University of Arizona

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University of Arizona
Motto Bear Down!
Established 1885
Type Public
Academic term Semester
President Robert N. Shelton [1]
Staff 2,462
Undergraduates 28,442
Postgraduates 8,363
Location Tucson, Arizona, USA
Campus Urban, 380 acres (1.5 km²) (1,253,500 m²)
Yearbook Desert Yearbook
Nickname Wildcats(official)
Mascot Wilbur Wildcat
Athletics 18 varsity teams
Website www.arizona.edu

The University of Arizona (also referred to as UA or U of A) is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885, when Arizona was still a territory and is considered a Public Ivy. UA includes Arizona's only allopathic medical school. In 2006, total enrollment was 36,805 students.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Founding

Old Main, the oldest building on the University of Arizona campus
Old Main, the oldest building on the University of Arizona campus

The University of Arizona was approved by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1885. The city of Tucson had hoped to receive the appropriation for the territory's mental hospital, which carried a sum of money slightly larger than the $25,000 allotted to the territory's only university (the antecedent to Arizona State University was also chartered in 1885, but it was created as Arizona's normal school, and not a university). Tucson, having a smaller contingent of legislators than cities like Prescott and Phoenix, was granted last priority and was awarded the university, which disappointed many city residents. With no parties willing to step forth and provide land for the new institution, the citizens of Tucson prepared to return the money to the Territorial Legislature until two gamblers and a saloon keeper decided to donate the land necessary to build the school. Classes met for the first time in 1891 with 32 students in Old Main, the first building constructed on campus, and still in use to this day. [2]

Because there were no high schools in Arizona Territory, the University maintained separate preparatory classes for the first 23 years of operation.

University of Arizona Mall

Old Main - University of Arizona

Old Main - University of Arizona

Wildcat Family Statue - University of Arizona


[edit] Campus architecture and museums

The main campus sits on 380 acres (1.5 km²) in central Tucson, about one mile (1.6 km) northeast of downtown. There are 179 buildings on the main campus. Many of the early buildings, including the Arizona State Museum buildings (one of them the 1927 main library) and Centennial Hall, were designed by Roy Place, a prominent Tucson architect. It was Place's use of red brick that set the tone for the red brick facades that are a basic and ubiquitous part of nearly all UA buildings, even those built in recent decades. Indeed, almost every UA building has red brick as a major component of the design, or at the very least, a stylistic accent to harmonize it with the other buildings on campus. [1]

The campus is roughly divided into quadrants. The north and south sides of campus are delineated by a grassy expanse called the Mall, which stretches from Old Main eastward to the campus' eastern border at Campbell Avenue (a major north-south arterial street). The west and east sides of campus are separated roughly by Highland Avenue and the Student Union Memorial Center (see below).

The science and mathematics buildings tend to be clustered in the southwest quadrant; the intercollegiate athletics facilities to the southeast; the arts and humanities buildings to the northwest (with the dance department being a major exception as its main facilities are far to the east end of campus), with the engineering buildings in the north central area. The optical and space sciences buildings are clustered on the east side of campus near the sports stadiums and the (1976) main library.

Speedway Boulevard, one of Tucson's primary east-west arterial streets, traditionally defined the northern boundary of campus but since the 1980s, several university buildings have been constructed north of this street, expanding into a neighborhood traditionally filled with apartment complexes and single-family homes. The University has purchased a handful of these apartment complexes for student housing in recent years. Sixth Street typically defines the southern boundary, with single-family homes (many of which are rented out to students) south of this street.

Park Avenue has traditionally defined the western boundary of campus, and there is a stone wall which runs along a large portion of the east side of the street, leading to the old Main Gate, and into the driveway leading to Old Main.

Along or adjacent to all of these major streets are a wide variety of retail facilities serving the student, faculty and staff population: shops, bookstores, bars, banks, credit unions, coffeehouses and major chain fast-food restaurants such as Burger King and Chick-fil-a. The area near University Boulevard and Park Avenue, near the Main Gate, has long been a major center of such retail activity; many of the shops have been renovated since the late 1990s and a nine-story Marriott hotel was built in this immediate district in 1996.

The oldest campus buildings are located west of Old Main. Most of the buildings east of Old Main date from the 1940s to the 1980s, with a few recent buildings constructed in the years since 1990.

Student Union Memorial Center
Student Union Memorial Center

The Student Union Memorial Center, located on the north side of the Mall east of Old Main, was completely reconstructed between 2000 and 2003, replacing a 270,000 square foot (25,000 m²) structure originally opened in 1951 (with additions in the 1960s). The new $60 million student union has 405,000 square feet (37,600 m²) of space on four levels, including 14 restaurants (including a food court with such national chains as Burger King, Panda Express, Papa John's Pizza and Chick-fil-A), a new bookstore that includes a counter for Clinique merchandise, 23 meeting rooms, eight lounge areas (including one dedicated to the USS Arizona), a computer lab, a U.S. Post Office, a copy center named Fast Copy, and a video arcade. [2]

A list of dorms goes as follows:

For current museum hours, fees, and directions see "campus visitor's guide" in the external links.

  • Much of the main campus has been designated an arboretum. Plants from around the world are labeled along a self-guided plant walk. The Krutch Cactus Garden includes the tallest Boojum tree in the state of Arizona.[3] (The university also manages Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, located c. 85 miles (137 km) north of the main campus.)
  • Two herbaria are located on the University campus and both are referred to as "ARIZ" in the Index Herbariorum
    • The University of Arizona Herbarium - contains roughly 400,000 specimens of plants.
    • The Robert L. Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium - contains more than 40,000 specimens of fungi.
  • The Arizona Historical Society is located one block west of campus.
  • The University of Arizona Mineral Museum is located inside Flandrau Science Center. The collection dates back to 1892 and contains over 20,000 minerals from around the world, including many examples from Arizona and Mexico.
  • The University of Arizona Poetry Center
  • The Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, opened in 2003 (across the Mall from McKale Center) as a 28,600 square foot (2,660 m²) dedicated performance venue for the UA's dance program, one of the most highly regarded university dance departments in the United States. Designed by Gould Evans, a Phoenix-based architectural firm, the theatre was awarded the 2003 Citation Award from the American Institute of Architects, Arizona Chapter. [3]
  • The football stadium has the Navajo-Pinal-Sierra dormitory in it. The dorm rooms are underneath the seats along the South and East sides of the stadium. [4]

[edit] Organization

[edit] Regents

The University of Arizona, like its sister campuses Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University, is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents or the ABOR, a 12-member body. According to information published by the ABOR office and available on their Web site, eight volunteer members are appointed by the Governor to staggered eight-year terms; two students serve on the Board for two-year appointments, with the first year being a nonvoting apprentice year. The Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction serve as voting ex-officio members. The ABOR provides "policy guidance" and oversight to the three major degree-granting universities, as provided for by Title 15 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

[edit] Administration

Presidents of the University

The current and 19th university president is Robert N. Shelton, whose term began in 2006. The former president, Peter Likins, vacated his post at the conclusion of the 2005-06 academic term.[1] Notable past UA presidents include Manuel Pacheco, Richard Harvill and John Schaefer.

[edit] Academics

[edit] Academic subdivisions

The University of Arizona offers 334 fields of study at four levels: bachelor's, masters, doctoral, and first professional.

Academic departments and programs are organized into colleges and schools. Typically, schools are largely independent or separately important from their parent college. In addition, not all schools are a part of a college. The university maintains a current list of colleges and schools at http://www.arizona.edu/index/colleges.php [4].

[edit] Admissions

The UA is considered a "more selective" university by U.S. News and World Report.[5] In 2005, the UA matriculated 5,974 freshmen, out of 15,724 freshmen admitted, from an application pool of nearly 18,000 applicants. The average person admitted to the university as a freshman in 2005 had a weighted GPA of 3.38 and an average score of 1122 out of 1600 on the SAT admissions test. Ten students were Flinn Scholars and 104 were National Merit Scholars. [6]

UA students hail from all states in the U.S. While nearly 72 % of students are from Arizona, 8 % are from California, followed by a significant student presence from Illinois, Texas, and Washington (2004).[7] The UA has approximately 2,200 international students representing 135 countries. International students comprise approximately 6 % of the total enrollment at UA.[7]

[edit] Academic and research reputation

Among the strongest programs at UA are optical sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, planetary sciences, hydrology, hydrogeology, linguistics, philosophy, architecture and landscape architecture, engineering, and anthropology.

Arizona is classified as a Carnegie Foundation "Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive" university.[8]

The university receives more than $400 million USD annually in research funding, generating nearly 75% of the research dollars in the Arizona university system. This figure is triple the total research funds generated by Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University combined,[9] and 26th highest in the U.S. (including public and private institutions).[8] The university has an endowment of $466.7 million USD as of 2006(2006 NACUBO Endowment Study) .[10]

UA is awarded more NASA grants for space exploration than any other university nationally.[11] The UA was recently awarded over $325 million USD to lead NASA's 2007 mission to Mars to explore the Martian Arctic. The school's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory's work in the Cassini spacecraft orbit around Saturn is larger than that of any other university globally. The UA laboratory designed and operated the atmospheric radiation investigations and imaging on the probe.[12] The UA operates the HiRISE camera, a part of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

  • The Eller College of Management McGuire Entrepreneurship program is currently the number 1 ranked undergraduate program in the country, ahead of numerous Ivy League schools. This ranking was made by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine.
  • The Council for Aid to Education ranked the UA 12th among public universities and 24th overall in financial support and gifts.[13] Campaign Arizona, an effort to raise over $1 billion USD for the school, exceeded that goal by $200 million a year earlier than projected.[14]

[edit] Notable associations

[edit] Notable rankings

  • The Eller College of Management's programs in Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Management Information Systems, and Marketing are ranked in the nation's top 25 by U.S. News & World Report. The Masters in MIS program has been ranked in the top 5 by U.S. News & World Report since the inception of the rankings.[16] It is one of three programs to have this distinction.
    • The Eller MBA program has ranked among the top 50 programs for 11 straight years by U.S. News & World Report. In 2005 the MBA program was ranked 40th by U.S. News & World Report. Forbes Magazine ranked the Eller MBA program 33rd overall for having the best Return on Investment (ROI), in its fourth biennial rankings of business schools 2005. The MBA program was ranked 24th by The Wall Street Journal's 2005 Interactive Regional Ranking.[13]
  • Out of more than 120 accredited design schools in the country, DesignIntelligence ranked the College’s School of Landscape Architecture as the No. 1 graduate program in the western region while the School of Architecture was rated No. 6 in the western region and 16th nationally for 2007
  • According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is one of the top-rated research departments in ecology and evolutionary biology in the U.S.
  • The Systems and Industrial Engineering (SIE) Department is ranked 18th in the 'America's Best Graduate Schools 2006' by US News and World Report.

[edit] Libraries

The U of A's main library
The U of A's main library

In 2005, the Association of Research Libraries, in its "Ranked Lists for Institutions for 2005", ranked the UA libraries as the 33rd overall university library in North America (out of 113) based on various statistical measures of quality; this is one rank below Duke University, one rank ahead of Northwestern University.[5]

As of 2006, the UA's library system contains nearly five million volumes.

The Main Library, opened in 1976, serves as the library system's reference, periodical, and administrative center; most of the main collections and special collections are housed here as well. The Main Library is located on the southeast quadrant of campus near McKale Center and Arizona Stadium.

In 2002, a $20 million, 100,000 square foot (10,000 m²) addition, the Integrated Learning Center (ILC), was completed; it is a home base for first-year students (especially those undecided on a major) which features classrooms, auditoriums, a courtyard with an alcove for vending machines, and a greatly expanded computer lab (the Information Commons) with several dozen Gateway and Apple Macintosh G5 workstations (these computers are available for use by the general public (with some restrictions) as well as by UA students, faculty and staff). Much of the ILC was constructed underground, underneath the east end of the Mall; the ILC connects to the basement floor of the Main Library through the Information Commons. As part of the project, additional new office space for the Library was constructed on the existing fifth floor.

The Science and Engineering Library is in an adjacent building from the 1960s that houses volumes and periodicals from those fields. The Music Building (on the northwest quadrant of campus where many of the fine arts disciplines are clustered) houses the Fine Arts Library, including reference collections for architecture, music (including sheet music, recordings and listening stations), and photography. There is a small library at the Center for Creative Photography, also in the fine arts complex, devoted to the art and science of photography. The Law Library is in the law building.

[edit] Athletics

Main article: Arizona Wildcats

Like many large public universities in the U.S., sports are a major activity on campus, and receive a large operating budget. Arizona's athletic teams are nicknamed the Wildcats, a name derived from a 1914 football game with then California champions Occidental College, where the L.A. Times asserted that, "the Arizona men showed the fight of wildcats."[18] The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific Ten Conference, which it joined in 1978.

[edit] Men's Basketball

Main article: Arizona Wildcats men's basketball

The men's basketball team has been one of the nation's most successful programs since Lute Olson was hired as head coach in 1983, and is known as a national powerhouse in Division I men's basketball. As of 2007, the team has amassed 20 consecutive 20-win seasons, and reached the NCAA Tournament 23 consecutive years, which is the longest active and second-longest streak in NCAA history (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the longest streak with 27). Lute Olson has taken the Wildcats to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in 1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001. In 1997, Arizona defeated the University of Kentucky, the defending national champions, to win the NCAA National Championship (NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship) by a score of 84-79 in overtime; Olson's first national championship victory. The 1997 championship team became the first and only in NCAA history to defeat three number-one seeds en route to a national title. Current assistant coach, Miles Simon was chosen as 1997 Final Four MVP. Lute Olson has also led Arizona to the third highest winning percentage over the last twenty years.

In 1972 Fred Snowden was hired as the head basketball coach, making Arizona the first Division I school with an African American head coach.

The Wildcats play their home games at the McKale Center in Tucson. A number of former Wildcats have gone on to pursue successful professional NBA careers (especially during the Lute Olson era), including Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, Sean Elliott, Damon Stoudamire, Luke Walton, Hassan Adams, Salim Stoudamire, Andre Iguodala, Channing Frye and Steve Kerr.

[edit] Football

The football team began at the University of Arizona in 1899 under the nickname "Varsity" (a name kept until the 1914 season when the team was deemed the "Wildcats").[19]

The University of Arizona is the only Pac-10 or Big-10 team to never appear in the Rose Bowl.

The football team was notably successful in the 1990s, under head coach Dick Tomey; his "Desert Swarm" defense was characterized by tough, hard-nosed tactics. In 1993, the team had its first 10-win season and beat the University of Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl by a score of 29-0. It was the bowl game's only shutout in its then 23-year history. In 1998, the team posted a school-record 12-1 season and made the Holiday Bowl in which it defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Arizona ended that season ranked 3rd nationally and 2nd in several publications. The 1998 Holiday Bowl was televised on ESPN and set the now-surpassed record of being the most watched of any bowl game in that network's history (the current record belongs to the 2005 Alamo Bowl between Michigan and Nebraska). Of all of the teams in both the Big 10 and Pac 10, the University of Arizona is the only team that has not been to a Rose Bowl. Also, it is the only team in the Pac 10 that has never won the conference outright. The program is led by Mike Stoops, brother of Bob Stoops, the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma.

Arizona Stadium - University of Arizona

[edit] Baseball

The baseball team had its first season in 1904. The baseball team has captured three national championship titles in 1976, 1980, and 1986, all coached by Jerry Kindall. Arizona baseball teams have appeared in the NCAA National Championship title series a total of six times, including 1956, 1959, 1963, 1976, 1980, and 1986 (College World Series). The team is currently coached by Andy Lopez; aided by Assistant Coach Mark Wasikowski, Assistant Coach Jeff Casper and Volunteer Assistant Coach Keith Francis. Arizona baseball also has a student section named The Hot Corner.

[edit] Softball

The Arizona softball team is among the top programs in the country and a perennial powerhouse. The softball team has won eight NCAA Women's College World Series titles, in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2007 under head coach Mike Candrea (NCAA Softball Championship). Arizona defeated the University of Tennessee in the 2007 National Championship series in Oklahoma City. The team has appeared in the NCAA National Championship in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006, and 2007 a feat second only to UCLA, and has reached the College World Series 19 of the past 20 years. Coach Mike Candrea, along with former Arizona pitcher Jennie Finch, led the 2004 U.S. Olympic softball team to a gold medal in Athens, Greece. The Wildcat softball team plays at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

[edit] Men's and Women's Golf

The university's golf teams have also been notably successful. The men's team won a national championship in 1992 (NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships), while the women's team won national championships in 1996 and 2000 (NCAA Women's Golf Championship).

[edit] Men's Lacrosse

The lacrosse team is affectionately known as the “Laxcats”. Its existence, since the mid-sixties, is saturated with a rich tradition of success. In the 60’s, Arizona was a Division I Varsity program, coached by the legendary Carl Runk, an Arizona graduate and football player. In 1998 Carl retired after twenty-eight years at Towson University in Maryland. The most well known player to graduate from that era was a skinny, feisty goalie named Jerry Rivers. You may know him today as mega TV personality, Geraldo Rivera. During that Varsity era, the team rose as high as number 3 in the Nation.

In the early 70’s Craig Hassell, a transplanted Long Island lacrosse fanatic, stepped up and kept the tradition alive. The 70’s rosters were packed with the types of free spirited players that typified the era. Predominately from Long Island and Maryland, these free spirits had little cares other than their dedication to the game. In 1976 the timing was right for yet another transplanted Long Islander to assume the responsibility for the stability of the University of Arizona Program. Mickey-Miles Felton, at the age of 30, had begun his Arizona career as a defenseman, was named the Head Coach. During Felton's tenure as Head Coach, he coached many notable players. One standout was from San Francisco who Felton recrutited with particular passion. His name was Nathaniel Schmidt. Schmidt, known throughout campus as the "Nate Dogg", was a short but fiery player who lead the team to several successful years. His official helmet from the 2001-2002 season now hangs proudly in Nate Dogg's favorite establishment, Dirtbags.

The Laxcats have claimed only one Conference Title, occurring in 1990. In 1997, the Laxcats were ranked Number 1 heading into the National Tournament but were upset early by Brigham Young University in the second round of the tournament. Following the 2001 season Mickey-Miles Felton stepped down with 278 career wins to assume the roll of General Manager. Assistant Coach Adam Hopkins, of New York Institute of Technology, was elevated to the top spot as Head Coach. Following the 2003 season, Hopkins left and his assistant Ken Broschart was moved into the Head Coaching position. Broschart brought in Matt Hunter, and the following year Tim Spruyt as the NYIT pipeline continued. Hopkins, Broschart, and Hunter were all All Americans while at NYIT.

[edit] Other

Three national championships for synchronized swimming were won in 1980, 1981, and 1984, though these championships were in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, and not the NCAA.

Although surprising to some, the University of Arizona has a noteworthy history in ice hockey. The school's club hockey team, known as the Icecats, has won over 520 games since its inception in 1978. The Icecats defeated Penn State for the National Collegiate Club Hockey National Championship in 1985. They are now part of ACHA Division I.

[edit] Individual National Championships

A number of notable individuals have also won national championships in the NCAA. These include Amanda Beard in 2001 for swimming and Annika Sörenstam in 1991 in golf. The men's cross country has also produced two individual national titles in 1986 (Aaron Ramirez) and 1994 (Martin Keino) (NCAA Men's Cross Country Champions). The women's cross country also produced two individual national titles in 1996 and 2001 (NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship). Another notable individual was football standout Vance Johnson who won the NCAA long jump in 1982.

[edit] Rivalries

A strong academic and athletic rivalry exists between the University of Arizona and Arizona State University located in Tempe. The UA leads the all-time record against ASU in men's basketball (138-73), football (44-35-1), and baseball (224-189-1) as of January 2006. The football rivalry game between the schools is known as "The Duel in the Desert." The trophy awarded after each game, the Territorial Cup, is the nation's oldest rivalry trophy, distinguished by the NCAA. Rivalries have also been created with other Pac-10 teams, especially University of California, Los Angeles which has provided a worthy softball rival and was Arizona's main basketball rival in the early and mid-1990s.

[edit] Mascot

Wilma & Wilbur

The University mascot is an anthropomorphized wildcat named Wilbur. The identity of Wilbur is kept secret through the year as the mascot appears only in costume. In 1986, Wilbur married his longtime wildcat girlfriend, Wilma. Together, Wilbur and Wilma appear along with the cheerleading squad at most Wildcat sporting events.[20] Wilbur was originally created by Bob White as a cartoon character in the University's humor magazine, Kitty Kat. From 1915 through the 1950s the school mascot was a live bobcat, a species known locally as a wildcat. 1959 marked the creation of the first incarnated Wilbur, when University student John Paquette and his roommate, Dick Heller, came up with idea of creating a costume for a student to wear. Ed Stuckenhoff was chosen to wear the costume at the homecoming game in 1959 against Texas Tech and since then it has become a long-standing tradition. Wilbur will celebrate his 50th birthday in November 2009.

[edit] Zona Zoo

Main article: Zona zoo

The Official Student Section and Student Ticketing Program for University of Arizona Athletics

Officially implemented in 2003, Zona Zoo is the official student section and student ticketing program for the University of Arizona Athletics. The Zona Zoo program is co-owned by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA) and Arizona Athletics, the program is run by a team of spirited individuals called the Zona Zoo Crew. Zona Zoo is one of the largest and most spirited student sections in NCAA Division I Athletics.

[edit] Notable venues

  • McKale Center, opened in 1973, is currently used by men's and women's basketball, women's gymnastics, and women's volleyball. The official capacity has changed often. The largest crowd to see a game in McKale was 15,176 in 1976 for a game against the University of New Mexico, a main rival during that period. In 2000, the floor in McKale was dubbed Lute Olson Court, for the basketball program's winningest coach. During a memorial service in 2001 for Lute's wife, Bobbi, who'd died after a battle with ovarian cancer, the floor was renamed Lute and Bobbi Olson Court. In addition to the playing surface, McKale Center is host to the offices of the UA athletic department. McKale Center is named after J.F. Pop McKale, who was athletic director and coach from 1914 through 1957. Joe Cavaleri ("The Ooh-Aah Man") made his dramatic and inspiring appearances there.

[edit] Current state of the university

  • Led by Roger Angel, researchers in the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab at UA are working in concert to build the world's most advanced telescope. Known as the Giant Magellan Telescope, the instrument will produce images 10 times sharper than those from the Earth-orbiting Hubble Telescope. The telescope is set to be completed in 2016 at a cost of $500 million USD. Researchers from at least nine institutions are working to secure the funding for the project. The telescope will include seven 18-ton mirrors capable of providing clear images of volcanoes and riverbeds on Mars and mountains on the moon at a rate 40 times faster than the world's current large telescopes. The mirrors of the Giant Magellan Telescope will be built at UA and transported to a permanent mountaintop site in the Chilean Andes where the telescope will be constructed.[21]
  • Reaching Mars in March 2006, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter contained the HiRISE camera, with Primary Investigator is scientist Alfred McEwen as the lead on the project. This NASA mission to Mars carried a UA-designed camera expected to capture the highest-resolution images of the planet ever seen. The journey of the orbiter was 300 million miles. The project is expected to be in its Primary Science Phase in the month of October.
  • Under construction is the Mars Lander known as the Phoenix Scout Mission, led by UA Scientist Peter Smith. The mission's purpose is to improve knowledge of the Martian Arctic. After landing on Mars, it will be the first mission completely controlled by a university.
  • A downturn in Arizona's economy in the 2000s led to less money being allocated by the state legislature to Arizona's universities. Academic programs were hard-hit, and the university was forced to consider extensive changes, beginning in 2002. As a result, a reorganization known as "Focused Excellence" aimed to focus the mission of the university on research, graduate training, and more selective undergraduate education, in part, by eliminating and merging less popular and low-revenue academic departments. The closure of some programs, notably the innovative Arizona International College and the School of Planning, provoked widespread protest. However, efforts to improve academic performance and to encourage new research areas were not enough to prevent a number of key departures from the faculty in the early 2000s, and budgets remain restricted. "Focused Excellence" was quietly wound up in 2006 and its website removed, but new President Robert Shelton's Dec. 2006 message to the University suggests further retrenchment is essential in the light of funding cuts.
  • The University of Arizona is the only remaining PAC-10 conference school to not award plus and minus grades for courses. Currently, grades are given on a strict 4-point scale with "A" worth 4, "B" worth 3, "C" worth 2, "D" worth 1 and "E" worth zero points. Discussions with students and faculty may lead the UA toward using a plus-minus grading system in the future. [22]

[edit] Student life

[edit] Recognized fraternities and sororities of the Greek System

There are currently (2005) 44 fraternity and sorority chapters that are recognized by the University of Arizona. As of 2006, approximately 10.3 % of male UA students were members of campus fraternities, and 10.8 % of female students were members of sororities. The fraternities and sororities are governed by 4 governing councils. The Interfraternity Council (IFC) represents 25 fraternities, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) represents 6 historically African-American fraternities and sororities, the Panhellenic Association (PHC) represents 20 sororities and the United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) which represents other minority based Greek organizations. The university maintains a full list of recognized fraternities and sororities as well as a map that highlights the locations of fraternity and sorority houses at http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/greek/chapters/index.php [23].

[edit] Recognized student clubs and organizations

As mentioned earlier, a new and expansive Student Union building,[24] opened in 2003; it is the largest student union in the U.S. not affiliated with a hotel. The University of Arizona is home to more than 500 philanthropic, multi-cultural, social, athletic, academic, and student clubs and campus organizations. A listing is found at Center For Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL)[25] through the Student Union.

CSIL also houses the Arizona Blue Chip Program[26] one of the largest collegiate-level leadership development programs in the United States, with over 500 active students at any one time throughout the 4 years of the program. Blue Chip was founded in 1999 and has formed a partnership with the University of Wollongong, in Wollongong, Australia where a sister program, the Black Opal Leadership Development Program[27] began in February, 2005. Structure, curriculum, students and even staff are exchanged between the two institutions in a unique international leadership development initiative.

Through funding from the CSIL and the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, clubs are given the resources and encouragement to explore unusual interests.

[edit] Student government representation

The logo of the UA Residence Hall Association.
The logo of the UA Residence Hall Association.

Overall, students at the University of Arizona have, since 1913, been represented by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA). Representation is elected by the students every year (usually in March). In recent years, the Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) has emerged to represent issues specific to non-undergrads.

On-Campus residents also have their own Student Leadership Organization known as the Residence Hall Association. Anyone who lives on campus is automatically a member of RHA. The individual subunits of RHA consist of the hall councils of all 21 residence halls. Each Hall Council is composed of a President, a Director of Programming (for social events), a Director of Operations (for administrative duties), and two RHA Representatives who are sent to represent their hall at RHA General Body Meetings. At these meetings, the gathered representatives and RHA Executive Board, elected from within the RHA General Body, discuss issues and make decisions concerning all 6,000 on campus residents. The RHA Executive Board consists of 7 different elected positions (President, Vice President of Public Relations, National Communications Coordinator, Vice President of Finances, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Services, and Vice President of Programming) along with an appointed Parliamentarian position and an advisor known as the Student Leadership Coordinator.

[edit] Miscellany

[edit] Film

  • The film Revenge of the Nerds (1984) was filmed at the University of Arizona. In the movie, the Alpha Beta "jock" house is the real-life home to the UA chapter of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. The dorm room (with the balcony) seen in the film is located on the third floor of historic Cochise Hall on campus.
  • In the 2006 film You, Me and Dupree, produced by Arizona Alum Scott Stuber, several characters are watching the Arizona Wildcats play football against Washington State University. While playing in their blue uniforms, Arizona scores on a fumble recovery.

[edit] Novels

  • Portions of David Foster Wallace's novel Infinite Jest take place at the University of Arizona campus, including a scene in the administration building satirizing the school's bureaucracy. Foster Wallace is an alumnus of UA.

[edit] Comedy

  • The campus comedy group, Comedy Corner claims to be the oldest college sketch and improv comedy group.[28]

[edit] History

  • The current school colors are cardinal red and navy blue. Before 1900, the colors were sage green and silver. The switch was made when a lucrative discount on red and blue jerseys became available.[29]
  • Arizona's first mascot was a real desert bobcat named "Rufus Arizona", introduced in 1915.[30]
  • In 1952 Jack K. Lee, an applicant for the UA's band directorship, departed Tucson by air following an interview with UA administration. From his airplane window, Lee observed the huge letters on the roof of the UA gymnasium reading "BEAR DOWN." Inspired, Lee scribbled down the music and lyrics to an up-tempo song. By the time his plane landed, he had virtually finished it. A few weeks later Lee was named the UA band director, and in September 1952, the UA band performed "Bear Down, Arizona!" in public for the first time. Soon thereafter, "Bear Down, Arizona!" became accepted as UA's fight song (Bear Down).[31]
  • The Berger Memorial Fountain at the west entrance of Old Main honors the UA students who lost their lives in World War I, and dates back to 1919.[31]

[edit] Traditions

  • A bell housed on the USS Arizona, one of the two bells rescued from the ship after the attack on Pearl Harbor, has a permanent home in the clock tower of the Student Union Memorial Center on campus. The bell first arrived on campus in July 1946. The bell is rung seven times each month at 12:07 p.m - symbolic of the battleship's sinking on Dec. 7, 1941 - to honor individuals at the UA, as well as after home football victories against non-Arizona teams.[32]
  • At the beginning of each school year, freshmen repaint the "A" on "A" Mountain, and for more than 100 years the "A" remains a Tucson and Wildcat landmark.[33] The "A" is now painted Red, White and Blue until all troops in foreign wars steming from the September 11th attacks return home. This was passed by the ASUA student government body shortly after the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.
  • Spring Fling is the largest student-run carnival in the U.S. and has been held annually by UA students since 1975.[34]

[edit] Notable alumni and staff

Main article: List of University of Arizona people

Notable alumni include a former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the U.S. Surgeon General, the creator of the television series "Sesame Street" and founder of the Children's Television Workshop, Arturo Moreno- the owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League Baseball team, several NASA astronauts.

Nobel laureates on the faculty include two members of the College of Optical Sciences: Dr. Nicolaas Bloembergen (Physics, 1981) and Dr. Willis E. Lamb (Physics, 1955). For details, see Nobel Prize laureates by university affiliation.

The UA has eight Pulitzer Prize winners (alumni and faculty), and more than 50 faculty as elected members of exclusive academies including Britain's Royal Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, among others. Two current UA professors were also recently named to Popular Science magazine's list of "Brilliant 10."[35]

Outstanding athletes include NBA players Gilbert Arenas, Bison Dele, Richard Jefferson, Andre Iguodala, Luke Walton, Jason Terry, Hassan Adams, Channing Frye, Mike Bibby, Salim Stoudamire, Steve Kerr, Tom Tolbert, and Wooden Award Winner Sean Elliott, NFL Linebackers Tedy Bruschi, Lance Briggs, Antonio Pierce, NFL cornerback Chris McAlister, MLB player Kenny Lofton.

Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam attended Arizona from 1990-1992, and another current LPGA superstar, Lorena Ochoa, attended from 2000-2002. Softball star Jennie Finch and Olympic swimmers Amanda Beard, Ryk Neethling and Amy Van Dyken were also student athletes.

Notable Actors Greg Kinnear, Garry Shandling, Michael Biehn, Valerie Perrine, Chase Hoyt, Rob Hyland, Samaire Armstrong, Jack Wagner, Kristen Wiig, Craig T. Nelson and Kate Walsh all attended the school

Other notables include: Rande Gerber, Geraldo Rivera, Nicole Richie, Brooke Burke, comics artist Aline Kominsky-Crumb, singers Linda Ronstadt and Linda McCartney and authors Richard Russo, David Foster Wallace, Barbara Kingsolver and Kitty Kelley as well as film producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeff Rein, President and Chief Operating Officer of Walgreens.

West Bank Story, directed and co-written by alumnus Ari Sandel debuted at Sundance Film Festival in 2005 and received the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film 2006.

The UA is also the alma mater of Karl Eller for whom the business school is named.

In 1959, Gordon Lish graduated with a bachelor's degree in English with honors from the University of Arizona.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Swedlund, Eric. "UNC's Shelton will lead UA", Arizona Daily Star, 28 January 2006. 
  2. ^ The Old Main. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  3. ^ Sandal, Inger. "Boojum boon for UA campus", Arizona Daily Star, 24 September 2004. 
  4. ^ Colleges & Schools. University of Arizona. Retrieved on November 23, 2005.
  5. ^ USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2007: National Universities. Retrieved on December 19, 2006.
  6. ^ in Office of Institutional Research & Evaluation: The University of Arizona Fact Book 2005-06 (PDF). 
  7. ^ a b in Office of Institutional Research & Evaluation: The University of Arizona Fact Book 2004-05 (PDF). 
  8. ^ a b UA Highlights 2004-05. Retrieved on July 17, 2007.
  9. ^ Campus Highlights. Highlights and Rankings. University of Arizona. Retrieved on 29 March 2006.
  10. ^ University of Arizona. America's Best Colleges 2007. U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved on 2 September 2007.
  11. ^ The First UA Undergrad to Command a Camera on Mars. Retrieved on 2006-04-18.
  12. ^ The eyes of the world... and beyond. Arizona Board of Regents. Retrieved on 29 March 2006.
  13. ^ Cite error 8; No text given.
  14. ^ a b c d Academic Year 2004-05 Highlights (PDF). Retrieved on 28 January 2006.
  15. ^ Student Honors. Highlights and Rankings. University of Arizona. Retrieved on 29 March 2006.
  16. ^ Masters in MIS program. Retrieved on November 23, 2005.
  17. ^ Cite error 8; No text given.
  18. ^ The McKale Era -- Building an Athletic Tradition. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  19. ^ The First Football Team - 1899. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  20. ^ Wilbur & Wilma Wildcat. Traditions Tour. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  21. ^ Giant Magellan Telescope. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.
  22. ^ Arizona Summer Wildcat - Making the grade: UA's plus/minus debate - Monday, August 9, 2004. Retrieved on December 13, 2006.
  23. ^ http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/greek/chapters/index.php. Retrieved on November 23, 2005.
  24. ^ home : arizona student unions (See above). Retrieved on November 23, 2005.
  25. ^ Center For Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL). Retrieved on November 23, 2005.
  26. ^ Arizona Blue Chip Program. Retrieved on November 23, 2005.
  27. ^ Black Opal Leadership Development Program. Retrieved on November 23, 2005.
  28. ^ http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/uab/comedycorner/
  29. ^ UA Colors. Traditions Tour. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  30. ^ Rufus Arizona. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  31. ^ a b Berger Memorial Fountain. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  32. ^ Ringing of the U.S.S. Arizona Bell. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  33. ^ 'A' Mountain. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  34. ^ Spring Fling. UA History. Arizona Board of Regents (2005). Retrieved on March 29, 2006.
  35. ^ Faculty Honors. Highlights and Rankings. University of Arizona. Retrieved on 26 January 2006.

[edit] External links

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