Northern Arizona University

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Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University seal.svg
Former names
Northern Arizona Normal School
Northern Arizona State Teacher's College
Arizona State Teacher's College of Flagstaff
Arizona State College of Flagstaff
Type Research university
Public
Established 1899[1]
Academic affiliation
Arizona Board of Regents
Endowment $136 million (2014)[2]
President Rita Cheng[3]
Vice-president Joanne Keene (Chief of Staff)[4]
Provost Daniel Kain[5]
Academic staff
1,094 (full time)[6]
Students 30,368[6]
Undergraduates 26,506[7]
Postgraduates 3,862[7]
Location Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S.
Coordinates: 35°11′17″N 111°39′11″W / 35.188°N 111.653°W / 35.188; -111.653
Campus Small city
707.62 acres (2.8636 km2)
Colors Blue and gold[8]
         
Nickname Lumberjacks
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I
Mascot Louie the Lumberjack
Website www.nau.edu
Northern Arizona University logo.svg

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public research university with a main campus at the base of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Arizona, a branch campus in Yuma, Arizona, and community campuses statewide.[9] Governed by the Arizona Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the university offers 155 baccalaureate and graduate degree programs.

As of fall 2016, 30,368 students were enrolled, 22,134 at the Flagstaff campus.[7] The average cost of tuition and fees for a full-time, Arizona resident undergraduate student for two semesters is $10,764,[10] and out-of-state undergraduates will pay an estimated $24,144.[11] NAU also participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program, which offers lower tuition rates for students from the Western United States. For 2016–17, WUE tuition and fees are $15,638.[12] NAU offers Flagstaff undergraduate students the Pledge Program, which guarantees the same tuition rate for four years.

According to the global university rankings published by the Times Higher Education in 2016, NAU ranked among the top 500 universities in the world.[citation needed]

History[edit]

Initially named the Northern Arizona Normal School, the institution opened on September 11, 1899, with 23 students, two faculty members—one, Almon Nicholas Taylor, who was also the school president—and "two copies of Webster's International Dictionary bound in sheepskin" as teaching resources.[13] The first graduating class, in 1901, consisted of four women who received credentials to teach in the Arizona Territory. In 1925, the Arizona State Legislature allowed the school, which was now called the Northern Arizona State Teachers College (ASTC), to grant bachelor of education degrees. In 1929, the school became Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff.[14]

Also in 1929, the Great Depression struck the nation, and the ASTC found new meaning in community outreach. Rather than collapsing, the school endured through the depression. In fact, Grady Gammage, the school president at the time, described higher education as "a 'depression industry' that fared well in hard times." Despite financial difficulties, enrollment increased from 321 students to 535 students between 1930 and 1940, and graduate work was introduced in 1937.[15]

ASTC provided an education during economically trying times, often creating jobs to help students afford their education; they worked in the school-owned dairy farm, in the campus kitchen and dining hall, and as newspaper deliverers. The self-sufficiency of the college helped conserve monetary resources, and it was a major contributor to the local economy of the surrounding Flagstaff community, injecting almost a half million dollars in 1938.[16]

ASTC was known for its diverse student body and ethnic tolerance. In fact, the first Hopi to receive a college degree was Ida Mae Fredericks in 1939.[16] Students came from rural farms, mining families, the East Coast, and points between. During the depression, lots of fraternities and clubs sprang up, reflecting the diversity of background and interests.

Enrollment dropped sharply at the beginning of World War II, dropping to 161 in 1945.[17] During this time, ASTC became a Navy V-12 program training site.[18] However, the end of World War II brought increased enrollment as returning veterans returned to continue their education.

The end of the war also expanded programs beyond teaching degrees, especially in the fields of art and science. To reflect this growth, the school changed its name to Arizona State College at Flagstaff in 1945 and, 1958, became Arizona State College after the former Arizona State College at Tempe became Arizona State University. Also in 1958, the Forestry Program was introduced. With further growth over the next two decades, the Arizona Board of Regents granted Arizona State College university status as Northern Arizona University in 1966.[14]

Campuses[edit]

Flagstaff campus[edit]

Perched at 6,950 feet (2,120 m) above sea level, and one of the highest-elevation four-year college campuses in the country, the main campus is surrounded by the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest on the North American continent[19] and enjoys a four-season climate. Snow is common in winter, with accumulations most prevalent in January, February, and March. Winter skiing is accessible at Arizona Snowbowl, an alpine ski resort located on the San Francisco Peaks, 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Flagstaff, with an average annual snowfall of 260 inches.[20]

NAU offers 91 bachelor's degree programs, 49 master's degree programs and 11 doctoral degree programs, along with 38 undergraduate and 26 graduate certificates. The university was charged by the Arizona Board of Regents in 2006 to develop innovative ways to provide access and affordability to all Arizona residents. NAU developed the Pledge Program, 2NAU partnerships with community colleges and NAU-Yavapai, a collaboration with Yavapai College in Prescott Valley, Arizona. NAU-Yuma just celebrated its 25th anniversary of the partnership with Arizona Western College.

Extended campuses[edit]

Northern Arizona University is a public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission North Central Association. In addition to the more than 22,000 students that study on the Flagstaff campus, NAU currently serves more than 8,000 students online and statewide.

NAU's Extended Campuses offer 99 online accredited degree programs on more than 30 campuses throughout the state. NAU is the first public university to offer a competency-based online degree program that allows students to earn credit for experience. Personalized Learning was launched in May 2013, and federal financial aid is available for the program, which has a flat fee of $3,000 for a six-month subscription.[21] This subscription allows students access to their complete program's course material, so students have the flexibility to complete as many courses as they can throughout their six-month. As of March 2017, NAU's offers Personal Learning option in the degrees of computer information technology, liberal arts, management, nursing, and small business administration.[22]

NAU is the first university in Arizona to attain program accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Educators (NCATE). Additional accreditation includes the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management has earned accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration, an honor earned by fewer than 20% of the nation's baccalaureate degree-granting programs in the field.

Academics[edit]

University rankings
National
Forbes[23] 540
Washington Monthly[24] 96

Fall Freshman Statistics[25][26][27][28][29][30]

  2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
Applicants 27,780 33,989 34,461 31,995 31,773
Admits 25,153 31,057 26,299 20,727 20,724
 % Admitted 90.54 91.37 76.31 64.78 65.22
Enrolled 5,035 4,772 4,254 3,872 4,132
Avg Freshman GPA 3.50 3.40 3.40 3.40 3.40
Avg ACT Composite 23 23 23 23 23
Avg SAT Composite* 1044 1053 1057 1081 1068
*(of 1600)

In the fall of 2010, the top undergraduate degrees by enrollment were elementary education, biology, hotel and restaurant management, nursing, and criminology and criminal justice.[7]

College of Arts and Letters[edit]

The College of Arts and Letters (CAL) houses the Asian Studies Program, Cinema Studies, Comparative Cultural Studies (formerly Humanities, Arts, and Religion), English, History, Latin American Studies, Modern Languages, Museum Studies, Philosophy, School of Art, School of Music, and Theatre. The college also oversees the NAU Art Museum, Martin-Springer Institute (promoting lessons of the Holocaust), Northern Arizona Writing Project, Ardrey Memorial Auditorium, and Ashurst Hall. The College of Arts and Letters Film Series has been providing quality classic films to the NAU and Flagstaff community for more than nine years. The NAU International Film Series has recently been established. Department faculty and students share their scholarly work and artistic achievement through more than 300 performances, lectures, films, and exhibitions a year.[31]

College of Education[edit]

The College of Education prepares educators, counselors, school psychologists, and school administrators. Fields of study include teaching and learning (e.g., early childhood, elementary, and secondary), educational leadership, educational psychology, and educational specialties (e.g., bilingual and multicultural education, career and technical education, educational technology, and special education).[32]

College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences[edit]

The College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences has eleven departments and a Quaternary Program, thirteen centers, and two institutes.

College of Health and Human Services[edit]

NAU's College of Health and Human Services consists of the School of Nursing, Health Sciences, Dental Hygiene, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Physical Therapy, and a newly formed (as of Fall 2012) Physician Assistant school based out of Phoenix, Arizona.[33]

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences[edit]

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences undergraduate programs include anthropology, applied indigenous studies, criminology and criminal justice, ethnic studies, geography, planning and recreation, political science, psychology, communication, sociology/social work, and women's and gender studies.[34]

The W.A. Franke College of Business[edit]

The W.A. Franke College of Business's primary focus is undergraduate education, but it also offers master’s level education and research opportunities. Businessman Bill Franke's commitment of $25 million resulted in the renaming of the college in his honor. The W.A. Franke College of Business was fully re-accredited in fall 2008 by the national accrediting body AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. NAU's program is one of about 400 accredited programs among the more than 1,000 throughout the nation. In 2006, the college moved into a new 111,000-square-foot (10,300 m2), LEED-certified building.[35]

Graduate College[edit]

The Graduate College offers programs in fields such as biotechnology, health, business, environmental and sustainable systems, and teaching. It offers more than 50 master’s degrees, 13 doctoral degrees, and more than 20 graduate certificates, both in-person and online.[36]

Former Colleges[edit]

University College[edit]

Effective Summer 2016, the University College was dissolved.[37]

University College acts as a portal for students to make an efficient, informed decision about pursuing a path for the future. Undergraduate students automatically become a part of University College when admitted to Northern Arizona University. Various programs, resources and support are offered to students, faculty and staff which include academic transition programs, the First Year Learning Initiative, and the Bachelor of University Studies degree program.[38]

Residence halls[edit]

Northern Arizona University has 21 residence halls on its Flagstaff campus.[39]

Freshman Connections residence halls[edit]

Sechrist Hall

Available Freshman Connections halls include Allen Hall, Campbell Hall, Cowden Hall, Ernest Calderón Learning Community, Gabaldon Hall, McConnell Hall, Morton Hall, Reilly Hall, Sechrist Hall (an eight-story residence hall, making it the tallest building in Northern Arizona),[40] Taylor Hall, Tinsley Hall, and Wilson Hall.

Upper division housing[edit]

Upper division housing is available only to sophomores.[41]

Suites[edit]

Gabaldon and Mountain View (Greek Students' Hall).

Apartments[edit]

Campus apartments consist of: Campus Heights, Gillenwater, McDonald, McKay Village, Pine Ridge Village, Raymond, Roseberry, South Village.[42]

Residents of family units are within the Flagstaff Unified School District.[43] Residents are zoned to Kinsey Elementary School, Mount Elden Middle School, and Flagstaff High School.[44]

NAU Partner Housing by American Campus Communities[edit]

Rising juniors and seniors currently living on campus have priority leasing status for university-partnered housing located on campus.[41] These halls are located on the NAU campus but are operated by American Campus Communities. The Suites, Hilltop Townhomes, Skyview (Opening Fall 2017).[45]

Athletics[edit]

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks wordmark

Student athletes compete at national, international, and professional levels in football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, track and field, tennis, and swimming and diving. The university participates in fifteen intercollegiate sports programs. NAU teams compete at the Walkup Skydome, a multipurpose building providing facilities for football, basketball, indoor track and field, soccer, weight lifting, lacrosse, student recreation, major concert events, commencements, intramurals, and a variety of other university and community activities.[46]

The Lumberjacks compete at the NCAA Division I level in all sports. In football, the Lumberjacks compete at the Football Championship Subdivision level (formerly known as Division I-AA). NAU competes in the Big Sky Conference in all sports except swimming and diving, which is part of the Western Athletic Conference.

In 2016, the Lumberjacks won the NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship.[47]

Maya Kalle-Bentzur of Israel set the school outdoor long jump record at 20' 6" (6.10 metres), NAU records in both the women's indoor and outdoor long (20' 6".00) and triple jumps (41' 3".75), and 40' 5".00 in the indoor triple jump.[48] She was an NCAA All American in 1984.[49][50] In 1989 she was inducted into the NAU Athletic Hall of Fame.[48]

Because of its altitude, the facilities are sometimes used for training by Olympic athletes (who will then go on to compete at sea level).

On-campus activities[edit]

NAU has more than 200 recognized professional, academic, service and social organizations, an intramural sports program, The Lumberjack student newspaper, and active residence hall organizations.[51]

The Lumberjack[edit]

The university's award-winning, weekly newspaper is an independent, student-run publication called The Lumberjack. In May 2007, the newspaper won a Society of Professional Journalists national award in the editorial writing category for articles printed during 2006.[52][53]

KLJX-LP, NAZ Today, and UTV62[edit]

KLJX-LP (KJACK) is available in Flagstaff on 107.1 FM or online. KLJX-LP an FM licensed radio station run by NAU students out of the School of Communication. NAU's televised news program, NAZ Today, airs Monday through Thursday in Flagstaff on NPG cable channel 4; formerly, it also aired on UniversityHouse (Dish Network channel 9411) until it folded. Since the shutdown of Channel 2 news in August 2008, NAZ Today is now the only TV news source for the Flagstaff area. UTV62 is NAU's student run and produced television station. UTV62 runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week on channel 62 on campus. UTV62 creates one short film each semester through their production unit, UTV Films. UTV62 also sponsors two film festivals during the school year: the 73 Hour Film Festival in the fall, and the Northern Arizona Student Film Festival in the spring.

Recreation services[edit]

The NAU Recreation Center was remodeled in the fall of 2011, creating the NAU Health and Learning Center in its place. Features include an indoor jogging track, 38 foot climbing wall, larger weight room, multipurpose gym, and a cardio theatre. The Health and Learning Center also includes all of the on-campus medical services that were previously housed in the Fronske Health Center, a pharmacy, and the offices for Disability Resources on campus. It also features the only escalator in all of Northern Arizona.[54]

Intramural sports[edit]

Intramural sports are organized for teams and individuals and include flag football, soccer, volleyball, softball, racquetball, and backgammon. Sports clubs include baseball, rugby, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, Wushu, kendo and judo (martial arts), and water polo.[citation needed]

Movies and other events[edit]

Unions and Student Activities offers many services and events for the campus community, such as movies and the popular Friday night AfterHours program produced by SUN Entertainment. SUN also presents several concerts and special events each year and coordinates Welcome Week concerts. The College of Arts and Letters presents classic films every Tuesday night during the school year, and also presents more than 300 music and theatrical performances, lectures, films and art exhibitions yearly.[citation needed]

Alumni[edit]

The NAU Alumni Association represents more than 160,000[7] alumni from the U.S.

Professional sports[edit]

The Arizona Cardinals of the NFL conducted their summer training camp at Northern Arizona University's Flagstaff campus for many years until 2013.[55] The Cardinals left Flagstaff to conduct their camp in Glendale in 2013.[56] Beginning in 2014, NAU entered into partnerships with the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury of the NBA and WNBA respectively.[57]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "Sortable Table: College and University Endowments, 2013-14". The Chronicle of Higher Education. 
  3. ^ "Biography-Philosophy - Office of the President - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
  4. ^ "People - Office of the President - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 28 December 2016. 
  5. ^ "Staff - Office of the Provost - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 28 December 2016. 
  6. ^ a b "Facts - About NAU - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 12 October 2016. 
  7. ^ a b c d e "Welcome - Planning and Institutional Research - Northern Arizona University". .nau.edu. Retrieved 22 December 2016. 
  8. ^ "NAU Color Palette" (PDF). Nau.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-28. 
  9. ^ "Arizona Locations - Locations - Northern Arizona University". nau.edu. Retrieved 6 January 2017. 
  10. ^ Northern Arizona University (2015-05-22). "Fall Undergraduate Pledge - Student and Departmental Account Services - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  11. ^ Northern Arizona University (2015-05-22). "Fall Non-Resident Pledge - Student and Departmental Account Services - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  12. ^ Northern Arizona University (2015-05-22). "Fall WUE Pledge - Student and Departmental Account Services - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  13. ^ "About NAU." History. Northern Arizona University, 2016. Web. 22 December 2016.
  14. ^ a b "NAU - History". Library.nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  15. ^ Underhill, Karen J. "I REMEMBER Depression-Era Students at Arizona State Teacher's College." I Remember. Arizona Board of Regents, 1996. Web. 16 May 2016.
  16. ^ a b "NAU - History." NAU - History. Arizona Board of Regents, 2016. Web. 16 May 2016.
  17. ^ "About NAU." History. Northern Arizona University, 2016. Web. 16 May 2016.
  18. ^ "The Former Deans of FCB". Flagstaff, Arizona: Northern Arizona University. 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 
  19. ^ "Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Colorado Plateau". Cpluhna.nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. Broken link
  20. ^ "Snowmaking". ArizonaSnowbowl.com. Retrieved 27 July 2015. 
  21. ^ "Tuition | NAU Extended Campuses". pl.nau.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-14. 
  22. ^ "Explore Our Degrees | NAU Extended Campuses". pl.nau.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-11. 
  23. ^ "America's Top Colleges". Forbes. July 5, 2016. 
  24. ^ "2016 Rankings - National Universities". Washington Monthly. Retrieved September 6, 2016. 
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  27. ^ "Incoming Student Characteristics". .nau.edu. Retrieved 2014-03-13. 
  28. ^ "Welcome - Planning and Institutional Research - Northern Arizona University" (PDF). .nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  29. ^ [1] Archived September 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  30. ^ [2] Archived September 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  31. ^ "Welcome - College of Arts and Letters - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
  32. ^ "Welcome - College of Education - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
  33. ^ Northern Arizona University. "Welcome - College of Health and Human Services - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 2014-03-13. 
  34. ^ Northern Arizona University. "Departments-Programs - College of Social and Behavioral Sciences - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  35. ^ "About the FCB - The W. A. Franke College of Business - NAU". Nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
  36. ^ "Welcome - Graduate College - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  37. ^ Vanek, Corina. "NAU dissolves college focused on freshman "success"". Arizona Daily Sun. Retrieved 28 December 2016. 
  38. ^ "Welcome - University College - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  39. ^ "Residence Halls - Housing and Residence Life - Northern Arizona University". nau.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-28. 
  40. ^ "Sechrist - Housing and Residence Life - Northern Arizona University". Nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
  41. ^ a b "Junior and Senior Housing - Housing and Residence Life - Northern Arizona University". nau.edu. Retrieved 28 December 2016. 
  42. ^ "New mix of residents prompts name change for S. Family Housing - NAU News : NAU News". News.nau.edu. 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2014-03-13. 
  43. ^ "Northern Arizona University Campus Map" (PDF). Nau.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  44. ^ "About Us / Boundary Maps". Fusd1.org. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  45. ^ "SkyView groundbreaking promises more housing, parking, student success - NAU News  : NAU News". news.nau.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-28. 
  46. ^ "Skydome Information". Nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
  47. ^ "DI Men's XC: Northern Arizona takes home school's first national title". NCAA.com. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2017. 
  48. ^ a b "1989 NAU Athletic Hall of Fame Class - Northern Arizona". nauathletics.com. 
  49. ^ "Dr. Maya Kalle-Ben Tzur - אתנה". athenawomen.org.il. 
  50. ^ "Benzoor, Maya"
  51. ^ [3] Archived October 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  52. ^ [4] Archived May 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  53. ^ "Welcome to NAU - NAU News : NAU News". .nau.edu. 2015-09-28. Retrieved 2015-10-09. 
  54. ^ [5] Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  55. ^ "Northern Arizona University". Cardinals.nau.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
  56. ^ "NAU, Flagstaff resigned to Arizona Cardinals moving camp to Glendale - Phoenix Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-13. 
  57. ^ "NAU joins partnership with Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury - NAU News : NAU News". News.nau.edu. 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2014-03-13. 

External links[edit]