Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University

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Alabama A&M University
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Alabama A&M University logo
Motto:	Service is Sovereignty
Established:	1875
Type:	Public, HBCU
President:	Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr.
Undergraduates:	5,000
Postgraduates:	1,000
Location:	Normal, Alabama, United States 34°47′05″N 86°34′12″W / 34.784643°N 86.569950°W / 34.784643; -86.569950Coordinates: 34°47′05″N 86°34′12″W / 34.784643°N 86.569950°W / 34.784643; -86.569950
Campus:	Suburban, 880 acres (3.6 km2)
Colors:	Maroon and White
Nickname:	Bulldogs or Lady Bulldogs
Mascot:	Butch
Athletics:	NCAA Division I FCS
Affiliations:	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Website:	www.aamu.edu

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, also known as Alabama A&M University or AAMU, is an accredited public, historically black university, Land-grant university located in Normal, Madison County, Alabama. ^[5][6] AAMU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.

[edit] History

Alabama A&M was established originally by an act of the Alabama State Legislature in 1873 as the State Normal School and University for the Education of the Colored Teachers and Students. In 1878, the school changed its name to the State Normal and Industrial School. In 1891, the school received funds as a land-grant college under the terms of the Morrill Act of 1890 and changed its name again to the State Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes. In 1919, the school became the State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute for Negroes, and in 1948 it was renamed the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College. Finally, in June 1969, the school adopted its current name.

One of its most influential and longest-serving presidents was its fourth, Joseph Fanning Drake, who served from 1927 until 1962. Drake's appointment request by the legislature was made when he was previously Dean of the College at Alabama State College in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dr. John T. Gibson, the ninth president of Alabama A&M attended Tuskegee Institute as a student athlete. At that institution, he received his B.S. and Masters degree before receiving his PhD at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He returned to Alabama to begin his career in the field of education. Dr. Gibson served as a professor at Alabama State University, in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. In 1986, Douglas Covington, the sixth President of Alabama A&M brought Dr. Gibson in as is Vice President of Business and Finance. He served this position under three Presidents before becoming the ninth.

Many of Dr. John T. Gibson's successes were overshadowed by controversy. ^[2]. Conversely, many of the campus improvements and innovative changes occurred under his tenure. Within a few months in his position, he implemented a fundraising effort for alumni deemed the Councill Challenge Campaign. In its infancy year, it generated the largest private donor contributions in the school's history. ^[3] The campus underwent a drastic structural makeover. Developments included the $10 million dollar construction of the Louis Crews Football Stadium. The expansive West Campus Complex, a woman's dormitory with a new university cafeteria. His administration was responsible for The New School of Business and Technology building, and the School of Engineering and Technology. He also implemented the renovation and content revamp effort for the Learning Resource Center. ^[4]

Dr. Gibson and his administration are also credited for increasing student enrollment from 4,500 to over 6,000. He also significantly increased the university's endowment. ^[5]

The first library on the campus was built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation in 1904 for $12,000, and was named for its benefactor, Andrew Carnegie. In the 1940s, it was remodeled at a cost of $70,000 and provided additional book stacks and reading rooms. The library was two stories tall, and with a little over 4,000 square feet (370 m²); it served several purposes and housed the offices of the President, Business Manager and Treasurer, Home and Farm Demonstration Agents, the U.S. Post Office at Normal, and on the second floor, living quarters for male faculty.

In 1931, Miss Lucille A. Love, a graduate of the Library School at Hampton Institute, became the first professional librarian.

In 1947, the library was enlarged 5,000 square feet (460 m²), which reflected the college's growth. So rapid was the college's student growth that they even outgrew the nearly 10,000 square foot (930 m²) library, and in 1962, a new Reference Annex was added. In January 1968, a new 60,000 square foot (5,600 m²) library was completed and occupied and was named in honor of Dr. Drake. It was designed to house 300,000 volumes and 1,000 students.

In 1972, the Educational Media Center and the Library merged to form the Learning Resources Center, which incorporates interactive and multi-media.

In 2002 the competition of the latest renovation saw the [LRC] become a 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m²) structure now housing over 400,000 volumes, digital research sources and other student oriented services.

[edit] Historical Milestones & Events by Year

William Hooper Councill (center), lawyer, editor and founder of Huntsville Normal School (later Alabama A&M University), posing with some of his students.

1873: A bill was approved in the Alabama State Legislature for the establishment of the "Colored Normal School at Huntsville", a school to be devoted to the education of black teachers.

1875: Peyton Finley introduced twin bills in the State Board of Education for the establishment of four "normal" schools for whites and four for blacks. William Hooper Councill became founder of Alabama A&M University. On May 1, the school at Huntsville opened with a state appropriation of $1,000, 61 pupils, and two teachers. The school's first location was on Clinton Street.

1878: The state appropriation increased to $2,000.

1881: Moved to first school-owned property on West Clinton Street (the land upon which the Von Braun Center is presently located) known as the "Dement Place."

1882: Shop courses were introduced into the curriculum in the fall (e.g., carpentry, printing, mattress-making, horticulture, sewing, etc.)

1883: Industrial training began.

1884: Property on West Clinton Street was deeded to the State of Alabama by trustees.

1885: Name changed to State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville; state appropriation increased to $4,000; building erected for industrial training through $1,000 grant from the Slater Fund.

1890: Students numbered 300; teachers, 11. Designated as a land-grant college of Alabama. School site became known as Normal, Alabama, and a post office was established. Students were called "Normalites."

1891: Designated a land-grant college through legislative enactment February 13. On September 30, the present site of 182.73 acres (739,000 m²) was purchased. The school expanded to include agriculture and home economics; Palmer (named for State Superintendent Solomon Palmer) and (Governor Thomas) Seay Halls were built with student labor.

1893: First night school was held. First alumni meeting held.

1894: Trade education diplomas authorized. First trade certificates were awarded (10).

1896: Name changed to The State Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes.

1897: Art Painting Department added to curriculum.

1901: First honorary degree awarded.

1903: Blues great W.C. Handy leaves as band director.

1909: School's motto, "Service is Sovereignty," introduced; Councill died at age 61. Walter Solomon Buchanan became president. Farmers' Conference began.

1910: American football began.

1911: McCormick (Hospital) Hall and Councill Domestic Science Building erected.

1912: First baseball game.

1920: President Buchanan resigns, disillusioned with the state's stance toward the overall betterment of the institution. Theophilus Robert Parker became third president.

1927: Joseph Fanning Drake becomes fourth president and institutes a massive building program.

1929: Construction of Bibb Graves Hall.

1939: State Board of Education gives authority to offer course work on the senior college level.

1949: Name changed to Alabama A&M College.

1962: Richard David Morrison became the fifth president.

1963: AAMU becomes fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

1965: Intercollegiate soccer began.

1969: State Board of Education adopts a resolution changing the name of the institution to Alabama A&M University.

1970: Office of Alumni Affairs established. Phillip L. Redrick became first director.

1975: University observed Centennial. Elmore Health Sciences Building constructed.

1977: Volleyball for women began.

1981: Desegregation case began.

1984: Dr. Douglas Covington became AAMU's sixth president.

1985: AAMU signs memorandum of understanding with Kansas State University/USAID.

1986: Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm addressed "Women's Week" activities. University announced approval of Ph.D. program in physics. Department of Mathematics received NASA research grant.

1987: Dr. Carl Harris Marbury was named interim president.

1989: Carl Harris Marbury becomes seventh president.

1990: The University holds its first Grand Reunion, initiated by Dr. Carl Harris Marbury and Georgia S. Valrie, Director of Alumni Affairs.

1991: Board of Trustees named Dr. Alan Lee Keyes Interim President.

1992: Dr. David Bernard Henson becomes eighth president. First AAMU Athletic Hall of Fame induction held.

1994: Mamie Labon Foster Student Living/Learning Complex erected. First African-American Ph.D. recipients in physics. University's SACS accreditation reaffirmed.

1995: Groundbreaking held for new School of Business facility; stadium and residence hall construction begins. Master of Social Work Program accepts first students. Dr. Virginia Caples, vice president for academic affairs, becomes the first woman to head (interim) the University in the school's 120-year history.

1996: Dr. John T. Gibson named ninth president in July. AAMU launches Councill Challenge Campaign. Football returns to campus at the new $10 Million Louis Crews Stadium.

The logo of the unified Alabama Cooperative Extension System is displayed in front of the James I. Dawson Cooperative Extension Building, named in honor the former associate dean for Extension and administrator of the Alabama A&M University Cooperative Extension Program. The Dawson Building serves as the Alabama A&M University headquarters of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

1997: Unified Alabama Cooperative Extension System univeils new logo. Patrick Grayson makes USA Today All-USA Academic First Team. Filmmaker Spike Lee visits. AAMU joins Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

1997: Alabama A&M University, a leading research institution in Crystal research and key producer of African American Ph.D.s in physics (beating out MIT, Harvard and Howard Universities) initiated the Putcha Venkateswarlu Memorial Lecture Series in Physics. Dr. Venkateswarlu is the Physics professor commonly known to students as the "Father of Optics Research at AAMU". Dr. Venkateswarlu published over 200 research papers, and ushered in the era of the Physics research at AAMU, which has become a world renowned research program with multi-million dollar grants, and research that is shaping the future of technology. The Putcha Venkateswarlu Memorial Lecture series continues to bring leading Nobel Laureate Researchers from around the world to lecture.

1998: Ryan Swain makes USA Today All-USA Academic First Team. Nobel Laureate series begins under coordination of AAMU physicist Ravi B. Lal.

1999: AAMU Research Institute started.

2000: AAMU observes its 125th anniversary celebration in January.

2001: AAMU’s fundraising efforts earn it the distinction of lead institution in the Tom Joyner Foundation/HBCU program. Accreditation announced and earth work begins on new School of Engineering and Technology; library renovations underway; athletic complex expands.

2002: Learning Resources Center renovations completed. The renovation added over 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²), an interactive Distance Learning Auditorium, conference, study and class rooms, lounges, computer lab and much more. The LRC provides services to a diverse clientele at numerous locations to university members and the community. In addition, the new construction of the Engineering and Technology building was completed. Social Work re-accredited. Forestry gains national accreditation. Normal Hill renovations extensive. The Council Challenge Fundraising Campaign goal reached.

2003: New School of Engineering and Technology Building opens for classes in January. Mary Frances Berry addresses Commencement. Fourth doctoral program in Reading/Literacy announced. AAMU researchers study volcanic ash in Montserrat. HSCaRS hosts study on interaction between land surface and the atmosphere. AAMU offers training on multimillion dollar EDS software. Normalite Ruben Studdard named “American Idol.”

2004: Councill Federal Credit Union celebrates 50th anniversary. Councill Memorial Statue unveiled in October. AAMU welcomes its 7th Nobel Laureate lecturer in physics.

2005: The men's basketball team won its first SWAC regular season and tournament Championship.

2006: The football team won its first SWAC Championship. the Alabama A&M University marching band, known as the Marching Maroon and White-Showband of the South, marched in the Pasadena, California Tournament of Roses Parade. They were first in the lineup. In May 2008, the Alabama A&M University Choir was slated to participate in the American Choral Music Festival in Leipzig, Germany.

2007: The Alabama A&M University Choir became the first HBCU Choir to be invited to attend the American Choral Festival in Germany

2008: The AAMU Community Development Corporation made major community revitalization efforts, including the development of Windsor Manor. The AAMU savvy political science students attracted international visitors interested in learning election strategies. Sculpture by Lazarus Takawira presented to AAMU. The Board of Trustees personal differences with Dr. Robert Jennings created gridlock causing a board member Trustee Tommy Beason to resign siting micromanagement. He said, "It is such micro-management in my opinion that I am afraid the accreditation could be in jeopardy." The Board of Trustees lead by the Pro Tempore Dr. L. Shefton Riggins used their authority to relieve current President of his duties, based on unsubstantiated allegations. The Board of Trustees named University provost Dr. Beverly Edmond interim president. As a result, Alumni, unaffiliated with the official business of AAMU created the Alabama A&M University News Watch blog as a separate independent entity; a watch dog news outlet.

2009: The AAMU Dairy Team captures silver honors in national competition. The Board of Trustees Pro Tempore Dr. L. Shefton Riggins lobbyed to hire his choice for the new president. However, the remaining few Board of Trustees did not show up to the meeting. This has become the biggest embarrassment in AAMU's illustrious 134 year history. In the 21st century, Alabama A&M University has become the leading research institution in Crystal research, and has produced the most African American Ph.D.s in physics beating out MIT, Harvard and Howard Unversities. The Putcha Venkateswarlu Memorial Lecture Series in Physics was created by the Physics community at AAMU in 1997 in honorof Dr.Putcha Venkateswarlu. Dr. Venkateswarlu was the Physics prfessor commonly known to students as the "Father of Optics Research at AAMU". He published over 200 research papers, and ushered in the era of the Physics research at AAMU, which has become a world renound research program with multi-million dollar grants, and research that is shaping the future of technology. The Putcha Venkateswarlu Memorial Lecture series continues to bring leading Nobel Laureate Researchers from around the world to lecture.

[edit] Student activities

[edit] Athletics

Alabama A&M's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly I-AA for football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Alabama A&M's colors are maroon and white and their mascot is the Bulldog. The Alabama A&M Department of Athletics sponsors Men's Intercollegiate basketball, football, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field along with Women's Intercollegiate tennis, basketball, soccer, track, cross country, bowling, volleyball and softball. Also offered are men's and women's swimming clubs.

[edit] WJAB

Alabama A&M University is the licensee for National Public Radio affiliate station WJAB 90.9,^[7] which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on campus.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] See also

• List of forestry universities and colleges

[edit] References

[edit] Additional reading

1. Morrison, Richard David. History of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University: 1875-1992. Huntsville, Ala. : Liberal Arts Press, c1994.
2. ^  "Results". http://www.sacscoc.org/dtails.asp?instid=11440. Retrieved on 23 November 2005. 
3. ^  "Historically Black Colleges and Universities". http://www.doi.gov/hrm/black.html. Retrieved on 23 November 2005. 
4. ^  "WJAB Jazz & Blues!!". http://www.aamu.edu/WJAB/welcome.htm. Retrieved on 23 November 2005. 

Saintjones, Jerome (2006). Publications. Office of Information and Public Relations, Alabama A&M University, Normal, Ala.

[edit] External links

• www.aamu.edu Official web site
• www.aces.edu Alabama Cooperative Extension System (university's primary outreach organization)
• [8] (Black Issues in Higher Education article on Business Network)
• [9] (page on the official website)
• [10] (page on official website
• [11] (bio on Savannah State's official website)

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