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Grambling State University

{{short description|Public university in Grambling, Louisiana, U.S.}}

{{Redirect|Grambling|the town|Grambling, Louisiana}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox university

|name = Grambling State University

| former_name = Colored Industrial and Agricultural School
(1901–1905)
North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School
(1905–1928)
Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute
(1928–1946)
Grambling College
(1946–1974)

|image_name = Grambling State University seal.png

|image_upright = 0.6

|motto = Where Everybody Is Somebody

|established = 1901

|free_label = Newspaper

|free = The Gramblinite{{Cite web|url=http://www.thegramblinite.com/|title=Grambling State University (thegramblinite) News and Classifieds|website=www.thegramblinite.com|access-date=December 8, 2020}}

|type = Public historically Black university

|endowment = $7 million{{cite web |title=Grambling Audit |url=https://app.lla.state.la.us/publicreports.nsf/0/f9bc74672a1927448625872e004ea317/$file/00024722.pdf?openelement&.7773098 |website=LLA Default Homepage |publisher=Louisiana Legislative Auditor |access-date=20 January 2022}}

|president = Martin Lemelle{{cite web | url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2024/02/22/who-is-the-new-president-of-hbcu-grambling-state-university/72691440007/ | title=Here's what we know about the new president of HBCU Grambling State University }}

|provost = Connie Walton

|students = 5,232{{Cite web|url=https://www.gram.edu/news/index.php/2019/09/16/grambling-states-enrollment-reaches-a-seven-year-high/|title=Grambling State's Enrollment Reaches a Seven-Year High|first=Raven|last=Thissel|date=September 16, 2019|access-date=December 8, 2020}}

|undergrad =

|postgrad =

|city = Grambling

|state = Louisiana

|coor = {{coord|32.5252|-92.7153|display=inline,title}}

|country = United States

|campus = Rural

|colors = {{color box|#191919}} {{color box|#E5AE26}} Black & Gold

|nickname = Tigers

|mascot =

|athletics_affiliations = NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC

|academic_affiliations = Space-grant

|parent = UL System

|website = {{url|www.gram.edu}}

|logo = Grambling State University logo.svg

|logo_size = 200px

}}

Grambling State University (GSU, Grambling, or Grambling State) is a public historically black university in Grambling, Louisiana, United States. Grambling State is home of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum and is listed on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. Grambling State is a member-school of the University of Louisiana System and Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Grambling State's athletic teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are known as the Grambling State Tigers. Grambling State is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

History

{{stack|File:Charles P. Adams bust at Grambling State Univ. IMG 3649.JPG}}

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.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

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.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

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.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.lahistory.org/site20.php |title=Caldwell, George A. |publisher=Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography |access-date=December 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225122235/http://www.lahistory.org/site20.php |archive-date=February 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In 1974, the addition of graduate programs in education allowed the college to be granted university status under its present name, Grambling State University.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

From 1977 to 2000, the university grew and prospered. Several new academic programs were incorporated. New facilities were added to the {{convert|384|acre|adj=on|abbr=off}} campus, including a business and computer science building, school of nursing, student services building, stadium, stadium support facility, and an intramural sports center.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

In May 1999, President Clinton served as the commencement keynote speaker.{{Cite web |title=Clinton touts importance of family to Grambling seniors - May 23, 1999 |url=https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/23/clinton.grambling/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.cnn.com}}

State Representative George B. Holstead of Ruston worked to increase state appropriations for Grambling State University during his legislative tenure from 1964 to 1980.{{cite web|url=https://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~halstead/lemuel/d1.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120618093021/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~halstead/lemuel/d1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2012 |title=Descendants of Lemuel Holstead |publisher=freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=2010-04-25 }}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/hp/nhl/attachments/Parish31/Scans/31028001.pdf|title=Grambling State University Historic District|publisher=State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation|access-date=July 17, 2018|archive-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717212539/https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/hp/nhl/attachments/Parish31/Scans/31028001.pdf|url-status=dead}} with [https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/hp/nhl/view.asp?ID=1312 16 photos and two maps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717212924/https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/hp/nhl/view.asp?ID=1312 |date=July 17, 2018 }}

In 2019, Grambling broke ground for building of the first digital library on a HBCU campus. The US$16.6 million project was completed in 2024.{{cite web | url=https://mathesbrierre.com/new-digital-library-grambling-state-university-grambling-la/ | title=Digital Library - Grambling State University }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/grambling-state-university-breaks-ground-on-a-new-digital-library/|title=Grambling State University Breaks Ground on a new Digital Library|date=2019-09-09|access-date=2020-12-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/428e52f3b8ea42c3bd67ec5d41c7d4ad|title=Grambling State unveils new digital library plans|date=2019-02-01|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2020-12-08}}{{cite web | url=https://mathesbrierre.com/new-digital-library-grambling-state-university-grambling-la/ | title=NEW DIGITAL LIBRARY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, GRAMBLING, LA – Mathes Brierre Architects }}

= Presidents =

  1. Charles P. Adams (1901-1936) - first president of the university
  2. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones
  3. Joseph Benjamin Johnson
  4. Harold W. Lundy
  5. Raymond Hicks
  6. Leonard Haynes III
  7. Steve A. Favors
  8. Neari Francois Warner - first female president.{{cite web | url=https://www.jsums.edu/ephd/faculty-staff/neari-francois-warner-ph-d/#:~:text=She%20served%20as%20Acting%20President,to%20head%20this%20historic%20university. | title=Neari Francois Warner, Ph.D. - Executive PhD in Urban Higher Education | Jackson State University }}
  9. Horace Judson
  10. Frank Pogue
  11. Cynthia S. Warrick
  12. Willie Larkin
  13. Richard J. Gallot, Jr. - first GSU alumnus to serve as president
  14. Martin Lemelle - current president and GSU alumnus{{cite web | url=https://www.gram.edu/news/index.php/2024/02/22/uls-board-names-dr-martin-lemelle-new-president-of-grambling-state-university/ | title=ULS Board names Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. New president of Grambling State University | date=2024-02-22 }}

Academics

{{Infobox US university ranking

| USNWR_REG = 99 (tie) of 136

| Wamo_MASTERSU = 125 of 603

}}

Grambling State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following four colleges:{{cite web|url=http://www.gram.edu/academics/|title=Grambling State University - Academics|work=gram.edu}}

  • 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.mvsu.edu/university/accreditations.php |title=Accreditations |access-date=April 25, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314030410/http://mvsu.edu/university/accreditations.php

|archive-date=March 14, 2016 }}

In 2020, Grambling State University became the first collegiate institution in Louisiana to offer bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and cloud computing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gram.edu/news/index.php/2020/05/29/board-of-regents-approves-cloud-computing-degree-at-grambling-state/|title=Board of Regents Approves Cloud Computing Degree at Grambling State|date=May 29, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2020}}

Student life

=Athletics=

File:Grambling State Tigers logo.svg

{{Main|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.

=Student body=

{{as of|2022}}, approximately 40% of GSU's student body is from outside Louisiana; Texas, California, and Illinois are the three largest feeder states. 65% of the student body is female, 35% is male. 93% of the student body identify as black, 7% identify as non-black.{{Cite book |url=https://www.gram.edu/offices/ie/ir/Factbook/2022-2023%20eFactbook.pdf |title=Grambling State University eFact Book |year=2022 |edition=15}}

=GSU Tiger Marching Band=

{{Main|GSU Tiger Marching Band}}

File:2019 State Fair Classic 37 (GSU Tiger Marching Band).jpg]]

The GSU Tiger Marching Band also known as "The World Famed Tiger Marching Band" is a historic marching band. They are the only HBCU marching band in the nation to perform at two consecutive U.S. presidential inaugurations.{{cite web|url=http://diverseeducation.com/article/50661/|title=Playing for the President, Grambling Marching Band to Return to Washington|work=diverseeducation.com|date=January 14, 2013}} "World Famed" was founded in 1926 and serves as one of the premier ambassadors of the university.{{cite web|url=http://wgno.com/2014/11/28/grambling-and-southern-clash-at-battle-of-the-bands/|title=Grambling and Southern clash at Battle of the Bands|work=WGNO|date=November 29, 2014}}

=Campus media=

  • The Gramblinite is the university's weekly student newspaper that is consistently awarded for excellent journalism.{{cite web|url=http://www.gram.edu/news/?p=336 |title=Grambling State University - Gramblinite Staffers Win Journalism Awards at Southeast Journalism Conference | News |publisher=Gram.edu |date=March 4, 2015 |access-date=October 29, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spj.org/news.asp?ref=1239 |title=Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Fayetteville, Ark. | Society of Professional Journalists | Improving and protecting journalism since 1909 |publisher=Spj.org |date=April 14, 2014 |access-date=October 29, 2015}}
  • KGRM Tiger Radio 91.5 FM is a 24-hour student-run radio station that provides a variety of music, news, sports and public affairs programming.{{cite web|url=http://www.gram.edu/student-life/media/kgrm/ |title=Grambling State University - KGRM |publisher=Gram.edu |access-date=October 29, 2015}}
  • The GSU-TV Media Center is operated by the Department of Mass Communications to train students interested in broadcasting careers.{{cite web|url=http://www.gram.edu/student-life/media/|title=Grambling State University - Campus Media|website=Gram.edu|access-date=August 27, 2016}}

Gallery

File:President's Home at Grambling State Univ. IMG 3674.JPG|The President's Home at Grambling State is particularly elegant and stately.

File:Favrot Student Union at Grambling State Univ. IMG 3660.JPG|Favrot Student Building at Grambling State

File:Eddie G. Robinson Museum Grambling, Louisiana, USA.jpg|The Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling State

File:Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center IMG 3659.JPG|Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center at Grambling State

File:Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium Grambling, Louisiana.jpg|Eddie G. Robinson Stadium at Grambling State

Notable alumni

{{main|List of Grambling State University alumni}}

Alumni of Grambling State include numerous MLB, NBA and NFL players, public officials, lawyers, doctors, scholars, journalists, business professionals, and artists.

  • Rick Gallot - appointed president of the University of Louisiana System and 10th president of Grambling State University
  • Erykah Badu, Grammy Award winner (attended, but did not graduate){{Cite web |last=Henry |first=DeEric |date=2008-04-03 |title=A conversation with Erykah Badu – The Gramblinite |url=https://www.thegramblinite.com/2008/04/03/a-conversation-with-erykah-badu/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |language=en-US}}
  • Charles M. Blow, New York Times columnist{{Cite web |title=Charles M. Blow's Biography |url=https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/charles-m-blow |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=The HistoryMakers |language=en}}
  • Buck Buchanan, former Kansas City Chiefs football player and NFL Hall of Famer
  • N. Burl Cain, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and former warden of Louisiana State Penitentiary
  • Ronnie Coleman, retired professional bodybuilder and eight-time Mr. Olympia winner{{Cite web |title=Ronnie Coleman – ISHOF {{!}} International Sports Hall of Fame {{!}} United States |url=https://sportshof.org/ronnie-coleman/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |language=en-US}}
  • Alma Dawson, scholar of librarianship
  • Natalie Desselle-Reid, actress
  • E-40, American rapper (attended, but did not graduate){{Cite web |title=MULTIPLATINUM RECORDING ARTIST AND ENTREPRENEUR EARL "E-40" STEVENS AWARDED HONORARY DOCTOR OF MUSIC DEGREE |date=May 12, 2023 |url=https://www.gram.edu/news/index.php/2023/05/12/multiplatinum-recording-and-entrepreneur-earl-e-40-stevens-awarded-honorary-doctor-of-music-degree/}}
  • Stephanie A. Finley, United States Attorney and former nominee for United States District Judge
  • Bob French, jazz drummer and radio show host{{Cite web |title=Where is Grambling State University, LA, USA on Map Lat Long Coordinates |url=https://www.latlong.net/place/grambling-state-university-la-usa-31951.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.latlong.net}}
  • Cedric Glover, state representative, first African-American former mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
  • Ernie Ladd, former professional football player and a WWE Hall of Famer.
  • Lenton Malry, retired New Mexico state legislator
  • Judi Ann Mason television writer, producer and playwright
  • Ivory V. Nelson, American chemist, educator, and academic administrator. Fulbright Scholar in 1966{{Cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2001/988.htm|title=U.S. Department of State Recognizes Contributions of African-American Fulbright Program Alumni|first=Bureau of Public Affairs|last=Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information|website=2001-2009.state.gov|access-date=July 27, 2019}}
  • Willis Reed, former professional basketball player, NBA Hall of Famer, member of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History" and NBA 75th Anniversary Team{{Cite web |date=2021-08-11 |title=26 Notable Alumni of Grambling State University |url=https://edurank.org/uni/grambling-state-university/alumni/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=EduRank.org - Discover university rankings by location |language=en}}
  • Doug Williams, Super Bowl XXII MVP quarterback{{Cite web |title= Reflections on the 35th Anniversary of Doug Williams' Culture-Shifting 1988 Super Bowl Victory|date=January 31, 2023 |url=https://www.gram.edu/news/index.php/2023/01/31/reflections-on-the-35th-anniversary-of-doug-williams-culture-shifting-1988-super-bowl-victory/}}
  • Paul "Tank" Younger, former professional football player{{Cite web |title=Paul 'Tank' Younger, Football Player born |url=https://aaregistry.org/story/the-big-tiger-paul-tank-younger/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=African American Registry |language=en}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{Official website}}

{{Grambling State University}}

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Category:Universities and colleges established in 1901

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Category:Louisiana African American Heritage Trail

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