The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: A Legacy of Education and Opportunity

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) stands as a testament to the pursuit of higher education for African Americans in Arkansas. From its humble beginnings as Branch Normal College to its current status as a leading research institution, UAPB has played a vital role in shaping the lives of countless students and contributing to the economic and cultural landscape of the state.

Origins: Meeting the Educational Needs of Black Arkansans

UAPB's story begins with a commitment to address the higher educational needs of Arkansas's African-American population. Following the Civil War and during the Reconstruction era, educational opportunities for Black citizens were severely limited. State senator John Middleton Clayton sponsored a legislative act calling for the establishment of Branch Normal College, but it was not until 1875 that the state’s economic situation was secure enough to proceed with it. In 1873, the Reconstruction-era legislature authorized the establishment of Branch Normal College, which opened its doors in 1875. Branch Normal was established as a branch of Arkansas Industrial University, now the University of Arkansas (UA) in Fayetteville. The primary objective was educating black students to become teachers for the state’s black schools. This institution was envisioned as a crucial step towards empowering the Black community through education.

The establishment of Branch Normal College was not without its challenges. The first task was to find a suitable location. Governor Augustus Hill Garland, Arkansas Industrial University board chairman D. E. Jones, and Professor Wood Thompson hired Joseph Carter Corbin in July 1875 to make a determination about locating Branch Normal in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) because of the town’s large black population and its place as the major economic center in south-central Arkansas. Corbin was subsequently elected as principal at a salary of $1,000 a year. The town of Pine Bluff, with its significant Black population and strategic location as a major economic center in south-central Arkansas, was chosen as the site for the new college.

Early Years: Building a Foundation for Growth

Joseph Carter Corbin, the first principal of Branch Normal College, played a pivotal role in shaping the institution's early development. The first class consisted of seven students. Rumors about high fees and the school being a political experiment made recruitment of students difficult. Therefore, a policy was developed that allowed two types of students to enroll and attend: beneficiaries and pay students. The policy provided for each county to send one to fourteen beneficiaries to Branch Normal, and students were appointed by the county judge. Admission required a commitment from each student that he/she would teach in Arkansas for two years after graduation. Several setbacks occurred that delayed the actual opening of the school. The first building was an old frame house in need of much repair, but repairs were delayed because of illness among the workers.

Realizing that he could only do so much, he utilized the more advanced students as teaching assistants. In 1889, the Branch Normal Committee granted $500 for a library and $500 for one assistant teacher, Rufus C. Childress, who was the first graduate of Philander Smith College. In January 1882, the school was moved into a permanent building with four classrooms. In 1889, Corbin recommended to the governor that vocational and industrial courses be added to the curriculum. The recommendation was approved, and the agricultural and mechanical departments emerged. The Morrill Act of 1890 made the school a land grant institution for African-American students. Corbin spent twenty-seven years as principal of the only tax supported institution of higher education for African Americans in Arkansas. However, after increasing conflict with the board of the school and the state legislature, he was dismissed in 1902. Despite facing numerous obstacles, Corbin's leadership and dedication laid a solid foundation for the college's future growth.

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Transition and Transformation: Adapting to Changing Times

As Branch Normal College entered the 20th century, it underwent significant changes in leadership and academic focus. Isaac Fisher succeeded Corbin as principal, and he believed, as did Booker T. Washington, that industrial education was best for African Americans. This caused a shift in the school’s focus. The bachelor’s degree was removed because no faculty members held degrees; no student had received the degree since 1903. Fisher resigned in June 1911, and William Stephen Harris, a white man, was named as supervisor of Branch Normal, while Frederick Venegar was named principal. Their tenure was unpopular. A student strike broke out on March 22, 1915, provoked by student outrage at the behavior of Harris, who had recently given a package containing black silk stockings to a female studentevidently part of a pattern of inappropriate behavior by Harris toward students for years. The board supported Harris and Venegar, but community leaders in Pine Bluff called for their ouster. Following their resignations, Jefferson Ish was elected as head of the college and, during his first year, he started a summer school for teachers. When Ish resigned in 1921, Charles Smith became principal for one year; he was followed by Robert Malone, who was able to strengthen the curriculum so that, by 1926, 411 students were enrolled, twenty-one in junior college courses, and the school was granted junior college status.

Under the administration of the next superintendent, Dr. John Brown Watson, plans were completed for the new campus. He began a free night school, offering courses in cooking, sewing, woodworking, automobile mechanics, and arithmetic. Branch Normal became a standard four-year college in 1929. In 1933, residences for instructors and a gymnasium were built, and two more dormitories and a library were added in 1938. Twenty-five huts and five prefabricated dormitories were added. In 1927, the school severed its ties with the University of Arkansas and became Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College (Arkansas AM&N). The institution broadened its curriculum and expanded its facilities to meet the evolving needs of its students and the wider community.

The Davis Era: A Period of Unprecedented Growth

Lawrence A. Davis's appointment as president in 1943 marked the beginning of a transformative era for the college. Under his administration, the physical plant doubled. An agricultural laboratory was established, as well as a station of the Arkansas Archeological Survey. He expanded the academic programs and changed the organizational structure to three areas: agriculture and technology, arts and sciences, and teacher education. Accreditation from North Central Accreditation of Colleges and Schools was granted in 1950. In cooperation with UA and the Arkansas Archeological Survey, the college farm and agriculture lab expanded services and research facilities. A major addition was the aquaculture project. Davis oversaw significant expansion of the campus, the introduction of new academic programs, and the achievement of regional accreditation. His visionary leadership laid the groundwork for UAPB's emergence as a comprehensive university.

Integration and Reorganization: Navigating a Changing Landscape

The 1970s brought significant changes to Arkansas AM&N, as the state legislature ordered its merger with the University of Arkansas System in 1971. On July 1, 1972, this merger was complete, and AM&N was designated the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Fearing a loss of identity, many black supporters, citizens, and faculty opposed the merger. They filed a suit challenging it on the grounds that it was unconstitutional because there was no requirement for educational opportunities and equal treatment under the all-white board of trustees at UA, but the suit was unsuccessful. Davis accepted the new position of chancellor in June 1972. This transition was met with resistance from some who feared a loss of identity and autonomy for the institution. Despite these concerns, UAPB continued to grow and evolve as part of the UA System.

Challenges and Triumphs: Overcoming Obstacles

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff faced its share of challenges in the late 20th century. Dr. Herman B. Smith Jr. was appointed chancellor in 1974. During his tenure, the school faced a lawsuit alleging that administrators perpetrated sexual discrimination against, and the sexual harassment of, the faculty. Smith resigned as chancellor in 1981, before the resolution of the suit in court. In August 1982, Judge Henry Woods ruled that the university illegally discriminated against female faculty members by practices of sexual discrimination too blatant to overlook, and he ordered several remedies for the situation. Smith was replaced by Dr. Floyd V. Vic Hackley, who placed emphasis on students working to master the necessary exams to secure entrance into graduate school. He resigned in 1985 and was replaced by Dr. Charles Walker, who worked to allow research students to participate in off-campus training programs at such institutions as the National Toxicological Research Center (NTRC) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). However, he was cited for financial mismanagement of the university. In his defense, he noted that the university had not received the necessary appropriations to cover increases in expenditures, especially when compared with other universities in the system, but an investigation by the joint legislative committee resulted in his resignation, as well as those of several key administrators and a citation against the athletic department for mismanagement. Dr. Carolyn Blakely served as interim chancellor from June until September 1991, when Lawrence A. Davis Jr., son of Lawrence A. Davis Sr., was named chancellor. Financial difficulties and administrative controversies tested the institution's resilience, but UAPB persevered, demonstrating its commitment to its students and its mission.

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UAPB Today: A Thriving Institution

Today, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff stands as a thriving institution with a rich history and a bright future. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is a public historically black university in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Founded in 1873, it is the second oldest public college or university in Arkansas. Since 1988, the university has gained recognition as a leading research institution in aquaculture studies, offering the state's only comprehensive program in this field. It supports a growing regional industry throughout the Mid-South (according to the school, aquaculture is a $167 million industry in Arkansas alone and worth approximately $1.2 billion in the Mississippi Delta region). Carolyn F. Since UAPB offers only one engineering degree program (agricultural engineering), it has a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (UA) that allow qualified students to spend three years to complete an engineering related bachelor's degree at UAPB then automatic admissions into UA to complete their engineering bachelor's degree in two years. In 2019, UAPB established a partnership a with UALR William H. Bowen School of Law. UAPB students with at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA, minimum 154 LSAT score, and a clean disciplinary record will automatically be admitted.

UAPB offers a wide range of academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in various fields. The University Museum and Cultural Center on the campus of UAPB contains photographs, catalogs, yearbooks, letters, artifacts, portraits and other ephemera that document the lives and culture of African-Americans who helped shaped the history of UAPB and the Arkansas Delta. Arkansas-Pine Bluff's sports teams have participated in NCAA Division I in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) since re-joining the conference in 1998, and competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) for football. Home football games are held at Golden Lion Stadium. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff houses over 1,000 students on campus. Hunt Hall (named in memory of Silas Hunt, the first black law student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville) houses male students. The Harrold Complex, consisting of four halls, Johnson, Copeland, Fischer, and Stevens, is for females. In 2008, UAPB's band known as the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South (M4), made their debut appearance at the Honda Battle of the Bands. M4 is one of the top three largest collegiate marching bands in Arkansas and is accompanied by two auxiliaries. Eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) fraternities and sororities are represented on campus. Less than five percent of the undergraduate student body are represented in the NPHC. Martha S. Danny K. Samuel L. Air Force. L. C. Pamela A. With a diverse student body, dedicated faculty, and a commitment to academic excellence, UAPB continues to empower students to achieve their full potential and make a positive impact on the world.

Academics and Research: Cultivating Knowledge and Innovation

UAPB is committed to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in their chosen fields. The university offers a wide array of academic programs across various disciplines, including:

Agriculture: UAPB has a long and distinguished history in agricultural research and education, with a particular focus on aquaculture.
Arts and Sciences: The university's arts and sciences programs provide students with a broad-based education in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Business: UAPB's business programs equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the competitive world of business.
Education: The university's teacher education programs prepare future educators to meet the challenges of the classroom.
STEM Fields: Recognizing the growing importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, UAPB has invested in developing strong STEM programs.

UAPB is also a leading research institution, particularly in the field of aquaculture. The university's Aquaculture/Fisheries Center conducts cutting-edge research that supports the aquaculture industry in Arkansas and the surrounding region.

Student Life: A Vibrant Campus Community

UAPB offers a vibrant campus life with a wide range of activities and organizations to engage students. From Greek life to student government to intramural sports, there is something for everyone at UAPB. The university's Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South (M4) is one of the most popular student organizations on campus. The M4 is a nationally recognized marching band that performs at UAPB football games and other events.

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UAPB also has a strong tradition of community service. Students are actively involved in volunteering and giving back to the local community. The university's commitment to service learning helps students develop a sense of civic responsibility and make a positive impact on the world.

Notable Alumni: Shaping the World

UAPB has produced many accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions to society. Some notable UAPB alumni include:

Wiley Branton Sr.: A prominent attorney and civil rights activist.
Dr. Samuel Kountz: A pioneering kidney transplant surgeon.
John W. Walker: A respected attorney and civil rights leader.
Danny K. Davis: U.S. Representative for Illinois's 7th congressional district.
L.C. Bates: Civil Rights Activist and Newspaper Publisher
Pamela A. Smith: First African American female General to serve in the Air Force.

These alumni exemplify the transformative power of a UAPB education and the university's commitment to producing leaders who make a difference.

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