INTRODUCTION - Universities

Arizona's public university system consists of three public universities and its tri-university distance learning endeavor.

In 1885, the 13th Territorial Legislative Assembly awarded Tucson the University of Arizona and a $25,000 appropriation. In 1886 the Arizona Board of Regents was created to govern the University of Arizona.

The colleges at Tempe and Flagstaff, forerunners of Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University, did not initially come under the supervision of the Board of Regents. Each college had its own three-member governing board chaired by the superintendent of public instruction. This practice continued after statehood into the 1940s.

On March 12, 1945, Gov. Sidney P. Osborn signed legislation that created a unified Board of Regents. The board met for the first time in June 1945. The authority of the Board of Regents expanded to include the Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe (Arizona State University), and Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff (Northern Arizona University).

Arizona State University ~ Home of the Sun Devils

ASU Mascot Sparky the Sun Devil

ASU Administration 2011-2012 About ASU President's Office History Contact Information Become a Student Key Staff Alumni   Past ASU Presidents

Northern Arizona University ~ Home of the Lumberjacks

NAU Mascot Louie the Lumberjack

NAU Administration 2011-2012 About NAU President's Office History Contact Information Become a Student Key Staff Alumni   Past NAU Presidents

University of Arizona ~ Home of the Wildcats

UA Mascot Wilbur Wildcat

UA Administration 2011-2012 About UA President's Office History Contact Information Become a Student Key Staff Alumni   Past UA Presidents

INTRODUCTION - State Colleges

The Arizona Legislature appropriated funds for a study committee to survey the higher education needs of the state in 1958.
About a year later the committee recommended the establishment of a state junior college system to assist the universities and state colleges to provide educational opportunities to the growing population.
Laws to establish Arizona Community College Districts can be found in Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 15 Education, Chapter 12, Articles 1-5.

Visit the Arizona State Legislature Web page at www.azleg.gov; or visit your local library to review the laws.

In 1960, the Legislature authorized the State Board of Directors for Junior Colleges and enacted legislation to create junior college districts supported by county and state funds.

In 1971, the Legislature amended the law to change junior colleges to community colleges.

State Board of Directors for Community College rules were on file with the secretary of state in Title 7, Ch. 1 but these rules subsequently expired July 1, 2003, under a law passed by the 45th Legislature, Second Regular Session in 2002.

Laws 2002, Ch. 330, § 58 (HB 2710) transferred the duties of the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges to each County Board of Supervisors with a community college district.

The Board of Supervisors shall establish in the same manner as provided in A.R.S. § 16-411 five precincts in a community college district for the election of a district board member from each precinct (A.R.S.§ 15-1441).