Clark Atlanta University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Clark Atlanta University

Motto	"I'll Find a Way or Make One" (Atlanta University); "Culture for Service" (Clark College)
Type	Private historically black research university
Established	September 19, 1865; 159 years ago (1865-09-19)
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church
Academic affiliation	ORAU Space-grant
Endowment	$102,435,884 (2021)
President	George T. French Jr.
Students	4,135 (Fall 2023)
Undergraduates	3,495
Postgraduates	640
Location	Atlanta, Georgia , U.S. 33°45′3″N 84°24′37″W / 33.75083°N 84.41028°W / 33.75083; -84.41028
Campus	Urban, 126 acres (0.5 km2)
Newspaper	The CAU Panther
Colors	Red, black, gray
Nickname	Panthers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Mascot	Panther

Clark Atlanta University (often called CAU or Clark Atlanta) is a private university in Atlanta, Georgia. It is connected to the United Methodist Church. CAU is also a historically black college or university (HBCU). This means it was founded to serve African American students.

Clark Atlanta was the very first HBCU in the Southern United States. It started on September 19, 1865, as Atlanta University. Later, it joined with Clark College (which began in 1869) to become Clark Atlanta University in 1988. The university is known for its strong research programs.

History

Atlanta University was founded on September 19, 1865. It was the first HBCU in the Southern United States. It was also the first graduate school in the nation to give degrees to African Americans. Clark College, founded in 1869, was the first four-year college for African American students. These two schools joined together in 1988 to create Clark Atlanta University.

Atlanta University

During the Civil War, in 1862, two African American men, James Tate and Grandison B. Daniels, started the first school for Black children in Atlanta. It was in an old church building. This church, Friendship Baptist Church, was founded by Tate, Daniels, and 25 other former slaves. The school later became Atlanta University in September 1865.

In November 1865, a white missionary named Reverend Frederick Ayer came to Atlanta. He bought a boxcar to use as a new classroom for Atlanta University. It also served as a meeting place for the Friendship Church. Tate and Daniels passed on their leadership to Ayer, who was well-prepared to lead the school.

Atlanta University was officially founded on September 19, 1865. Two years later, Edmund Asa Ware became its first president. The university was officially recognized in 1867. This happened with help from Oliver Otis Howard of the Freedmen's Bureau.

Atlanta University is the oldest graduate school in the nation for mostly African American students. It began offering college-level classes in 1869. The first students graduated in 1873. They were from a program for future teachers, which included women. The first bachelor's degrees were given out in 1876.

Atlanta University was one of the first schools to accept women. It was also the first HBCU to have a women's dorm, North Hall, built in 1869. From 1876 to 1900, eight women earned bachelor's degrees from Atlanta University.

By 1912, Atlanta University had college and teacher training programs. Many alumni became teachers. There were several small Black colleges in Atlanta. These included Atlanta, Morehouse, Spelman, Clark, Morris Brown, and Gammon. They all relied on donations from the North. After World War I, donors wanted the schools to merge.

In 1929, the Atlanta University Affiliation was created. Atlanta University became a graduate school. Morehouse and Spelman became undergraduate colleges. Other Black colleges in Atlanta joined later. In 1988, Atlanta University merged with Clark College. They became Clark Atlanta University on July 1, 1988.

North Hall – now Gaines Hall (Morris Brown College) Atlanta University started on West Mitchell Street. North Hall, now Gaines Hall, was built in 1869. It was the first female dormitory on a co-ed campus in the United States. Gaines Hall was Atlanta University's first original building. A year later, South Hall opened for boys. More parts were added in 1871 and 1880.

In 1882, Stone Hall opened. It was the main building. It had a chapel, classrooms, labs, and offices. By 1905, four more buildings were added. These included a library. North Hall is the middle building, with South Hall on the left. South Hall was later taken down. A fire in 2015 damaged Gaines Hall. In 2017, a court gave the property back to Clark Atlanta University.

Stone Hall, c. 1910

Stone Hall – now Fountain Hall (Morris Brown College) Fountain Hall was built in 1882. It is on the Morris Brown College campus. This building is important for its role in providing higher education to Black people. It was made a National Historic Landmark in 1975. The building is a great example of the High Victorian style. Its clock tower is a rare sight in Atlanta.

For many years, Fountain Hall was the main administration building for Atlanta University. It also had a chapel, library, and labs. Later, it served Morris Brown College in a similar way. Today, it has offices, a chapel, art studios, and a gallery. Fountain Hall has been a central place for education for many Black Americans. Its location makes it a recognizable landmark.

In the early 1930s, Morris Brown College faced money problems. They had to give up their property. Atlanta University was no longer using some of its old buildings. In 1932, Morris Brown College leased these vacant buildings. After this, Stone Hall became known as Fountain Hall. It was named after Bishop William A. Fountain.

The Atlanta University campus moved to its current location. The Atlanta University Center was formed. Clark College, Morris Brown College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center joined later. Over the next 20 years, many new graduate schools were started. These included Library Science, Education, and Business Administration.

In 1957, the leaders of the six schools agreed to new rules. This created the Atlanta University Center. The center's influence grew through journals like Phylon. It also grew through the work of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois. He was a famous faculty member.

The Atlanta Sociological Laboratory was started at Atlanta University in 1895. It was a very important research group.

Clark College

Clark College was founded in 1869 by the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the nation's first four-year college for African American students. The school was officially recognized in 1877. It started offering college-level classes in 1879. Its first degree was awarded in 1880. It became Clark College in 1940.

Clark Atlanta University sign

The college was named after Bishop Davis Wasgatt Clark. He was the first president of the Freedman's Aid Society. The first classes were held in a small room in Clark Chapel. In 1871, the school moved to a new location.

An early supporter, Bishop Gilbert Haven, wanted Clark to be the main university for all Methodist schools for freed slaves. After several moves, Bishop Haven helped get 450 acres in South Atlanta. The school gave out its first degree there in 1880. In 1883, Clark started a theology department. This department later became the Gammon School of Theology. Clark College merged with Atlanta University on July 1, 1988, to form Clark Atlanta University.

Philanthropy

In December 2020, MacKenzie Scott gave a very large donation to Clark Atlanta University. This was the biggest single gift in the school's history.

In September 2021, Clark Atlanta started a 10-year plan to raise $250 million. This money will help low-income students with scholarships. It will also improve research, teaching, and campus buildings.

Presidents

Clark Atlanta University's current president is George T. French Jr.. He started in this role in 2019.

Campus

Bust of W.E.B. DuBois by Ayokunle Odeleye at Clark Atlanta University

Clark Atlanta University's main campus has 37 buildings. It covers 126 acres. It is about 1.4 miles southwest of Downtown Atlanta. The campus includes an art museum.

Residential facilities

All undergraduate students with fewer than 58 credit hours must live on campus.

Academics

Clark Atlanta offers many different degrees. You can get bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. These are offered through four main schools:

• School of Arts & Science
• School of Business
• School of Education
• School of Social Work

Clark Atlanta is the most complete school in the Atlanta University Center. It offers over 40 different degrees.

Clark Atlanta is often ranked among the best colleges by The Washington Monthly. It is also consistently ranked a top 25 HBCU by U.S. News & World Report.

The university's social work graduate program is often ranked among the top 100 in the nation.

Clark Atlanta's Center for Functional Nanoscale Measures (CFNM) has helped more Black students earn Ph.D.s in Nanoscale Science than any other HBCU.

The Isabella T. Jenkins Honors Program is a special program for high-achieving students. It offers a unique and supportive community.

Student life

Student body

Each year, about 30 to 40% of students are from Georgia. The rest come from other states. About 25% of students are male and 75% are female. In 2018, most students identified as African-American/Black. Many first-year students receive financial aid to help pay for school.

CAU Experience

All new undergraduate students must attend "CAU Experience." This is a five-day event. It helps students learn about the history, culture, and community of Clark Atlanta University. A special event is held to officially welcome new students as CAU Panthers.

Athletics

Panther Stadium

Clark Atlanta University's sports teams are called the Panthers. They compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). This is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division II.

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

Marching band

The university has a marching band. It is known as the Mighty Marching Panther Band.

National fraternities and sororities

All nine of the National Pan-Hellenic Council groups have chapters at Clark Atlanta University. These are social organizations for students.

Notable alumni

This list includes people who graduated from or attended Atlanta University, Clark College, Clark University, or Clark Atlanta University.

Notable faculty and administrators

See also

• Panther Stadium
• UNCF
• List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Atlanta
• List of historically black colleges of the United States