My AAMU - Alabama A &M University: AMMU 1927 - 1954

Friday, August 14, 2009

AMMU 1927 - 1954 - THE BUILDER

1927-Joseph Fanning Drake

The Fourth President institutes a massive building program. He is irrevocably tagged with the name of "The Builder" due to his accomplishments in expanding the college physically and academically, even in the midst of the great depression of the 1930’s.
He built on the campus, through federal, foundation and state funds:

Councill Hall
Hurt Hall
Thigpen Hall
J. F. Drake Dining Hall
Bibb Graves Hall
The College Center
Grayson Hall
Annexes,
Walker Wood Hall
Carter Science Building
Vocational building,
Gymnasium,
Eight teachers cottages,
Faculty apartments,
Four Trades Buildings,
Twenty Farm Buildings,
The First Greenhouse.

1939-State Board of Education gives authority to offer course work on the senior
college level.
1949-Name changed to Alabama A&M College.
1954-Councill Federal Credit Union established.

Dr. Drake might also have well been called "The Savior" because only the efforts of his administration prevented the school from being entirely closed. So sure were the faculty and local residents that Dr. Drake had been sent to close the school that he found it necessary to remark quite often: "I did not come here to conduct the funeral of A&M." Besides buildings, Drake added 616.13 acres of land.

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Alabama A & M University - FYI

Alabama A&M University is a historically black university. It was established in 1875 as the Colored Normal School at Huntsville.

Prior to gaining university status, the university was renamed several times.

1885 - The State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville in

1896 - The State Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes

1949 - Alabama A&M College

AAMU is divided into the following schools:
School of Agricultural
School of Arts & Science
School of Business
School of Education
School of Engineering

AAMU has an active Greek life. Some of the fraternities and sororities of the university are: Delta Mu Delta
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Beta Kappa Chi
Delta Sigma Theta
Alpha Zeta, Eta Kappa Tau
Alpha Kappa Mu
Kappa Alpha Psi
Lambda Sigma Pi
Alpha Phi Alpha
Omega Psi Phi

Campus Location
4900 Meridian St
Normal, AL 35762
USA
Main Tel: (256) 372-5000
Web Site

Students

Alabama A & M is a historically black college.
The student enrollment at Alabama A & M was 5,706 in 2007 (5,124 full-time equivalent).
About 46% of the freshmen class in 2007 was male and women were 54% of the class.
Undergrads are 79% of enrolled students and graduate students are 21%.

Alabama A & M University Highlights
Where Alabama A & M University stands out most compared to other schools (details below):
Historically black college.

Many students concentrating in:
family and social work
engineering
science
computer science and engineering
agricultural science and management

Selective admissions.
Affordable tuition & fees.
Racially diverse student body.
Large number of programs of study offered.
Number of dorm rooms for students.
Good faculty-to-student ratio.
Large number of students.
Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
Other important characteristics:
Faculty tenure system
Library on-campus
Campus housing available
Student meal (board) plan
Study abroad option
Distance learning available
Weekend study option
Part-time classes available
ROTC
Athlete financial aid

Degrees Awarded (in 2007)
Bachelor - 559
Master - 279
Doctoral - 11
Post-master's certificate - 10

Faculty
Tenure (2007):
Full-Time Faculty
With Tenure - 119
Without tenure; working tenure - 104
Without tenure: Not available - 89

Tuition and Other Costs
State Tuition & Fees - $4,072
Our of State Tuition - $7,304

Financial Aid: Alabama A & M participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.
Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.

Housing and Meals
Alabama A & M provides on-campus housing for 2,843 of its 5,124 (full-time) students (as of 2007).
Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 21 meals weekly.

Alabama A & M Athletics
School sports include football (Southwestern Athletic Conference), basketball (Southwestern Athletic Conference), baseball (Southwestern Athletic Conference), and track (University Athletic Association).

Alabama A & M offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 139 male students received the aid (men were 74% of those receiving aid) and 49 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 26% of students receiving such aid) .

AAMU HISTORY - DURING THE FOUNDER YEARS

1878-The state appropriation increased to $2,000.
1881-Moved to first school-owned property on West Clinton Street (the land upon which Von Braun Civic Center is located) known as the "Dement Place."

1882-Shop courses were introduced into the curriculum in the fall (e.g., carpentry,
printing, mattress-making, horticulture, sewing, etc.)

1883-Industrial training began.

1884-Property on West Clinton Street was deeded to the State of Alabama by trustees.
1885-Name changed to State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville; state appropriation increased to $4,000; building erected for industrial training through $1,000 grant from the Slater Fund.

1890-Students numbered 300; teachers, 11. Designated as a Land-Grant College of Alabama. School site became known as Normal, Ala., and a post office was established. Students were called "Normalites."

1891-Designated a land-grant college through legislative enactment February 13. On September 30, the present sit was purchased (182.72) acres. The school expanded to include agriculture and home economics; Palmer (named for State Superintendent Solomon Palmer) and (Governor Thomas) Seay Halls were built with student labor.

1893-First night school was held. First alumni meeting held.

1894-Trade education diplomas authorized.
First trade certificates were awarded 10).

1896-Name changed to The State Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes.

1897-Art Painting Department added to curriculum.

1901-First honorary degree awarded.

1903-Blues great W. C. Handy leaves as band director.
1909-"Service is Sovereignty" motto introduced Councill dies at 61

THE UNIVERSITY MACE

The ceremonial academic mace emerged in fourteenth century Europe from a combination of the royal scepter and the medieval battle mace. The scepter was the traditional symbol of royalty used during the coronation of kings and emperors, while the battle mace was a weapon of protection used by princes. By the late Middle Ages, the mace had become a symbol of the lawful authority of royalty, chief officers of medieval universities, mayors of towns and cities, and bishops. Today, the ceremonial mace is used during commencement exercises to symbolize the authority vested in the University President to act on behalf of the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff to confer academic degrees. It is carried in the academic procession by the head marshal, who immediately precedes the President to maintain the dignity and solemnity of the occasion. Alabama A&M University’s academic mace was designed by Dr. Oscar L. Logan, who served as an associate professor in the Department of Art and Art Education. It is constructed from bronze and ebonized maple wood, cast on a pyramid base, with the University seal on each side of the capital.

AMMU MADALLION

The Presidential Medallion, depicted throughout the Inaugural Ceremony Program, was commissioned by Dr. Robert R. Jennings, tenth president of Alabama A&M University, in 2006. The four-inch oxidized bronze medal was cast by the Medallic Art Company of Nevada and was designed by Alabama A&M University artist Thomas Colvin III of the Office of Information and Public Relations. The Presidential Medallion is presented to individuals who have excelled in their respective fields or who have rendered exemplary service to the University and/or to mankind. The first Presidential Medallion was presented on May 11, 2006, to Dr. Randal D. Pinkett, scholar, entrepreneur, policy consultant and humanitarian.

My AAMU - Alabama A &M University

Catherine Madry Stewart