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History

SAU Tech was created on April 5, 1967, as Southwest Technical Institute by Act 534 of the Arkansas Legislature. The purpose of the institute was to provide a technically trained workforce for the growing Highland Industrial Park where it was located. Seventy acres of land and six buildings at the Park were donated by the Brown Foundation of Houston, Texas which had purchased the former Shumaker Naval Ammunition Depot for redevelopment. Financing for renovation and equipping the facility was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

The Arkansas State Board of Education operated the school until 1975 when, by an Act of the Arkansas Legislature, Southwest Technical Institute became Southern Arkansas University Tech, under the governance of the Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University. With this change, the college came under the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to grant the associate of arts and associate of science degrees as well as the associate of applied science degree.

Today, SAU Tech is a two-year college specializing in technical training and offers the first two years of a university transfer program in General Education, Teacher Education, and Business Administration. Technical programs are offered in Aviation Maintenance, Computer Information Technology, Technology, with the option of an emphasis in Industrial Maintenance and Engineering, Office Systems Technology, with the option of an emphasis in Medical Transcription, and Multimedia Technology, which includes either an emphasis in Film & Video Production, Graphic Design, or Game Design and Development.

Roger L. Worsley, former president of Laredo Community College in Laredo, Texas, became chancellor of SAU Tech in 1996. In 2001, he reported that 112 former employees, a fifth of the work force, of the 73-year-old but since closed International Paper plant in Camden, were at SAU Tech seeking educational credentials for other jobs, many with state financial assistance. He noted that many of the jobs for which the workers were training were in computer networking and electronics, openings mostly unavailable in Camden and the South Arkansas region. Once the skills were acquired, the workers would largely be leaving the Camden area.

When Worsley retired from SAU Tech in 2005, the Arkansas General Assembly honored his contributions to higher education. Legislators noted the increase in enrollment from 700 to 2,100 during Worsley’s tenure. SAU Tech became the fastest-growing college in Arkansas, having grown 24.6 percent in the fall of 2004 and 26.7 percent in the spring of 2005. Worsley introduced Internet classes, and enrollment expanded in the various specialty schools at the institution. On-line degrees soon followed.

The specialty schools are the SAU Tech Career Academy, the Ouachita County Adult Education Center, the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, and the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy. The Columbia and Dallas County adult education centers have joined the SAU Tech list of programs and facilities.

Governance

SAU Tech is governed by the Board of Trustees ofย Southern Arkansas Universityย in nearbyย Magnolia. The SAU Tech Chancellor reports directly to the SAU President in Magnolia.

Accreditation

SAU Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. SAU Tech’s overall accreditation, and those of its individual programs, are independent of SAU’s accreditations.

The following programs have received additional accreditation or approval as shown below:

Academic ProgramAccrediting/Approving Agency
Aviation Maintenance TechnologyFederal Aviation Administration
Practical NursingArkansas State Board of Nursing
Nursing AssistantArkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care
Firefighter StandardsInternational Fire Service Accreditation Congress
Firefighter StandardsNational Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications

Southern Arkansas University Tech Transcript Request

You are here:SAU Home/Academics/Registrar/ Requesting a Transcript

Requesting a Transcript

Southern Arkansas University uses the Parchment credentials service to accept transcript orders online. You can order transcripts at any time of the day or week, and SAU will process transcript orders during business hours. Order processing times may vary due to the number of orders received daily.Order an official transcript

The Parchment site will provide instructions for placing your order, including delivery options and fees. You can order as many transcripts as you like in a single session. Parchment charges a $3.00 processing fee for each transcript sent, plus an additional postage charge for physical transcripts. Order updates will be emailed to you, and you can also check your order status and history online.

If you need assistance or have questions about the Parchment transcript ordering service, please visit theย Parchment Help Centerย website.

You may also request your transcript free of charge by visiting the Registrarโ€™s Office in Nelson 102 during business hours and providing a photo ID. If you would prefer not to use the online system but are unable to come to our office, you may also contact us at sauregistrar@saumag.edu or 870-235-4031 to request a transcript request form be sent to you by mail. There will be no cost for this service.

Verification of Enrollment

Enrollment Verificationย for current students can be requested via theย CampusConnectย Student Dashboard under the โ€œFormsโ€ tab. If you no longer have access to CampusConnect, you can download aย Letter of Good Standing Requestย and submit it via email toย sauregistrar@saumag.eduย or bring the completed form in person to Nelson Hall 102.

Deferment Letter

If a letter of deferment for loan purposes is needed, students should send an email request to the Office of the Registrar atย sauregistrar@saumag.eduย and a staff member will validate the required information and forward it to the National Student Loan Clearinghouse or individual loan provider.


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