Grambling State University

Bust of Charles P. Adams, the founder and first president of Grambling State University

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.

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.

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.

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

From 1977 to 2000, the university grew and prospered. Several new academic programs were incorporated. New facilities were added to the 384-acre (1.55 km²) campus, including a business and computer science building, school of nursing, student services building, stadium, stadium support facility, and an intramural sports center.

In May 1999, President Clinton served as the commencement keynote speaker.[5]

State Representative George B. Holstead of Ruston worked to increase state appropriations for Grambling State University during his legislative tenure from 1964 to 1980.[6]

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.[7]

In 2019, Grambling broke ground for building of the first digital library on a HBCU campus. The $16.6 million project was completed in early 2023.[8][9][10][11]

Grambling State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following four colleges:[15]

• College of Art & Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Educational and Graduate Studies
• College of Professional Studies

In addition, there is the Earl Lester Cole Honors College available for high-achieving undergraduate students seeking a more unique academic experience. Also an Army ROTC program is available for undergraduate students interested in a college curriculum with a military foundation.

Grambling State offers its only doctoral degree in Developmental Education through the College of Educational and Graduate Studies.[16]

In 2020, Grambling became the first collegiate institution in Louisiana to offer bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and cloud computing.[17]

Grambling State is accredited by 18 separate accrediting associations, a member in good standing in 20 organizations, and accredited in all of the programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents.[18]

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  Grambling State University campus sign
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  The President's Home at Grambling State is particularly elegant and stately.
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  Favrot Student Building at Grambling State
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  The Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling State

Alumni of Grambling State include numerous MLB, NBA and NFL players, public officials, lawyers, doctors, scholars, journalists, business professionals, and artists.

• NFL Hall of Famer Buck Buchanan of the Kansas City Chiefs
• Eight-time Mr. Olympia winner Ronnie Coleman
• Actress Natalie Desselle-Reid
• Grammy-winner Erykah Badu attended Grambling State University and once served as a campus queen.
• New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow
• Super Bowl XXII MVP quarterback Doug Williams is not only an alumnus, but previously served as the Tigers' head football coach.
• West coast Bay Area rap artist E-40
• Alumnus Ivory V. Nelson was named a Fulbright Scholar in 1966.[26]
• Alumnus Cedric Glover, now a state representative, was the first African-American mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana.
• Alumna Ollie Tyler is the first African-American female mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana.
• Stephanie A. Finley (B.S. 1988) is a United States Attorney and a President Barack Obama nominee for United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
• Bob French is a well-known jazz musician.
• Alumnus Paul (Tank) Younger is the first Black football player from a HBCU to sign a contract and play professional football.
• Alumna Alma Dawson is a scholar of library and information science who held the Russell B. Long Professorship at Louisiana State University.
• The writer Judi Ann Mason was a double major graduate of Grambling. She began her writing career at GSU by winning two major playwrighting awards through the American College Theatre Festival.
• N. Burl Cain, former warden of Louisiana State Penitentiary, has a master's degree in criminal justice from Grambling.
• Ernie Ladd was an American professional football player and a WWE Hall of Famer.
• Willis Reed is an NBA Hall of Famer and member of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grambling State University.

• Official website