Arkansas State University – commonly referred to as ‘A-State’ – is one of the largest universities in Arkansas. The campus is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, an hour northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. A-State also operates a US-style residential campus in Queretaro, Mexico
It was founded in 1909 as the First District Agricultural School, expanding its subject areas and student numbers in the early 20th century, becoming the First District Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1925, and beginning to offer its students four-year courses in 1930. It became Arkansas State College in 1933 and was elevated to university status by the Arkansas Legislature in 1967, becoming Arkansas State University.
Recently named a Carnegie Research 2 institution, A-State began offering graduate programmes in 1955 and doctoral programmes in 1992. It also runs online courses for distance learners.
It offers more than 150 majors across its seven colleges: Agriculture, Neil Griffin Business, Education and Behavioral Science, Engineering and Computer Science, Liberal Arts and Communication, Nursing and Health Professions, and Science and Mathematics. The university also has an Honors College programme along with three subject area schools, Media and Journalism, Teacher Education and Leadership, and Nursing.
As an active research institution, the university’s Arkansas Biosciences Institute is engaged with technology transfer – collaborating with technology firms, the agriculture and healthcare industries and other partners – as well as producing fundamental research in social and natural sciences.
The university library, the Dean B. Ellis Library, is one of the largest libraries in Arkansas. Student life is largely centred about the Carl R. Reng Student Union, which provides various facilities for student organisations. With a long history of international student enrolment, A-State also has an international student union with extensive programmes for overseas students studying in Johnsboro
Since the university’s founding, A-State students have taken pride in collegiate sport. Today, the university participates at the highest level of American college sports, NCAA I FBS, with 16 varsity teams, nicknamed the ‘Red Wolves’. Many college sportspeople have continued on into professional sporting careers.
Its many alumni include former Governor of Arkansas Mike Beebe, Olympic gold medallist Al Joyner and motivational speaker Beth Holloway.
