Arkansas State University facts for kids
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Former names
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First District Agricultural School (1909–1925) First District Agricultural and Mechanical College (1925–1933) Arkansas State College (1933–1967) |
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| Motto | Educate, Enhance, Enrich: e3 |
| Type | Public flagship research university |
| Established | 1909 |
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Parent institution
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Arkansas State University System |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $114 million (2023) |
| Budget | $183 million (FY 2025) |
| Chancellor | Todd Shields |
| Provost | Calvin White, Jr. |
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Academic staff
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514 |
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Administrative staff
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1,047 |
| Students | 16,687 (fall 2024) |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | College town 1,376 acres (557 hectares) Urban/Suburban |
| Newspaper | The Herald |
| Colors | Red, black & white |
| Nickname | Red Wolves |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – Sun Belt |
| Mascots | Howl and Scarlet |
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Arkansas State University (often called A-State or ASU) is a large public university. It is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in the United States. A-State is the main campus of the Arkansas State University System. It is also the second-largest university in the state. The university started in 1909. It sits on a big area of land, about 1,376 acres, on Crowley's Ridge.
Arkansas State University is known for its high level of research. It is classified as an "R2: Doctoral University." This means it does a lot of important research.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: The History of A-State
A-State began as the First District Agricultural School in 1909. The Arkansas Legislature created it in Jonesboro. It was a school to train people in farming. A man named Robert W. Glover helped make this happen. He was a pastor and served in the state's government.
In 1918, the school started offering two-year college programs. It changed its name in 1925 to First District Agricultural and Mechanical College. By 1930, students could earn a four-year degree. The college became Arkansas State College in 1933. Finally, in 1967, the Arkansas Legislature made it a university. That is when it got its current name, Arkansas State University.
What Students Learn: Academics at A-State
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Arkansas State University has over 100,000 former students. It offers many different types of degrees. These include doctoral, master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees. The university has several different colleges. Each college focuses on a specific area of study.
Some of these colleges include:
- Agriculture
- Engineering & Technology
- Business
- Education & Behavioral Science
- Liberal Arts & Communication
- Nursing & Health Professions
- Sciences & Mathematics
- Undergraduate Studies
A-State is known for its research, but it also focuses on teaching younger students. The classes are often small. This means teachers can give more attention to each student. In 2020, the university was ranked high for its undergraduate teaching.
Advanced Studies: Doctoral Programs
A-State started offering master's degrees in 1955. The first doctoral degree was in educational leadership in 1992. A doctoral degree is the highest degree you can earn. More doctoral programs were added later. These include environmental science and heritage studies.
Newer doctoral programs are in molecular biosciences and physical therapy. In 2016, a medical school branch opened on campus. It is part of the New York Institute of Technology. This medical school is in the historic Wilson Hall.
Staying Connected: Media at A-State
A-State has a strong journalism program. It became the College of Media and Communication in 2013. This college has three student-run media groups. It also has a radio station that is part of NPR.
- The Herald: This is a weekly student newspaper. It started in 1921. About 5,000 copies are printed each week.
- ASU-TV: This program helps students learn about TV broadcasting. Students get hands-on experience.
- Red Wolf Radio: This is an online student radio station. It started in 2013.
- KASU: This is a powerful FM radio station. It is the oldest NPR station west of the Mississippi River.
Go Red Wolves! Athletics at A-State
Arkansas State is part of the NCAA Division I. This is a top level for college sports. Their teams play in the Sun Belt Conference. The athletic teams used to be called the Indians. Now, they are known as the Red Wolves.
Football Success
The Red Wolves football team has had great success. In 2012, they won the Sun Belt Conference championship. They finished the season with a 9–3 record. They also won their first bowl game since becoming a Division I-A team. They beat Kent State 17–13 in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. This was also their first win against a ranked team since 1992.
In 2013, the football team won the Sun Belt Conference again. This was their third year in a row. They won the GoDaddy Bowl for the second time. They beat Ball State 23–20.
Famous Faces: Notable Alumni
Many talented people have graduated from Arkansas State University. Here are a few examples:
- Adrian Banks – A professional basketball player.
- Bill Bergey – A former NFL football player.
- Mike Beebe – He was the Governor of Arkansas from 2007 to 2015.
- Earl Bell – An Olympic bronze medalist in pole vaulting. He also held a world record.
- Rodger Bumpass – A comedian and the voice of Squidward on SpongeBob SquarePants.
- Rick Crawford – A U.S. Representative for Arkansas.
- Demario Davis – A current NFL football player.
- Julia Butterfly Hill – An environmental activist.
- Thomas Hill – An Olympic bronze medalist in hurdles.
- Buddy Jewell – A country music singer.
- Al Joyner – An Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump.
- George Kell – A Hall of Fame baseball player and broadcaster.
- J. D. McKissic – A current NFL football player.
- David Nail – A recording artist in country music.
- Jordan Richard – A professional bowler and PWBA Player of the Year.
- George K. Sisler – A recipient of the Medal of Honor.
- Kellie Suttle – An Olympic pole vaulter and silver medalist.
- Debbye Turner – She was crowned Miss America in 1990.
- Miller Williams – A well-known poet.
Images for kids
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Mike Beebe
– Governor of Arkansas (2007-2015) -
Rodger Bumpass
– Voice Actor -
Rick Crawford – Congressman
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George K. Sisler –
Medal of Honor recipient -
Debbye Turner –
1990 Miss America
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