the decision was made to convert the building back to a residence hall.
Greek System
Athletics
Arkansas Tech participates in NCAA Division II athletics as a charter member of the Great American Conference. Tech was a member of the Gulf South Conference from 1995 to 2011. Previously, Tech was a member of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Sports
Club / Recreation Sports
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Paddlers
- Soccer
Facilities
- Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field (football, capacity 6,500)
- Tucker Coliseum (basketball/volleyball, capacity 3,500)
- Tech Field (baseball, capacity 600)
- Chartwells Women's Sports Complex (tennis, softball)
- Hull Building (sports medicine, training)
Fight song
Fight on, Arkansas Tech,
Fight on to victory!
Break through to run up the score,
Conference Champions once more!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
We'll back you all the way,
Cheering for triumph always!
Go! Fight! Green and Gold,
Wonder Boys, You're Number One!!!
Nicknames
Arkansas Tech University has dual nicknames: men's athletic teams are called the Wonder Boys, while the women's teams are called the Golden Suns.
On November 15, 1919 John Tucker, a 17-year-old freshman from Russellville, scores two touchdowns and kicks two extra points to lead the Second District Agricultural School Aggies to a 14-0 upset win over Jonesboro. In newspaper accounts following the game, Tucker and his teammates were referred to as "Wonder Boys," and the nickname remains to this day. Tucker was labeled as "The Original Wonder Boy" and was associated with the school for the rest of his life. He went on to play on the University of Alabama's Rose Bowl team in 1931 and served Arkansas Tech in a variety of roles - including coach, athletic director and chemistry professor - between 1925 and 1972. Two buildings on the Tech campus - Tucker Coliseum and Tucker Hall - are named in his honor.[2]
Tired of being referred to as the Wonder Girls or Wonderettes, the female athletes of Arkansas Tech held a contest in the spring of 1975 to determine what their new mascot would be. Several names were nominated, but in the end, the athletes selected Golden Suns as their new nickname.[3]
External links
References
- Walker, Kenneth R. 'History of Arkansas Tech University 1909-1990', Arkansas Tech University, 1993.
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