The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, serves as the major center of liberal and professional education and as the primary land-grant campus in the state. In addition, it is Arkansas' major source of theoretical and applied research and the provider of a wide range of public services to people throughout the state and nation. In serving its threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service, the University strives to be recognized for excellence and continues to expand and strengthen its nationally and regionally competitive programs while maintaining a high level of competence in all programs.
The University offers a broad spectrum of academic programs leading to baccalaureate, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees, not only in traditional disciplines within arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, but also in the core professional areas of agricultural, food and life sciences; architecture; business; education; engineering; human environmental sciences; and law. Through its faculty and its student body, the campus seeks to have all of its programs regionally competitive and, in addition, to offer nationally competitive programs in selected areas.
To complement the strong, broad-based undergraduate program, the University offers graduate education. Twenty-two different master's degrees are offered in more than 82 fields of study. Doctoral degrees are offered in 25 areas. Other degrees include Educational Specialist, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Philosophy. Teaching activities are integrated with research activities in each of these programs.
The campus has statewide responsibility to provide research leadership in advancing the frontiers of knowledge. The research programs serve three primary purposes. First, as part of graduate instruction, research promotes students' abilities to appreciate and to implement, to discover, and to teach. Second, research programs serve as vital sources of information on the economic and social needs of Arkansas. Third, in selected areas, research on the Fayetteville campus serves a national and even an international scholarly community. The campus is committed to a future that includes sustained growth in its research and scholarship.
The University provides extensive technical and professional services to varied groups and individuals throughout the state, helping to further Arkansas' economic growth. In addition, the Fayetteville campus serves as a significant resource to the state. It operates nationally respected high school and college level correspondence programs; it assists other institutions in developing educational programs; it offers graduate programs, both cooperatively and singly, throughout the state; and it makes specialized campus resources such as computing services and library resources available to other institutions in the state. The campus will continue to serve this unique role and may expand these services to continue providing statewide education through an uplink/downlink network as well as through additional cooperative graduate education programs.
HISTORY
The University of Arkansas was established at Fayetteville in 1871. It opened its doors to students on January 22, 1872.
There were few facilities and practically no money for the beginning of that first academic year more than a century ago, but the new institution had a distinct advantage which has been of increasing importance throughout the years. It was established under provisions of the Morrill Act as both the State University and the Land-Grant College of Arkansas. This gave the new university an academic heritage from universities of the past and at the same time bestowed the educational responsibilities in "agriculture and mechanic arts" as envisioned by Senator Justin Smith Morrill of Vermont. The Morrill Act set aside federal land-grant money to help states in their efforts to establish programs of higher education.
The location of Fayetteville for the University was determined by elections held throughout the state for the purpose of voting bonds or subscriptions to establish the University. The largest bid came from the County of Washington and the City of Fayetteville for a combined total of $130,000. To this amount and the Congressional land grant of 150,000 acres, the state added an appropriation of $50,000 for the benefit of the institution.
The 160-acre homestead of William McIlroy was selected as the campus site and purchased for $12,000. The McIlroy home was converted into classrooms, and a new two-story frame building was constructed with one classroom on each floor.
From a small beginning of eight students and three faculty members on the opening day of classes, the University of Arkansas has developed into a mature institution with eight schools and colleges. It is the major center in Arkansas for graduate-level instruction as well as basic and applied research. In addition, its public service activities reach every county in Arkansas.
LOCATION
All units of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, except those indicated below, are located in Fayetteville, a community of more than 50,000 residents in Washington County, situated in the northwestern part of the state in the heart of the Ozark Mountains at an elevation of 1,400 feet. The surroundings are of great natural beauty, and the climate of the region is pleasant in all seasons.
The academic units on the Fayetteville campus include eight colleges and schools: the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, the School of Architecture, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Education and Health Professions, the College of Engineering, the School of Law, and the Graduate School.
The state office of the Cooperative Extension Service is located in Little Rock. The Division of Agriculture's Experiment Station operates the Main Station located in Fayetteville; research programs in the Division of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Arkansas State University, and the department of forestry at the University of Arkansas at Monticello; four research and extension centers, and 10 outlying stations.
ENROLLING AT THE U OF A
Q: So, what does it take to get into the U of A?
A: Apply! Your GPA and test scores will count. We advise you to take the college prep core and try to maintain at least a B average. Also, take the ACT or SAT test more than once if you need to, and make the best possible score.
We know you also have a life outside of class, and it's very important, too. We see you as an individual. Everything you tell us about yourself will help us consider whether you have what it takes to graduate and start your career.
Q: Is there a minimum GPA or test score required for admission?
A: We won't throw out your application because of a low GPA or test score. But typically the higher your GPA and test scores, the better your chances of succeeding here. To give yourself the best possible chance of success at the University of Arkansas, aim for a B average (3.0) or higher, and try to score no lower than a 20 on the ACT or 960 on the SAT.
Q: What about my extracurricular activities? I play in the band and volunteer at the hospital.
A: They count, too. They fill in the blanks about who you are by showing us your interests, dedication, and ability to manage your time. Tell us about your school activities, community and church activities, and any honors and awards you have received.
Q: What classes should I take in high school?
A: The U of A is going to challenge you. Prepare in high school by taking four years each of English and math and three years each of social studies, natural sciences and electives such as foreign language and computer science. We know these courses help prepare you for college work.
Q: What are the ACT and SAT codes for the U of A?
A: The ACT code for the U of A is 0144. Our SAT code is 6866.
Q: When should I apply?
A: As soon as possible. Your application will be reviewed as soon as we get it. If we need more information from you, we'll let you know right away. For scholarship consideration you must apply by January 15 of your senior year. Your application for admission also serves as your scholarship application. Remember, it's easier and faster to apply online at http://www.uark.edu/sis/apply/application.html
Q: How do I get more information?
A: Send in the reply card. You can also find us at http://pigtrail.uark.edu/ on the Internet.
A MESSAGE TO STUDENTS FROM THE CHANCELLOR
This is your University, and this catalog is your guide to successful completion of your degree here. I want to add the goals I hope to fulfill while leading the campus, and I pledge to do everything I can to make them realities while you are studying here.
It was my great pleasure to have the cornerstone of my goals for the University of Arkansas higher undergraduate admission standards approved by the University's Board of Trustees just a few months after I arrived to lead the campus. The answers to the questions above will help you to see how the higher admission standards are being used.
Now that we have sent out the message to the world of our desire to educate the best and brightest, the goals that now head my list are improving our graduation rate and increasing private support. Undergraduate scholarships will be the key to competing with out-of-state public and private institutions, which now attract many of the state's brightest students. Other goals on the list of 10 priorities will enable us to help you succeed here and in your career following graduation.
The 10 key areas for improvement are as follows:
1. Increased private support. For undergraduate scholarships alone, we need an endowment of at least $100 million to replace the $5 million in state-appropriated funds that we spend annually for undergraduate scholarships.
2. Improved recruiting and higher graduation rate. We want to do whatever it takes to help you succeed here.
3. How we treat our stakeholders. The University must be a friendly, nurturing environment for students, our primary stakeholders.
4. Academic and career advising. Recent graduates have told us we need to improve in these areas.
5. Graduate research and outreach. UA faculty and students in all disciplines need to be involved in outreach throughout Arkansas to help communities and to learn from their experiences. To be a nationally competitive land-grant university and research university, we must have a tenfold increase in the level of externally funded research support.
6. Faculty, staff and student diversity. It is important that students learn to work with and relate to people of different races, genders and ethnic backgrounds. After graduation, students will likely be working with and for people who do not look exactly like them.
7. Campus and student life. Students have told us that campus life needs significant improvement. As a start, we are expanding the Arkansas Union and the Alumni House and have added to Mullins Library.
8. Faculty and staff workload and salaries. An initial comparison with universities in the ACC, Big 10, Big 12 and SEC conferences indicates that we need a larger student body for the number of degree programs that we're offering. The size of our faculty and physical plant also shows a capacity to serve a larger student body.
9. Campus appearance and facilities. Our campus needs to become a laboratory for our students in horticulture, weed science, turf science and landscape architecture. We have completed a campus master plan that includes facility needs over the next 20 years.
10. Information systems and technology. As many of you know, we've made progress by creating for use on the World Wide Web an application for admission, a course checklist for transfer students, and a virtual reality tour of the campus. You'll enjoy your Internet and e-mail access as a UA student and will benefit from course use of the University's considerable online resources.
All of us who work here believe the University of Arkansas is very good. But we know she can be much better. You'll see changes while you're here studying as we examine every process and program and every aspect of the University, to improve it for you and those who follow you. We want your degree to have high value as you seek your first job after graduation; let us know how we can improve.
Sincerely,
John A. White
Chancellor