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.
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 Gulf South Conference
and NCAA Division II.
1999 - Accreditation received for Bachelor of Social Work program by the Council on Social
Work Education; 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; on the Crossett campus, expanded Main
building to add a Bookstore and constructed Industrial Technology building.
2009 - Wells Hall and Sorrells Hall renovated; new Indoor Practice Facility opens; UAM
celebrates centennial and Centennial Clock Tower erected.
2010 - Renovated a donated building for the UAM Educational Center in Hamburg.
2011 - UAM leaves the Gulf South Conference to join the Great American Conference; UAM
acquired the Taylor House.
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; CC “Cliff” Gibson,
III appointed to the UA Board of Trustees for a 10-year term.
2015 - Fine Arts Center renovated; HLC continues UAM accreditation for another 10 years.
2016 - Karla Hughes named Chancellor; Sandra Campbell Memorial Classroom dedicated.
2017 - UAM celebrates 108th birthday; Botanical Research Building and UAM Sundell Herbarium dedicated; Student
Learning Commons in the Taylor Library and Technology Center dedicated.
2018 - Nursing Education Accreditation received for School of Nursing from the National
League for Nursing Commission; School of Forestry and Natural Resources and School
of Agriculture merge to become College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources;
Student Success Center and University Police Department built and dedicated.
2019 - Indoor Practice Facility renamed the Judy and Jack Lassiter Indoor Practice Facility;
Horsfall Hall renovated and rededicated; JavaCity renovated and renamed Boll Weevil
Bistro, Proudly Serving Starbucks.
2020 - Peggy M. Doss named Chancellor; Royer Hall becomes Musician only Residence Hall;
Partnership created between UAM, UA System Division of Agriculture and Five Oaks Ag
Research and Education Center.
2022 - Fine Arts Center, Science Center, and Agriculture building renovated; Arkansas Center
for Forest Business established and dedicated; Taylor House/Hollywood Plantation renovated
and dedicated; renovation of natatorium into Athletic Performance Center.
2023 - Willard Hall entrance, Trotter House, and 1937 House renovated; Accreditation received
for Bachelor of Social Work program by the Council on Social Work Education; Athletic
Performance Center renamed Kenneth H. Hunt Athletic Performance Center.
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.