Former names
|
Houston Colored Junior College (1927–1934) Houston College for Negroes (1934–1947) Texas State University for Negroes (1947–1951) |
---|---|
Motto | "Excellence in Achievement" |
Type | State university, HBCU |
Established | March 7, 1927 |
Endowment | $48.7 million |
President | Austin Lane |
Provost | James Ward |
Administrative staff
|
500 |
Students | 9,646 |
Location |
Houston, Texas, U.S. 29°43′20″N 95°21′40″W / 29.72222°N 95.36111°WCoordinates: 29°43′20″N 95°21′40″W / 29.72222°N 95.36111°W |
Campus | Urban, 150-acre (0.61 km2) |
Colors | Maroon and gray |
Athletics | NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC |
Nickname | Tigers |
Website | www |
University rankings | |
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National | |
Forbes | 649 |
Washington Monthly | 201 |
The air is filled as our voices ring |
Words and music by C. A. Tolbert |
Texas Southern University (shortened to Texas Southern or simply TSU) is a historically black university (HBCU) located in Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university was established in 1927 as the Houston Colored Junior College. It developed through its private college phase as the four-year Houston Colored College. On March 3, 1947, the state declared this to be the first state university in Houston; it was renamed Texas State University for Negroes. In 1951, the name changed to Texas Southern University.
Texas Southern University is one of the largest and most comprehensive HBCUs in the nation. TSU is one of only four independent public universities in Texas (those not affiliated with any of Texas' six public university systems) and the only HBCU in Texas recognized as one of "America's Top Colleges" by Forbes magazine. TSU is a leading producer of college degrees to African Americans and Hispanics in Texas and ranks fourth in the United States in doctoral and professional degrees conferred to African Americans. The university is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Dr. Waldivia Ardlaw of Cite: The Architecture + Design Review of Houston wrote that the university serves as "the cultural and community center of" the Third Ward area where it is located, in addition to being its university. Also, the university serves as a notable economic resource for Greater Houston, contributing over $500 million to the region's gross sales and being directly and indirectly responsible for over 3,000 jobs.
On March 7, 1927, the Houston Independent School District board resolved to establish junior colleges for each race, as the state was racially segregated in all public facilities. The resolution created Houston Junior College, which later became the University of Houston, and Houston Colored Junior College, which first held classes at Jack Yates High School during the evenings. The school's name was later changed to Houston College for Negroes.