/Institutions/Southern-University-and-A-M-College/json/2024-2026/Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Southern-University-and-A-M-College/json/2024-2026/Graduate-Catalog.json

History

Our history embodies a proud tradition of providing quality education to students from around the globe. Southern was chartered in April of 1880, and recognized as a land-grant college in 1890. In 1914, the University was re-located from New Orleans. Today, Southern University-Baton Rouge is part of the only historically black Land-Grant university system in the United States, with two other campuses located in New Orleans and Shreveport. The Southern University Law School was established in 1948 and has the nation's most racially diverse student enrollment. Southern University-Baton Rouge is poised to provide quality graduate education in a number of degree programs, thereby opening new opportunities to pursue advanced degrees in a multicultural environment.

Historical Statement

In 1879, P. B. S. Pinchback, T. T. Allain, T. B. Stamps, and Henry Demas sponsored the movement in the Louisiana State Constitutional Convention that resulted in the establishment in the City of New Orleans of an institution “for the education of persons of color.” This institution was chartered as Southern University in April, 1880, by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana. The State Legislature passed Act 87 in 1880 as a proper act of incorporation and governance of the Institution. Section 7 of this Act provided that this Board of Trustees “shall establish a faculty of arts and letters, which shall be competent to instruct in every branch of liberal education; and under the rules of, and in concurrence with the Board of Trustees, to graduate students and grant degrees pertaining to arts and letters on persons competent and deserving.”

On October 19, 1880, the Board of Trustees was organized under the Chairmanship of Dr. J. B. Wilkinson. A. Mercier was elected President of the Board; T. T. Allain, Vice President, and Edwin W. Fay, Secretary-Treasurer. Other members of the Board were: General Zebulon York, Washington Saunders, S. D. Stockman, I. N. Marks, A. R. Gourrier, and George Fayerweather.

The Board of Trustees elected A. R. Gourrier to serve as President of Southern University, but he resigned on February 14, 1881, before the University opened. The Board then elected George Fayerweather as Interim President. During this administration, the University was opened. Successive presidents were: the Reverend C. H. Thompson, Rector of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 1882-1883; the Reverend J. H. Harrison, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, 1883-1886; George W. Bathwell, 1886-1887; and H. A. Hill, 1887-1913.

On December 1, 1880, five individuals were bonded to establish the University Treasury. They were George Fayerweather, bonded for $10,000, and four residents of Feliciana Parish - Albert Mayer, D. J. Wedge, J. G. Kilbourne, and W. H. Piper - each bonded for $2,500. The trustees then purchased the building of the Hebrew Girls School, formerly the Israel Sinai Temple Synagogue, on Caliope Street, between St. Charles and Camp streets in New Orleans, as the site for the University. Southern University was opened on March 7, 1881, with 12 students. The University’s support was secured by a Constitutional provision, on February 6, 1882, which granted an annual State appropriation of $10,000. At the same time the Legislature reorganized the Board of Trustees with W.H. Chaffee, President; T. T. Allain, Vice President, and Charles Keever, Secretary Treasurer. By 1886, the University had outgrown its facilities and a State appropriation of $14,000 was used to purchase the square at Magazine and Soniat streets. Later, two classic Doric columned buildings were erected. In 1890, an Agricultural and Mechanical Department was established. In 1891, Southern University was recognized by the Federal Government as a Land Grant College under the Federal Act of 1890, known as the Second Morrill Act.

Legislative Act 118 of 1912 authorized the closing and sale of Southern University of New Orleans, and the reestablishment of the University on a new site. Act 118 also provided for the reorganization of the University with a new Board of Trustees to be appointed to four-year terms by the State Governor. This Act was validated by the Supreme Court on June 14, 1913. In July of 1913, the Board of Trustees elected Joseph Samuel Clark, President of Baton Rouge College and the Louisiana Colored Teachers Association, to serve as President of the “New” Southern University. In 1914, Southern University in New Orleans was closed by Legislative authorization. On March 9 of that same year, the “New” Southern University was opened in Scotlandville, Louisiana.

The Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1921 authorized the reorganization and expansion of Southern University; and Legislative Act 100 of 1922 provided that the University be reorganized under the control of the State Board of Education, effective immediately.

The State Constitution Convention of 1973 authorized a Board of Supervisors for Southern University. In 1977, the Southern University Board of Supervisors reorganized the system and Dr. Jesse N. Stone, was designated System President, with office and residence on the Baton Rouge campus. The chief administrative officer on each campus was designated Chancellor. They were Dr. Roosevelt Steptoe, Chancellor, Baton Rouge campus (1977-1982); Dr. Emmett W. Bashful, Chancellor, New Orleans campus (1977-1986), and Leonard Barnes, Chancellor, Shreveport campus (1977-1986).

On June 29, 1985, the Southern University Board of Supervisors changed the name of Southern University School of Law to the Southern University Law Center. Dr. B. K. Agnihotri was named Chancellor (1985-2000). Judge Freddie Pitcher served as Chancellor of the Southern University Law Center (2003-2015). John Pierre became Chancellor of the Southern University Law Center in March 2016.

Other System Presidents have been Dr. Joffre T. Whisenton, (1985-1988), Dr. Dolores R. Spikes (1988-1996), Dr. Leon Tarver II (1997-2005), Dr. Ralph Slaughter (2006-2009), Dr. Kassie Freeman (interim 2009). Dr. Ronald Mason Jr. became president July 2010.

Other Chancellors of the Baton Rouge campus have been Dr. James J. Prestage (1982-1985), Dr. Wesley McClure (1985-1988), Dr. Dolores R. Spikes, (interim 1988-1991), Dr. Marvin Yates (1991- 1998), Dr. Edward R. Jackson (1998-2008) and Dr. Kofi Lomotey (2009-2011). Dr. James Llorens served as Chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus (2011-2014). Flandus McClinton was named Acting Chancellor of Southern University Baton Rouge (2104-2015). Ray L. Belton became the President and Chancellor of Southern University System and Baton Rouge Campus in June of 2015. In July of 2022, Dennis J. Shields became the new President and Chancellor of the Southern University System and Baton Rouge Campus.