University of Arizona

University of Arizona

Latin: Universitas Arizonensis
Motto	"Bear Down, Arizona" The seal of the university is emblazoned with the word "Sursum", Latin for "Upwards".
Type	Public flagship research university
Established	Chartered 1885
Academic affiliations	AAU
Endowment	$660.7 million (2016)
President	Ann Weaver Hart
Academic staff	3,158 (2016)
Students	43,088 (2016)
Undergraduates	33,732 (2016)
Postgraduates	7,817 (2016)
Doctoral students	1,539 (2016)
Location	Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Campus	Urban, 380 acres (1.5 km2)
Colors	Red and Blue
Nickname	Wildcats
Mascots	Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – Pac-12 & MPSF
Website	www.arizona.edu

The University of Arizona (also referred to as U of A, UA, or Arizona) is a public research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885, the UA was the first university in the Arizona Territory. The university operates two medical schools (University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson and the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix) and is affiliated with the region's only academic medical centers (Banner - University Medical Center Tucson and Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix). The university is also home to the James E. Rogers College of Law and numerous other nationally ranked graduate and professional schools. During the 2015-2016 academic year, there was a total enrollment of 43,088 students, including 33,732 undergraduates. The University of Arizona is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents. The mission of the University of Arizona is, "To improve the prospects and enrich the lives of the people of Arizona and the world through education, research, creative expression, and community and business partnerships." The University of Arizona is one of the elected members of the Association of American Universities (an organization of North America's premier research institutions) and is the only representative from the state of Arizona to this group.

Known as the Arizona Wildcats (often shortened to "Cats"), the athletic teams are members of the Pac-12 Conference of the NCAA. UA athletes have won national titles in several sports, most notably men's basketball, baseball, and softball. The official colors of the university and its athletic teams are UA Red and Arizona Blue.

After the passage of the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862, the push for a university in Arizona grew. The University of Arizona was approved by the Arizona Territory's "Thieving Thirteenth" Legislature in 1885, which also selected the city of Tucson to receive the appropriation to build the university. Tucson had hoped to receive the appropriation for the territory's mental hospital, which carried a $100,000 allocation instead of the $25,000 allotted to the territory's only university (Arizona State University was also chartered in 1885, but at the time it was created as Arizona's normal school, and not a university).Tucson's contingent of legislators was delayed in reaching Prescott due to flooding on the Salt River and by the time they arrived, back-room deals allocating the most desirable territorial institutions had been made. Tucson was largely disappointed with receiving what was viewed as an inferior prize. With no parties willing to provide land for the new institution, the citizens of Tucson prepared to return the money to the Territorial Legislature until two gamblers and a saloon keeper decided to donate the land to build the school. Construction of Old Main, the first building on campus, began on October 27, 1887, and classes met for the first time in 1891 with 32 students in Old Main, which is still in use today. Because there were no high schools in Arizona Territory, the university maintained separate preparatory classes for the first 23 years of operation.