Short description: Public university in Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S.
"Arkansas State" redirects here. For the U.S. state, see Arkansas.
Arkansas State University
Former names
First District Agricultural School (1909–1925) First District Agricultural and Mechanical College (1925–1933) Arkansas State College (1933–1967)
Motto
Educate, Enhance, Enrich: e3
Type
Public flagship research university
Established
1909; 115 years ago (1909)
Parent institution
Arkansas State University System
Academic affiliations
ORAU
Space-grant
Endowment
$113 million (2021)[1]
Budget
$172 million (FY 2020)[2]
Chancellor
Todd Shields[3]
Provost
Calvin White Jr.
Academic staff
518[4]
Administrative staff
1,073[4]
Students
14,903 (Fall 2023)[5]
Undergraduates
8,928[4]
Postgraduates
4,428[4]
Location
Jonesboro
,
Arkansas
,
United States
Campus
College town 1,376 acres (557 hectares) Urban/Suburban
Newspaper
The Herald
|u}}rs
Red, black & white
Nickname
Red Wolves
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference
Mascots
Howl and Scarlet
Website
www.astate.edu
Carl R. Reng Student Union
Arkansas State University (A-State[6] or ASU) is a public research university in Jonesboro, Arkansas. It is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System and the second largest university in the state. The university was founded in 1909 and is located atop 1,376 acres (557 hectares) on Crowley's Ridge.[citation needed]
Arkansas State University is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[7]
Contents
1History
2Campuses
2.1Former campus
3Academics
4Media
5Athletics
6Greek life
7Notable alumni
8Notes
9References
10External links
History
A-State was founded as the First District Agricultural School in Jonesboro in 1909 by the Arkansas Legislature as a regional agricultural training school. Robert W. Glover, a Missionary Baptist pastor who served in both houses of the Arkansas Legislature from Sheridan (1905–1912), introduced in 1909 the resolution calling for the establishment of four state agricultural colleges, including the future ASU.[8]
In 1918, ASU began offering a two-year college program. In 1925, it became First District Agricultural and Mechanical College. A four-year degree program was begun in 1930. A & M College became Arkansas State College in 1933. In 1967, the Arkansas Legislature elevated the college to university status and changed the name to Arkansas State University.
In the fall of 2014, A-State welcomed its most academically prepared freshman class. The result of several years of growing both admission standards and increasing on-campus housing, A-State's incoming first-year first-time student composite ACT was 23.9 with an average high school GPA of 3.47 (Current freshman ACTs are 20-26 and the average high school GPA is 3.7[9]). This was the third consecutive year of improvement for the ACT/GPA freshman classes for Arkansas State. The Arkansas State Honors College has grown 59% since 2009. The university also posted back-to-back high graduate counts in spring 2012 and spring 2013, producing the most graduates in a two-year period in school history.[citation needed] The university contains the largest library in the state of Arkansas, the Dean B. Ellis Library.[citation needed]
Dean B. Ellis Library.
Campuses
See also: Arkansas State University System
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas (primary campus)
Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro, Querétaro, Mexico
Arkansas State University-Beebe, Beebe, Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Beebe Searcy Campus, Searcy, Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Beebe Heber Springs Campus, Heber Springs, Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Beebe at Little Rock Air Force Base, Jacksonville, Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Newport, Newport, Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Newport Marked Tree Campus, Marked Tree, Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Newport Jonesboro Campus, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, Mountain Home, Arkansas
Arkansas State University Mid-South, West Memphis, Arkansas
Arkansas State University Three Rivers, Malvern, Arkansas
Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Former campus
Arkansas State University-Paragould, an instructional site of the Jonesboro campus closed in 2018
Academics
University rankings
National
U.S. News & World Report[10]
361
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[11]
61 (South)
Master's University class
Washington Monthly[12]
134
The university has more than 100,000 alumni and offers programs at the doctoral, specialist's, master's, bachelor's, and associate degree levels. They are organized into several colleges: Agriculture, Engineering & Technology, Business, Education & Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts & Communication, Nursing & Health Professions, Sciences & Mathematics, and Undergraduate Studies.
In 2018, Arkansas State was classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[13][7] The university nevertheless maintains a focus on undergraduate instruction and small class sizes, with a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, ranked #76 in undergraduate teaching nationwide (As of 2020).[14] The university is ranked #1119 (SCImago Rankings 2018)[15] and #1645 (URAP Rankings 2020-2021) [16] in the current global university ranking.
Master's degree graduate programs were initiated in 1955, and ASU began offering its first doctoral degree, in educational leadership, in the fall of 1992. A second doctoral program, in environmental science, was begun in the fall of 1997, and the doctoral program in heritage studies began in the fall of 2001. Newer doctoral programs are in environmental science, molecular biosciences, and physical therapy. In the fall of 2016, Arkansas State enrolled the first class of approximately 115 students to its branch of the New York Institute of Technology's medical school. The medical school is located on campus in the historic Wilson Hall.
Media
A-State's journalism program reorganized into the College of Media and Communication for fall 2013. The College of Media and Communication is home to three student-led media outlets and a NPR affiliate radio station. The Herald, a weekly student newspaper, was founded in 1921 and has a circulation of 5,000. ASU-TV, a program under the Department of Radio-Television, gives students hands-on experience in the field of television broadcasting. Starting in fall 2013, an Internet-based student radio station, Red Wolf Radio, was added to the student media. Arkansas State is also home to KASU, a 100,000-watt FM station, which is the oldest NPR affiliate west of the Mississippi River.
Centennial Bank Stadium (formerly known as Indian Stadium)
Athletics
Arkansas State participates as a member of the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference. The athletic teams, previously known as the Indians, are now known as the Red Wolves.
In 2012, the Red Wolves football team became Sun Belt Conference champions for a second straight year, finishing the regular season with a 9–3 record, and capped off its successful season with its first bowl game victory since becoming a Division I-A (FBS) program with a 17–13 victory over Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl, as well as earning its first win over a ranked opponent since joining the FBS in 1992.
In 2013, the football team became the Sun Belt Conference champions for a third straight year, finishing with a 7-5 regular season record and won a second consecutive GoDaddy Bowl with a 23–20 victory over then 10-2 Ball State.
Greek life
Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity[17]
Total
White
73%
73
Black
14%
14
Hispanic
4%
4
Foreign national
4%
4
Other[lower-alpha 1]
3%
3
Asian
1%
1
Economic diversity
Low-income[lower-alpha 2]
42%
42
Affluent[lower-alpha 3]
58%
58
Approximately 15% of ASU's undergraduate students are members of one of the 21 Greek organizations located on the campus.
Notable alumni
Mike Beebe – Governor of Arkansas (2007-2015)
Rodger Bumpass – Voice Actor
Rick Crawford – Congressman
George K. Sisler – Medal of Honor recipient
Debbye Turner – 1990 Miss America
Joey L. Carr - American politician
Ann Clemmer - Republican former member of the Arkansas State House of Representatives from Saline County
Adrian Banks -American-Israeli professional basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Super League
Bill Bergey - NFL player[18]
Larry P. Arnn – president, Hillsdale College[19]
Fred Barnett – NFL player[20]
Mike Beebe – governor of Arkansas (2006–2014)[21]
Earl Bell – Olympic bronze medalist in pole vaulting (1984) and former world record holder
Darren Benson – NFL player[22]
Lonnie D. Bentley – professor and the department head of computer and information technology at Purdue University[23]
Ty Bodden, Wisconsin State Assembly Representative
Gene Bradley – USFL player and NFL draftee[24]
Ray Brown – NFL player[25]
Rodger Bumpass – comedian and voice of Squidward on the popular TV show SpongeBob SquarePants
Ronald R. Caldwell – Arkansas state senator from District 23; real estate businessman in Wynne[26]
Davy Carter – former Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, banker and attorney[27]
Maurice Carthon – NFL player and coach[28]
Rick Crawford – U.S. Representative for the First District of Arkansas.[29]
Demario Davis – NFL player[30]
John Dickson- former ABA player[31]
Patrick Eddie – NBA player[32]
Carlos Emmons – NFL player[33]
Jake Files (bachelor's degree in accounting) – former state senator from District 8 in Fort Smith[34]
Brad Franchione – two-time NJCAA National Championship head football coach[35]
Jeremy Gillam – farmer and former Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives from White County[36]
Zachary Gramlich, American politician
Michael John Gray (B.S. marketing) – former Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Woodruff County; a farmer with a law degree[37]
Michelle Gray (Class of 1999, B.S. accounting) – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Melbourne in Izard County[38]
Leroy Harris – NFL player[39]
Jeff Hartwig – former U.S. record holder in pole vault[40]
Julia Butterfly Hill – environmental activist[41]
Thomas Hill – Olympic bronze medalist in 110-meter hurdles (1972)[42]
Robert C. Hinson – U.S. Air Force lieutenant general[43]
Beth Holloway – speech pathologist and motivational speaker, mother of Natalee Holloway[44]
V. E. Howard, Church of Christ clergyman who started the radio International Gospel Hour, based originally in Texarkana, Texas[45]
John K. Hutchison, former Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015; farmer in Harrisburg
Buddy Jewell, country music singer
Blake Johnson (exercise science) – Republican member of the Arkansas State Senate from Clay County; rice and soybean farmer in Corning[46]
David Johnson – NFL player[47]
Tyrell Johnson – NFL player, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions[48]
Ken Jones – NFL player[49]
Al Joyner – Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump (1984)
George Kell – broadcaster and Hall of Fame baseball player
Koby Arthur Koomson – Ghanaian diplomat
Cleo Lemon – NFL player[50]
D. Price Marshall – federal judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas[51]
J. D. McKissic – NFL player[52]
Ron Meeks – NFL and CFL player[53]
Dennis Meyer – CFL coach[54]
Josh Miller – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Heber Springs; obtained associate degree from ASU campus in Heber Springs[55]
Jerry Muckensturm – NFL player[56]
David Nail – Mercury and MCA Nashville recording artist[57]
Chris Odom – NFL player[58]
Stetson Painter -Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives[59]
Chad Puryear -Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives[60]
Jordan Richard - Professional bowler; 2023 PWBA Player of the Year; three-time All-American at Arkansas State (2016, 2017, 2018)[61]
Kyle Richardson – NFL player[62]
Jerry Rook – former American Basketball Association player[63]
Elbert Shelley – NFL player[64]
George K. Sisler – posthumous Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War[65]
Edward J. Steimel – Louisiana business lobbyist and columnist[66]
Dan A. Sullivan – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Craighead and Greene counties since 2015; played basketball for ASU[67]
Kellie Suttle – Two-time Olympic pole vaulter and silver medalist at 2001 World Indoor Championships and 1999 Pan American Games[68]
Charley Thornton – sports figure[69]
Debbye Turner – Miss America, 1990
Frederick C. Turner, Jr., one of first 3 Black students, first Black faculty member at ASU, Commander of SHAPE[70]
Dave Wallace (Class of 1970) – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Mississippi County; inductee of the ASU Hall of Heroes for his military service in the Vietnam War[71]
Steven Walker, American politician
Corey Williams – NFL player[72]
Miller Williams – poet[73]
Notes
↑Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.
↑The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
↑The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.
References
↑"U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Endowment Market Value and Change* in Endowment Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised)". National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. 2020. https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2019-Endowment-Market-Values--Final-Feb-10.ashx?la=en&hash=9E941CF13A17783282F46626C72FE7AFB63F9D82.
↑"Arkansas State University 2019-2020 Operating Budget". Arkansas State University System. p. 26. https://www.astate.edu/a/budget/files/FY20-Jonesboro-Budget-Book.pdf.
↑"Todd Shields Named Chancellor at Arkansas State University". 11 July 2022. https://www.astate.edu/news/todd-shields-named-chancellor-at-arkansas-state-university.
↑ 4.04.14.24.3"Arkansas State University 2019-2020 Factbook". Arkansas State University. https://www.astate.edu/a/irp/files/factbooks/2019-2020_FB.pdf.
↑"STUDENT HEAD COUNT HITS NEW PEAK, WITH FALL ENROLLMENT EXCEEDING 14,900". 6 September 2023. https://www.astate.edu/news/student-head-count-hits-new-peak-with-fall-enrollment-exceeding-14-900.
↑Kirk, Joni. "Removing Educational Roadblocks for Disabled Veterans". https://www.universitybusiness.com/article/removing-educational-roadblocks-disabled-veterans.
↑ 7.07.1"Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup". Center for Postsecondary Education. https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=106458.
↑"Arkansas State University - Profile, Rankings and Data". Jun 7, 2023. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/arkansas-state-university-1090.
↑"2021 Best National University Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities.
↑"Best Colleges 2021: Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities.
↑"2020 Rankings -- Masters Universities". Washington Monthly. https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020college-guide/masters.
↑Damphousse, Kelly. "Recognition of Our Research Excellence". https://t.e2ma.net/webview/y3auwc/600ab53de69503505290b760644a920d.
↑"Arkansas State University". U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/arkansas-state-university-1090.
↑"SCImago University Rankings". 2018. https://www.scimagoir.com/rankings.php?year=2012§or=Higher educ..
↑"World Ranking by Academic Performance 2020-2021". 2021-07-12. https://urapcenter.org/Rankings/2020-2021/World_Ranking_2020-2021.
↑"College Scorecard: Arkansas State University". United States Department of Education. https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?106458-Arkansas-State-University.
↑"Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/current-governors/col2-content/main-content-list/title_beebe_mike.html.
↑"Jason Tolbert, Ronald Caldwell Announces Candidacy For State Senate District 23 Race, July 2012". talkbusiness.net. 19 July 2012. http://talkbusiness.net/2012/07/caldwell-likely-to-run-for-state-senate-vacancy-created-by-caubbles-passing/#sthash.mT3hKVTo.dpuf.
↑"Jeff Hartwig". Sun Belt Conference. http://www.sunbeltsports.org/SPORTS/MensSports/IndoorTrackField/Article/tabid/744/article/12229/Former-Arkansas-State-Vaulter-Sets-New-American-record-Jeff-Hartwig-reaches-new-heights-for-USA-Track-and-Field.aspx.
↑"The Life of Julia Hill". The Spruce. April 4, 2017. https://www.thespruce.com/the-life-of-julia-hill-1708797.
↑"George K. Sisler". Arkansas State University. http://www.astate.edu/a/military-science/hall-of-heroes/george-kenton-sisler/index.dot.
↑Danielle Maddox Kinchen. "Ed Steimel, who left his mark on public policy in Louisiana, dies at age 94". The Baton Rouge Advocate. http://theadvocate.com/news/15441902-65/ed-steimel-who-left-his-mark-on-public-policy-in-louisiana-dies-at-age-94.
↑Max Brantley (August 26, 2013). "News Release from Dan Sullivan". The Arkansas Times. http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/08/26/another-candidate-for-open-senate-seat-in-jonesboro.
↑"Kellie Suttle". USA Track & Field, Inc. http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2006/Suttle_Kellie.asp.
↑"Charley Thornton". CBS Interactive. http://www.rolltide.com/genrel/021704aaa.html.
↑"Frederick C. Turner, Jr". https://www.astate.edu/a/military-science/hall-of-heroes/turner-frederick/index.dot.