History

Morrill Act offers funding to states or territories with a land-grant university

University of Arizona founded

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is established as UA's first academic unit

Hatch Act requires each land-grant university to share their research findings with the public through an Experiment Station

University of Arizona hires first employee, Frank Gulley, as director of the Experiment Station

The university and college open their doors. UA's first student is a 15-year-old girl named Clara Fish

First class graduates from UA

Domestic Science course of study is opened to students

UA Photograph Collection, Domestic Science Cottage, Folder 1, N-2389, courtesy of UA Libraries, Special Collections

Santa Rita Experimental Range established in Green Valley, Ariz.

Arizona achieves statehood

Smith-Lever Act: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension created

UA Photograph Collection, Old Main -- Interior, 1896-1910, Folder 1, courtesy of UA Libraries, Special Collections

Construction of Agriculture Building is completed

UA Photograph Collection, Agriculture Building -- Construction, Folder 1, N-6542, courtesy of UA Libraries, Special Collections

First departments established: Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Chemistry, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Breeding, Home Economics

First international student enrolled in CALS

College nominates first honorary doctorate degree recipient

Margaret L. Cammack Smith's research on the role of fluoride in dental health brings national recognition

W.T. McGeorge discovers unusually high amounts of potassium in Arizona soils, reducing the need to heavily fertilize and saving money for both farmers and consumers for years.

Researchers Alton H. Finch and Allen F. Kinnison save Arizona’s pecan industry when they discover a way to control Pecan rosette with zinc additives

First full-time agricultural communications worker, Mernice Murphy, begins work as Extension editor

CALS joins the defense effort, focusing on increased farm production

Pressley Index becomes industry standard for measuring cotton fiber strength

UA Photograph Collection, Agriculture Building -- Interiors, Folder 2, N-6170, courtesy of UA Libraries, Special Collections

College collaborates with US Department of State and USDA in the development of an agricultural college in Iraq

Pima S-1 cotton developed by Walker E. Bryan at Tucson Experimental Farm. This cultivar will revolutionize the long-staple cotton industry

Institute of Water Utilization is formed. The institute changed its name to Water Resources Research Center in 1964

CALS researcher establishes one of the first plant molecular biology laboratories in the world

Office of Arid Land Studies established

College hosts first annual Ag Alumni Breakfast at Homecoming

Project CENTRL, a leadership development program for rural Arizonans, begins

Maricopa Agricultural Center is added to the Experiment Station

First CALS faculty is awarded an endowed chair

First strategic planning effort takes place

College becomes first at UA to have a website. It could only be accessed via lynx

Bt cotton is introduced to Arizona via Arizona IPM

Controlled Environment Agriculture Center established

College of Agriculture renamed - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

McClelland Park is the first UA building funded 100% by donations. Building is home to John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences

First fully online degree offered by School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness