Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University (A-State<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> or ASU) is a public research university in Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States. 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 Template:Convert on Crowley's Ridge.Template:Citation needed

Arkansas State University is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".<ref name="Center for Postsecondary Education">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

File:ASUUnion.jpg

Carl R. Reng Student Union

File:Dean B. Ellis Library, Arkansas State University (3 September 2005).jpg

Dean B. Ellis Library.

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.

Academics

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".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Center for Postsecondary Education"/> 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 Template:As of.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The university was ranked #1013 (UniRank 2024-2025),<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> #1119 (SCImago Rankings 2018),<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> and #1645 (URAP Rankings 2020-2021) <ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> in the global university rankings.

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.

File:ArkSt. facing Northwest.jpg

Centennial Bank Stadium (formerly known as Indian Stadium)

Athletics

Template:Main 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.

Notable alumni

Activism

• Julia Butterfly Hill – environmental activist<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Arts and Entertainment

• Ronald Heard – Professional wrestler known as "Outlaw" Ron Bass<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• David Nail – Mercury and MCA Nashville recording artist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Miller Williams – poet<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Athletics

• Adrian Banks -American-Israeli professional basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Super League
• Bill Bergey - NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Fred Barnett – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Earl Bell – Olympic bronze medalist in pole vaulting (1984) and former world record holder
• Darren Benson – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Gene Bradley – USFL player and NFL draftee<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ray Brown – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Maurice Carthon – NFL player and coach<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Demario Davis – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• John Dickson- former ABA player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Patrick Eddie – NBA player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Carlos Emmons – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Brad Franchione – two-time NJCAA National Championship head football coach<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Leroy Harris – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jeff Hartwig – former U.S. record holder in pole vault<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Thomas Hill – Olympic bronze medalist in 110-meter hurdles (1972)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• David Johnson – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Tyrell Johnson – NFL player, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ken Jones – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Cleo Lemon – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• J. D. McKissic – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ron Meeks – NFL and CFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Dennis Meyer – CFL coach<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jerry Muckensturm – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Chris Odom – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jordan Richard - Professional bowler; 2023 PWBA Player of the Year; three-time All-American at Arkansas State (2016, 2017, 2018)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Kyle Richardson – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jerry Rook – former American Basketball Association player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Elbert Shelley – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Kellie Suttle – Two-time Olympic pole vaulter and silver medalist at 2001 World Indoor Championships and 1999 Pan American Games<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Corey Williams – NFL player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

• Larry P. Arnn – president, Hillsdale College<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Lonnie D. Bentley – professor and the department head of computer and information technology at Purdue University<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Frederick C. Turner, Jr., one of first 3 Black students, first Black faculty member at ASU, Commander of SHAPE<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

• Mike Beebe – governor of Arkansas (2006–2014)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ronald R. Caldwell – Arkansas state senator from District 23; real estate businessman in Wynne<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Davy Carter – former Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, banker and attorney<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Rick Crawford – U.S. Representative for the First District of Arkansas.<ref>Template:Cite dictionary</ref>
• Jeremy Gillam – former Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives from White County<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Michelle Gray (Class of 1999, B.S. accounting) – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Melbourne in Izard County<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Josh Miller – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Heber Springs; obtained associate degree from ASU campus in Heber Springs<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Stetson Painter -Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Chad Puryear -Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Dan A. Sullivan – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Craighead and Greene counties since 2015; played basketball for ASU<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Law

• D. Price Marshall – federal judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Military

• Robert C. Hinson – U.S. Air Force lieutenant general<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• George K. Sisler – posthumous Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Health care

• Beth Holloway – speech pathologist and motivational speaker, mother of Natalee Holloway<ref>Template:IMDb name. Retrieved June 14, 2013.</ref>

Religious

• V. E. Howard, Church of Christ clergyman who started the radio International Gospel Hour, based originally in Texarkana, Texas<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Arkansas State Athletics website