Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Encyclopedia
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, also known as Alabama A&M University or AAMU, is a public, historically black university
, Land-grant university
located in Normal
, Madison County
, Alabama
.
AAMU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
.
Alabama A&M was originally established 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.
Peyton Finley introduced twin bills in the State Board of Education for the establishment of four "normal" schools for whites and four for blacks in 1875. In that same year, William Hooper Councill became founder of Alabama A&M University.
By 1878, the state appropriation increased to $2,000 and the school changed its name to the State Normal and Industrial School. Industrial training began in 1883. In 1885, the name was changed to State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville.
By 1890, the students numbered 300, with 11 teachers, the school site became known as Normal, Alabama, and a post office was established. Students were called "Normalites." In 1891, the school was designated as a land-grant college through legislative enactment February 13 and received funds as a land-grant college under the terms of the Morrill Act of 1890. The name was changed to the State Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes. In 1896 the name changed 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. In 1939, the State Board of Education granted authority to offer course work on the senior college level.
In 1949, the name changed to Alabama A&M College. AAMU became fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
in 1963. Finally, in June 1969, the school adopted its current name.
In July 1996, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. John T. Gibson as the university’s ninth president and the one who would ultimately lead the institution into the new millennium. A native of Montgomery, Ala., and a graduate of Tuskegee University and the University of Colorado-Boulder, Gibson immediately began implementation of his ambitious "eight-step plan".
The Gibson administration saw the construction of the huge, visionary West Campus Complex, the erection of the 21,000-seat Louis Crews Stadium, the renovations and re-roofing of key buildings and the moving of athletic programs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The long-awaited School of Engineering and Technology was built in 2002, and the Ph.D. program in Reading/Literacy was established.
In its publication, "Past Presidents," AAMU notes that the tenth president, Dr. Robert R. Jennings, began his duties in January 2006 and launched a mission to restore the University’s community engagement and focus more on its students. Throughout his brief tenure, Jennings developed a number of programs aimed at making ‘The Hill’ a place more in tune with the quality of student life, including a VIP student dining facility, graduate student convenience store/lounge, improved campus lighting, stream-lined processes for business and finance, and the implementation of a campus wide operational system.
On May 1, 1875, the school opened with a state appropriation of $1,000, 61 pupils, and two teachers at its first location on Clinton Street in Huntsville
. In 1881, the school was 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." The property on West Clinton Street was deeded to the State of Alabama by trustees in 1884.
In 1885, the state appropriations were increased to $4,000 and a building erected for industrial training through $1,000 grant from the Slater Fund.
On September 30, 1891 the present site of 182.73 acres (739,000 m²) was purchased. The school expanded to include agriculture and home economics and Palmer Hall (named for State Superintendent Solomon Palmer) and (Governor Thomas) Seay Hall were built with student labor.
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 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 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) structure now housing over 400,000 volumes, digital research sources and other student oriented services.
In 1911, McCormick (Hospital) Hall and Councill Domestic Science Building were erected and Bibb Graves
Hall was constructed in 1929.
In 1994, the Mamie Labon Foster Student Living/Learning Complex erected. Groundbreaking was held for new School of Business facility in 1995 and stadium and residence hall construction began.
In 2001, earth work began on new School of Engineering and Technology, library renovations underway and the athletic complex was expanded. The Engineering and Technology building construction was completed in 2002 and opened for classes in January 2003.
The Learning Resources Center renovations were completed in 2002 . The renovation added over 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²), an interactive Distance Learning Auditorium, conference, study and class rooms, lounges, and computer lab.
On Thursday, January 21, 2010 the choir performed a historical concert at the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) Annual Conference. This was a historical event because the choir was the first HBCU Choir in the state to perform at that conference.
In 2010, the AAMU Dairy Team won the Gold Award in the 9th National North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge.
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, 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. The football team's home games are played at Louis Crews Stadium. Both men's and women's basketball home games are played in Elmore Gymnasium
, affectionately known by fans as "The Dog House."
In 2002, the women's softball team won its first SWAC championship. 1998 was the first year AAMU had a softball team.
In 2005, the men's basketball team won its first SWAC regular season and tournament championship. In 2006, the football team won its first SWAC Championship.
90.9, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on campus.
Saintjones, Jerome. (2011) Normal Index Online. Alabama A&M University. Normal, AL
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
, Land-grant university
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
located in Normal
Normal, Alabama
Normal, Alabama is the site of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.AAMU is situated in the city limits and northern part of Huntsville, Alabama, USA in Madison county....
, Madison County
Madison County, Alabama
Madison County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The county is named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America, and the...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
AAMU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund , named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987. TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending 47-member schools, which include public Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Predominantly Black...
.
History
Peyton Finley introduced twin bills in the State Board of Education for the establishment of four "normal" schools for whites and four for blacks in 1875. In that same year, William Hooper Councill became founder of Alabama A&M University.
By 1878, the state appropriation increased to $2,000 and the school changed its name to the State Normal and Industrial School. Industrial training began in 1883. In 1885, the name was changed to State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville.
| William H. Councill | 1890–1909 |
| William Buchanan | 1909–1921 |
| Theophilus Parker | 1921–1927 |
| Joseph Fanning Drake | 1927–1962 |
| Richard Morrison | 1962–1984 |
| Douglas Covington | 1984–1987 |
| Carl Marbury | 1987–1991 |
| David Henson | 1992–1995 |
| John Gibson | 1996–2005 |
| Robert R. Jennings | 2006–2008 |
| Andrew Hugine, Jr. | 2009–present |
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. In 1939, the State Board of Education granted authority to offer course work on the senior college level.
In 1949, the name changed to Alabama A&M College. AAMU became fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
in 1963. Finally, in June 1969, the school adopted its current name.
In July 1996, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. John T. Gibson as the university’s ninth president and the one who would ultimately lead the institution into the new millennium. A native of Montgomery, Ala., and a graduate of Tuskegee University and the University of Colorado-Boulder, Gibson immediately began implementation of his ambitious "eight-step plan".
The Gibson administration saw the construction of the huge, visionary West Campus Complex, the erection of the 21,000-seat Louis Crews Stadium, the renovations and re-roofing of key buildings and the moving of athletic programs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The long-awaited School of Engineering and Technology was built in 2002, and the Ph.D. program in Reading/Literacy was established.
In its publication, "Past Presidents," AAMU notes that the tenth president, Dr. Robert R. Jennings, began his duties in January 2006 and launched a mission to restore the University’s community engagement and focus more on its students. Throughout his brief tenure, Jennings developed a number of programs aimed at making ‘The Hill’ a place more in tune with the quality of student life, including a VIP student dining facility, graduate student convenience store/lounge, improved campus lighting, stream-lined processes for business and finance, and the implementation of a campus wide operational system.
Students
- From 44 states and 11 foreign countries
- 4,940 undergraduates and 874 graduate students
- 42 percent first-time college students
- Middle 50th percentile on ACT: 17-18
- 93 student clubs and organizations
- 75 percent student participation in community service projects
Faculty
- 20:1 student-faculty ratio
- Fewer than 40 students in 86 percent of courses
- 348 faculty members across all undergraduate, graduate and professional programs
Academics
- Five undergraduate schools (Agricultural & Environmental, Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, and Engineering & Technology) and Graduate Studies.
- 41 Baccalaureate, 23 Master’s, 1 EdS and 4 doctoral degrees offered.
- Degrees conferred: BA, BGS, BS, BSCE, BSEE, BSET, BSME, EdS, MBA, MEd, MEng, MS, MSW, MURP, PhD.
Facilities
- The J.F. Drake Memorial Learning Resources Center (LRC) houses approximately 256,884 volumes, 2,200 journals and is a partial depository for government documents. The University Archives located on the third floor has a collection of documents, records, correspondence and photographs related to AAMU.
- The State Black Archives Research Center and Museum, a part of the LRC, is housed in the James H. Wilson Building, a national registered historical structure.
- The AAMU Small Business Development Center provides free counseling to small businesses in seven counties. Client services also include workshops, a business planning resource room, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Supportive Services.
- The Agribition Center is designed to host almost any kind of event, including trade shows and agricultural events.
- Louis Crews Stadium is home of the AAMU’s Bulldogs football team. The multi-purpose stadium seats 21,000 and is the sixth largest stadium in Alabama.
- The Student Health and Wellness Center is staffed with full-time licensed health care professionals. It offers gynecological services, limited dermatology services, nutrition services, sports medicine, and psychological and counseling services.
Campus
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. In 1881, the school was 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." The property on West Clinton Street was deeded to the State of Alabama by trustees in 1884.
In 1885, the state appropriations were increased to $4,000 and a building erected for industrial training through $1,000 grant from the Slater Fund.
On September 30, 1891 the present site of 182.73 acres (739,000 m²) was purchased. The school expanded to include agriculture and home economics and Palmer Hall (named for State Superintendent Solomon Palmer) and (Governor Thomas) Seay Hall were built with student labor.
The first library on the campus was built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
in 1904 for $12,000, and was named for its benefactor, Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
. 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
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
at Normal, and on the second floor, living quarters for male faculty. 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 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) structure now housing over 400,000 volumes, digital research sources and other student oriented services.
In 1911, McCormick (Hospital) Hall and Councill Domestic Science Building were erected and Bibb Graves
Bibb Graves
David Bibb Graves was a Democratic politician and the 38th Governor of Alabama 1927-1931 and 1935–1939, the first Alabama governor to serve two four-year terms.-Early life:...
Hall was constructed in 1929.
In 1994, the Mamie Labon Foster Student Living/Learning Complex erected. Groundbreaking was held for new School of Business facility in 1995 and stadium and residence hall construction began.
In 2001, earth work began on new School of Engineering and Technology, library renovations underway and the athletic complex was expanded. The Engineering and Technology building construction was completed in 2002 and opened for classes in January 2003.
The Learning Resources Center renovations were completed in 2002 . The renovation added over 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²), an interactive Distance Learning Auditorium, conference, study and class rooms, lounges, and computer lab.
Fraternities
- Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
Delta Gamma Chapter - Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
Gamma Phi Chapter - Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
Nu Epsilon Chapter - Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta SigmaPhi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
Gamma Epsilon Chapter
Sororities
- Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
Gamma Mu Chapter - Delta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
Delta Delta Chapter - Zeta Phi BetaZeta Phi BetaZeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...
Sigma Beta Chapter - Sigma Gamma RhoSigma Gamma RhoSigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana...
Kappa Iota Chapter
Other Student Organizations
- AAMU Gospel Choir
- Sigma Tau Epsilon Professional Fraternity, Incorporated Rho Chapter
- Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity, Xi Xi Chapter
- Eta Kappa Tau Engineering and Technology Fraternity, Alpha Chapter
- Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Pi Epsilon Chapter
- Nu Rho Sigma Fine Arts Fraternity, Alpha Alpha Chapter
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Incorporated Omicron Delta Chapter
- Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women, Theta Zeta Chapter
- Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority, Theta Iota Chapter
- AAMU Southern Belles
- AAMU Democrats
- Alabama A&M Marching Maroon & White
- AAMU University Choir
- M.A.N.U.P "Men of America Nurturing and Ushering Progress"
- Marketing Club
- Poetry Club
Alabama A&M University Choir
In May 2008, the Alabama A&M University Choir was slated to participate in the American Choral Music Festival in Leipzig, Germany. In 2007, the choir became the first HBCU choir to be invited to attend the American Choral Festival in GermanyOn Thursday, January 21, 2010 the choir performed a historical concert at the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) Annual Conference. This was a historical event because the choir was the first HBCU Choir in the state to perform at that conference.
Telecommunications Program
In 2008, Telecommunications students played an active role on campus. Katherine Mitchell and Alexandria Jackson created the A&M's news show Hump Day. In 2009, Brandon Blevins and Brandon "Wizeman" Lewis created a series of Alabama A&M University short films including Ebony Fire, Tone of Demise 2 and Matters of the Heart.Dairy Team
In 2009, the AAMU Dairy Team captured silver honors in the 8th National North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge.In 2010, the AAMU Dairy Team won the Gold Award in the 9th National North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge.
Athletics
Alabama A&M's sports teams participate in NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly I-AA for football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
(SWAC). Alabama A&M's colors are maroon
Maroon (color)
Maroon is a dark red color.-Etymology:Maroon is derived from French marron .The first recorded use of maroon as a color name in English was in 1789.-Maroon :...
and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
and their mascot is the Bulldog. The Alabama A&M Department of Athletics sponsors men's intercollegiate basketball, football, baseball, cross country, golf, 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. The football team's home games are played at Louis Crews Stadium. Both men's and women's basketball home games are played in Elmore Gymnasium
Elmore Gymnasium
T.M. Elmore Gymnasium is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Normal, Alabama. It is home to the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs basketball team and is informally known as "The Dog House"...
, affectionately known by fans as "The Dog House."
AAMU Bulldog Club
The Bulldog Club, Inc., was established in 1998 as a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support Alabama A&M Bulldog Athletics by raising monies from private resources. These monies are to be used to benefit more than 500 student-athletes. There are seven membership levels (patron, pup, maroon, maroon & white family, bulldog, coaches, and executive) with a schedule of benefits based on the amount contributed.Teams
The university's varsity teams include:
Men's sports
- Basketball
- Football
- Baseball
- Track and Field
- Golf
- Tennis
- Soccer
Women's sports
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Bowling
- Soccer
- Softball
- Track and Field
- Tennis
- Cross Country
In 2002, the women's softball team won its first SWAC championship. 1998 was the first year AAMU had a softball team.
In 2005, the men's basketball team won its first SWAC regular season and tournament championship. In 2006, the football team won its first SWAC Championship.
WJAB
Alabama A&M University is the licensee for National Public Radio affiliate station WJABWJAB
The Big JAB is a network of sports radio stations in southern Maine, owned by Atlantic Coast Radio. It is on 1440 AM and 96.3 FM...
90.9, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on campus.
Notable alumni
Additional reading
- Morrison, Richard David. History of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University: 1875-1992. Huntsville, Ala. : Liberal Arts Press, c1994.
Saintjones, Jerome. (2011) Normal Index Online. Alabama A&M University. Normal, AL
External links
- Official website
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System (university's primary outreach organization)