University of Central Arkansas facts for kids
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Former name
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Arkansas State Normal School (1907–1925) Arkansas State Teachers College (1925–1967) State College of Arkansas (1967–1975) |
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| Motto | Go here. Go anywhere. |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1907 |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $56 million |
| Budget | $187 million (FY 2018) |
| President | Houston Davis |
| Provost | Patty Poulter |
| Students | 11,487 (Fall 2016) |
| Undergraduates | 9,615 |
| Postgraduates | 1,872 |
| Location |
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U.S.
35°04′37″N 92°27′25″W / 35.077°N 92.457°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 356 acres (1.44 km2) |
| Colors | Purple & gray |
| Nickname | Bears & Sugar Bears |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – ASUN Conference |
| Mascot | Bruce D. Bear |
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The University of Central Arkansas (often called Central Arkansas or UCA) is a public university located in Conway, Arkansas. It was started in 1907 as the Arkansas State Normal School. This makes it one of the oldest universities in the state of Arkansas.
For a long time, UCA was the only "normal school" in Arkansas. Normal schools were special places that trained people to become teachers. This means UCA played a big part in preparing teachers for schools across Arkansas. Today, UCA has grown a lot. It has about 12,000 students, both those working on their first degree (undergraduate) and those studying for advanced degrees (graduate). This makes it one of the biggest universities in Arkansas. The campus covers over 356 acres (1.44 km2) and has more than 120 buildings. Students can choose from over 150 different study programs.
Contents
Discover UCA's History
The University of Central Arkansas began its journey in 1907. The Arkansas State Legislature created it on May 14, 1907. Back then, it was called the Arkansas State Normal School. Its main goal was to train students to become excellent teachers.
Classes first started on September 21, 1908. At that time, the school had only one building on 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land. There were 107 students and just seven teachers. The first president, Mr. Doyne, even taught two subjects himself!
How UCA's Name Changed Over Time
Over the years, the school's name changed to show its growth and new goals.
Arkansas State Teachers College
In 1925, the Arkansas State Normal School became Arkansas State Teachers College. This new name better showed that its main focus was still on training teachers.
State College of Arkansas
By 1967, the college was teaching more than just future teachers. It started offering many other subjects in liberal arts and health care. To show this wider range of studies, the name changed again. In January 1967, it became the State College of Arkansas.
University of Central Arkansas
President Silas Snow helped make these changes happen. He wanted the college to become a full university. The school kept growing and adding more types of degrees. Finally, in January 1975, the State College of Arkansas officially became the University of Central Arkansas, or UCA.
Meet UCA's Presidents
Here are the leaders who have guided UCA through its history:
- John James Doyne (1908–1917)
- Burr Walter Torreyson (1917–1930)
- Heber L. McAlister (1930–1941)
- Nolen M. Irby (1941–1953)
- Silas D. Snow (1953–1975)
- Jefferson D. Farris (1975–1986)
- Winfred L. Thompson (1988–2001)
- Lu Hardin (2002–2008)
- Allen Meadors (2009–2011)
- Tom Courtway (2011–2016)
- Houston Davis (2017– )
Student Life at UCA
UCA has many traditions that make it a special place for students.
UCA's Official Colors
The official colors for UCA were chosen in its very first year, 1908. Two people, W.O. Wilson and Ida Waldran, were asked to pick the colors. Wilson was wearing a gray sweater, and Waldran had a purple scarf. They thought purple and gray looked great together, so they chose those colors. Today, all UCA sports teams proudly wear purple and gray.
UCA's Mascots
UCA's athletic teams got their first mascot in 1920. Before that, teams were called names like Tutors or Normalites. In 1920, the teams became known as the "Bears." This was a good choice because Arkansas is sometimes called the "Bear State."
For many years, the women's teams were called the Bearettes. Later, they became the Sugar Bears. Today, UCA has several bear mascots:
- Victor E. Bear (started in 1999)
- Victoria E. Bear (came soon after Victor)
- Bruce D. Bear (the newest addition, joined in 2006)
Main Hall: A Historic Building
UCA's Main Hall is the oldest building on campus. It was finished in 1919. George Donaghey, a former governor of Arkansas, helped build it. For many years, Main Hall was both the main office building and a place for classes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
Honoring Heroes: World War II Memorial
UCA has a special memorial dedicated to students who lost their lives in World War II. It was put in place in October 2003. The memorial lists the names of forty-six UCA alumni who died serving their country. It helps everyone remember their bravery and sacrifice.
Senior Legacy Walk
The Senior Legacy Walk is a pathway in front of the Student Center. Each year, graduating students can buy a brick for the walk. These bricks are engraved with their names. It's a way for students to leave their mark on campus and remember their time at UCA.
Academics and Learning at UCA
UCA offers over 150 different majors and programs across six main colleges. These colleges help students learn about many different subjects:
- The College of Business
- The College of Education
- The College of Fine Arts and Communications
- The College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
- The College of Liberal Arts
- The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Student News and Media
UCA students run their own news and information sources. In 2010, mass communication students started "The Fountain," a website for daily news. It's named after a famous landmark on campus. In 2014, The Fountain joined with "The Echo," which is UCA's oldest student newspaper. Now, they work together to provide news both online and in print through The Fountain Magazine.
Study Abroad Opportunities
UCA also has a study abroad program. This means students can travel to other countries to learn! For example, they might study literature in Italy or the UK, learn about healthcare in China, or explore sociology in Africa. The credits they earn in these foreign universities can count towards their degree at UCA.
UCA is also special because it's one of only 20 Regional Centers for Asian Studies in the country. This program helps students learn more about Asian cultures and topics.
UCA's Colleges and What They Offer
The University of Central Arkansas has six main colleges, each focusing on different areas of study.
College of Fine Arts and Communication
This college offers five main areas of study. Many of its programs prepare students for jobs in arts, media, and communication, or to teach these subjects. Students can earn both bachelor's and graduate degrees here.
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
This college offers eleven different fields of study, including natural sciences, engineering, and math. It also has programs to prepare students for careers in fields like medicine. The college includes UCA STEMteach, a program that trains future science and math teachers. Students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees.
College of Business
Students interested in business can earn an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree through this college.
College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
This college offers bachelor's and graduate degrees. Students who are part of the ROTC program (which trains future military officers) also attend this college for their training.
College of Liberal Arts
This college has many different fields of study available. It offers both graduate and bachelor's degrees.
College of Education
The College of Education is where future teachers and other educators get their training.
Drama and Theatre Arts
UCA's theatre program is very active. They take part in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival every year. UCA also hosts a special day for high school seniors interested in theatre. On this day, students can audition for many theatre programs across Arkansas. UCA Theatre is officially recognized by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.
Public Performances and Events
UCA Public Appearances manages the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall. This is a large, modern theater with 1,200 seats. They bring many exciting shows and performers to the hall.
The Reynolds Performance Hall opened in 2000 with a concert by the famous singer Ray Charles. Since then, it has hosted many well-known artists and groups. These include singers like Loretta Lynn and Gladys Knight, comedians like Seth Meyers, and amazing acts like The Golden Dragon Acrobats.
UCA Public Appearances also runs UCA Ticket Central. This is where you can buy tickets for all non-athletic events on campus. They sell tickets for theatre shows, concerts, and other university events.
UCA Athletics: The Bears and Sugar Bears
UCA's sports teams are called the Bears for men's teams and the Sugar Bears for women's teams. They compete in NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports.
On July 1, 2021, UCA joined the ASUN Conference. UCA has 17 different varsity sports teams with over 400 student-athletes.
- Men's Sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, and track and field.
- Women's Sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and beach volleyball.
Greek Life at UCA
UCA has a lively Greek life with 29 different Greek organizations. Greek life started at UCA in 1915. These groups offer students a chance to make friends, get involved in campus activities, and serve their community.
North American Interfraternity Conference Groups
- Alpha Sigma Phi
- Beta Upsilon Chi
- Phi Gamma Delta
- Phi Sigma Kappa
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Sigma Nu
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
- Sigma Tau Gamma
National Panhellenic Conference Groups
- Alpha Sigma Alpha
- Alpha Sigma Tau
- Delta Zeta
- Sigma Kappa
National Pan-Hellenic Council Groups
- Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Delta Sigma Theta
- Kappa Alpha Psi
- Omega Psi Phi
- Phi Beta Sigma
- Sigma Gamma Rho
- Zeta Phi Beta
Independent Greek Council Groups
- Phi Iota Alpha
- Sigma Iota Alpha
- Sigma Phi Lambda
National Interfraternity Music Council Groups
- Kappa Kappa Psi
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
- Sigma Alpha Iota
- Tau Beta Sigma
Student Government Association (SGA)
The Student Government Association, or SGA, is a group of students who represent all the students at UCA. Their main job is to make sure students' voices are heard. They help decide how student activity money is spent. They also give advice to the university leaders about student-related rules. The SGA's motto is: Students First!
The SGA has an Executive Board and senators from each class. There are also senators who represent all students and graduate students.
Notable People Who Attended UCA
- Kris Allen, a singer who won American Idol.
- James Bridges, an actor, director, and playwright known for movies like The China Syndrome.
- Dee Brown, author of the famous book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
- Jimmy Driftwood, a well-known songwriter and musician.
- Gil Gerard, an actor.
- Julia Koch, a very successful businesswoman and one of the richest women in the world.
- Benjamin Travis Laney, who was the 33rd Governor of Arkansas.
- Hiroyuki Nishimura, who started a very popular Japanese website called 2channel.
- Scottie Pippen, a Basketball Hall of Famer and a 6-time NBA Champion.
- Carol Rasco, who worked for President Bill Clinton and helps people with disabilities, education, and children.
- Gavin Stone, an MLB pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
