History, Affiliations and Rankings
Southern Arkansas University has come a long way since its beginnings in 1909 as a high school with agricultural-related studies. When it was authorized to add two years of college instruction to its secondary school curriculum in 1925, it became the Agricultural and Mechanical College.
It was ultimately converted to a four-year degree college in 1950 and given the name Southern State College. After merging with Southwest Technical University, the university was renamed Southern Arkansas University. SAU is affiliated with space-grant and in sports accredited with NCAA Division II and part of the Great American Conference. The US News and World Report ranked it #93 in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities South. The Times Higher Education ranks SAU at >800 in the USA University Rankings 2019.
Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses
The stunning Southern Arkansas University campus is located on 1,491 acres on the outskirts of Magnolia, Arkansas. SAU has continued to expand, adding additional dorms, academic buildings, and student life amenities to its solid base. Student services at Southern Arkansas University include nonremedial tutoring, placement assistance, health services, and health insurance. Southern Arkansas University also provides 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late-night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lit pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access as part of its campus safety and security services (key, security card, etc.). At Southern Arkansas University, 90% of students have automobiles on campus. Some of the few special academic buildings on campus are Harton Theater, Recital Hall, Brinson Fine Arts Gallery; Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center; Wilson Hall, etc. The SAU provides a diverse choice of courses that cater to the needs of each person. Southern Arkansas University prefers to get on board with programmes that will captivate and engage the new generation of students, keeping shifting trends and vocations in mind. A one-of-a-kind engineering curriculum and a digital film programme are among the highlights. There are also Musical Theatre and pre-professional track programmes available.
Accomplishments and Alumni
SAU is accredited by Higher Learning Commission, and also few programs are accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP), Commissions on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and etc. SAU has a global alumni network of over 16,000 graduates from more than 40 countries and has produced significant figures in a variety of professions like Tommy Tuberville (American Football Player / Politician), Tracy Lawrence (Singer), Joyce Elliott (Politician), Nik Lewis (Canadian/American Football Player), etc.
Student Diversity and Visiting Companies
Southern Arkansas University has a total undergraduate enrolment of 3,447 students (fall 2020), with a 44 percent male and 56 percent female gender split. At this institution, 51% of students reside on campus in college-owned, operated, or linked housing, while 49% live off campus. SAU's student body is 65.43% White, 21.85% Black or African American, 4% Hispanic, 4.74% International, 2.01 % Multi-Ethnic, 0.92% Asian, 0.07% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 0.54% Unknown. Handshake is available to all SAU students and alumni, Handshake is the world's biggest early-stage recruitment network, bringing together companies, talent, and universities in one location. Handshake is an excellent resource for students and graduates looking for internships and entry-level jobs. Handshake has 500,000 employers signed up, including 100 percent of the Fortune 500. On Handshake, there have been 3.5 million job postings from top-notch companies.
