Langston University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Langston University

Former names	Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University (1897–1941)
Motto	Education For Service
Type	Public land-grant historically black university
Established	March 12, 1897 (1897-03-12)
Parent institution	Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical Colleges
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$45 million (2015)
President	Ruth Ray Jackson
Students	1,873
Location	Langston , Oklahoma , United States
Campus	Rural
Colors	Blue & Orange
Nickname	Lions
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – Sooner

Langston University (LU) is a public university located in Langston, Oklahoma. It is a special type of school called a land-grant and historically black university (HBCU). This means it was created to provide education for African Americans, especially in farming and practical skills.

LU is the only historically black college in Oklahoma. It is also the westernmost HBCU in the United States. The main campus is in a rural area near Guthrie. Langston University also has centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. These centers help serve students in bigger cities. The university is part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which supports public HBCUs.

History of Langston University

Langston University started in 1897. It was first called the Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University. From 1898 to 1916, Inman E. Page was its president.

Why Langston University Was Created

The university was formed because of a law called the Second Morrill Act of 1890. This law said that states with land-grant colleges, like Oklahoma State University, had to do one of two things. They either had to allow African Americans to attend, or they had to create a separate school for them. This was a condition for getting money from the government.

In 1941, the university changed its name to Langston University. This was to honor John Mercer Langston (1829–1897). He was a pioneer in civil rights. He was also the first African-American member of Congress from Virginia. Langston also helped start the Howard University Law School.

Growth and Changes Over Time

Over the years, Langston University has grown steadily. It faced challenges like political influences and money problems. There were also issues with not having enough space or equipment.

In the 1960s, the campus got a big update. Many new buildings were added. The library and auditorium also got bigger.

Famous Teachers and Recent News

The poet Melvin B. Tolson taught at Langston from 1947 to 1964. He was played by Denzel Washington in the movie The Great Debaters.

In 2021, the university helped its students in a big way. President Kent J. Smith Jr. announced that the university would use special funds. They used these funds to forgive $4.65 million in student debt. This helped students who were enrolled between spring 2020 and summer 2021.

In March 2023, a new Allied Health Facility opened on the Tulsa Campus. This modern building is 17,000 square feet. It is home to the School of Nursing and Health Professions. It has cool features like simulation labs with robots that use artificial intelligence.

President Kent J. Smith Jr. retired in 2023. The university's board then chose Ruth Ray Jackson as interim president. In 2024, she officially became the 17th president of Langston University.

Academics at Langston

Langston University offers many different study programs. These programs are organized into six main schools:

• Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
• School of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business
• School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
• School of Nursing and Health Professions
• School of Physical Therapy

LU offers 30 different programs for undergraduate students. These are for students earning their first college degree. It also has six programs for graduate students. These are for students who want to continue their studies after their first degree.

Special Programs

The university has the Edwin P. McCabe Honors Program. This program is for undergraduate students who are very motivated. It is for those who have excellent grades.

Langston University also has a special program for a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). This program started in 2005. It is the only doctoral program at the university. It is also one of only two DPT programs in Oklahoma. Students in this program learn in a special building for Physical Therapy.

Langston University is officially approved by the Higher Learning Commission. This means the university meets high standards for education. Many of its specific programs are also approved by groups for those subjects.

Langston Athletics: The Lions

A football game between the Langston Lions (left) and North American Stallions in 2023

The sports teams at Langston University are called the Lions. The university is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Since 2018–19, they have mostly competed in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Before that, they were in the Red River Athletic Conference. They were also once part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) from 1931–32 to 1956–57.

Langston has nine different sports teams for men and women:

• Men's sports include basketball, football, and track & field.
• Women's sports include basketball, cheer, softball, track & field, and volleyball.

There is also a club soccer program for both men and women. The current athletic director is Donnita Rogers.

Championship Wins

The Langston Lions have won several championships. They won the HBCU National Championships in football in 1939 and 1941. In basketball, they won two HBCU National Championships in 1944 and 1946.

In February 2023, the men's basketball team made history. They won their first Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championship. They were also the first HBCU to win both the regular season and tournament championships in the same season.

The Marching Pride Band

Langston University Marching Pride performing during halftime of a Dallas Renegades game

Langston's marching band is called the "Langston University Marching Pride". The band is a big part of the university. They perform at sports events and represent the school. It also helps students who want to work in music.

Charlie Wilson from The Gap Band was once a Drum Major for the band. The band currently has over 210 members. Langston also has other music groups. These include a jazz band, concert band, and wind ensemble.

The Marching Pride Band has been chosen three times for the Honda Battle of the Bands. This is a big event held in the Georgia Dome. In 2023, they were one of eight bands chosen for the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands in Houston, Texas.

Notable Alumni and Attendees

See also

• KALU, Langston U. Public Radio Station 89.3 FM