Southern Arkansas University was founded as the Third District Agricultural School. One of four such schools established by an act of the Arkansas Legislature in 1909, it opened in January 1911 as a district secondary school for southwest Arkansas. In 1925, the State Legislature authorized the school to add two years of college work to its curriculum and to change its name to Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District. It carried both high school and junior college courses until 1937, at which time the high school courses were discontinued. In the fall of 1949, the Board of Trustees, exercising authority vested in it by the State Legislature, decided to make the college into a four-year, degree-granting institution. The Board authorized the adding of third-year college courses to begin with the fall semester of 1950, and fourth-year or senior courses to begin with the fall semester of 1951. By Act Eleven, January 24, 1951, the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Southern State College. In 1975, the college was approved and accredited to offer a master of education degree in selected academic areas. The name was changed to Southern Arkansas University on July 9, 1976.
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public institution of higher education serving primarily south and southwest Arkansas. With an enrollment of over 3,100 students, it has a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. The mascot is the Muleriders and the colors are blue and gold. The University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Gulf South Conference. The University is structured into four academic colleges including the College of Business, the College of Science and Technology, the College of Liberal and Performing Arts, and the College of Education, and a school of graduate studies. The SAU Library contains 152,000 volumes of books, 75 databases, and access to ove 12,000 full text publications. There are more than 100 student organizations available in which to get involved. The Role and Scope approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board provides:
Southern Arkansas University is a two-campus system comprised of a comprehensive regional university and a technical college with both state and regional responsibilities. Recognizing the diversity of student backgrounds and educational experiences, each campus accepts its coordinated and unique role. SouthernArkansasUniversityis a comprehensive regional university located in Magnolia,Arkansas. SAU provides quality four-year undergraduate programs offering baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, in addition to selected master‘s degrees. Other information, including this catalog, is available on the Web site: www.saumag.edu. Southern Arkansas University Tech is located in East Camden. It is a two-year comprehensive college specializing in technical training and offers the first two years of a university transfer program. Further information is available on the Web site: www.sautech.edu.
Southern Arkansas University is located in southern Arkansas in the city of Magnolia, which is approximately 55 miles east of Texarkana, 80 miles northeast of Shreveport, and 140 miles south of Little Rock. Visitors are welcome at Southern Arkansas University, and campus tours can be arranged by appointment. Magnolia is a growing progressive town in the heart of an agri-business, industrial, timber, and oil-producing area. The citizens of the region have continually shown interest in SAU students by encouraging them to participate in the civic and social life of the community.
Accreditations include: AACSB International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, National Association of Schools of Music, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, National League for Nursing Accrediting. Council on Social Work Education, and Commissions on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.