University of Arkansas
at Pine Bluff
Jennifer Stewart, Haley Walker & Marie Walker
Historical Review
▪ Founded in 1873
▪ Formerly known as The
Branch Normal College;
Agriculture, Mechanical &
Normal College (AM&N)
▪ Started with seven students
enrolled in classes
Historical Review
▪ Expanded under the 1890 Amendments to the Morrill- Land Grant Colleges Act
▪ Primary focus at inception: Educate African-Americans to become teachers for
the state’s African-American Schools
▪ Two types of students allowed to enroll:
▪ Beneficiaries
▪ Pay Students
▪ Location was chosen for two reasons:
▪ The large African-American population in the city
▪ The area was considered the major economic center in south-central Arkansas
Historical Review
▪ 1921 – Curriculum and Enrollment strengthened under leadership of Robert
Malone
▪ 1927 – Became known as AM&N and became independent of the University of
Arkansas
▪ 1929 – Became a standard 4-year college
▪ 1943 –Academic programs were expanded and organizational structure
changed under the new president, Lawrence A. Davis
▪ 1971 – State Legislature ordered that the University of Arkansas & AM&N
should be merged into one system
▪ 1972 – Became the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
UAPB Today
▪ Current Chancellor is Dr. Laurence B. Alexander
▪ Operates four off campus sites in Lake Village, Marianna, North Little Rock &
Lonoke
▪ Offers bachelor degrees in the following areas:
▪ Agriculture
▪ Fisheries & Human Sciences
▪ Arts & Sciences
▪ Business & Management
▪ Education
▪ Rehabilitation Services
UAPB Today
▪ Offers graduate degrees in the following areas:
▪ Master of Arts in Education
▪ Master of Arts in Science – including aquaculture and fisheries & addiction services
▪ 2011 – The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the first
doctoral program at UAPB
▪ Doctorate in Aquaculture & Fisheries
UAPB Interesting Facts
▪ Oldest Historically Black College in Arkansas
▪ Second Oldest Public University in the State after the University of Arkansas
▪ Under the tutelage of Dr. Herman B. Smith, the school was sued on the grounds
of sexual discrimination – the school was found guilty of “practices of sexual
discrimination too blatant to overlook” by Judge Henry Woods
▪ UAPB is governed by its Chancellor in partnership with the Board of Visitors
and the Faculty/Staff Senate
Known Graduates of UAPB
▪ Dr. Samuel Kountz an African-American
kidney transplant
surgeon who
performed the first
kidney transplant on
humans who were
not identical twins
(1930 – 1981)
▪ Wiley Branton, Sr. –
noted Civil Rights
attorney and later,
Dean of Howard
University School
of Law
(1923 – 1988)
▪ John W. Walker –
Civil Rights
Attorney. He is
serving his first
term in the
Arkansas House of
Representatives.
He represents
District 34, which
encompasses part
of Pulaski County.
Known Graduates of UAPB
▪ L.C. Greenwood professional football
player for the
Pittsburgh Steelers
(1946 – 2013)
▪ Cleo Miller –
professional
football player for
the Cleveland
Browns
▪ Dr. John
Kuykendall –
Professor of
Higher Education
at the University
of Arkansas at
Little Rock
UAPB Organizational Structure of Student
Affairs
UAPB Organizational Structure of Student
Affairs
▪ Primary Mission:
▪ To Develop, organize, administer, coordinate and monitor
a variety of programs, activities, services and experiences
that will contribute positively to the academic,
environmental, social and developmental growth for its
diverse student body.
UAPB Organizational Structure of Student
Affairs
▪ The Division of Student Affairs is composed of the following departments:
▪ Career Services
▪ Admissions
▪ Health Services
▪ Student Life
▪ Enrollment Management
▪ University Police Department
▪ Student Counseling
▪ Assessment and Development
▪ Residential Life
▪ Student Involvement and Leadership
▪ Recruitment
UAPB Organizational Structure of Student
Affairs
▪ Governed by Mr. Elbert Bennett, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
UAPB Organizational Structure of Student
Affairs
▪ Mr. Bennett’s Background
▪ Received his undergraduate degree from UAPB; his M.A. from Lincoln University in
Jefferson City, Mo
▪ He began his doctoral degree in educational administration and student personnel at
the University of Missouri, but left to return to UAPB before he completed his thesis
▪ Has worked for UAPB for 35 years
▪ Has held several positions at UAPB including
▪ Baseball Coach
▪ Assistant Athletic Director
▪ Director of Career Services
▪ Director of Development
▪ Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (current role)
UAPB Organizational Structure of Student
Affairs
▪ Role of Student Affairs personnel at UAPB
▪ Student advocates
▪ Provide a safe campus
▪ Provide activities to help hone leadership skills
▪ Charged with helping build competent students and future employees
▪ Create an environment that is conducive to student growth and supplements the
classroom experience
UAPB Organizational Structure of Student
Affairs
▪ Role of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UAPB
▪ Responsible for entire student population
▪ Formal appeal process vs. Open door policy
▪ No such thing as a typical day
▪ Police reports
▪ Staff meetings
▪ Return phone calls/emails
▪ Visits with students and colleagues around campus
What Makes Student Affairs Unique at UAPB?
▪ Because UAPB is a historically black university, it creates some challenges that
may not exist at predominately white universities. Vice Chancellor Bennett
found that because of the smaller population at UAPB, this creates a sense of
intimacy where
“everyone knows everyone and anyone can pick up the phone. I don’t
think that Chancellor [David] Gearhart [from University of Arkansas at
Fayetteville] is getting calls because so-and-so’s granddaughter didn’t win
Little Miss UAPB. That is the kind of stuff I have on my plate right now.
People think they can just pick up the phone and make a few calls and it
will be taken care of because they go to church with me. It’s an interesting
situation. Why is Student Affairs Office dealing with this
anyway?”{laughing}
- Quote from Mr. Elbert Bennett interview
Student & Staff Interviews ~ Final Thoughts
“At the end of the day, you have to do what is right for the institution.”
- Mr. Elbert Bennett