| Southern Arkansas University | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1909 |
| Type | Public university |
| Endowment | $14.5 million[1] |
| President | David Rankin |
| Students | 3,224 |
| Undergraduates | 2,775 |
| Postgraduates | 449 |
| Location | Magnolia, Arkansas, USA |
| Campus | Coeducational; Residential 1,418 acres (574 ha) |
| Colors | Royal Blue and Old Gold |
| Nickname | Muleriders |
| Mascot | Molly B |
| Affiliations | Great American Conference |
| Website | www.saumag.edu |
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) (formerly known as Southern State College, Magnolia A&M, and Third District Agricultural School) is a public four-year institution located in Magnolia, the seat of Columbia County in Arkansas, United States, not far from the Louisiana state line.
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Southern Arkansas University is located in Magnolia, which, as of the census of 2000, has a population of 10,858. The city is situated in the southwestern part of the state 50 miles (80 km) of Texarkana on U.S. Routes 79, 82, and 371.
Southern Arkansas University was established by an Act of the Arkansas Legislature in 1909 as a district agricultural high school for southwest Arkansas and was originally named Third District Agricultural School, often called by students and faculty "TDAS." Its first term began in January 1911, with its curriculum including only subjects at the secondary school level. In 1925, the State Legislature authorized the school to add two years of college work and to change its name to Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District (Magnolia A&M). The school continued to offer both high school and junior college courses until 1937, at which time the high school courses were discontinued.
In the fall of 1949, the Board of Trustees, exercising authority vested in it by the State Legislature, decided to develop the college at a four-year, degree-granting institution. The Board authorized the addition of third-year college level courses to being with the fall semester of 1950. Fourth-year courses were added in the fall semester of 1951. By Act Eleven (January 24, 1951), the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Southern State College. In 1975, the institution was approved and accredited to offer a Master of Education Degree in selected areas. Following approval of the Board of Trustees, the name of the institution was changed to Southern Arkansas University by the Board of Higher Education on July 9, 1976, in accordance with Act 343 of the General Assembly of 1975.[2]
Also in 1975, Southwest Technical Institute in Camden, Arkansas, joined the SAU system as Southern Arkansas University Tech.
The university operates eight residence halls:
Fincher Hall is the site of Residential College, a special program for freshmen which builds community and contact with faculty.
Southern Arkansas University added a new graduate studies program in 2007, the Executive Master of Public Administration, headed by Dr. Pat Edgar. The new program offers many courses, including social justice courses, research methods in Public Administration, Legal Issues of Public Administration and Ethics. The new program was iniated to provide quality education for those who wish to serve in a leadership position in the public sector or in a non-profit agency. The first class of the Executive Master of Public Administration graduated in May 2008. "The value of the courses taught in this program is immeasurable. I have learned not only how to be a servant of the public, to better this world, but also to believe in myself and this country." -- Rebekah Lightfoot-Wolfe 2008 Graduate of the Executive Master of Public Administration Program, Southern Arkansas University School of Graduate Studies
Southern Arkansas University is in the NCAA Division II as a member of the West Division of the Gulf South Conference.
The university's athletic nicknames are Muleriders and Lady Muleriders. The Muleriders take their name from the legend that the football team in the early 1900s had to ride mules from the college's agricultural department to catch the nearest train 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the college in order to reach out-of-town football games. The teams are the only sports team in the US with the nickname and are often listed in top 10 lists of the most unusual or unique mascot names.
In each of 1953 and 1954, the then Southern State College Mulerider tennis team went undefeated winning the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference in both singles and doubles and was invited by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to represent their district in their National Tennis Championships in 1953.
In 2006, and 2009 The Mulerider baseball team won the Gulf South Conference championship. In 2009 the Mulerider Baseball team hosted the NCAA Division Two South Regional for the first time in school history.
In 2007, the Mulerider coed cheerleading squad competed at the NCA National Competition and placed 4th in Division II. In 2008, the cheerleading squad went back to nationals and took 5th in their division.
Won the Gulf South championship in 1997
We hail thee now, oh SAU,
For thee we'll always stand,
Your eager sons and daughters
Form one united band.
Your glory and your fame will spread
Through all eternity,
We pledge to thee,
dear SAU,
Our Love and Loyalty.
We are the Blue and Gold,
'Riders, so strong and bold!
We've got the spirit --
Come on, let's hear it!
Shout out for good ol' SAU:
GO! GO! GO!
Go 'Riders, go along,
This is our favorite song!
For it's M-U-L-E-R-I-D-E-R
'Riders, the best of SAU!
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