Grambling State University

Bust of Charles P. Adams, the founder and first president of Grambling State University Grambling State University developed from the desire of African-American farmers in rural north Louisiana who wanted to educate other African Americans. In 1896, the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association led by Lafayette Richmond was formed to organize and operate a school. After opening a small school west of what is now the town of Grambling, the Association requested assistance from Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama . Charles P. Adams , sent to aid the group in organizing an industrial school, became its founder and first president. [ citation needed ] Under Adams' leadership, the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School opened on November 1, 1901. Four years later, the school moved to its present location and was renamed as the North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School. By 1928, the school was able to offer two-year professional certificates and diplomas after becoming a state junior college. The school was renamed Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute. [ citation needed ] In 1936, the program was reorganized to emphasize rural education. It became known as "The Louisiana Plan" or "A Venture in Rural Teacher Education". Professional teaching certificates were awarded when a third year was added in 1936, and the first baccalaureate degree was awarded in 1944 in elementary education. The institution's name was changed to Grambling College in 1946 in honor of a white sawmill owner, P. G. Grambling, who donated a parcel of land for the school. Thereafter, the college prepared secondary teachers and added curricula in sciences, liberal arts and business. With these programs in effect, the school was transformed from a single purpose institution of teacher education into a multi-purpose college. [ citation needed ] In 1949, the college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

The Grambling science building is one of twenty-six public structures in Louisiana constructed by the prominent contractor George A. Caldwell . [ 5 ] In 1974, the addition of graduate programs in education allowed the college to be granted university status under its present name, Grambling State University. [ citation needed ] From 1977 to 2000, the university grew and prospered. Several new academic programs were incorporated. New facilities were added to the 384-acre (155-hectare) campus, including a business and computer science building, school of nursing, student services building, stadium, stadium support facility, and an intramural sports center. [ citation needed ] In May 1999, President Clinton served as the commencement keynote speaker. [ 6 ] State Representative George B. Holstead of Ruston worked to increase state appropriations for Grambling State University during his legislative tenure from 1964 to 1980. [ 7 ] On December 7, 2010, the Grambling State University Historic District , an area comprising 16 buildings dating from 1939 to 1960, was added to the National Register of Historic Places . [ 8 ] In 2019, Grambling broke ground for building of the first digital library on a HBCU campus. The $16.6 million project was completed in 2024. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] Presidents Charles P. Adams (1901–1936) – first president of the university Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Joseph Benjamin Johnson Harold W. Lundy Raymond Hicks Leonard Haynes III Steve A. Favors Neari Francois Warner – first female president. [ 13 ] Horace Judson Frank Pogue Cynthia S. Warrick Willie Larkin Richard J. Gallot, Jr. – first GSU alumnus to serve as president Martin Lemelle – current president and GSU alumnus [ 14 ]

Quick facts Academic rankings, Master's ... Academic rankings Master's Washington Monthly [ 15 ] 125 of 603 Regional U.S. News & World Report [ 16 ] 99 (tie) of 136 Close Grambling State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following four colleges: [ 17 ] College of Art & Sciences College of Business College of Educational and Graduate Studies College of Professional Studies Grambling State University offers two doctoral degree programs, one in Developmental Education and one in Criminology and Justice Administration. [ 18 ] In 2020, Grambling State University became the first collegiate institution in Louisiana to offer bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and cloud computing . [ 19 ]

More information Race and ethnicity, Total ... Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023 [ 20 ] Race and ethnicity Total Black 93% Two or more races 3% Hispanic 2% International student 2% Economic diversity Low-income [ a ] 74% Affluent [ b ] 26% Close Athletics GSU athletics logo Main article: Grambling State Tigers The Grambling Tigers represent Grambling State University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Grambling's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I ( Football Championship Subdivision for football ) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Currently, the Grambling State University Department of Athletics sponsors Men's Intercollegiate football, along with men's and women's basketball, baseball, track & field, softball, golf, soccer, tennis, bowling and volleyball. Grambling State's most notable rivals are their south Louisiana foe Southern , Prairie View A&M , Jackson State , and Alcorn State .