The
University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of
ConwayConway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
, the seat of
Faulkner County, north of
Little RockLittle Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of
ArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most respected for its programs in
EducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
,
Occupational TherapyOccupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, and/or emotionally disabling condition by utilizing treatments...
, and
Physical TherapyPhysical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
. It is also the home of the
UCA Honors College as well as four Residential Colleges.
History and mission
The Arkansas State Legislature created the
Arkansas State Normal School, now known as the University of Central Arkansas, in 1907. The purpose of The Arkansas State Normal School was to properly train students to become professional teachers and rid Arkansas of haphazard schoolteachers. Classes began in 1908 with nine academic departments, one building on 80 acres (323,748.8 m²), 107 students and seven faculty members. Two faculty members taught in two departments and President Doyne taught pedagogy and Latin.
In 1925, Arkansas State Normal School became
Arkansas State Teachers College. The name change more accurately reflected the primary focus of instruction and mission of the institution.
By 1967, the mission of Arkansas State Teachers College had changed. Though teacher training was still an important part of the school's mission, other fields began to expand in liberal arts studies and in the emerging field of health care. To recognize the institution's existing academic diversity another name change was in order. In January 1967, Arkansas State Teachers College became the
State College of Arkansas.
President Silas Snow, who championed the name change in 1967, organized State College of Arkansas along university lines in preparation for still yet another name change. State College of Arkansas grew rapidly and offered an ever-widening range of degree programs. By January 1975, Snow’s efforts were realized as the State Department of Higher Education recommended State College of Arkansas be known as The University of Central Arkansas, or UCA.
Enrollment
As of Fall 2010, UCA has an enrollment of 11,444 students, a decrease of 2.9% over that of Fall 2009. UCA saw its highest enrollment in Fall 2008 with 12,974 students, an increase of 2.8 percent over its enrollment one year earlier, which was 12,619.
In the September 19, 2007 edition of
The Echo (campus newspaper), the fall 2007 enrollment was listed at 12,619.
http://ucaecho.net/news/enrollment-breaks-uca-records/ In fall 2006, 12,330 students were enrolled at UCA.
http://www.uca.edu/ir/bearfacts/fall2008.php UCA's enrollment has increased by over 28% in the past five years and 14% over the past four years. In fall 2002, UCA had an enrollment of approximately 8,500.
http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=1473
Traditions
UCA Colors - The colors for UCA were decided the first year and according to an article in the November 24th, 1908 edition of the Log Cabin Democrat, were said to be purple and silver. President Doyne assigned the task of developing school colors to W.O. Wilson and Ida Waldran in 1908. Wilson was wearing a gray sweater and Waldran was wearing a purple scarf. They chose the colors based upon the color of the clothing they were wearing that day. Both Wilson and Waldran thought that purple and gray complemented each other. Today the official colors for all UCA sports teams are purple and gray.
UCA Mascot - It wasn't until 1920 that the UCA athletic teams had a mascot. According to Dr. Ted Worley, author of A History of The Arkansas State Teachers College, the UCA teams from 1908-1919 were referred to by many names, including: Tutors, Teachers, Pedagogues, Pea-Pickers, and Normalites. In 1920 the Bears became the mascot for the teams. However, it wasn’t until April 7, 1921 that the teams were called the "Bears" in print. Dr. Worley also quoted sources as saying the Bear was an appropriate symbol for the school because Arkansas’ nickname was the "Bear State". The women's teams were known as the Bearettes for several years. The name of Sugar Bear came later. Victor E. Bear came about in 1999 and Victoria E. Bear came soon after. Bruce D. Bear became the newest addition to the UCA family in 2006
Main Hall – is the oldest building on campus. This building was completed in 1919 and was built by George Donaghey, the man for whom Donaghey Avenue is named and a former governor of the State of Arkansas. After the building was built it served a dual role as the administration building and as a classroom building. It continued to serve as the administration building until the 1960s. On February 11 of 2011, the building was named to the
National Register of Historic Places.
World War II Marker - UCA's World War II Memorial was dedicated in October 2003. The memorial contains the names and branch of service of forty-six UCA alumni who were killed during World War II. The memorial is a permanent reminder of those UCA alumni who gave their lives fighting for their country.
Senior Legacy Walk Brick Campaign -The Senior Walk is located in the courtyard in front of the Student Center. Each year, graduates will have the opportunity to purchase bricks as part of their class year. For $100, graduates can purchase a brick that will be inscribed with his/her name or the name of a graduate that a purchaser want to honor.
UCA presidents
- 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
After President Thompson resigned the presidency he was replaced on an interim basis on December 21, 2001 by Dr. John Smith, vice-president of financial services. Smith served in this capacity until September 22, 2002. Hardin took the reins at UCA on September 23, 2002. He has a Bachelor of Arts with high honors from Arkansas Tech University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas Law School. Hardin served as an Arkansas State Senator for 14 years and was chairman of the Senate Education Committee and also served on the Joint Budget Committee and Legislative Council. He chaired the Arkansas Advisory Council for Vocational Education and served 12 years as a Professor of Legal Studies at Arkansas Tech University. In addition, he was a trial attorney for 10 years. Prior to becoming UCA’s eighth president, Hardin was Director of the Department of Higher Education for six years. President Lu Hardin announced his resignation at the August 28, 2008 Board of Trustees meeting, following controversy over a $300,000 bonus that had been voted him by the board. He would later plead guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Tom Courtway, UCA Vice President and General Counsel, was then named Interim President.
On June 19, 2009, the new UCA President, Dr. Allen Meadors, was presented to the Board of Trustees. The event took place in Wingo Hall. Dr. Meadors is a UCA Alumnus who received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Academics
The University has 6 distinct colleges offering over 80 majors.
http://www.uca.edu/uca/acaddepts.php These colleges are: 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, and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The university is famous for its innovative Honors College, which has received national recognition for its excellence. Small classes, distinguished faculty, TAG and URGE grants for students, high ACT and SAT scores, and outstanding medical and graduate school admission rates are hallmarks of the College. The Carnegie Foundation said the UCA Honors College was "One of the most widely imitated programs in the country," and former U.S. Secretary of Education Terrell Bell described the Honors College as being "An Ivy League education at a bargain basement price."
http://www.uca.edu/divisions/academic/honors/index1.php?nav=p&sec=pro&pg=about
In 2006,
U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
ranked UCA 61st in the South in academic excellence. This marks the first year that UCA has been ranked. UCA was the only public Arkansas university in that category.
http://www.uca.edu/web/weblog/index.php?itemid=1473
In the 2009 Edition of
U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
America's Best Colleges, UCA was ranked 54th in Master's Universities South.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/masters-south-search/ UCA was also ranked 23rd in the Top Public Schools in Master's Universities South.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/masters-south-top-public
In January 2010 UCA launched a daily source of news and information. The website is created, designed, and run completely by mass communication students. The student created website is named "The Fountain," after the historic landmark located at the university's campus.
http://www.myfountainonline.com.
Colleges
The University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR, comprises six colleges. In addition to the programs offered at the colleges, it has a study abroad program. Students may, for example, study Literature in Italy and UK, healthcare in China or Sociology in Africa. Credits earned at several foreign universities may be credited towards a degree at UCA. UCA is also recognized as distinct by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education for being one of the nation's 20 Asian Studies Development Program's Regional Centers for Asian Studies, a joint program of the federally-funded East West Center and University of Hawaii at Manoa.
College of Fine Arts and Communication
The College of Fine Arts and Communication offers five fields of study for a degree. Available disciplines include music, public relations, communications, art and writing. Many of the college's degrees enable graduates to work or teach in their chosen profession. The college offers both bachelor and graduate programs.
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
This college offers eight fields of study in physical and natural sciences as well as six pre-professional programs. Undergraduate programs include those in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, general science, mathematics, physics, and secondary science education. Pre-professional programs include pre-dentistry, pre-optometry, pre-medicine, pre-engineering, pre-pharmacy, and pre-veterinary science. The college offers both bachelor and master's degrees.
http://www.uca.edu/divisions/academic/cnsm/
College of Business
Business students attending the University of Central Arkansas can pursue an associate, graduate, bachelor or MBA degree through this college. Major fields of study include accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, and marketing.
College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
This college offers bachelor and graduate degrees in health, education, psychology, counseling, military science, nursing, therapy and speech pathology. ROTC students at the University of Central Arkansas attend this college for training as a commissioned officer. Courses are also available in fitness and exercise.
College of Liberal Arts
There are seven fields of study available at the College of Liberal Arts. The college offers graduate and bachelor degrees. Available fields of study include religious studies, philosophy, foreign language, political science, sociology, geography, and history. The College also supports the inter-disciplinary Asian studies, gender studies, Latin American studies, and Southern and Arkansas studies minor programs.
College of Education
The College of Education offers University of Central Arkansas students Ph.D., bachelor and master's degree programs. These programs provide the skills required to work in teaching, educational administration and curriculum development.
Residential colleges
There are currently four residential colleges at UCA, Hughes Hall (1997), State Residential College (1999), Short/Denney (2006), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) (2010).
Residential colleges are more than just places to live. They are co-educational learning communities in which students and their professors interact closely with one another. By living in the same residence hall as a faculty member, and taking classes with other college members, residential college students form academic connections which enrich the entire educational experience.
Any student admitted to UCA is eligible to apply for admission to the Residential Colleges. The program is open to students in all majors and programs. Students generally enter a residential learning community the first semester of their freshman year.
The UCA Residential College Program is a community of learners that was implemented in 1997 to educate the whole student. To do this, the program provides each student with opportunities to develop her or his academic, professional, and societal lives.
Academically, the RC college program expects their graduates to: know themselves as discerning thinkers who are able to evaluate and interpret complex information from a variety of sources, have a strong commitment to making learning a life-long process, express themselves thoughtfully and with meaning in a variety of contexts
Professionally, the RC college program expects their: work well in teams, including those of varied composition; building consensus and working with dissension; utilize learned technological skills in ways which further and enhance their careers; act creatively, ethically, and with initiative.
Socially, the RC college program expects their: demonstrate a sense of commitment to local and global concerns; contribute their time, talents, and efforts in service to the community; recognize themselves as part of a diverse and ever-changing world.
Because "the end depends upon the beginning," the UCA Residential College Program dedicates its faculty and resources to making the transitions from high school to college and college-to-career both meaningful and successful. By offering a space for conversations about things that matter, we build the communities and connections so essential to our education and our society.
Drama and theater arts
The University of Central Arkansas is Arkansas's premiere dramatic school. The program promotes active student involvement in all areas of production including acting, stage management, scenery, costumes, lights, sound, props, and management. The theater program participates annually in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and has walked away with numerous awards. UCA also holds the annual Arkansas High School Audition Day which is a chance for any High School senior interested in majoring in theater to audition before most of the theater programs in the state of Arkansas. Also, UCA Theatre is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. This accreditation assures students and parents that the UCA Theatre program meets professional standards of quality in theater education and training as set forth by the Association.
www.uca.edu/theatre
UCA Public Appearances
UCA Public Appearances is a division of the University’s College of Fine Arts & Communication. Its primary responsibilities are to manage the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall—a 1,200-seat, state-of-the-art theater—and to develop and present performing arts programming in the hall.
The Reynolds Performance Hall opened on September 15, 2000, with a sold-out concert by the late
Ray CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
. Since then, the theater has hosted numerous celebrities, including Loretta Lynn, Rhonda Vincent, Seth Meyers, Gavin DeGraw, the Temptations, Gladys Knight, Ronan Tynan, The Golden Dragon Acrobats, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, local composer David William Allison, and many national and international touring companies.
A four-person full-time staff, two part-time staff, and numerous student workers are employed by Public Appearances.
UCA Public Appearances manages UCA Ticket Central, which provides ticketing services for all non-athletic ticketed events on the campus. UCA Ticket Central serves Public Appearances, UCA Theatre, the Conway Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Student Activities events, and events sponsored by organizations within and outside the University.
UCA Public Appearances is supported by State funds, funds generated by the UCA Performing Arts fees, grants, ticket sales, and donations.
www.uca.edu/publicappearances
Greek life
Approximately 10% of UCA's students are members of one of the 22
Greek organizationsFraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
hosted by the campus. Greek life was established on 1915. The organizations also devote thousands of hours and dollars to local charities each year.
List of Greek Organizations at UCA
Interfraternity
- Phi Lambda Chi
Phi Lambda Chi ' is a North-American Interfraternity Conference member fraternity founded in 1925.-History:The Lamb Society was organized in 1920 as an organization for high school boys...
- Phi Sigma Kappa
-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
- Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
- Sigma tau Gamma
Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity also named "Sig Tau" or "the Knights" is a U.S. all-male college secret-social fraternity founded on June 28, 1920 at University of Central Missouri...
- Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
- Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
Panhellenic Council
- Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia...
- Delta Zeta
Delta Zeta is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada...
- Alpha Sigma Tau
Alpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College...
- Sigma Kappa
Sigma Kappa is a sorority founded in 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Sigma Kappa was founded by five women: Mary Caffrey Low Carver, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce, Frances Elliott Mann Hall and Louise Helen Coburn...
- Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...
National Pan-Hellenic Council
- Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
- Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
- Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
- Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
- Iota Phi Theta
- Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
- Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
- Zeta Phi Beta
Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...
- Sigma Gamma Rho
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana...
Registered student organizations
The University is home to more than 200 registered student organizations, with more forming every year.
Notable other RSO's include The
National Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(N.A.A.C.P), Young Democrats,
College LibertariansCollege Libertarians is an organization for college and university students who support the Libertarian Party of the United States.-Student organizations:Currently chapters of the College Libertarians are located in 45 states and the District of Columbia....
,
College RepublicansThe College Republican National Committee is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States...
,
Sigma Alpha LambdaSigma Alpha Lambda is a National Leadership and Honors Organization in the United States dedicated to developing the individual and serving the campus and community...
Honors Society, Student Council for Exceptional Children,
PRISM-Science and mathematics:* Prism , a transparent object which refracts light** Dispersive prism, the most familiar type of optical prism* Prism , a kind of polyhedron* Prism , a type of sedimentary deposit-Books, comics and magazines:...
, Business and Information Technology (BIT), Computer Science Club, Model UN, Campus Dialogue, Pre-Med Society, Pre-Pharmacy Club, and a myriad of religious organizations.
Also, there are minority-focused organizations such as Griot Society, Minority Mentorship, Students for the Propagation of Black Culture (SPBC), S.U.A.A.W., Black Men United (BMU)
Student Government Association
The Student Government Association, SGA, represents the student body at all times and in all circumstances, in areas such as: allocating and administrating student activity funds; advising the administration in regard to student-related policies; cooperating with faculty in determining student obligations and honors; considering all student petitions to SGA; planning and supervising all SGA elections; and approving charters or cancellations of RSOs.
The SGA was created to represent student interests on campus and push for initiatives that are beneficial for the student body. They are there to make sure that students are the number one priority in every decision made at UCA. The Slogan of SGA is: Students First!
The SGA is composed of total of forty senators divided into: "The Executive Board" consisting of an Executive President, Executive Vice-President, Vice-President of Operations, Vice-President of Finance.
SGA representation from each class shall be as follows: President, Vice-President, Five (5) Representatives.
Additional Members: Five (5) Senators at Large, Three (3) Graduate Senators.
The full Senate meets every Monday at 5 pm in Student Center 215 and all students are invited to attend. This is the time when all the classes and committees come together, under the direction of the Executive Board, to report on goals and projects that are being carried out by the body. Any student can be appointed to a committee.
Notable alumni
- Dale Alford
Thomas Dale Alford, Sr. was an ophthalmologist and politician from the U.S. state of Arkansas who served as a conservative Democrat in the United States House of Representatives from Little Rock from 1959 to 1963....
, Ophthalmologist and politician
- Curtis Burrow
-Career:Burrow was a member of the Green Bay Packers during the 1988 NFL season. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Central Arkansas.-References:...
, Professional football player
- Gerald Clarke
Gerald Clarke is a sculptor, installation, and conceptual artist from the Cahuillia Band of Mission Indians. His work often reflects on and questions current issues in Native America and the United States, as well as his personal life....
, artist and educator
- Gil Gerard
Gilbert C. "Gil" Gerard is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979-1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.-Early life:...
, Actor
- William Harrison
William Floyd Nathaniel Harrison was an American obstetrician who delivered 6,000 babies and then switched to abortions, performing the procedure an estimated 20,000 times in his career. He became one of the only doctors in Northwest Arkansas to provide this service to women, as other physicians...
(1935–2010), obstetrician who performed over 20,000 abortions as the only provider in Northwest Arkansas.
- Benjamin Travis Laney
Benjamin Travis Laney, Jr. , was the 33rd Governor of Arkansas, having served from 1945-1949.Laney was born in Camden, where he attended Ouachita County public schools but never graduated from high school. He was, however, admitted in 1915 to Hendrix College, a liberal arts institution in...
, 33rd Governor of Arkansas
- James Corbitt Morris
James Corbitt Morris , known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood, was a prolific American folk music songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud"...
, Songwriter/musician
- Lu Hardin, former president of the university
- Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
, NBA Hall of Famer and 6x NBA Champion
- Natalie White, Winner of Survivor: Samoa
Survivor: Samoa is the nineteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. The season premiered on Thursday, September 17, 2009....
- Dee Brown
Dee Brown may refer to:* Dee Brown , American professional football player* Dee Brown , American professional baseball player...
, Author of Bury My Heart at Wounded KneeBury My Heart at Wounded Knee by American writer Dee Brown is a history of Native Americans in the American West in the late nineteenth century. He describes the people's displacement through forced relocations and years of warfare waged by the United States federal government...
- Sheffield Nelson
Sheffield E. Nelson is a lawyer, businessman, and politician from Little Rock, Arkansas. Originally a Democrat, Nelson in 1990 ran for governor of Arkansas as a Republican against then governor and future U.S. President Bill Clinton and in 1994 against the Democratic Governor Jim Guy Tucker.Nelson...
, Chairman of Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company, former chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Republican National Committeeman, and Republican nominee for governor in 1990 and 1994
- Charlie Strong
Charlie R. Strong is an American college football coach and former player. Strong is a native of Arkansas and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas, where he played college football...
, Head football coach University of LouisvilleThe University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
- J.R. Ammons, Program Director WZPL
WZPL is a radio station based in Greenfield, Indiana, and serving the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The station, known as "99-5 WZPL", airs an Adult Top 40 format. WZPL is owned by Entercom.-History:...
Controversy
A May 2009 state Audit found several irregularities in UCA's financing including payouts to President Lu Hardin of nearly $1,000,000 after his controversial resignation. The audit division also reported that UCA and its primary advertising agency at that time "appear to have converted public funds to private funds" to pay head football coach Clint Conque more than $30,000 above his state salary cap. It is alleged that Conque accepted the funds in exchange for appearing in several UCA promotional videos. However, the money used to pay Conque was the same amount that was paid to the advertising agency to create the promos. These findings were turned over to Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden. Currently, UCA is undergoing investigation by the FBI, allegedly for the past audit findings.
http://epaper.arkansasonline.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:ArticleToMail&Type=text/html&Path=ArDemocrat/2009/11/12&ID=Ar00103&Locale=
2008 campus shooting
On Sunday, October 26, 2008, a shooting took place on the UCA campus shortly after 9:00pm CDT, outside of the Arkansas Hall dormitory. Two students – Ryan Henderson, 18, and Chavares Block, 19 – were fatally shot. A third person, 19-year-old Martrevis Norman, a non-student visiting the campus, was shot in the leg and was treated at the nearby Conway Regional Medical Center.
Four suspects were charged in the shooting: Kawin Brockton, 19, Kelsey Perry, 19, Mario Tony, 20, and Brandon Wade, 20.
External links