Fayetteville State University facts for kids
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Former name
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Howard School (1867–1877) State Colored Normal School (1877–1939) Fayetteville State Teachers College (1939–1963) Fayetteville State College (1963–1969) |
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| Motto | Res Non Verba (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Deeds not Words" |
| Type | Public historically black university |
| Established | November 29, 1867 |
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Parent institution
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University of North Carolina |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Academic affiliations
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TMCF |
| Endowment | $24.8 million (2020) |
| Chancellor | Darrell T. Allison, J.D. |
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Academic staff
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328 (Fall 2011) |
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Administrative staff
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581 (Fall 2011) |
| Students | 6,748 (Fall 2021) |
| Undergraduates | 5,557 (Fall 2021) |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Midsize city, 200 acres (0.81 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Voice |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Nickname | Broncos |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II — CIAA |
| Mascot | Mr. Bronco |
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Fayetteville State University (FSU) is a public university in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is known as a historically black university, meaning it was founded to educate African American students. FSU is part of the larger University of North Carolina System.
Contents
History of FSU
Fayetteville State University is the second oldest state-supported school in North Carolina. It started small after the Civil War.
Early Beginnings: Howard School
In 1865, two schools for African American children, Phillips and Sumner Schools, were founded in Fayetteville. In 1867, these schools joined together to form the Howard School. This new school was named after General Oliver O. Howard. He was a leader of the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency that helped formerly enslaved people.
Seven important African American men bought land for the school. They were Matthew N. Leary, Andrew J. Chestnutt, Robert Simmons, George Grainger, Thomas Lomax, Nelson Carter, and David A. Bryant. They wanted to make sure local Black youth could get an education.
Becoming a Teacher Training School
In 1877, North Carolina decided to create the first school to train African American teachers. The Howard School was chosen because it had a good record of educating Black students. It then became the State Colored Normal School. This made it the first state-supported school in the South for training African American teachers.
Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith's Leadership
In 1883, Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith became the principal of the State Colored Normal School. He led the school for 50 years. During his time, the school moved to a new, permanent location on Murchison Road. Dr. Smith even gave some of his own land to the school, making it 92 acres.
Under Dr. Smith, the school stopped offering high school classes in 1929. The title of "Principal" also changed to "President." Dr. Smith retired in 1933 and became the school's first President Emeritus.
Growth and Name Changes
After Dr. Smith, Dr. J. Ward Seabrook became president. In 1939, the school became Fayetteville State Teachers College. It was then a four-year college where students could earn a Bachelor of Science degree in education.
Later, in 1959, under President Dr. Rudolph Jones, the school started offering degrees in subjects other than teaching. In 1963, it changed its name again to Fayetteville State College. Many new buildings were added to the campus as more students enrolled.
Becoming a University
In 1969, Dr. Charles Lyons Jr. became president. That same year, the college was officially renamed Fayetteville State University by the state government. In 1972, FSU became part of The University of North Carolina system, and Dr. Lyons became its first chancellor.
Under Dr. Lyons, FSU grew to offer many different bachelor's and master's degree programs. He also started new programs, like the one at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. This allowed military members and full-time workers to continue their education.
Expanding Programs and Community Help
In 1988, Dr. Lloyd Hackley became chancellor. He worked to add more undergraduate and graduate programs. In 1994, FSU started its first doctoral program in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Hackley also focused on helping the community. He started programs for children who needed extra support in public schools. He also helped raise money for scholarships, so more students could afford to attend FSU. After leaving FSU, Dr. Hackley became the first African American President of the North Carolina Community College System.
First Female Chancellor
In 2003, Dr. Thelma Jane "T.J." Bryan made history. She was chosen to be the first female chancellor of FSU. She was also the first African American woman to lead any school in the UNC system.
Under her leadership, FSU added many new programs. It also became a leader in online learning within the UNC system. Dr. James Anderson followed her in 2008. In 2019, Dr. Peggy Valentine was appointed Acting Chancellor. In 2021, Darrell T. Allison became the 12th Chancellor of Fayetteville State University.
Academics at FSU
Fayetteville State University aims to give its students a great education. It offers a strong foundation in liberal arts, special training for different jobs, and advanced graduate programs.
Students can earn:
- bachelor's degrees in 43 different subjects.
- master's degrees in 23 different subjects.
- One doctoral degree in educational leadership.
The university is officially approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Charles W. Chesnutt Library
The Charles W. Chesnutt Library helps students with their studies and supports the university's cultural activities. You can use its services in person or online. The library is also an important resource for the local community. It is named after Charles W. Chesnutt, who helped found the university.
The library has a huge collection of books, microfilms, and newspapers. It also has a "Digital Commons" where students and researchers can share their work.
The Archives and Special Collections are on the library's fourth floor. Here, you can find old university records, student dissertations, and special collections. These include the papers of Charles Waddell Chesnutt and Ezekiel Ezra Smith.
In 2022, the library changed to include a "One Stop for Advising and Student Success" and an "Adult Learning Center." This means new spaces and services for students. In 2022, the American Library Association gave the Chesnutt Library $20,000 to buy laptops for students.
The Library is also a member of the HBCU Library Alliance.
Journal of Research Initiatives
The College of Education and the Office of Research at FSU publish a journal called the Journal of Research Initiatives. This is an independent, peer-reviewed journal. It is edited by Dr. Linda Wilson-Jones.
Student Life at FSU
Fayetteville State University offers many ways for students to get involved and have fun.
Student Organizations
Students can join over 78 different student groups. These include sororities and fraternities. The university also has an active sports program where students can play flag football, basketball, track and field, soccer, and go swimming. New organizations are added every year.
Athletics
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Fayetteville State University has 10 sports teams that compete in the NCAA.
- Men's sports include football, basketball, cross-country/track, and golf.
- Women's sports include basketball, volleyball, softball, cross-country/track, tennis, and bowling.
The university is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). Their sports teams are called the Broncos.
Student Media
- Bronco-iRadio is the student online radio station. FSU students run and manage it.
- The Voice is the university's student newspaper. It comes out every two weeks and covers student life, arts, entertainment, and sports.
Performing and Fine Arts
Fayetteville State University has a lively performing and fine arts program. It has hosted famous artists like Dance Theatre of Harlem and the music group Take 6.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have attended Fayetteville State University, including:
- Chris Armstrong – former professional football player
- Darrell Armstrong – former professional basketball player and current NBA assistant coach
- Jim Bibby – former MLB baseball player
- Affion Crockett – American actor, writer, comedian, and music producer
- Brasheedah Elohim – American-Israeli professional women's basketball player
- Algeania Freeman – American academic leader
- Michele S. Jones – first woman in the United States Army Reserve to reach the highest enlisted position
- Marvin W. Lucas – member of the North Carolina General Assembly
- Richard Medlin – former NFL football player
- Sylvester Ritter – former NFL player and professional wrestler (known as "Junkyard Dog")
- Johnathan Michael Porter (Blueface) – Rapper and former quarterback
- Joshua Williams – NFL football player
