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Howard University

Motto	Veritas et Utilitas
Motto in English	"Truth and Service"
Type	Private federally chartered historically black research university
Established	March 2, 1867; 158 years ago (1867-03-02)
Accreditation	MSCHE
Academic affiliations	TMCF NAICU ORAU CUWMA
Endowment	$865.3 million (2023)
President	Ben Vinson III
Provost	Anthony Wutoh
Students	12,065 (Fall 2021)
Undergraduates	8,964 (Fall 2021)
Postgraduates	3,101 (Fall 2021)
Location	Washington , District of Columbia , United States 38°55′20″N 77°01′10″W / 38.92222°N 77.01944°W / 38.92222; -77.01944
Campus	Large City, 300 acres (1.2 km²)
Newspaper	The Hilltop
Colors	Blue Red Gray
Nickname	Howard Bison and Lady Bison
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS – MEAC NEC
Mascot	Bison

Howard University is a private university in Washington, D.C.. It was created by the U.S. government and is known as a historically black university. This means it was founded to educate African Americans. Howard is also a research university, which means its professors and students do a lot of important studies.

The university was started in 1867. It offers many different degrees, from bachelor's to doctorates, in over 120 subjects.

History of Howard University

Oliver Otis Howard, who the university is named after and who helped start it.

Howard Main Building around 1900.

Starting the University (1800s)

After the American Civil War, a group in Washington, D.C., wanted to create a school. They first thought about a seminary to train Black religious leaders. Soon, this idea grew into building a full university.

The new school was named after General Oliver Otis Howard. He was a Civil War hero and also helped start the university. He later became its president from 1869 to 1874.

The U.S. Congress officially approved Howard University on March 2, 1867. In its early years, the university got money from donations and tuition fees. Today, the U.S. government helps fund Howard University and its hospital every year.

Howard in the 20th Century

From 1926 to 1960, Mordecai Wyatt Johnson became Howard University's first African-American president. The 1930s were tough due to the Great Depression, and the university's budget was cut.

Miner Hall.

Howard University played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement. Many important leaders and thinkers were part of the Howard community. For example, Alain Locke wrote a book that helped start the Harlem Renaissance. Ralph Bunche, the first African American to win a Nobel Peace Prize, taught political science here.

In the 1940s, Howard students led "stool-sitting" protests. They sat at lunch counters that refused to serve Black people. This tactic became very important in the wider Civil Rights Movement. These protests continued for several years in Washington, D.C.

Stokely Carmichael, a student at Howard, created the term "Black Power". He worked to help people vote in Alabama.

**Presidents of Howard University**
1867	Charles B. Boynton
1867–1869	Byron Sunderland
1869–1874	Oliver Otis Howard
1875–1876	Edward P. Smith
1877–1889	William W. Patton
1890–1903	Jeremiah Rankin
1903–1906	John Gordon
1906–1912	Wilbur P. Thirkield
1912–1918	Stephen M. Newman
1918–1926	J. Stanley Durkee
1926–1960	Mordecai Wyatt Johnson
1960–1969	James Nabrit Jr.
1969–1989	James E. Cheek
1990–1994	Franklyn Jenifer
1995–2008	H. Patrick Swygert
2008–2013	Sidney A. Ribeau
2013–2023	Wayne A. I. Frederick
2023–present	Ben Vinson III

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge spoke at Howard's graduation. He talked about the achievements of African Americans since the Civil War. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a speech there. He shared his plans for civil rights laws and for helping Black Americans get more economic chances.

The Howard University School of Law is one of the oldest law schools in the United States.

In 1975, the old Freedman's Hospital closed. Howard University Hospital opened that same year. It is still used as the main teaching hospital for Howard's medical students. Also in 1975, Jeanne Sinkford became the first woman to be a dean of any American dental school.

In 1989, students protested the choice of a new board member. This led to the resignations of both the new board member and the university president.

Howard in the 21st Century

In the early 2000s, there were some changes in leadership. In 2013, students and faculty raised concerns about the university's finances. This led to the president, Sidney A. Ribeau, announcing his retirement. Wayne A. I. Frederick then became the new president.

The Interdisciplinary Research Building.

In 2016, President Barack Obama spoke at Howard's graduation. He told the graduates to work for racial equality. In 2018, students held a sit-in protest. They were upset about how the university handled money and financial aid. The protest ended with officials agreeing to many student demands.

In 2020, a generous donation of $40 million was given to Howard by MacKenzie Scott. This was the largest single donation in the university's history. In 2021, the university named its College of Fine Arts after the famous actor and former student, Chadwick Boseman.

Howard University Hospital.

In October 2021, students protested about poor living conditions in dorms. They wanted better housing and a voice on the board of trustees. In response, Howard University plans to spend a lot of money to fix and build new campus buildings. This includes a new STEM complex and buildings for the fine arts and communications schools.

In 2023, the U.S. Air Force chose Howard University to lead a research center. This center will study technology for military systems.

Howard University Campus

Founders Library is a famous building on the Howard University campus. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Howard University's campus is about 256 acres. It is located in northwest Washington, D.C. People often call the campus "The Mecca." Many new buildings were added after World War I.

The campus has several historic landmarks. These include the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall, and the Founders Library. The Howard University Gallery of Art has over 4,000 pieces of art. It is used by students for learning and research.

Frederick Douglas Memorial Hall.

Howard University has eight dorms for students. Some are for freshmen, and others are for returning students.

Howard University Hospital opened in 1975. It was built where a famous baseball stadium, Griffith Stadium, used to be.

Howard University also has its own radio station, WHUR-FM 96.3. There is also a student-run station called WHBC. Howard is also home to the public television station WHUT-TV.

How Howard University is Run

The university is managed by a board of trustees. This board includes professors, students, and alumni (former students). They all work together to make decisions for the university.

Academics at Howard University

U.S. university rankings

ARWU World	901–1000
THES World	201–250
USNWR National University	115
Washington Monthly National University	141
Forbes	349

Schools and Colleges

Howard University has many different schools and colleges. Students can study a wide range of subjects here.

College of Engineering and Architecture
College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences
College of Pharmacy
College of Arts and Sciences
Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts
Howard University College of Dentistry
Howard University School of Business
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
Howard University College of Medicine
Howard University School of Law
Middle School of Mathematics and Science
School of Divinity
School of Education
School of Social Work

Amazing Faculty Members

Howard's teachers include many famous people. These include a member of Congress, a blood banking pioneer, an Emmy-winning actor, and civil rights lawyers. Journalists, authors, and even a political activist like Stacey Abrams have taught here.

Special Programs for Students

Howard physics building.

Howard offers special programs for its best students. These "honors programs" are for high-achieving undergraduate students. They are in areas like Arts & Sciences, Education, Business, and Communications.

The Martha and Bruce Karsh STEM Scholars Program helps students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It gives full scholarships to students who want to earn a PhD or a combined MD–PhD in a STEM field.

Google's Tech Exchange

The Lower Quadrangle, also known as "The Valley."

In 2017, Google started a program called "Tech Exchange." It helps students from minority groups get into the tech industry. Howard students in this program learn from Google engineers and practice coding. They also experience tech culture in California.

Disney Storyteller Fund

In 2022, the Walt Disney Company created the Disney Storytellers Fund at Howard. This fund helps students in communications and fine arts. It gives them money and guidance to create their own projects. The goal is to help a new generation of Black storytellers.

Research at Howard

General Howard Hall.

Howard University is a place where a lot of important research happens.

Interdisciplinary Research Building

The Interdisciplinary Research Building (IRB) is a modern research facility. It opened in 2016 and cost $70 million to build. The IRB helps professors and students work together on new and exciting research projects.

Moorland-Spingarn Research Center

The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC) is one of the largest places in the world to find information. It collects and saves documents about the history and culture of people of African descent. This includes people from Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world.

NASA University Research Center

Howard University School of Divinity.

Howard University has a NASA University Research Center. This center helps train future scientists and leaders. They learn about the atmosphere and how to study it.

Publications

Howard University has its own student newspaper called The Hilltop. It was started in 1924 by Zora Neale Hurston. The university also publishes The Journal of Negro Education and the Howard Magazine.

Howard University Libraries

WHUT-TV station.

Howard University has a large library system. It includes the main Founders Library, which opened in 1939. There are also special libraries for different schools, like Business and Divinity. The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center is also part of the library system.

Student Life at Howard

The Harriet Tubman Quadrangle, also known as "The Quad," houses many female freshmen.

Sports (Athletics)

Howard University has 21 sports teams that compete in NCAA Division I. Most of these teams play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Their mascot is the Bison!

Students at Howard

Howard University is one of the largest historically black universities. It has about 10,000 students. Most students come from the Mid-Atlantic and Southern United States. About 4% of students are from other countries. About 86% of Howard students are African-American/Black.

Burr Gymnasium (The Burr).

Howard is a selective school. In fall 2021, over 29,000 students applied, and about 10,000 were accepted. This means about 35% of applicants get in.

There are over 200 student clubs and groups on campus. Howard students have won many national scholarships, like the Rhodes Scholar and Fulbright Scholar awards. Many students also receive financial aid to help pay for their education.

Greek Letter Organizations

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Tree on Howard's main yard.

Howard University is home to many Greek letter organizations. These include fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women). Howard is where the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) was founded. This council includes nine historically Black Greek letter organizations. Five of these nine groups were started at Howard.

Howard Homecoming

Howard University Towers East, a graduate student dormitory.

Howard Homecoming is a huge tradition at the university. Over 100,000 alumni, students, and visitors come to campus for a week of events. These events include a football game, a pep rally, a coronation ball, and a Greek step-show. The first official homecoming was in 1924.

Springfest

A Bridge Across and Beyond sculpture.

Springfest is another annual tradition. It celebrates the arrival of spring. It's like homecoming but smaller and more focused on current students. Events often include a fashion show, talent show, and community service projects.

Bison Ball

The Bison Ball and Excellence Awards is a fancy event held every spring. Students, teachers, and groups are honored for their great achievements.

Resfest

Resfest week is a fun competition for freshmen living in dorms. They compete in different events like field day, debates, and dance shows. It's a way for dorms to show off their skills and pride.

Famous People from Howard University

Many famous people have attended Howard University. These include the current Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. Other notable alumni include a Supreme Court Justice, members of Congress, and ambassadors. Many leaders in the Civil Rights Movement also studied here.

Howard alumni have achieved many "firsts." For example, Roger Arliner Young was the first African-American woman to get a doctorate in zoology. Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American Supreme Court justice. Edward W. Brooke III was the first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate.

Howard University has given out over 120,000 degrees. It has produced the most Black doctorate degree holders of any university.