UAM History

The University of Arkansas at Monticello was established in 1909 by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas to serve the educational needs of Southeast Arkansas. Originally called the Fourth District Agricultural School, the University opened its doors September 14, 1910. In 1925, the General Assembly authorized the school's name to be changed to Agricultural and Mechanical College of the Fourth District. It received accreditation as a junior college in 1928. In 1939, the name was changed to Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College and it received accreditation as a four-year institution in 1940.

Arkansas A&M became part of the University of Arkansas system July 1, 1971. The University is governed by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, which also oversees the operation of institutions in Batesville, DeQueen, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Helena, Hope, Little Rock, Morrilton, and Pine Bluff.

On July 1, 2003, UAM expanded its mission to include vocational and technical education when the UAM College of Technology-Crossett and the UAM College of Technology-McGehee became part of UAM to create a comprehensive system of postsecondary education in Southeast Arkansas.

UAM Milestones

1909 – Fourth District Agricultural School established by Act 100 of the General
Assembly of the State of Arkansas on April 1.
1910 – Fourth District Agricultural School Board unanimously selects Monticello, and
the land offered by the family of Judge William Turner Wells, as the school’s
location; John Spence named superintendent; Main Building, Willard Hall, Sorrells
Hall completed; first classes held September 14.
1912 – Wells Hall, named for Judge William Turner Wells, completed.
1913 – Frank Horsfall named president.
1925 – Name changed to Agricultural and Mechanical College of the Fourth District by
Act 45 of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas.
1926 – Festus H. Russell named interim president; National Guard Armory completed.
1927 – Frank Horsfall named president again, to serve through 1934.
1928 – Junior college accreditation received from North Central.
1932 – Harris Hall, named for Trustee C.T. Harris, and Horsfall Hall, named for
President Horsfall’s wife, Margaret, dedicated.
1934 – College celebrates 25th anniversary.
1935 – Hugh Critz named president; Fine Arts Building, Student Commons, and Cotton
Boll Stadium completed.
1936 – Marvin S. Bankston named president.
1939 – Name officially changed to Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College
(Arkansas A&M College) by Act 106 of the General Assembly of the State of
Arkansas.
1940 – Science Building completed; senior college accreditation received from North
Central.
1943 – Navy V-12 Program instituted.
1945 – Forestry program begins.
1946 – William E. Morgan named president.
1949 – Horace E. Thompson named president.
1952 – Student Union Building completed.
1956 – Jeter Hall, named for Trustee R.E. Jeter, completed.
1957 – Forestry Building dedicated.
1959 – A&M celebrates 50th anniversary; Fieldhouse completed.
1960 – Jack Mears named president.
1961 – Maxwell Hall, named for Trustee Ray Maxwell, completed.
1962 – Claude H. Babin named president.
1964 – Science Center dedicated.
1971 – Arkansas A&M College merges with the University of Arkansas to become the
University of Arkansas at Monticello on July 1.
1976 – Fine Arts Center, new Administration Building, and Agriculture Building
dedicated.
1977 – Fred J. Taylor named chancellor.
1980 – UAM receives first unconditional accreditation from North Central.
1983 – Department of Nursing receives accreditation from National League of Nursing;
John F. Gibson University Center dedicated.
1984 – UAM celebrates 75th Diamond Jubilee; Department of Forest Resources
accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
1986 – Accreditation received for School of Education from the National Council on
Accreditation of Teacher Education.
1988 – Division of Music receives accreditation from the National Association of
Schools of Music.
1994 – UAM leaves the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and NAIA for the Gulf
South Conference and NCAA Division II.
1999 – Accreditation received for Bachelor of Social Work program by the Council on
Social Work Education.
1999 – University Library and Technology Center dedicated.
2003 – Great Rivers Technical Institute in McGehee and Forest Echoes Technical
Institute in Crossett merge with UAM and are renamed the UAM College of
Technology at McGehee and the UAM College of Technology at Crossett on July
1.
2004 – University Library and Technology Center renamed Fred J. Taylor Library and
Technology Center in honor of retiring chancellor; Jack Lassiter named chancellor.
2006 –Weevil Pond, Weevil Walk, and Willard Hall renovated.
2008 – Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium renovated.
2009 – Wells Hall and Sorrells Hall renovated; new Indoor Practice Facility opens;
UAM celebrates centennial and Centennial Clock Tower erected.
2011 – UAM leaves the Gulf South Conference to join the Great American Conference.
2012 – George H. Clippert Forest Resources Annex dedicated.
2013 – Bankston Hall renovated and enlarged, and changed from all-male to
coeducational residential facility; Randy S. Risher Wellness Center dedicated.

UAM Name Changes

April 1, 1909
Fourth District Agricultural School established by Act 100 of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas; first classes held September 14, 1910.

1925
Name changed to Agricultural and Mechanical College of the Fourth District by Act 45 of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas. The name change was “in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.” It was approved February 10, 1925.

1928
Junior college accreditation received from North Central.

1939
Name officially changed to Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College (Arkansas A&M College) by Act 106 of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas. The name change “shall be in force from and after its passage as by law prescribed.” It was approved February 20, 1939.

1940
Senior college accreditation received from North Central.

July 1, 1971
Arkansas A&M College merged with the University of Arkansas to become the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

July 1, 2003
Great Rivers Technical Institute in McGehee and Forest Echoes Technical Institute in Crossett merged with the University of Arkansas at Monticello by Act 1196 of the 2003 Acts of Arkansas. They were renamed University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-McGehee and University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-Crossett. The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees approved the merger of the Great Rivers Technical Institute at a special meeting on December 2, 2002, and the merger of the Forest Echoes Technical Institute at a special meeting on January 9, 2003. Both special meetings were held at the University of Arkansas System Administration Boardroom in Little Rock.