As Arkansas Tech University approaches its centennial celebration, a new generation of the Tech family is meeting its future on the Russellville campus. The date of establishment or date of founding of an institution is the date on which that institution chooses to claim as its starting point. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... University President is the title of the highest ranking officer within a university, within university systems that prefer that appellation over other variations such as Chancellor or rector. ... Alternate uses: Student (disambiguation) Etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stŭdērĕ, which means to study, a student is one who studies. ... Russellville is a city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Largest metro area Little Rock Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... Sign in a rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China An artists rendering of an aerial view of the Maryland countryside: Jane Frank (Jane Schenthal Frank, 1918-1986), Aerial Series: Ploughed Fields, Maryland, 1974, acrylic and mixed materials on apertured double canvas, 52... Millie, once mascot of the City of Brampton, is now the Brampton Arts Councils representative. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML...

With 7,480 students, Arkansas Tech can boast a 76 percent increase in headcount enrollment since 1997. But more significant are these numbers: 1,266 (graduates during the 2006-07 academic year, a new school record) and 13 (consecutive years that Tech’s freshman class has had an average ACT score above the national average).

Those numbers demonstrate the university’s success in its most critical mission -- producing high-caliber students capable of success both in the academic realm and in their chosen careers after graduation.

A $126 million investment in the campus infrastructure since 1995 has revitalized Tech and helped make it the choice for many of Arkansas’ brightest students. Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center, the Doc Bryan Student Services Building, the Hull Building addition, Summit Residence Hall and the Robert and Sandra Norman Center for the Arts are just some of the new facilities that have helped Tech reshape its physical presence in recent years.

Baswell Residence Hall opened in fall 2007 as part of the university’s Return to Glory campaign, which also includes renovations to Buerkle Field (Tech’s football stadium) and the creation of the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex for the tennis and softball programs. The Return to Glory campaign exceeded its goal of $4 million, raising $4.3 million in private donations.

Baswell Hall is one of 14 housing facilities that Arkansas Tech has purchased, renovated or constructed since 1999. All of the changes have been made to accommodate a 204 percent increase in the number of students living in Tech housing since 1996, when only 785 students lived on campus. During the 2007-08 academic year, 2,386 Arkansas Tech students are living in campus housing.

Arkansas Tech has one of only two fully accredited electrical and mechanical engineering programs in the state and boasts one of the largest Emergency Administration and Management (EAM) program in America.

Overall, Tech offers more than 100 programs of study, including 25 master’s degrees, in its Schools of Business, Community Education and Professional Development, Education, Liberal and Fine Arts, Physical and Life Sciences and Systems Science. All of Tech’s academic programs that can be individually accredited have been or are in the process of completing the requirements.

For more information, call (800) 582-6953 or (479) 968-0389, or visit www.atu.edu. Prospective students should also visit www.future.atu.edu to learn how they can meet their future at Arkansas Tech University.

History

Early History (1909-1976)

The Second District Agricultural School was created by Act 100 of 1909 of the Arkansas General Assembly It was decided on February 10, 1910 to found the school in Russellville. On October 26, 1910, the first classes were held in Russellville. The original purpose of the school was to offer classes leading to a high school degree. Later on, the school took on the first two years of college instruction, and the school's name was changed to Arkansas Polytechnic College by the General Assembly in 1925 to reflect this change in purpose. At this time, the course work leading to a high school diploma was phased out and in 1931, Tech formally only offered courses leading to a college degree. The Arkansas General Assembly is the legislative branch of the Arkansas government. ... is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Recent History (1976-Present)

The school took on its current name of Arkansas Tech University on July 9, 1976.

In the fall of 2003, Arkansas Tech University announced it intended to overtake the state vocational school, Arkansas Valley Technical Institute, in Ozark, the seat of Franklin County. As of July 1, 2004, the Ozark campus has acted as a satellite campus of Arkansas Tech and has begun offering coursework leading toward an Associate of Science degree in various subjects. Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Alma Mater

Alma Mater, Alma Mater,
May we lift our eyes to thee.
May thy glory and thy honor
Be fore'er our destiny.
May the colors Green and Gold
Our loyal hearts fore'er enthrall,
And thy mem'ry live forever,
In the hearts of us all.

Facilities on National Register of Historic Places

Several Tech buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ...

• Old Art Building -- Retired academic building.
• Caraway Hall -- Residence Hall, renovated in 2005.
• Hughes Hall -- used by the University Physical Plant for operations.
• Techionery -- Academic building, mainly used as a theatre shop and performance space by the ATU Theatre Department.
• Williamson Hall -- Academic building, renovated in 2003 to include kitchen facilities.
• Wilson Hall -- Residence Hall.

Athletics

Arkansas Tech participates in NCAA Division II athletics as a member of the Gulf South Conference. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... Division II (or DII) is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. ... The Gulf South Conference (GSC) is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. ...

Sports Offered

• Men
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Golf

• Women
  • Basketball
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Cross Country

Arkansas Tech's two greatest moments of athletic glory were provided by the back-to-back NAIA Division I national championships captured by the Golden Suns basketball program in 1992 and 1993. The 1991-92 team finished with an overall record of 35-1 and is widely considered one of the greatest small college women's basketball teams of all time. The 1991-92 Golden Suns won each of their final 28 games by 12 points or more, including an 84-68 win over Wayland Baptist University (Texas) in the national championship game. The Suns won their second consecutive national crown in 1993 by defeating Union University (Tenn.) 76-75. Joe Foley, Tech head women's basketball coach from 1987-2003, was the architect of both national championship teams. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... Soft ball is also a sugar stage Softball is a team sport, in which a ball, eleven to twelve inches (or rarely, 16 inches) (28 to 30. ... Volleyball is an Olympic sport in which two teams separated by a high net use their hands, arms or (rarely) other parts of their bodies to hit a ball back and forth over the net. ... For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... This article is about the sport. ... The Minnesota State Highschool Cross Country Meet A cross country race in Seaside, Oregon. ...

Today, the Golden Suns basketball program ranks among the top five in NCAA Division II history in winning percentage and all-time wins. The Suns finished as NCAA Division II national runnners-up in 1999, and they made it back to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in three years during the 2006-07 season.

Arkansas Tech has made four appearances in football national playoffs (1971, 1994, 1999 and 2004). The 1971 Wonder Boys made it to the national championship game of the NAIA Playoffs, losing to Livingston State (now West Alabama) in the title game. In 1994, Tech lost in the first round of the NAIA Playoffs after capturing the final Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football crown earlier that season.

Tech won AIC football championships in 1931, 1935, 1939, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1954, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1994.

Arkansas Tech left the NAIA after the AIC disbanded following the 1994-95 academic year. Tech joined NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference at that time. Since then, Tech's football program has made appearances in the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 1999 and 2004. The 1999 team was the first from Arkansas to win the GSC football championship outright, while the 2004 Wonder Boys were the first team from Arkansas to host or win an NCAA Division II Playoffs game. Tech earned that honor by defeating Catawba College (N.C.) 24-20 on Nov. 13, 2004.

Steve Mullins has served as head football coach at Arkansas Tech since 1997. He has won more games than any other Wonder Boys football coach since the World War II era and ranks third on the all-time football coaching wins list at Arkansas Tech. Mullins has also served as athletic director since April 16, 2003.

Tech opened its 2007 football season on Thursday, Aug. 30, with a 20-13 win over Northeastern State (Okla.). The Wonder Boys had been scheduled to open their season one week earlier at Northwest Missouri State, but that game was cancelled due to inclement weather during the first quarter. The NCAA ruled that it was a no contest because fewer than three quarters had been completed.

Tech's greatest men's basketball success came under the guidance of head coach Sam Hindsman, who led the Wonder Boys from 1947-66. Hindsman, who also won two AIC football titles at Tech during the 1950s, was ahead of his time with an up-tempo style that dazzled fans and opponents. Hindsman and the Wonder Boys won seven consecutive AIC basketball titles from 1949-55. In 1954 and 1955, Tech reached the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament. Tech's only other NAIA Final Four berth in men's basketball came in 1995.

In all, Hindsman won 11 conference men's basketball titles and 355 men's basketball games to set school records that are unlikely to ever be eclipsed.

Tech won AIC baseball titles in 1950, 1964, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1988 and 1992. The Wonder Boys captured a share of the GSC West Division baseball crown in 1998.

Arkansas Tech's men's golf team was AIC champions in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1984, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. Tech became the first school from Arkansas to win the GSC Championship in men's golf in 2004. The 1998 Wonder Boys reached the NCAA Division II National Tournament for men's golf.

The Golden Suns volleyball program won AIC titles in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1987. The Suns captured GSC West Division volleyball crowns in 1997, 1999 and 2000. The 2000 team became the first from Arkansas Tech to qualify for the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament.

Mascots

Arkansas Tech University has dual nicknames: men's athletic teams are called the Wonder Boys, while the women's teams are called the Golden Suns.

In 1919, Arkansas Tech's football team played what is now Arkansas State University, which were heavily favored to win the game. However, Tech won the game on the shoulders of John Tucker, a student at Tech at the time, who returned two punts for touchdowns and kicked two extra points. The sportswriter for the Arkansas Gazette referred to the team as "a bunch of Wonder Boys." Tech's men's athletic teams have been known as the Wonder Boys ever since, and Tucker was labeled as "The Original Wonder Boy." [2] Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Arkansas State University student union, Jonesboro, Arkansas Arkansas State University (A-State) or (ASU) is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the states second largest college system. ... For a landing Touchdown in aviation, see Touchdown (aviation) For the song by T.I. featuring Eminem, see Touchdown (song). ... In American football, the extra point, point after touchdown, or PAT is the act of lining up to kick, as in a field goal, immediately following a touchdown. ... The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is a daily newspaper published in Little Rock, Arkansas. ...

Tired of being referred to as the "Wonderettes," the female athletes of Arkansas Tech held a contest in the spring of 1975 to determine what their new mascot would be. Several names were nominated, but in the end, the athletes selected Golden Suns as their new mascot.[3] Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On July 10, 2007, Arkansas Tech announced that it had formed a committee to discuss the future of the university's athletic nicknames. Committee members were presented with three options: adopt a university-wide mascot, create visual identities for current nicknames or stay the same.

After an afternoon session on Tuesday, Aug. 7, to review poll results, comments and feedback, the Arkansas Tech mascot committee made a recommendation to President Robert C. Brown to begin the process of creating logos for the long-standing nicknames Wonder Boys and Golden Suns.

The committee was in consensus with Dr. Brown that on-line poll results along with many comments, suggestions and feedback were inconclusive and in fact pointed to a division among Tech constituents on the idea of adopting a university-wide mascot. The group agreed that the information did not support a fundamental change at this time.

Dr. Brown accepted the committee recommendation. He thanked them for their willingness to work on behalf of the university and asked that they oversee the design process for Wonder Boys and Golden Suns with the assistance of a professional collegiate identity firm.

Fight Song

Fight on, Arkansas Tech,
Fight on to victory!
Break through to run up the score,
Conference Champions once more!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
We'll back you all the way,
Cheering for triumph always!
Go! Fight! Green and Gold,
Wonder Boys, You're Number One!!!

External links

• University Home
  • Academic Affairs
  • Instiutional Research (University data and statistics)
  • Student Services
  • Alumni Services
  • Athletics
  • The Arka Tech (student led paper)
  • KXRJ (student led radio)

References

• Walker, Kenneth R. 'History of Arkansas Tech University 1909-1990', Arkansas Tech University, 1993.