Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University (Alcorn State, ASU or Alcorn) is a public historically black land-grant university adjacent to Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871 and was the first black land grant college established in the United States.
Former name | Alcorn University (1871–1878) Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College (1878–1974) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Where Knowledge and Character Matter |
| Type | Public historically black land-grant university |
| Established | 1871 |
Academic affiliations | TMCF Space-grant |
| President | Felecia M. Nave |
| Students | 3,523 (Fall 2019)[1] |
| Undergraduates | 3,069 (Fall 2019) |
| Postgraduates | 454 (Fall 2019) |
| Location | , , U.S. 31°52′37″N 91°08′28″W / 31.8769°N 91.1411°WCoordinates: 31°52′37″N 91°08′28″W / 31.8769°N 91.1411°W |
| Campus | Rural, 1,700 acres (6.9 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Campus Chronicle [2] |
| Colors | Purple and gold[3] |
| Nickname | Braves and Lady Braves |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC |
| Website | www |
One of Alcorn's most notable graduates, Medgar Evers, a civil rights activist, graduated in 1952. Students and alumni of the college were part of the mid-twentieth century Civil Rights Movement, working to register voters and end inequality in the U.S. The university is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Alcorn State's athletic teams known as the Braves and compete in the NCAA's Division I. All teams compete as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
History
Alcorn State University was the first black land grant college in the country. Mississippi's Reconstructionist legislature, dominated by Republicans sympathetic to the cause of educating the formerly enslaved, was established on the site of Oakland College, a college that had gone defunct due to the Civil War.[4] Alcorn University started with what is recognized as three historic buildings.[5][6][7]
United States Senator Hiram R. Revels resigned his seat when he accepted the position as Alcorn's first president. The state legislature provided $50,000 in cash for ten successive years for the establishment and overall operations of the college. The state also granted Alcorn three-fifths of the proceeds earned from the sale of 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) of land scrip for agricultural or land grant colleges under federal legislation. The land was sold for $188,928 with Alcorn receiving a share of $113,400. This money was to be used solely to support the agricultural and mechanical components of the college, which Congress wanted to develop nationally. From its beginning, Alcorn State University was a land-grant college.[5] After a group of white Democrats known as Redeemers took over the legislature, Alcorn's appropriation was slashed by almost 90 percent, to $5,500 per year, and an all-white board of trustees was appointed.[4]
In 1878, the name Alcorn University was changed to Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College. The university's original 225 acres (0.91 km2) of land have been expanded to develop a 1,700 acres (6.9 km2) campus. The goals for the college set by the Mississippi legislature following the Reconstruction era emphasized training for blacks rather than academic education. The school, like other black schools during these years, was less a college than a vocational school intended to prepare students for the agricultural economy of the state and of most of their hometowns.
At first the school was exclusively for black males, but women were admitted in 1895. Today, women outnumber men at the university 1800 to 1200. Alcorn began with eight faculty members in 1871. Today the faculty and staff number more than 500. The student body has grown from 179 mostly local male students to more than 4,000 students from all over the world.
In 1974, Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College was renamed Alcorn State University, representing the development of its programs. Governor William L. Waller signed House Bill 298 granting university status to Alcorn and the other state-supported colleges. Alcorn had already become a more diversified university, with graduate programs. It provides an undergraduate education that enables students to continue their work in graduate and professional schools, engage in teaching, and enter other professions. It also provides graduate education to equip students for further training in specialized fields.
In 1994 Jay Searcy of the Philadelphia Inquirer said that except for its football team, Evers, and "an occasional Olympic athlete," "Alcorn rarely gets mentioned outside the state of Mississippi" although attention on the university increased after Steve McNair made athletic successes.[8]
In 2020, MacKenzie Scott donated $25 million to Alcorn State. Her donation is the largest single gift in Alcorn State's history.[9]
Alcorn State is accredited, with seven schools and degree programs in more than 50 areas, including a nursing and a Master of Business Administration program. The facilities number approximately 80 modern structures with an approximate value of $71 million.[10]
Presidents
| Name | Years[11][12] | Interim |
|---|---|---|
| Hiram Rhodes Revels | 1871–1882 | No |
| John Houston Burrus | 1882–1893 | No |
| Wilson H. Reynolds | 1893–1894 | No |
| Thomas J. Calloway | 1894–1896 | No |
| Edward H. Triplett | 1896–1899 | No |
| William H. Lanier | 1899–1905 | No |
| Levi John Rowan | 1905–1911 | No |
| John Adams Martin | 1911–1915 | No |
| Levi John Rowan | 1915–1934 | No |
| Isiah S. Sanders, Acting President | 1934–1934 | No |
| William Harrison Bell | 1934–1944 | No |
| Preston Sewell Bowles | 1944–1945 | No |
| William Harrison Pipes | 1945–1949 | No |
| Jesse R. Otis | 1949–1957 | No |
| John Dewey Boyd | 1957–1969 | No |
| Walter Washington | 1969–1994 | No |
| Rudolph E. Waters Sr. | 1994–1995 | Yes |
| Clinton Bristow Jr. | 1995–2006 | No |
| Malvin A. Williams Sr. | 2006–2008 | Yes |
| George E. Ross | 2008–2010 | No |
| Norris Allen Edney | 2010–2011 | Yes |
| M. Christopher Brown II | 2011–2013 | No |
| Norris Edney | 2013–2014 | Yes |
| Alfred Rankins, Jr. | 2014–2017 | No |
| Donzell Lee | 2017-2019 | Yes |
| Felecia M. Nave | 2019–Present | No |
Academics
Alcorn State is the second largest historically black college or university (HBCU) and the fifth largest university in Mississippi with an enrollment of approximately 3,700 undergraduate students and 600 graduate students. The university has seven schools, offering more than 50 different fields of study.
- School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
- School of Arts and Sciences
- School of Business
- School of Education and Psychology
- School of Nursing
Alcorn State University consistently ranks among the top 25 HBCUs in the nation according to the annual U.S. News & World Report HBCU rankings.[13]
Alcorn State University is the only HBCU in Mississippi with a comprehensive nursing program.[14]
The Myrlie Evers-Williams Honors Program is available to highly motivated undergraduate students seeking to enhance their academic experience and leadership skills.[15]
Master of Business Administration (MBA) program
Alcorn State University offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program through its Natchez campus. Classes are conducted in the evening. Students may join the live lecture classes via a live internet feed. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a global accrediting body for business degree programs. The MBA program has been popular with international and out-of-state students.
Global programs
Besides coordinating study-abroad opportunities, Global Programs brings worldwide perspectives to campus through exchange programs and special events.[16]
Pre-professional programs
Alcorn offers pre-professional programs to better prepare students for a transition to specialized studies in the fields of law, engineering, nursing, physical therapy, medicine, pharmacy and dentistry.[17]
Accreditation
Alcorn State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Specialist in Education degrees.
Alcorn's teacher education program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics is accredited by the American Dietetics Association. The Associate of Science in Nursing degree, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and the Master of Science in Nursing degree programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Alcorn State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Industrial Technology, and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Locations
The main campus is located in Alcorn State University census-designated place,[18] an unincorporated area in Claiborne County, Mississippi. It is 45 miles (72 km) south of Vicksburg,[8] 40 miles (64 km) north of Natchez, and 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Jackson.[19] It is near Lorman.
The Nursing School and the Business School's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program are located in Natchez, Mississippi. The university also has a class center in Vicksburg.
Campus housing
Male residence halls include Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village Complex A and B, Hiram Revels Hall and Albert Lott Hall.[20] Female residence halls include Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village Complex buildings C and D, John Burrus Hall, Beulah Robinson Hall, and the Female Honors Residence Hall.[21] D Faculty housing, which is open to full time employees,[22] and their dependents, is zoned to the Claiborne County School District.[23] Port Gibson High School is the comprehensive high school of the district.
Athletics
Alcorn State is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and participates in NCAA Division I FCS. Alcorn sponsors 15 athletic programs.[24]
Sounds of Dyn-O-mite
Alcorn State University's marching band was founded in the 1960s; the band is known as the "Sounds of Dyn-O-mite" (SOD). Led by four or five drum majors, SOD has more than 190+ members.
The "Golden Girls" (GGs) is the danceline that has been featured with SOD since its inception. Founded in 1968, the GGs is the oldest danceline (no twirling batons) featured with a HBCU marching band which is why they often refer to themselves as "The Mother of HBCU dancelines."[25]
Demographics
Alcorn State University CDP | |
|---|---|
Alcorn State University CDP Alcorn State University CDP | |
| Coordinates: 31°52′49.65″N 91°8′26.42″W / 31.8804583°N 91.1406722°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Claiborne |
| Elevation | 259 ft (79 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 1,120 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 2586580[26] |
Alcorn State University CDP is a census-designated place (CDP) and the official name for an area covering the Alcorn State University campus, in Claiborne County, Mississippi, United States.
The population at the 2020 census was 1,120.[27] while the Fall 2019 enrollment at Alcorn State University was 3,523.[28]
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 1,107 | — | |
| 2020 | 1,120 | 1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[29] 2010[30] 2020[31] | |||
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[30] | Pop 2020[31] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 15 | 5 | 1.47% | 0.45% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 953 | 1,107 | 93.71% | 98.84% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.10% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 12 | 0 | 1.18% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.10% | 0.09% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 16 | 1 | 1.57% | 0.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 19 | 6 | 1.87% | 0.54% |
| Total | 1,107 | 1,120 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Notable alumni
| Name | Class year | Notability | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medgar Evers | 1948 | First NAACP field secretary and assassinated civil rights activist | [1] |
| Albert Butler | 1970 | Mississippi State Senator | [2] |
| Horace R. Cayton, Sr. | c.1880s | Journalist and politician, who was one of first blacks to serve on county and state delegations in Seattle, Washington | [32] |
| Jennifer Riley Collins | 1987 | Executive director of the Mississippi NAACP | [33] |
| Katie G. Dorsett | Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 28th district | ||
| Joseph Dunbar | [34] | ||
| Alex Haley | attended | Author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family | |
| Kimberly Morgan | Miss Mississippi 2007 | ||
| Michael Clarke Duncan | attended | Actor | |
| Alexander O'Neal | attended | Musician | |
| Ed Smith | Former alderman of the 28th ward in Chicago, Illinois from 1983 to 2010. | ||
| Joseph Edison Walker | 1903 | President of Universal Life Insurance Company in Memphis, Tennessee | |
| Adena Williams Loston | 1973 | President of St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas | |
| Charles Tillman | 1958 | Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi | [35] |
Sports
| Name | Class year | Notability | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Spinks | 1952 | Former professional football player for the New York Giants | |
| Willie Alexander | 1971 | Former professional football player for the Houston Oilers | |
| Jimmie Giles | 1977 | Former professional football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| Leslie Frazier | 1980 | Defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, former defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, former special assistant coach with the Indianapolis Colts | |
| Roynell Young | 1980 | Former professional football player for the Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Issiac Holt | 1985 | Former professional football player for the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys | |
| Milton Mack | Former professional football player for the Detroit Lions | ||
| Fred McNair | Former Professional Canadian and Arena football player, brother of Steve McNair, and Head Coach of Alcorn State Football | ||
| Cedric Tillman | 1992 | Former professional football player for the Denver Broncos | |
| Dwayne White | Former professional football player for the St. Louis Rams | ||
| Garry Lewis | Former professional football player for the Oakland Raiders | ||
| Torrance Small | 1992 | Former NFL player for the New Orleans Saints | |
| John Thierry | 1994 | Former NFL player for the Chicago Bears | |
| Steve McNair | 1996 | Former professional quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens | |
| Bryant Mix | 1997 | Former NFL player for the Houston Oilers | |
| Donald Driver | 1999 | Former professional football player for the Green Bay Packers | |
| Chad Slaughter | 2000 | Former Professional football player for the Oakland Raiders | |
| Louis Green | 2002 | Former NFL player for the Denver Broncos | |
| Charlie Spiller | 2007 | Former NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| Nate Hughes | 2008 | Former NFL player for the Detroit Lions | |
| Larry Smith | 1980 | Former NBA player and assistant coach in the NBA and WNBA. | |
| Lee Robinson | 2009 | Professional football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos | |
| Emmanuel Arceneaux | 2009 | Current CFL and former NFL player | |
| Frank Purnell | Former professional football player for the Green Bay Packers | ||
| Damien Wilson | Linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, transferred out of Alcorn after his freshman season | ||
| Iris Kyle | 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder |
References
- ^ "Alcorn At-A-Glance" (PDF). www.alcorn.edu. (PDF) from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "THE CAMPUS CHRONICLE". THE CAMPUS CHRONICLE. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Alcorn - Graphics Standards Manual". Redstardigital.net. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
- ^ a b Harris, Adam (2021). The state must provide : why America's colleges have always been unequal--and how to set them right (First ed.). New York, NY. pp. 62–68. ISBN 978-0-06-297648-2. OCLC 1204635631.
- ^ a b Against Great Odds: The History of Alcorn State University
- ^ Brown, Ray C. (December 2, 2014). "Mississippi Colleges that have Closed, Merged, Changed Names". Ray C. Brown. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ . claibornecountyms.org. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Searcy, Jay. "" Philadelphia Inquirer. November 1, 1994. Retrieved on May 3, 2012.
- ^ "Story Details - Alcorn State University". www.alcorn.edu. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "About" November 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Alcorn University
- ^ . Alcorn State University. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
- ^ . Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
- ^ . Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ . Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ . Archived from the original on March 19, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ . Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ . Archived from the original on December 30, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Alcorn State University CDP, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
Alcorn State Univ (in blue text)
- ^ "." Alcorn State University. Retrieved on April 25, 2012.
- ^ "Male residence halls July 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine." Alcorn State University. Retrieved on May 3, 2012.
- ^ "Female Residence Halls" July 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Alcorn State University. Retrieved on April 25, 2012.
- ^ "Employee Housing". Alcorn State University. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Claiborne County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
- ^ "Football Season Tickets". Official Athletics Website.
- ^ "Story Details - Alcorn State University". www.alcorn.edu.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alcorn State University Census Designated Place
- ^ "Alcorn State University CDP, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ "Alcorn At-A-Glance" (PDF). www.alcorn.edu. (PDF) from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Alcorn State University CDP, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Alcorn State University CDP, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "Online History – Washington State". state.ak.us. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
- ^ Cardon, Dustin (April 15, 2013). "Jennifer A. Riley-Collins". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ Morin, Katherine A.; Kessler, James H.; Kidd, J. S.; Kidd, Renee A., eds. (1996). Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century. Greenwood. pp. 77–80. ISBN 9780897749558.
- ^ Fuller, Jacob (August 29, 2012). "Charles Tillman: Speak Softly". Jackson Free Press.
External links
- Official website