HISTORY

Southern University and A&M College had its beginning in New Orleans,Louisiana, in 1880 when a group of black politicians, led by former U.S.Senator P.B.S. Pinchback of New Orleans; a distinguished legislator, T.T.Allain of Iberville; and Henry Demas of St. John Parish petitioned theState Constitutional Convention to establish a school of higher learning for“colored” people. As a result of this petition, Southern University came intoexistence on April 10, 1880, by the passage of ACT 87 of the LouisianaGeneral Assembly.

Act 87 provided for the establishment of a university for the education ofpersons of color. The act further provided that the Board of Trusteesshould “establish a faculty of arts and letters, which shall be competent toinstruct in every branch of liberal education; and, under rules of and inconcurrence with the Board of Trustees, to graduate students and grant de-grees pertaining to arts and letters on persons competent and deserving thesame.” Under the provisions of Act 87 of the 1880 Louisiana General As-sembly, Southern University first opened on March 7, 1881, in New Or-leans.

A significant development in the history of the University was the passageof the Second Morrill Act of 1890, which provided for the establishment ofan agricultural and mechanical department for people of color, with sup-port from both the state and federal governments. The passage of the Sec-ond Morrill Act led to the reorganization of the University as a land-grantinstitution, with separate divisions for agriculture and mechanical arts.

The University remained in New Orleans until 1912, when Legislative Act188 authorized its change of location from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.The University was reopened on the new site on March 9, 1914, under thepresidency of J.S. Clark.

The Southern University and A&M College System was established in1974 by a state constitutional mandate which fashioned the Southern Uni-versity campuses into a system. Southern University is the nation’s onlyhistorically black 1890 Land Grant University System in the nation. TheSystem’s five campuses are: Southern University and A&M College atBaton Rouge (est. 1880), the Southern University Law Center (est. 1947),Southern University at New Orleans (est. 1956), Southern University atShreveport (est. 1964), and the Southern University Cooperative Exten-sion Service (est. 1972), which became the fifth campus of the System in2001, named the Southern University Agricultural Research and ExtensionCenter.

Today, the SU System is a leader in graduate and undergraduate level edu-cation through quality four-year, graduate, professional, and research pro-grams among its five Louisiana campuses. SU is among the top producersof African-American graduates in combined disciplines of engineering,technology, business, computer science, nursing, and mathematics.

ALUMNI

The Southern University System has always been a leader, not only as thecountry’s lone historically black college system, but also as the producer ofsuccessful graduates throughout the world. Notable alumni include Lt.Gen. Russell L. Honoré (retired), Commanding General of the U.S. FirstArmy Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina; Sandra SimpsonMitchell, vice president and general manager Home Box Office, Incorpo-rated; James A. Joseph, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa; Ce-leste A. Clark, senior vice president for global nutrition and corporateaffairs, Kellogg; and Rickie Weeks, second baseman, Milwaukee Brewers.Not to be excluded are nine U.S. generals and many military officers,other leaders who began their careers at Southern, along with a host ofalumni who have walked the halls of the executive, legislative, and judicialbranches of government, ranging from local to national levels. Other dis-tinguished alumni include:

Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, VP of audit and tax policy, Walmart Stores, Incorporated

Mel Blount, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Lou Brock, record-setting base-stealing Major League Baseball player

LaRonica L. Conway, associate commissioner, Southeastern Conference

Lavell Crump (a.k.a. David Banner), music recording artist

Willie Davenport, two-time gold medalist of U.S. Olympic Track Team

Melvin L. “Kip” Holden, first African-American mayor-president of the City of Baton Rouge andParish of East Baton Rouge

Randy Jackson, Grammy Award-winning producer, “American Idol” judge

Avery Johnson, former Dallas Mavericks coach

Sandra K. Johnson, Ph.D., engineer and IBM master inventor

Bob Love, former Chicago Bulls great and city councilman

Branford Marsalis, renowned jazz artist

Rodney Milburn, Track and Field gold medalist at 1972 Munich Olympic Games

Revius O. Ortique, the first African American elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court

Isiah Robertson, six time NFL Pro-Bowler

Maurice G. Sholas, M.D.,Ph.D., medical director, Children’s Rehabilitation Services / practicedirector, Children's Rehabilitation Associates, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Aeneas Williams, former NFL Pro Bowler

U.S. Military Generals:

Charles HonoréRussell HonoréEdward HonorDonald DelandroSherian CadoriaGregory RountreeJude PatinIsaac SmithJoe N. Ballard

At - a - Glance

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THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

What began as a dream more than 130 years ago is today a living legacy ofdetermination, commitment, and success. The Southern University andA&M College System is the only historically black university system inAmerica.

The System has a diverse enrollment of more than 14,000 students with lo-cations in Louisiana’s capital city of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, andShreveport. A law school and agricultural and research center also are lo-cated in Baton Rouge. The System campuses appeal to students with vari-ous undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree offerings.Widespread accomplishments of faculty and alumni have positively im-pacted society at every level.

With a strong foundation, a proven record of achievement, and a fresh vi-sion for the future, Southern University’s charge to advance the mission ofits founders’ remains at the heart of our administrators, faculty, students,and alumni.

The campuses of the Southern University and A&M College System pridethemselves with distinct learning environments, each having its own iden-tity and brand. Despite the differences in the constituencies that they serve,the commonality of all campuses lies in providing quality educational expe-riences that are affordable and accessible to all. Each of our campuses isdeeply rooted in their respective communities and is responsive to regionalintellectual, cultural, and labor needs by supporting economic and work-force development that bring benefits to the state and region.

VISION

The Southern University System aspires to prepare students to competeglobally in their respective professions and to provide advanced study ingraduate and professional schools. Our shared vision is to pursue excel-lence in providing leadership on the state, regional, national and interna-tional levels for education, research, and service activities consistent withthe System’s strategic goals and strengths.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER (SULC)· Founded 1947· Baton Rouge· Chancellor - Freddie Pitcher· Student enrollment Fall 2009 – 599

The Southern University Law Center is noted as one of the leading law schools in the country while itmaintains its historic role of giving opportunity to under-represented racial, ethnic, and economicgroups. The juris doctor degree (J.D.), through a full-time and a part-time day and evening program, isoffered at the Southern University Law Center. The Law Center and the Southern University NelsonMandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs also offer a J.D. and master of public administra-tion joint degree. There are more than 3,000 alumni of the Southern University Law Center, which isnoted as one of the most diverse law schools in the country. The Law Center has contributed to the educa-tion of more than 90 percent of the African-American attorneys in the state of Louisiana.

Did you know...?

• Southern University signature programs in nursing, education, engineering, and computer science arealigned with the State of Louisiana’s high demand jobs that pay over $30,000 per year.

• During 2007-2008, the SU System infused $539.5 million into the Louisiana economy (HanoverResearch Council).

• Southern University is one of the nation’s top 10 producers of minority students who go on to graduateschool and one of the top 20 producers of science, mathematics and engineering graduates who go on tocomplete doctoral degrees.

•U.S. News andWorld Report ranks SUBR as a top-tier school among historically black colleges anduniversities.

• SUNO is the only institution in the state to offer degree programs in substance abuse counseling andbusiness entrepreneurship. Additionally, Southern University at New Orleans’ School of Social Work andCriminal Justice are premier programs that are highly regarded by agencies throughout the state.

• Stephen C. McGuire, chairman, Department of Physics, SUBR, was elected as a Fellow of the AmericanPhysical Society.

• SUSLA was voted the third best two-year university in the country byWashingtonMonthlyMagazine. Thecampus also was recognized as the sixth fastest growing two-year institution and ranked 44th among two –year institutions graduating African-American students.

• SUBR’s Department of Rehabilitation and Disabilities Studies received a $1 million grant to design andoperate a program to help students with disabilities succeed in the areas of science, technology, engineering,and mathematics.

• The SU Law Center is noted as one of the leading law schools in the country for its diverse faculty andenvironment for minority students by Princeton Law Review.

• The SU Ag Center is the only land-grant institution in the state dedicated to sustaining underserved citi-zens by teaching strategies for family management, food and nutrition, childcare, agriculture, parenting,youth development, and urban forestry.

• The SUBR School of Nursing, in 2010, was named “Nursing School of the Year” by the LouisianaNurses Foundation and the Louisiana State Nurses Association.

• SUNO received $1.75 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen its undergrad-uate recruitment and retention activities in mathematics and science.

• The Law Center has contributed to the education of more than 90 percent of the African-American attor-neys in the state of Louisiana. SULC graduates make up approximately seven percent of the Louisiana Leg-islature and more than 40 hold judicial offices at the local, state, and national level.

• SUBR was awarded a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish the “Next Gen-eration Composites Crest Center,” called NextGenC3, on the University’s campus.

• SUSLA opened a $2 million Business and Community Development Center with the capacity to accom-modate up to eight tenants.

• Michelle Claville, chair of the Department of Chemistry, SUBR, was awarded a $400,000 National Sci-ence Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program grant.

• The State Farm Bayou Classic is among the oldest and largest historically black colleges and universities’bowl football classics.

• The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center received a $300,000 USDA grantto support its Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute.

• SUSLA was awarded a $4.2 million U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administra-tion (ETA) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Diola Bagayoko, SU System distinguished professor of physics, received the 2009 AAAS Mentor Awardfor Lifetime Achievement.

• SUBR was awarded a $1 million NSF grant for a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and forresearch training.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT SHREVEPORT (SUSLA)· Founded 1964· Shreveport· Chancellor - Ray Belton· Student enrollment Fall 2009 - 3,014

Southern University, Shreveport, Louisiana, offers one-and two-year career programs designed to meetan increasing demand for technicians, semi-professional workers and skilled craftsmen. SUSLA pre-pares students for upward mobility in industry, business, allied health professions, and government. Ad-ditionally, associate degrees in the arts, sciences, applied sciences, as well as certificate programs areoffered. While its radio technology and dental technology programs have gained accolades, SUSLA ath-letics program has etched its mark in the community college arena.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS (SUNO)· Founded 1956· New Orleans· Chancellor - Victor Ukpolo· Student enrollment Fall 2009 - 3,140

Founded in 1956, Southern University at New Orleans, awards degrees at the certificate, associate’s,bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels. The university offers internet-based courses and compressed-videoclasses. The campus serves a largely economically disadvantaged student population and has the Sys-tem’s largest non-traditional population, addressing the needs of full-time working students. In early2010, SUNO opened the first residence halls on the campus. Recently a new Information TechnologyCenter was opened and plans are in motion to construct a new building for the College of Business andPublic Administration. SUNO, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics andpart of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, takes deep pride in its athletic program, which featureshighly accomplished men’s and women’s basketball teams.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE (SUBR)· Founded 1880· Baton Rouge· Chancellor - Kofi Lomotey· Student enrollment - Fall 2009 - 7,627

Situated on Scott’s Bluff, along the mighty Mississippi River, Southern University and A&M College,has arguably the best scenery along the river, along with one of the best values in higher education. Thelargest campus of the system, SUBR is home to nearly 8,000 students and is one of the nation’s top-10producers of minority graduates and top-20 producers of science, technology, engineering, and mathe-matics doctoral candidates. Southern University and A&M College is a comprehensive institution of-fering four-year, graduate, professional, and doctoral degree programs. It offers bachelor’s degrees in 42areas, 19 master’s, five doctoral, and two associate degrees. A member of the National Collegiate Ath-letic Association (NCAA) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the Southern UniversityJaguars have brought home SWAC titles just about every season since 1991. Student-athletes not onlyexcel on the playing field and the classroom; they are making quite an impact in professional sports.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER(SU AG CENTER)· Founded 2001· Baton Rouge· Chancellor - Leodrey Williams

The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center is an epicenter of basic and ap-plied research, addressing the scientific, technological, socio-economic, and cultural needs of not only thestate or nation, but also the world. The efforts of the Ag Center’s research teams have reached as far asthe Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where researchers and scientists have teamed with the U.S. De-partment of Agriculture (USDA) to help the Bosnian government improve food inspection standards.At home, the Ag Center helps small scale and limited resourced farmers develop and maintain environ-mental friendly operations. Strategically located extension agents are able to package and disseminateviable information designed for the improvement of the state’s quality of life.

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