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About UALR

Important Milestones

  • 1927 Little Rock Board of Education established Little Rock Junior College (LRJC) upon the urging of Swedish-born principal John A. Larson. The college was located in Little Rock High School (now Little Rock Central High School) at West 14th and Park Streets.
  • 1929 LRJC became the beneficiary of a trust established by former Arkansas Governor George W. Donaghey and his wife Louvenia.
  • 1931 LRJC moved to the Uriah M. Rose Grammar School located at 13th and State Streets beginning with the fall term in September.
  • 1949 LRJC moved to present location on an 80-acre tract of land on Hayes Street (now University Avenue) donated by Mr. Raymond Rebsamen.
  • 1949 LRJC’s football team won Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
  • 1957 LRJC became the private Little Rock University (LRU) and began offering four-year degrees.
  • 1969 Little Rock University merged with the University of Arkansas System to create the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR).
  • 1975 UA law program in Little Rock transferred to UALR and School of Law created.
  • 1975 UA Graduate School of Social Work in Little Rock transferred to UALR.
  • 1977 UALR Graduate School established.
  • 1978 UA Industrial Research and Extension Center in Little Rock transferred to UALR.
  • 1979 UALR joined the Trans-America Athletic Conference and began NCAA Division I competition.
  • 1985 UA Little Rock Graduate Resident Center graduate programs in education transferred to UALR.
  • 1986 UA Graduate Institute of Technology in Little Rock transferred to UALR.
  • 1986 UALR Public Radio–KUAR-FM public radio went on the air.
  • 1990 First UALR doctoral degree offered.
  • 1991 UALR joined SunBelt Athletic Conference.
  • 1992 First UALR student residence hall opened.
  • 1995 UALR Benton Center opened.
  • 1999 Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering (now Donaghey college of Engineering and Information Technology) established.
  • 2000 UALR classified as doctoral university/research intensive in the National Carnegie categories of institutions of higher education.
  • 2002 UALR celebrated its 75th anniversary.
  • 2004 UALR purchased University Plaza Shopping Center on south end of campus at Asher and University Avenues.
  • 2005 UALR opened on-campus intercollegiate athletic arena, a gift from Mr. Jackson T. Stephens.
  • 2008 UALR launched its first comprehensive campaign, It’s Time for UALR.
Updated 2.27.2009