The 1995-96 school year was an important one for Arizona International Campus of the UA.

AIC did not teach this year, but it began working to see that its doors will open to begin classes this fall.

Here is a timeline of this year's steps toward the opening of AIC:

September 1995:

Downtown site is considered for the New Campus.

October 1995:

The Arizona Board of Regents votes unanimously against the downtown site. UA President Manuel Pacheco said the site had "severe limitations."

November 1995:

The New Campus is officially named, "Arizona International University." During its early years, however, it will be referred to as the "Arizona International Campus of the University of Arizona."

The university begins to formulate its academic plan.

January 1996:

The board of regents votes to give AIC faculty multi-year contracts rather than tenure. Controversy erupts as the UA Faculty Senate votes to support a tenure system at AIC, in opposition to the vote of the regents.

The board of regents decides on the site at South Rita Road and Interstate 10 as the temporary location for AIC.

February 1996:

AIC is threatened with loss of recognition from the UA Faculty Senate because of differences in philosophies about tenure, curriculum and accreditation.

March 1996:

The UA Faculty Senate votes to require AIC to follow UA policies and withholds approval of the new campus. Faculty Sen. Edward Williams said, "The vote not to approve AIC is an expression of the UA faculty's lack of confidence in the administration of AIC."

AIC begins accepting admission applications for the fall of 1996.

April 1996:

AIC receives only 48 applications for an expected class of 100 students. The application deadline is extended.

The South Rita Road and Interstate 10 site questioned by AIC's National Advisory Board because of its distance from Tucson. Housing is still being arranged for AIC students.

May 1996:

The AIC administration hires five faculty members for a total of eight full-time teachers.