Philander Smith University facts for kids

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Philander Smith University

Former names	Walden Seminary (1877–1882), Philander Smith College (1882–2023)
Type	Private historically black college
Established	1877
Accreditation	HLC
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations	UNCF
Endowment	$3 million
President	Cynthia Bond Hopson
Students	760
Location	Little Rock, Arkansas , U.S.
Colors	Green and gold
Nickname	Panthers
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – GCAC

Philander Smith University is a private university in Little Rock, Arkansas. It used to be called Philander Smith College. This school is a historically black college (HBCU). It is connected to the United Methodist Church. The university is also a founding member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). This group helps students at HBCUs get a good education. Philander Smith University is officially approved by the Higher Learning Commission. This means its education meets high standards.

History of Philander Smith University

Budlong Hall, around 1910. It was built in 1883 and taken down in 1963.

Philander Smith University started in 1877. It was first named Walden Seminary. The school was created to offer education to formerly enslaved people. These were people who had been freed after the American Civil War. They lived west of the Mississippi River.

In 1882, the school's name changed. It became Philander Smith College. This was to honor Adeline Smith, who gave money to the school. She was the wife of Philander Smith. In 1883, the school became a four-year college. It gave out its first bachelor's degree in 1888. Later, in 1933, it joined with George R. Smith College. That college had burned down in 1925.

Philander Smith and the Civil Rights Movement

During the Civil Rights Movement, Philander Smith College was very active. This movement worked to end unfair treatment of Black people. Many students from the college took part in peaceful protests. They used nonviolent resistance to fight against segregation. Segregation was when Black and white people were kept separate. For example, students would sit at "whites-only" lunch counters. This was a way to show that these rules were wrong.

On August 1, 2023, the school made a big announcement. It added its first master's degree program. At the same time, its name changed from Philander Smith College to Philander Smith University.

Campus Life and Buildings

Campus

The Harry R. Kendall Center. This building is home to the Dr. Joycelyn Elders School of Allied and Public Health.

The Cox Administration Building.

The university campus is in the middle of Little Rock. A highway, Interstate 630, runs just north of the campus. The campus is bordered by 10th and 14th streets. It is also between Gaines and Chester streets.

A part of the campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. One key building is the Cox Administration Building. It was designed in 1915 by a famous architect, John Parks Almand. The campus also has the "Old Gym." This gymnasium was built by the WPA. The WPA was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression. Another building is a former barracks. It was moved to the campus in 1948 from a military base.

Sports and Athletics

The sports teams at Philander Smith University are called the Panthers. The university is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They mainly play in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). They have been in this conference since 2011.

Philander Smith has ten different sports teams.

• Men's sports include basketball, cross country, and track & field.
• Women's sports include basketball, cross country, track & field, and volleyball.
• There is also a co-ed sport which is cheerleading.

Sports Achievements

The men's basketball team made history in 2012–13. They won their first GCAC conference tournament title.

On February 21, 1989, the women's basketball team had a big win. They beat Rust College 92–89. This win ended Rust College's very long home-court winning streak. It was the longest streak in NCAA Division III women's basketball history.

Famous Alumni

Notable Teachers

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Little Rock, Arkansas