Grambling State University

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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

Template:Stack 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.Template:Cn

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.Template:Cn

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.Template:Cn

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1974, the addition of graduate programs in education allowed the college to be granted university status under its present name, Grambling State University.Template:Fact

From 1977 to 2000, the university grew and prospered. Several new academic programs were incorporated. New facilities were added to the Template:Convert campus, including a business and computer science building, school of nursing, student services building, stadium, stadium support facility, and an intramural sports center.Template:Fact

In May 1999, President Clinton served as the commencement keynote speaker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

State Representative George B. Holstead of Ruston worked to increase state appropriations for Grambling State University during his legislative tenure from 1964 to 1980.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=ladoc>Template:Cite web with 16 photos and two maps Template:Webarchive</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Academics

Template:Infobox US university ranking Grambling State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following four colleges:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2020, Grambling State University became the first collegiate institution in Louisiana to offer bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and cloud computing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Student life

Athletics

File:Grambling State Tigers logo.svg

GSU athletics logo

Template:Main 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

Template:As of, 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

GSU Tiger Marching Band

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

The World Famed Tiger Marching Band performing at the 2019 State Fair Classic

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "World Famed" was founded in 1926 and serves as one of the premier ambassadors of the university.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Campus media

• The Gramblinite is the university's weekly student newspaper that is consistently awarded for excellent journalism.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The GSU-TV Media Center is operated by the Department of Mass Communications to train students interested in broadcasting careers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gallery

• The President's Home at Grambling State
  The President's Home at Grambling State
• Favrot Student Building at Grambling State
  Favrot Student Building at Grambling State
• The Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling State
  The Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling State
• Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center at Grambling State
  Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center at Grambling State
• Eddie G. Robinson Stadium at Grambling State
  Eddie G. Robinson Stadium at Grambling State

Notable alumni

Template:Main 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)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Charles M. Blow, New York Times columnist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Hao Mingjin, Chairman of the CNDCA, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of the NPC (attended, but did not graduate)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Alma Dawson, scholar of librarianship
• Natalie Desselle-Reid, actress
• E-40, American rapper (attended, but did not graduate)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Stephanie A. Finley, United States Attorney and former nominee for United States District Judge
• Bob French, jazz drummer and radio show host<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Willis Reed, former professional basketball player, NBA Hall of Famer, member of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History" and NBA 75th Anniversary Team<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Doug Williams, Super Bowl XXII MVP quarterback<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Paul "Tank" Younger, former professional football player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website