The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) began its life as the Arkansas State Normal School in 1907. Originally intended to bolster Arkansas's teaching pool by training professional educators, the school hosted 9 academic departments, 1 building, 107 students, and 7 faculty members. The school renamed itself the Arkansas State Teachers College in 1925 and became the University of Central Arkansas in 1975. UCA now has around 12,000 students, 400 full-time faculty, 150 total degrees and certificates, and more than 120 buildings on over 350 acres. UCA was one of the first schools in the nation to create an honors program, the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College, which still thrives today. The University of Central Arkansas has positioned itself as a beacon of academic progress in Arkansas and continues to grow with Conway's booming population sector.