Henderson State University

In The School With a Heart, you will learn how a small, south Arkansas college has transformed into a thriving, regional university. The educational landscape of Arkansas changed forever 125 years ago when a small group of Methodists in Arkadelphia decided to open a college. The resolve of the earliest students and faculty ensured the school would persevere. Nearly destroyed by a fire less than a quarter century after opening its doors, the spirit of its students and faculty never waivered. Instead, the college rose from the ashes and emerged even stronger.

Unique among institutions of higher learning in Arkansas, Henderson is the only school to operate both as a private college and as a public university. During this shift, it was only with the support of the community that Henderson kept its doors open.