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Prairie View A&M University facts for kids
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Former names
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Alta Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youth (1876–1879) Prairie View State Normal School (1879–1899) Prairie View State Normal & Industrial College (1899–1945) Prairie View University (1945–1947) Prairie View A&M College of Texas (1947–1973) |
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| Motto | Prairie View Produces Productive People. |
| Type | Public historically black land-grant university |
| Established | 1876 |
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Parent institution
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Texas A&M University System |
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Academic affiliations
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TMCF |
| Endowment | $148.5 million |
| President | Tomikia P. LeGrande |
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Academic staff
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486 full-time and 80 part-time |
| Students | 9,893 (fall 2024) |
| Location |
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U.S.
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| Campus | Rural, 1,440 acres (5.8 km2) |
| Colors | Purple and gold |
| Nickname | Panthers & Lady Panthers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – SWAC |
| Mascot | Panther |
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Prairie View A&M University (often called PVAMU or PV) is a public university in Prairie View, Texas. It is known as a historically black college or university (HBCU). This means it was founded to provide higher education for African Americans.
PVAMU was started in 1876. It is one of the oldest public universities in Texas. It is also one of two "land-grant" universities in the state. Land-grant universities were created with land given by the government to focus on agriculture and mechanical arts.
Today, PVAMU offers many different study programs. Students can earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. It is the largest HBCU in Texas and the third largest in the United States. PVAMU is part of the Texas A&M University System.
The university has 18 sports teams called the Prairie View A&M Panthers. They compete in NCAA Division I sports. They are also a founding member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
Contents
University History
Prairie View A&M University began as the Alta Vista Agriculture & Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youth. It was created in 1876, after the American Civil War. At that time, laws in Texas required separate schools for white and Black children.
Two former slaves, State Senator Matthew Gaines and State Representative William H. Holland, helped create the college. They worked on a law to start a state-supported "Agricultural and Mechanical" college. This made Prairie View A&M the first state-supported college for African Americans in Texas.
The college was built on the land of the former Alta Vista Plantation. It was part of the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University). This was done to follow the federal Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act. This act provided public land to create colleges.
Over the years, the university's name changed several times. In 1945, it became Prairie View University. In 1947, it was named Prairie View A&M College of Texas. Finally, in 1973, it officially became Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University, or Prairie View A&M University.
In 1983, Texas voters approved a change to help fund Prairie View A&M. This change made the university a beneficiary of the Permanent University Fund. This fund helps support top universities in Texas.
In 2000, a plan called the Priority Plan was signed. This plan aimed to make Prairie View A&M University open and available to all Texans. It also led to new programs and buildings.
In December 2020, a generous gift of $50 million was given to Prairie View A&M by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This was the largest single gift the university had ever received. It was also one of the biggest gifts ever given to an HBCU.
In 2021, Prairie View A&M achieved a special status called R2. This means it is a "Doctoral University; High Research Activity" institution. Only a few HBCUs and Texas A&M System schools have this status.
Academic Programs
| USNWR National University | 395-435 |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 170 |
Prairie View A&M University offers many different academic programs. These programs are organized into various colleges and schools:
- School of Architecture
- College of Agriculture and Human Sciences
- Marvin and June Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business
- Whitlow R. Green College of Education
- Roy G. Perry College of Engineering
- College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology
- College of Nursing
- School of Public and Allied Health
- Office of Graduate Studies
In 2004, Prairie View A&M started the Texas Undergraduate Medical Academy (UMA). This program helps talented students prepare for medical, dental, pharmacy, or veterinary school. It aims to increase the number of minority students in healthcare fields.
The university also has a special honors program for students who achieve high academic success.
Prairie View A&M is often recognized for producing many African-American architects and engineers. It awards the second most STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees in the Texas A&M University System each year.
All of Prairie View A&M's academic programs are officially approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Each college also has its own special approvals.
For 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked Prairie View A&M highly among national universities and HBCUs. It was also recognized for helping students move up in society.
John B. Coleman Library
The John B. Coleman Library is the main library at Prairie View A&M. It is a large, five-story building that opened in 1988. The library has over 370,000 books and many other resources. It also has an art gallery and a collection of historical documents.
University Campuses
Prairie View A&M's main campus is in Prairie View, Texas. It is about 48.8 miles (78.5 km) northwest of Downtown Houston. The campus covers 1,440 acres (5.8 km2) and has over 50 buildings. People often call the campus "The Hill" because it sits on a hill. It is also known for being one of the most beautiful campuses in Texas.
PVAMU also has two smaller campuses in Houston. These are the Northwest Houston Center and the College of Nursing, which is located in the Texas Medical Center. These branch campuses offer several degree programs.
Student Life
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| Black | 85% |
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| Hispanic | 7% |
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| Two or more races | 3% |
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| Asian | 1% |
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| International student | 1% |
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| Unknown | 1% |
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| White | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 64% |
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| Affluent | 36% |
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In spring 2022, Prairie View A&M had 7,624 undergraduate students and 889 graduate students. Most students (67%) were female, and 33% were male. About 88% of the students were from Texas. Students also came from other states like California, Louisiana, and Illinois. International students mainly came from Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and India.
Student Housing
About half of the undergraduate students at PVAMU live on campus. Freshmen often live in the University College community. Older students can live in apartment-style housing in University Village. The newest student housing, University Square, opened in 2017. It has 466 beds for juniors, seniors, and graduate students.
Student Organizations
PVAMU has over 150 student groups. These include honor societies, professional clubs, and Greek organizations. The Student Government Association (SGA) is the main student organization. It represents the students to the university leaders.
Student Activities
Athletics
Prairie View A&M University has many sports programs. The men's and women's teams are called the Panthers. Their colors are purple and gold. PVAMU is a founding member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). They compete in NCAA Division I sports. Their football team plays in the Division I FCS.
Prairie View's main sports rivals are Texas Southern University and Grambling State University.
Football
In summer 2016, Prairie View A&M finished building a new football stadium and athletic field house. This modern facility cost $60 million. It can hold up to 15,000 people. There are plans to make it even bigger, holding up to 30,000 people. In fall 2018, Aaron "General" Walker gave $25 million to Panther stadium.
Men's Basketball
All home basketball games are played in the William Nicks Building. This building was built in the early 1960s and can hold about 6,500 people. It has been updated several times.
Baseball
In 2014, the baseball stadium was renovated and named after former Panthers coach John W. Tankersley. The updated stadium has seating for 512 fans, new concessions, restrooms, and a press box. The Panthers won both games of a doubleheader on the stadium's opening day.
Marching Storm
Prairie View A&M's marching band is called the Marching Storm. It has almost 300 members. The band has performed at many big events. These include the Super Bowl XLV halftime show, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and a U.S. presidential inauguration. They also performed at the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Honda Battle of the Bands. In 2011, the band appeared on MTV. In 2022, they were featured in a TV show called "March" on The CW Network.
Black Foxes
The Black Foxes are a dance team of 15–25 members. They perform with the Marching Storm band.
Twirling Thunder
The Twirling Thunder is a color guard team. They have 20-25 members and perform with the band.
Prairie View Trail Ride Association
Since 1957, the Prairie View Trail Ride Association has held a trail ride. Riders travel from Hempstead, Texas, to Houston to attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This ride helps keep the history of Black cowboys and cowgirls alive in Texas.
Notable Alumni
| Name | Class year | Notability | |
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| Tom Archia | 1939 | Jazz Tenor Saxophonist | |
| Lawrence Allen Jr. | Former member of the Texas State Board of Education | ||
| Hise Austin | 1973 | Former NFL defensive back | |
| Sebastian Barrie | 1992 | Former NFL defensive tackle | |
| Arthur Bryant | 1931 | Famous Restaurateur | |
| Clora Bryant | Jazz trumpeter | ||
| Zelmo Beaty | 1962 | Professional and College Basketball Hall of Fame athlete | |
| Julius W. Becton, Jr. | 1960 | Lieutenant General US Army, former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director | |
| J. Don Boney | 1948 | First president of the University of Houston–Downtown | |
| Charlie Brackins | 1955 | One of the first African-American NFL quarterbacks | |
| Kirko Bangz (real name Kirk Randle) | Attended | Hip-Hop artist | |
| David L. Brewer III | 1970 | Retired vice admiral of the United States Navy | |
| Charles Brown | 1942 | Blues recording artist and member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | |
| Emanuel Cleaver | 1972 | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives | |
| Cecil Cooper | Attended | 5-time MLB All-Star | |
| Cynthia Cooper-Dyke | 2005 | Former WNBA player, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee | |
| Clem Daniels | 1959 | Former NFL running back | |
| Bertha Des Verney | Musician and educator | ||
| Dorrough (real name Dorwin Demarcus Dorrough) | Attended | Rapper | |
| Terry Ellis | 1990 | Vocalist and member of female R&B group En Vogue | |
| Louis Edwin Fry Sr. | 1922 | Architect and professor | |
| Adrian Hamilton | 2012 | Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens | |
| Ken Houston | 1966 | Member Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
| Louise Daniel Hutchinson | Historian | ||
| Lenwood Johnson | Activist | ||
| Jim Kearney | 1964 | Defensive back in the NFL and AFL | |
| Kase Lawal | 1978 | Chairman & CEO of Erin Energy Corporation | |
| Loni Love | 1991 | Comedienne, actress, and co-host of The Real | |
| Jermaine McGhee | 2007 | Former NFL defensive end | |
| Sidney A. McPhee | 1976 | President of Middle Tennessee State University | |
| E. Walter Miles | 1955 | Political scientist | |
| Jim Mitchell | 1968 | Former NFL tight end | |
| Thomas Monroe | 1990 AFL Ironman of the Year | ||
| Frederick D. Patterson | Founder of United Negro College Fund | ||
| Ervin Perry | 1956 | First African American faculty member at University of Texas at Austin | |
| DJ Premier (real name Christopher Edward Martin) | Attended | Member of Gang Starr | |
| Inez Beverly Prosser | 1913 | First African-American woman to receive a doctoral degree in psychology | |
| Dewey Redman | Jazz saxophonist | ||
| Alvin Reed | 1966 | Former NFL tight end | |
| Amber Chardae Robinson | 2012 | actress | |
| Clay Smothers | Former member of the Texas House of Representatives | ||
| James H. Stewart | Former member of the Texas House of Representatives | ||
| Mr. T (real name Laurence Tureaud) | Attended | Actor who played B. A. Baracus in The A-Team | |
| Otis Taylor | Former NFL wide receiver and member of 1969 World Champion Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame | ||
| Bonita H. Valien | Sociologist and author | ||
| Preston Valien | Sociologist and cultural attache | ||
| Calvin Waller | 1959 | U.S. Army General and Deputy Commander-in-Chief in the Persian Gulf War | |
| Craig Washington | 1966 | Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives | |
| Craig Watkins | 1990 | District attorney of Dallas County, Texas | |
| Mark Hanna Watkins | 1926 | Linguist and anthropologist | |
| Dave Webster | 1959 | Former American Football League All-Pro football player | |
| Arthuryne J. Welch-Taylor | 1937 | education professor and researcher | |
| James E. White | 1986 | Former member of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| Clarence Williams | 1968 | Former NFL defensive end | |
| Donnie Williams | American football player |
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Prairie View A&M para niños
- Ruth Simmons, First Black president of an Ivy League institution
- Flossie M. Byrd, First Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Prairie View A&M
- KPVU 91.3 FM Radio, Prairie View A&M radio station
- Clarence F. Stephens, One of the first African Americans to earn a PhD in mathematics
- History of African Americans in Houston