Northern Arizona University facts for kids
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Former names
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List
Northern Arizona Normal School (1899–1925)
Northern Arizona State Teachers College (1925–1929) Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff (1929–1945) Arizona State College at Flagstaff (1945–1958) Arizona State College (1958–1966) |
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| Type | Public research university |
| Established | September 11, 1899 |
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Parent institution
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Arizona Board of Regents |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $218.8 million |
| President | José Luis Cruz Rivera |
| Provost | Karen Pugliesi |
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Academic staff
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1,115 (full-time) |
| Students | 28,194 |
| Undergraduates | 23,134 |
| Postgraduates | 5,060 |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Small City, 707.62 acres (2.8636 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Lumberjack |
| Colors | Blue Gold |
| Nickname | Lumberjacks |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Louie the Lumberjack |
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Northern Arizona University (often called NAU) is a public research university located in Flagstaff, Arizona. Founded in 1899, it is famous for its mountain campus, high-altitude sports training, and major discoveries in astronomy.
The main campus sits high in the mountains, surrounded by tall ponderosa pine trees. Students explore fields like environmental science, space science, education, nursing, business, and engineering. With more than 28,000 students, NAU offers programs on its main campus, online, and across community centers in Arizona.
Contents
- History of Northern Arizona University
- Campus and Modern Facilities
- Academic Colleges and Degree Programs
- What Can You Study at NAU?
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Education
- Steve Sanghi College of Engineering
- College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
- Health, Nursing, and Medical Colleges
- College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- W. A. Franke College of Business
- Native American Initiatives
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Student Life and Housing
- Lumberjack Athletics and High-Altitude Sports
- Notable Alumni
- See Also
History of Northern Arizona University
How Did Northern Arizona University Begin?
The university opened its doors on September 11, 1899. At that time, it was called the Northern Arizona Normal School. A normal school was a special type of school designed to train teachers for elementary and high schools.
The school began very small with only 23 students and two teachers. The first president was Almon Nicholas Taylor, who also taught classes. In the early days, the school owned just two large copies of Webster's International Dictionary to help teach lessons.
In 1901, the school held its first graduation ceremony. Four women earned teaching licenses to work in schools throughout the Arizona Territory. Arizona was not even a US state yet; it became the 48th state in 1912.
Growing Through Hard Times and Wartime
As Arizona grew, the school added new courses and changed its name several times. In 1925, it became the Northern Arizona State Teachers College. In 1929, leaders changed the name to Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff.
When the Great Depression began in 1929, money was scarce across the country. The college helped students by giving them campus jobs. Students earned money by working on the school-owned dairy farm, serving food in dining halls, and delivering newspapers.
Despite the economic trouble, the school grew larger. Student numbers increased from 321 in 1930 to 535 by 1940. In 1937, the college started offering graduate classes for advanced students.
The college also welcomed a diverse group of students. In 1939, Ida Mae Fredericks became the first person from the Hopi tribe to graduate from the college. Students arrived from family farms, mining towns, and big cities across the country.
During World War II, the college trained military officers through the V-12 Navy College Training Program. When the war ended, many veterans returned to school on the G.I. Bill.
In 1945, the school became Arizona State College at Flagstaff. Soon, the college added programs in art, business, and science. In 1958, it opened its world-famous forestry program to teach students how to manage natural forests and protect wildlife.
Becoming a Major Research University
By 1966, the school had grown into a large institution. The Arizona Board of Regents gave the school full university status, renaming it Northern Arizona University.
In 1968, NAU was permitted to offer doctoral degrees (the highest college degrees). The first doctoral students finished their degrees in 1973.
The university built modern science centers, sports arenas, and business buildings. In 2007, the business school was named The W. A. Franke College of Business after businessman Bill Franke gave a major gift to support students.
In 2022, José Luis Cruz Rivera became the 17th president of NAU. The university launched new medical education programs to train future doctors and health workers.
Campus and Modern Facilities
Exploring the Flagstaff Mountain Campus
The main campus covers over 700 forested acres in Flagstaff, Arizona. Sitting at an elevation of 6,950 feet (2,118 meters) above sea level, NAU is one of the highest four-year college campuses in the United States.
Because of the high altitude, Flagstaff experiences four distinct seasons. The city receives an average of 90 inches of snow every winter. Students can visit the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks, just seven miles away.
The campus is located inside the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest on Earth. Famous natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and the red rock canyons of Sedona, Arizona are a short drive from the university.
Green Living and Sustainability
NAU focuses heavily on protecting nature and reducing waste:
- The university has more than a dozen buildings certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for saving energy and water.
- Dining halls collect food waste to make compost, turning over 300,000 pounds of scraps into nutrient-rich soil each year.
- Solar panels and wind energy generate clean electricity for campus facilities.
- Researchers investigate ways to use forest wood waste for clean heating and electricity.
- The university aims to achieve full carbon neutrality by the year 2030.
Online and Statewide Locations
NAU reaches students across Arizona through more than 20 regional campuses, including locations in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. The oldest and largest branch campus is NAU–Yuma, located near the Mexican border.
NAU Online provides over 140 virtual degree programs. These online programs allow students to earn degrees in business, education, technology, and health from home.
Academic Colleges and Degree Programs
What Can You Study at NAU?
NAU offers more than 130 bachelor's degrees, 80 master's degrees, and 20 doctoral programs across its major colleges.
The most popular undergraduate majors at NAU include:
- Psychological Sciences (studying human thoughts, behavior, and emotions)
- Nursing (caring for patients in hospitals and clinics)
- Biomedical Sciences (learning about human biology and medical sciences)
- Criminology and Criminal Justice (learning how legal systems and communities work)
- Biology (exploring living plants, animals, and ecosystems)
- Elementary Education (training to teach children in primary schools)
College of Arts and Letters
The College of Arts and Letters teaches creative writing, visual arts, music, theatre, history, and languages. It manages the Clara M. Lovett Art Museum and two large concert halls: Ardrey Memorial Auditorium and Kitt Recital Hall.
The college also runs the Martin-Springer Institute. Doris Martin, a Holocaust survivor, founded this institute with her husband Ralph Martin in 2000. It teaches students and teachers about human rights, kindness, and global history.
College of Education
Education remains a central focus at NAU. The College of Education prepares teachers for preschools, elementary schools, and high schools.
The college runs the Diné Dual Language Teachers Project. This initiative helps fluent speakers of the Navajo (Diné) language earn teaching licenses, ensuring native languages continue to thrive in public schools.
Steve Sanghi College of Engineering
This engineering college is named after technology executive Steve Sanghi. It prepares students to build machines, design bridges, write computer programs, and protect computer networks.
Students work inside advanced facilities, including:
- The Center for Ecosystem Science and Society
- The Center for Materials Interfaces in Research and Applications
- The School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
This college combines classroom study with outdoor fieldwork. Programs include forestry, chemistry, geology, biology, mathematics, and physics.
Flagstaff is an official International Dark-Sky City. Because the city restricts bright night lights, astronomers enjoy crystal-clear views of the stars. NAU works directly with the historic Lowell Observatory.
NAU astronomers have helped discover dwarf planets in our outer solar system, including Eris and Sedna. NAU scientist Cristina Thomas helped lead observations for the NASA DART mission, which successfully moved a distant asteroid in space. Other NAU scientists search for the hypothetical Planet Nine.
The School of Forestry manages the Centennial Forest, where students study fire safety, wildlife habitats, and healthy tree growth.
Health, Nursing, and Medical Colleges
NAU trains healthcare professionals through several specialized health units:
- The College of Health and Human Services teaches physical therapy, athletic training, dental hygiene, and speech therapy.
- The College of Nursing trains registered nurses and nurse leaders.
- The College of Medicine provides advanced medical doctor training.
- The Phoenix Bioscience Core provides state-of-the-art research laboratories in downtown Phoenix.
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
This college explores human society, cultures, and governments. Subjects include anthropology, sociology, geography, and international relations.
It also houses the Institute for Human Development, which supports people with disabilities, and the Civic Service Institute, which connects volunteers to community service projects.
W. A. Franke College of Business
The W. A. Franke College of Business teaches accounting, finance, marketing, economics, and business management. The building has modern computer labs, team meeting rooms, and energy-saving solar architecture.
The business college also operates the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Students practice culinary arts and hotel operations in high-tech teaching kitchens and mock hotel lobbies. It is ranked as one of the best hospitality programs in the country.
Native American Initiatives
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NAU is dedicated to serving Indigenous students and tribal nations. The Native American Cultural Center is a 12,000-square-foot gathering space on campus that hosts cultural ceremonies, study groups, and community events.
The university provides special programs such as the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, which works with Native American tribes to protect clean air, water, and land.
Scientific Research and Discoveries
NAU is recognized as a high-activity research university. In 2021, the university spent over $69 million on scientific studies.
Key research centers include:
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute: Scientists here study bacteria and viruses to discover treatments for diseases.
- The Southwest Experimental Garden Array: A network of research gardens that tests how plants adapt to changing climates.
- The Lowell Discovery Telescope: A giant telescope that NAU researchers use to photograph asteroids, comets, and distant stars.
Student Life and Housing
Living on Campus
More than 10,000 students live on the Flagstaff campus across several residence halls.
Freshman dormitories include Sechrist Hall, a nine-story tower that is the tallest building in northern Arizona. Other halls include McConnell Hall, Reilly Hall, and the Honors College building.
Upper-level students live in apartment-style housing such as McKay Village, Pine Ridge Village, and Skyview.
Clubs and Student Media
NAU offers more than 400 student-run clubs, including academic teams, cultural clubs, outdoor recreation groups, and volunteer organizations.
The school also has student-run news outlets:
- The Lumberjack: An award-winning student newspaper founded over 100 years ago.
- NAZ Today: A television news show created entirely by students that broadcasts across northern Arizona.
- KJACK (107.1 FM): A campus radio station where students host music shows, sports broadcasts, and interviews.
- UTV Studios: A video production studio where students film original short movies and produce student film festivals.
Recreation and Fitness
The Health and Learning Center includes a 38-foot indoor rock climbing wall, a running track, basketball courts, and weight rooms.
Students can participate in more than 30 intramural sports leagues, including soccer, dodgeball, and volleyball. Club sports teams compete against other universities in ice hockey, rugby, lacrosse, martial arts, and tennis.
Lumberjack Athletics and High-Altitude Sports
The NAU Lumberjacks
The university's sports teams are known as the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. Their mascot is Louie the Lumberjack, and the team colors are blue and gold.
The Lumberjacks compete in NCAA Division I athletics. Most sports teams play in the Big Sky Conference, while the women's swimming and diving team competes in the Western Athletic Conference.
NAU sponsors 15 varsity sports teams:
- Men's sports: Football, basketball, cross country, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis.
- Women's sports: Basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, volleyball.
Athletic Facilities
The Walkup Skydome is the centerpiece of NAU sports. This massive domed arena can hold over 10,000 fans for football games, track meets, basketball games, and commencement ceremonies.
The Student-Athlete High Performance Center opened in 2022. It features a 10,000-square-foot weight training room, recovery pools, and study centers.
The Wall Aquatic Center is a championship swimming and diving facility. Because of its high elevation, Olympic swimmers and runners from around the world visit NAU to complete altitude training to improve endurance.
Championship Success
NAU's men's cross country running team is one of the most successful sports dynasties in college history. The Lumberjacks won the NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship in:
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
The Lumberjack Marching Band plays energetic music at home football games and community parades.
Notable Alumni
More than 160,000 students have graduated from NAU. Famous graduates include:
- Two Arizona governors and several members of the US Congress.
- Sixteen Olympic athletes who competed in summer and winter games.
- Maya Calé-Benzoor, an international track star who set long jump records and earned All-American honors.
- Major award winners including Goldwater Scholars, Truman Scholars, and Udall Scholars who conduct scientific and environmental research.
See Also
In Spanish: Universidad del Norte de Arizona para niños
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Lowell Observatory
- San Francisco Peaks
- List of forestry universities and colleges
