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University of Arizona

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Template:Infobox American Universities

The University of Arizona is an institution of higher learning located in Tucson, Arizona.

Created by the Arizona Territorial Legislature as a land-grant university in 1885, classes met for the first time in 1891 with 32 students. In 2002, total enrollment was 36,847 students.

Academically, the U of A is strong in many areas (especially the sciences), and is particularly well known in the areas of optical science, management information science, and astronomical research. It also has the oldest and arguably strongest garbology program in the US. Additionally, the university is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.

The current and 18th University President is Peter Likins; his term began in 1997.

The University of Arizona is called Arizona nałtsoos ízisgo baa ótad in Western Apache, a language spoken in Arizona.

History

The University of Arizona was approved by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1885. Ironically, the city of Tucson had hoped to receive the appropriation for the state's mental hospital, which carried a sum of money slightly larger than the $25,000 allotted to the state's only university (Arizona State University was founded at the same time, but it was created as the state's normal school). The citizens of Tucson prepared to return the money to the territory until two gamblers and a saloon keeper decided to donate the land necessary to build the school.

Sports

Arizona's sports teams are called the Wildcats. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Pacific Ten Conference; the men's basketball team is often a contender in the NCAA championships.

The University mascot is named Wilbur the Wildcat. 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.

A strong academic and athletic rivalry exists between the University of Arizona and Arizona State University located in Tempe.

Academic subdivisions

The University of Arizona's 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. Colleges and Schools at the University of Arizona as of Fall 2004 are:

Campus Museums

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[1]. (The university also manages Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, located c. 85 miles north of the main campus.)
  • The Arizona State Museum is the oldest anthropology museum in the American Southwest.
  • The Center for Creative Photography features rotating exhibits. The permanent collection includes over 70,000 photos.
  • UA Museum of Art.
  • The Arizona Historical Society is located one block west of campus.

Current state of the university

  • Current funding considerations have led to a State-wide reorganization of the programs offered at each of Arizona's Universities. Known as "Focused Excellence," this reorganization aims to focus the mission of the University of Arizona upon research through eliminating and merging less popular and low-revenue academic departments.
  • Other state higher education re-alignment plans call for the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to remain academically elite, research oriented universities while creating several "regional" university systems from Northern Arizona University, UA South [2] in Sierra Vista, and ASU West [3] in Phoenix.
  • Additionally, 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 U of A towards using a plus-minus grading system in the future. Administrators say that the change could occur as early as Fall 2006. [4]
  • Uncertainty currently surrounds the future of common commencement ceremonies for the entire student body. Critics of the large ceremony argue that the event has become marred by misbehavior of graduates; the administration has vowed to cancel undergraduate commencement in favor of individual college convocations if behavior does not improve. Partially at issue is the tradition in which graduates fling tortillas into the air (in a manner similar to throwing mortarboards) during the ceremony. Critics of this behavior argue it is disruptive, potentially dangerous, offensive to Mexican Americans, and insensitive to the plight of the hungry and needy. Proponents of tortilla throwing argue it is a harmless and fun tradition.[5] The future of commencement ceremonies at the University of Arizona will remain uncertain pending the decision of the university administration. Behavior at the December, 2004 ceremony will likely be the deciding factor.

Notable alumni

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