History Southern University at New Orleans

1 history

1.1 expansion , change
1.2 hurricane katrina
1.3 2011 merger debate

history

southern university founded in new orleans in 1880; , moved out of city in 1914; current southern university @ new orleans should not confused earlier southern university in new orleans. southern university @ new orleans founded branch unit of southern university , agricultural & mechanical college (southern university) in baton rouge act 28 of extraordinary session of louisiana legislature of september 4, 1956. on september 21, 1959 suno opened doors on 17-acre site located in historic pontchartrain park, subdivision of african american single-family residences in eastern new orleans.

established open community of learners, classes began 158 freshmen, 1 building , faculty of fifteen. university offered ten courses in 4 academic disciplines, including humanities, science, social science , commerce. first graduation took place in may 1963 when baccalaureate degrees awarded 15 graduates.

in 1959, dr. felton g. clark, president of southern, asked dr. emmett w. bashful open suno. dr. bashful began dean of university. in 1969, named vice president, , named chancellor in 1977. of suno s founding, dr. bashful wrote, in august, 1959, dr. f. g. clark, president of southern university @ baton rouge, presented name louisiana state board of education dean of projected new orleans campus. several days later, came new orleans , after examining campus, realized monumental task faced. 1 building under construction hardly near completion; faculty had been partially recruited; no office space available on campus; , expected classes begin sometime in september.

expansion , change

over years several events have affected direction of suno. within 5 years suno grew rapidly. during fall of 1964 university s enrollment grew 1,300. on november 8, 1960 louisiana legislature adopted amendment 26 act prescribed suno should remain extension of southern university, thereby precluding impending status of autonomy suno. in january, 1964 virginia cox welch, white high school teacher, filed lawsuit in federal court against louisiana state board of education. litigation, civil action no. 14217, resulted in opening university regardless of race or color. in 1975 management of suno transferred louisiana state board of education newly created board of supervisors of southern university virtue of article 8, section 7 of louisiana constitution of 1974. new constitution designated suno campus of southern university system creating parity other southern university campuses.

suno later benefit consent decree on september 8, 1981. court order, handed down federal judges out-of-court settlement between state of louisiana , justice department on issue of segregation, allowed suno add 9 academic programs , receive funds upgrade campus facilities. despite order racial discrimination in higher education landscape remained issue. result of civil action 80-3300 on november 14, 1994 united states, state of louisiana, governor of louisiana, louisiana board of regents, boards of supervisors louisiana state university , southern university , board of trustees state colleges , universities agreed desegregation settlement. settlement, effective through 2004, enabled suno retain open admissions status , classification 4 year-v university. university, result, expected qualify 4 year-iv institution offering four-year undergraduate programs , graduate programs in specific areas.

as time progressed university took advantage of valuable opportunities boost academic programs. notable progress came in suno s school of social work. guided institution s first dean, millie mcclelland charles, school of social work blossomed 1 of recognized programs in south. result, popularity of school of social work s master of social work program grew. in fall of 2008, master of social work program grew capacity 150 students , many more candidates on waiting list.

suno s criminal justice program gained notoriety. offering both undergraduate , graduate degrees, criminal justice program has evolved program delves seeking community solutions prevent criminal behavior through study of causes of criminal behavior. program complemented studies in social sciences , has become program of choice of seeking career enhancements in law, law enforcement , justice system.

the sciences garnered wealth of attention in 2000s (decade) when suno aggressively implemented components of program excellence in mathematics , computer technology (pesmact) louisiana alliance minority participation (lamp). through programs, university science instructors have been able increase number , quality of minority students enrolling in , completing undergraduate , advanced degrees in sciences, technology , mathematics. because of diligent work of faculty, 1 of instructors dr. joe omojola, received 2006 presidential award excellence in science, mathematics , engineering mentoring national science foundation.

hurricane katrina

suno s park campus, original campus @ 6400 press drive, compromised result of levee breaches caused hurricane katrina , storm surge later caused hurricane rita. flood waters grew high eleven feet in buildings, causing school s physical plant require replacement.

the damage caused suno finish fall 2005 semester on sister campus in baton rouge. operations classes conducted @ southern university until temporary campus assembled @ 6801 press drive on land suno owned had not utilized extensively. after negotiations state of louisiana, federal emergency management agency, , u.s. army corps of engineers university able open temporary facility, called north campus (later named lake campus) on february 14, 2006. until january 2008, suno operated out of trailers.

not there physical damage done university, academics had been threatened. twenty of university s programs stripped due loss of students , faculty. prior katrina suno s enrollment exceeded 3,600 students projected enrollment dip few 1,200 students. surprise of many, suno s enrollment regained more 2,000 including online students when university returned grounds near park campus in spring of 2006.

by request of louisiana board of regents university added undergraduate degrees in public administration, health information systems , child development & family studies. university converted several administered undergraduate degrees management information systems , business entrepreneurship. university offers master s degree in management information systems result of conversion. in fall of 2008, board of regents approved reinstatement of undergraduate degrees in english, history , mathematics.

the fall of 2008 saw more advancements suno student population climbed 3,105 university occupied several buildings on park campus since katrina, , began construction on first residence halls in history of institution, opened in january 2010. plans development of lake campus moved forward opening of information technology center , construction on college of business , public administration, include $3 million business incubator.

on august 17, 2009, department of homeland security secretary napolitano announced fema provide more $32 million in additional funding rebuild 4 educational buildings @ suno. money marked replacement of university s old science, new science, multipurpose, , clark education buildings. in total, more $92 million in fema public assistance had been obligated suno, including $40 million since march 2009. previous funding had helped renovate university s cafeteria, health & physical education, , maintenance buildings.

2011 merger debate

on january 18, 2011, governor bobby jindal made request of louisiana board of regents study feasibility of merging suno , university of new orleans , moving both institutions under umbrella of university of louisiana system. study completed, , results delivered board of regents in march 14 meeting. later evening, gov. jindal announced write legislation recommending alternative b. on march 15, board of regents voted 9 6 accept gov. jindal s proposal recommend national center higher education management systems alternative b plan include comprehensive community college , new multi-unit university of greater new orleans. university of greater new orleans include urban research university unit , metropolitan university unit each headed chief academic officer under single president located on current site of university of new orleans. within same vote, board recommended including southern university system s proposal focused learning approach strengthen role of public higher education in building greater new orleans: honoré center undergraduate student achievement named southern university graduate , post-hurricane katrina hero gen. russell honoré.

louisiana state senator conrad appel (dist. 9, metairie) filed senate bill 183 aimed create university of louisiana @ new orleans. rep. tucker later filed house bill 537 called merging of suno , uno. next few months resulted in protests suno students, faculty, alumni, , community supporters in addition highly emotional testimony same parties @ board of regents march meeting , louisiana house education , appropriations committee meetings.

on may 18, rep. tucker pulled suno hb 537 due lack of support fellow house members. result, bill called uno s transition louisiana state university system university of louisiana system, approved legislature , gov. jindal. because of hb 537 s failure, sen. appel removed suno sb 183.