Henderson State University Explained

Henderson State University
Chancellor:Trey Berry[1]
Provost:TaLisha Givan
Country:United States
Administrative Staff:186[2]
Undergrad:1,807 (fall 2022)[3]
Postgrad:712 (fall 2022)
Campus:Rural 151acres
Colors:Red and Gray[4]
 

Henderson State University (HSU) is a public university in Arkadelphia, Arkansas,[5] Founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College.[6] Henderson has an undergraduate enrollment of around 2,500 students. The campus is located on 156acres.[7]

History

Henderson State University is the only university in the state of Arkansas to have been controlled by both church and State. The university is also the only public Arkansas university to be named for an individual[8] - the university was renamed for Charles Christopher Henderson, a trustee and prominent Arkadelphia businessman,[9] on May 23, 1904. Overall, the university has operated under six different names: Arkadelphia Methodist College (1890-1904), Henderson College (1904-1911), Henderson-Brown College (1911-1929), Henderson State Teachers College (1929-1967), Henderson State College (1967-1975) and Henderson State University (1975-Present).[10]

The university was founded on March 24, 1890, nearly five months after Arkadelphia city leaders and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South unsuccessfully tried to lure Hendrix College to Arkadelphia. [11]

On September 3, 1890, Arkadelphia Methodist College opened its doors to 110 students and 10 faculty members. The college also served as an academy, providing high school level education, until 1925.[12]

In 1913, the university football team’s name began to shift from “Reds” and/or “Red Jackets” to “Reddies.” The Henderson State athletic programs and student body are affectionately called Reddies to this day.[13]

In 1929, the university, known then as Henderson Brown College, was pressured to merge with Hendrix College by the Arkansas Methodist Conferences. However, Arkadelphians and southern Arkansan leaders refused to let the institution leave and offered it to the State of Arkansas. The Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 46 to “establish a standard Teachers College in Arkadelphia,” turning Henderson Brown College into Henderson State Teachers College.[14]

Presidents and chancellors

Presidents and chancellors of the university have included:[15]

Glen Jones years and subsequent financial crisis

Glendell Jones Jr. was named Henderson State University's 17th president on Tuesday, March 6, 2012, and officially assumed presidential duties on July 1, 2012. Jones' tenure as president was rocked by a series of scandals and bad publicity and he and his senior leadership were twice the subject of no-confidence votes by the faculty. These votes were not heeded by the university's board of trustees. When the true scope of the university's budget crisis became public in July 2019, Jones was asked to resign and compensated with a year's further salary and six months free residence at the university's presidential mansion. He currently serves as an adviser to the president of Georgetown University.

Jones—as well as several other current and former administrators, staff, and members of the board of trustees—were called to testify before the Arkansas legislature in 2020 as part of the state's effort to understand the university's staggering financial collapse.

Following Jones' resignation, then-general counsel Elaine Kneebone was named acting president. She was replaced by interim President/Chancellor Jim Borsig, who resigned in early 2021 citing health concerns. Chuck Ambrose was hired in November 2021 as the first permanent head of the institution in over two years.

On October 24, 2019, the Henderson State Board of Trustees voted unanimously to join the Arkansas State University System based in Little Rock.[16]

In February 2022, the university, claiming a pending cash shortfall of over $12 million, declared financial exigency and announced plans to begin cuts to personnel and programs in an effort to "right-size" the university and avert the university's closure.[17]

On May 2, 2022, 37% of faculty received phone calls from the chancellor's office that their positions had been terminated, 12 departments were excised entirely, eliminating many degree programs.[18] [19] [20] The university cut 67 faculty positions, of which 44 were tenured.[21] Students and faculty protested the sweeping changes, and on May 4, the Faculty Senate voted no confidence in the administration.[22] On May 5, the ASUS Board dismissed the vote of no confidence and approved Chancellor Ambrose's recommendations for program and faculty cuts. Over a year later, Ambrose announced his resignation, effective September 15, 2023.[23] [24] ASU System President Charles Welch later announced the selection of Bob Fisher, a native of Arkadelphia and former president of Belmont University, as interim chancellor of Henderson State.[25]

2019 campus methamphetamine synthesis incident

In October 2019, police responded to a campus chemistry laboratory at the Reynolds Science Center following concerns of chemical odors resulting in the building's closure for several weeks. Initial investigation found elevated levels of benzyl chloride and subsequently found methamphetamine residues. Two chemistry professors who were described as having been acting awkwardly were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.[26] [27] [28]

Athletics

See main article: Henderson State Reddies.

Henderson State's athletic teams are the Reddies. The university is a member in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Great American Conference since the 2011–12 academic year. The Reddies previously competed in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) from 1993–94 to 2010–11; as well as the defunct Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1930–31 to 1992–93.

Henderson State sponsors in 12 intercollegiate sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf and swimming & diving; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, softball, swimming & diving, tennis and volleyball. The university also has a co-ed cheer and pom squad.

Football

See main article: Henderson State Reddies football.

The university's football team's home games are played at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia.[29] Henderson State shares the longest rivalry in Division II football with Ouachita Baptist University Tigers, the Battle of the Ravine, which began in 1895.

Notable alumni

See also

Further reading

External links

34.1307°N -93.0588°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Administration - Chancellor. 7 February 2024. Henderson State University. en.
  2. Web site: Office of Institutional Research | University of Arkansas . University of Arkansas . January 24, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141009185444/http://oir.uark.edu/quickfacts/faculty.html . October 9, 2014 . dead .
  3. Web site: College Navigator - Henderson State University. nces.ed.gov. June 15, 2020. March 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220306094104/https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Henderson+State+University&s=all&id=107071. live.
  4. Web site: Henderson State University Visual Identity and Brand Standards . November 19, 2017 . December 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041454/http://hsu.today/visual-identity-and-style-guide/color/ . dead .
  5. Web site: GetReddie for Henderson . Henderson State University . April 26, 2008 . April 16, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080416164608/http://www.getreddie.com/ . live .
  6. Web site: Henderson State University – Encyclopedia of Arkansas . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100612161915/http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4139 . June 12, 2010 . April 26, 2008 . Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  7. Web site: Henderson State University - Profile, Rankings and Data . usnews.com . April 11, 2023 . March 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220306094104/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/henderson-state-university-1098 . live .
  8. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . History . 2024-02-08 . Henderson State University . en.
  9. Web site: Captain Charles C. Henderson House, Arkadelphia, Clark Country . Arkansas Historic Preservation Program . https://archive.today/20140525070347/http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=1243 . dead . May 25, 2014 . May 24, 2014 .
  10. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . History . 2024-02-08 . Henderson State University . en.
  11. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . History . 2024-02-08 . Henderson State University . en.
  12. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . History . 2024-02-08 . Henderson State University . en.
  13. Web site: What is a Reddie? . 2024-02-08 . Henderson State University Athletics . en.
  14. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . History . 2024-02-08 . Henderson State University . en.
  15. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . History . 2024-02-08 . Henderson State University . en.
  16. News: Walkenhorst . Emily . 2019-10-25 . HSU trustees OK beginning merger with ASU System . . . live . 2022-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331083352/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/oct/25/hsu-trustees-ok-beginning-merger-with-a/ . 2022-03-31 . 1060-4332 . 2019271069 . 980986607 . dmy-all.
  17. Web site: President Glen Jones. https://web.archive.org/web/20140106045826/http://www.hsu.edu/president/. dead. January 6, 2014. June 15, 2020.
  18. 2022-05-05 . ASU System Board of Trustees Approves Henderson Academic Restructuring Plan . live . Press release . en-US . Little Rock . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220505214728/https://www.asusystem.edu/headlines/asu-system-board-of-trustees-approves-henderson-academic-restructuring-plan . 2022-05-05 . 2022-05-09 . LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees today approved the recommendations of Henderson State University Chancellor Chuck Ambrose for an academic reorganization designed to enhance student success, address community-based workforce needs and produce critical financial savings for the institution’s future. . dmy-all.
  19. News: Neale . Zeringue . 2022-05-04 . 2022-05-03 . Faculty and students opposing Henderson State budget cuts plan. KARK-TV. . https://web.archive.org/web/20220505145712/https://www.kark.com/news/education/faculty-and-students-opposing-henderson-state-budget-cuts-plan/ . 2022-05-05 . 2022-05-05 . live . dmy-all.
  20. Nietzel . Michael T. . 2022-05-04 . Henderson State University's Financial Exigency To Include Deep Faculty And Academic Program Cuts . limited . live . Education . . en-US . 0015-6914 . sf86091533 . 1088420850 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220504200306/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2022/05/04/henderson-state-universitys-financial-exigency-to-include-deep-faculty-and-academic-program-cuts/?sh=617b741921fb . 2022-05-04 . 2022-05-05 . dmy-all .
  21. News: Jaschik . Scott . 2022-05-04 . University Seeks to Cut 67 Faculty, 44 of Them Tenured . live . . en . 721351944 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220506011351/https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/05/04/university-seeks-cut-67-faculty-44-them-tenured . 2022-05-06 . 2022-05-09 . limited . The administration of Henderson State University, in Arkansas, on Monday proposed cutting 67 faculty jobs, 44 of them held by tenured professors. The university also seeks to eliminate another 21 positions that are unfilled. . dmy-all.
  22. News: Chris . Counts . 2022-05-04 . Henderson State Faculty Senate vote "no confidence" in administration after budget cuts released . . . 2022-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220505160402/https://www.kark.com/news/education/henderson-state-faculty-senate-votes-no-confidence-in-administration-after-budget-cuts-released/ . 2022-05-05 . live . dmy-all.
  23. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . 2023-07-31 . HSU Chancellor Chuck Ambrose to Resign, Effective Sept. 15 News . 2023-08-30 . Henderson State University . en.
  24. Web site: Henderson State University chancellor announces resignation . Ryan . Anderson . August 1, 2023 . . August 2, 2023.
  25. Web site: hsu.edu . Henderson State University- . 2023-08-16 . Dr. Bob Fisher appointed interim chancellor at Henderson State News . 2023-08-30 . Henderson State University . en.
  26. News: Bote . Joshua . 2019-11-19 . 2019-11-18 . Chemistry professors charged with making meth in school lab after report of strange odor . 2022-05-05 . . en-US . 0734-7456 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220306094113/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/18/arkansas-chemistry-professors-charged-making-meth-school-lab/4226884002/ . 2022-03-06 . live . "Initial testing indicated an elevated presence of benzyl chloride in a laboratory," Hall told USA TODAY. Benzyl chloride is classified as an "extremely dangerous substance" by the U.S. government and is sometimes used in the manufacturing of amphetamines. . dmy-all .
  27. Halford . Bethany . 2020-02-07 . Ex-Henderson State University professors plead not guilty to making methamphetamine . 2022-05-05 . . en . 1520-605X . 0009-2347 . a41002413 . 567617114 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220306094104/https://cen.acs.org/research-integrity/misconduct/Ex-Henderson-State-University-professors-plead-not-guilty-to-making-methamphetamine/98/web/2020/02 . 2022-03-06 . live . limited . Terry David Bateman and Bradley Allen Rowland, the two former Henderson State University chemistry professors who were arrested in November for allegedly making methamphetamine, pleaded not guilty to all charges on Feb. 4. The chemists are formally charged with making methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia for making methamphetamine, possession of the methamphetamine precursor phenylpropanolamine, and manufacture of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone (the university). . dmy-all .
  28. News: Diaz. Johnny. 2019-11-17. 2 Arkansas Chemistry Professors Face Charges of Making Meth. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-10-22. 0362-4331. March 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220306094102/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/17/us/arkansas-chemistry-professor-meth.html. live.
  29. Web site: Henderson State Historical Data. College Football Data Warehouse. 2014-02-10. February 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222050908/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ii/gac/henderson_state/index.php. dead.
  30. Web site: Office of the President: About Bob Fisher. Belmont University. October 12, 2017. October 12, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012202015/http://www.belmont.edu/president/bio.html. live.

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