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Former names | Third District Agricultural School (1909–1925) Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District (1925–1951) Southern State College (1951–1976) |
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Type | Public university |
Established | 1909 |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
Endowment | $57 million [1] |
President | David F. Rankin (interim) |
Provost | David Lanoue |
Students | 5,128 |
Undergraduates | 3,252 |
Postgraduates | 1,876 |
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Location | , , United States 33°17′30″N93°14′10″W / 33.29167°N 93.23611°W |
Campus | Rural, Residential 1,418 acres (574 ha) |
Colors | Royal blue and Gold [2] |
Nickname | Muleriders |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II – Great American Conference |
Website | www |
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Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public university in Magnolia, Arkansas.
Southern Arkansas University was established by an Act of the Arkansas Legislature in 1909 as a district agricultural high school for southwest Arkansas and was originally named Third District Agricultural School, often called by students and faculty "TDAS." [3] Its first term began in January 1911, with its curriculum including only subjects at the secondary school level. [4] In 1925, the State Legislature authorized the school to add two years of college work and to change its name to Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District (Magnolia A&M). [5] [ self-published source ] The school continued to offer both high school and junior college courses until 1937, at which time the high school courses were discontinued. [6]
In the fall of 1949, the Board of Trustees, exercising authority vested in it by the State Legislature, decided to develop the college as a four-year, degree-granting institution. The Board authorized the addition of third-year college level courses to being with the fall semester of 1950. [7] Fourth-year courses were added in the fall semester of 1951. [8] By Act Eleven (January 24, 1951), the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Southern State College. [9]
Like Arkansas' other six state-supported colleges, Southern State College did not allow non-white students to enroll as undergraduates until after 1954's Brown v. Board of Education. Most began to admit African American students—though in tiny numbers and only for Saturday or night classes—in the fall of 1955. SSC's first Black student was Wilmar B. Moss, who "was admitted but only when he refused to accept an initial rebuff," according to an official history of the school. "At SSC from 1956 to 1963 an occasional black student enrolled in a Saturday or summer class, but there is no history of a black undergraduate attending regular classes during fall or spring semesters in those eight years". [10]
More change came after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. On May 29, SSC’s board of trustees concluded, “Nothing was to be gained by refusing admittance to qualified Negroes.” About ten Black undergraduates were allowed to enroll that fall. In 1966, Black students were finally allowed to live in school dormitories. The first Black graduate received her diplomat in 1967, and the first Black faculty member began teaching in 1974. [11]
In 1975, the institution was approved and accredited to offer a Master of Education Degree in some areas. [12] [ self-published source ] The Board of Trustees approved another name change, to Southern Arkansas University by the Board of Higher Education on July 9, 1976, in accordance with Act 343 of the General Assembly of 1975. [13]
Also in 1975, Southwest Technical Institute in Camden, Arkansas, joined the SAU system as Southern Arkansas University Tech. [14]
Southern Arkansas University offers 70 undergraduate options, including pre-professional tracks, and 2+2 degree completion programs in four different academic colleges: [15]
Southern Arkansas University also offers 19 graduate programs, which are offered either face-to-face, online, or as a hybrid combination of the two. [16]
The university operates several residence halls and apartments, many of which are associated with specific living-learning communities. [17] [18]
Southern Arkansas University is in the NCAA Division II as a member of the Great American Conference. [19]
The university's athletic nicknames are Muleriders and Lady Muleriders. The Muleriders take their name from the legend that the football team in the early 1900s had to ride mules from the college's agricultural department to catch the nearest train 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the college in order to reach out-of-town football games. [20] [ self-published source ]
The Muleriders football team won the Gulf South Conference Championship in 1997. [21]
In each of 1953 and 1954, the then Southern State College Mulerider tennis team went undefeated winning the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference in both singles and doubles and was invited by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to represent their district in their National Tennis Championships in 1953. [22] [ self-published source ]
In 2006 and 2009, the Mulerider baseball team won the Gulf South Conference championship. [23]
The annual Bed Races have been a unique tradition as a part of SAU's Family Day festivities since November 7, 1981. Representatives from SAU's residence halls build and race twin-sized "beds" with a mattress platform on top of four bicycle tires. Once constructed, the beds are decorated according to a theme decided annually by the residence's Hall Councils. The bed must have one reclining student, protected by a football helmet, and four runners. Each team competes in a double elimination race, and the winners take home the coveted Bed Race Trophy. [24] [ self-published source ]
The Celebration of Lights has been a Christmas tradition at SAU since 1984. What once started as a single display to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the school has become an annual part of the holidays in Magnolia. During the celebration, a large Christmas tree is lit in front of Overstreet, as well as light displays all over campus. Additional strands of lights are strewn along the 187-foot SAU bell tower, transforming it into a giant Christmas candle. Included in the festivities each year are: the Magnolia City Christmas Parade, caroling, pictures with Santa Claus for the children, and a holiday buffet dinner for the community. [25] [ self-published source ]
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. Approximately 1,000 students are enrolled, mostly undergraduates. While affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the college offers a secular curriculum and has a student body composed of people from many different religious backgrounds. Hendrix is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South.
Arkansas Tech University (ATU) is a public university in Russellville, Arkansas, United States. The university offers programs at both baccalaureate and graduate levels in a range of fields. The Arkansas Tech University–Ozark Campus, a two-year satellite campus in the town of Ozark, primarily focuses on associate and certificate education.
Southern Arkansas University Tech is a Technical Institute in Calhoun County, Arkansas.
Edward Waters University is a private Christian historically Black university in Jacksonville, Florida. It was founded in 1866 by members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a school to educate freedmen and their children. It was the first independent institution of higher education and the first historically black college in the State of Florida. It continues to be affiliated with the AME Church and is a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.
The Southern Arkansas Muleriders football team represents Southern Arkansas University (SAU) in the sport of American football. The Southern Arkansas Muleriders compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and in the Great American Conference.
The Southern Arkansas Muleriders represent Southern Arkansas University in intercollegiate athletics. They are a member of the Great American Conference and compete in NCAA Division II, fielding 16 varsity teams in 10 sports.
Jamie David Pogue is a Canadian professional baseball coach who is an assistant coach and bullpen coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
The Battle of the Timberlands is an annual college football rivalry game between the Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils of the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the Southern Arkansas Muleriders of the Southern Arkansas University. The game became known as the "Battle of the Timberlands" in 2012 when a traveling trophy for the contest was created.
The Southern Arkansas Mulerider baseball team represents Southern Arkansas University in NCAA Division II college baseball. SAU has competed in the Great American Conference (GAC) since 2011. Prior to joining the GAC, SAU competed in the NAIA's Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference from 1950 until moving to the NCAA in 1996. Upon moving to the NCAA, SAU competed in the Western Division of the Gulf South Conference from 1996–2011. The Muleriders play their home games on campus at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Justin Pettigrew is the current head coach.
Allen Gum is an American baseball coach and player. He played college baseball at Crowder College from 1988 to 1989 before transferring to Southern Arkansas. He then served as the head coach of the Southern Arkansas Muleriders (2006–2010) and the Central Arkansas Bears (2011–2021).
The Southern Arkansas Muleriders softball team represents Southern Arkansas University in NCAA Division II college softball. SAU has competed in the Great American Conference (GAC) since 2011. Upon reorganizing the team in 1999, SAU was a member of the Western Division of the Gulf South Conference until joining the GAC in 2011. The Muleriders play their home games on campus at Lady Mulerider Field. Jason Anderson is the current head coach.
Steve Browning is an American former college baseball coach, currently serving as Athletic Director of the Southern Arkansas Muleriders. He was named to that position in the fall of 2012.
Steve Goodheart is a retired American college baseball coach, who served as head coach of the Southern Arkansas Muleriders baseball team from 1981–2003. During his career he led SAU to a 764–406–5 record, making him the second winningest coach all-time among Arkansas college baseball coaches. Goodheart trails only retired University of Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn's 1,161 wins.
Mike Godfrey is a former American college baseball coach who is currently serving as head coach of the Carthage (Missouri) High School baseball team.
The 2014 Southern Arkansas Muleriders football team represented Southern Arkansas University in the 2014 NCAA Division II football season. The team was coached by Bill Keopple, who finished his sixth season as head coach at SAU. The Muleriders played their home games at Wilkins Stadium in Magnolia, Arkansas and competed in the Great American Conference (GAC).
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball program is the college basketball program that represents Southern Arkansas University, competing in the Great American Conference. The program began as early as 1911. Though it has been sporadic, the Muleriders have had successes on the hardwood.
Elmer Smith was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. Smith served as the head basketball coach Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1939 to 1942 before taking on the head football coaching duties at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas from 1946 to 1953. After leaving Southern Arkansas, he was an assistant football coach at Texas A&M University under coaches Bear Bryant, Jim Myers, Hank Foldberg, and Gene Stallings.
The 2019 Southern Arkansas Muleriders football team represented Southern Arkansas University as a member of the Great American Conference (GAC) during the 2019 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Bill Keopple, the Muleriders played their home games at Rip Powell Field at Wilkins Stadium in Magnolia, Arkansas.
Gordon Daniel Morgan was an American sociologist who became the first Black professor at the University of Arkansas in 1969.
Andrew Rice is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a position he has held since 2024. He was the head football coach for Miami High School in Miami, Oklahoma, in 2017. He also coached for Bixby High School, Charles Page High School, Bartlesville High School, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Central Oklahoma, and Southern Arkansas. He played college football for Northeastern State as a quarterback.
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