Motto | Go here. Go anywhere. |
---|---|
Type |
Public Space-grant State university |
Established | 1907 |
Endowment | $48.6 million (2015) |
Budget | $183 million (FY 2017) |
President | Houston Davis |
Students | 11,487 (Fall 2016) |
Undergraduates | 9,615 |
Postgraduates | 1,872 |
Location |
Conway, Arkansas, U.S. 35°04′37″N 92°27′25″W / 35.077°N 92.457°WCoordinates: 35°04′37″N 92°27′25″W / 35.077°N 92.457°W |
Campus |
College Town 350 acres (1.4 km2) |
Colors | Purple & Gray |
Nickname | Bears & Sugar Bears |
Mascot | Bruce D. Bear |
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division I – Southland Conference |
Website | www |
The University of Central Arkansas (often referred to as UCA) is a public research university in Conway, Arkansas. Founded in 1907 as the Arkansas State Normal School, the university is one of the oldest in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As the state's only normal school at the time, UCA has historically been the primary source of teachers in Arkansas. Today with a more academically diverse mission, UCA is noted for its nationally recognized programs in nursing, education, physical therapy, business, performing arts, and psychology.
UCA is home to the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College, which is known for being one of the first honors colleges in the country. The honors program derives its pedagogical underpinnings from the traditional small liberal arts college. It prides itself on small class sizes, intimate teacher/student relationships, and intense study of a variety of interdisciplinary subjects.
The university comprises six colleges: the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the College of Business, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Education. In addition to this UCA is home to five residential colleges and one commuter college, those being the HPaW Residential College, EDGE Residential College, The Stars Residential College, STEM Residential College, EPIC Residential College, and the Minton Commuter College.
UCA has about 12,000 graduate and undergraduate students, making it one of the largest universities in the state. The university maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 17 to 1. Over 150 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs are offered at the university. UCA occupies over 100 buildings within its 350 acres (1.4 km2).
The Arkansas State Legislature created the Arkansas State Normal School, now known as the University of Central Arkansas, in 1907 by passage of Act 317 on May 14. The purpose of The Arkansas State Normal School was to properly train students to become professional teachers and centralize teacher training. Classes began September 21, 1908 with nine academic departments, one building on 80 acres (320,000 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.