Sam Houston State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Sam Houston Normal Institute (1879–1923) Sam Houston State Teachers College (1923–1965) Sam Houston State College (1965–1969) |
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| Motto | "The measure of a Life is its Service" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | April 21, 1879 |
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Parent institution
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Texas State University System |
| Accreditation | SACS |
| Endowment | $152.3 million (2021) |
| President | Alisa White |
| Provost | Michael T. Stephenson |
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Academic staff
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598 |
| Students | 21,679 |
| Location |
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United States
30°42′50″N 95°32′50″W / 30.71389°N 95.54722°W |
| Campus | Distant Town, 272 acres (110 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Houstonian |
| Colors | Orange & White |
| Nickname | Bearkats |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – CUSA |
| Mascot | Sammy Bearkat |
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Sam Houston State University (also called Sam Houston, SHSU, or Sam) is a public research university in Huntsville, Texas. It was started in 1879. This makes it the third-oldest public college or university in Texas. It was one of the first schools to train teachers west of the Mississippi River. It was the very first in Texas. The school is named after Sam Houston, who lived in Huntsville and is buried there.
SHSU is part of the Texas State University System. More than 20,000 students attend the university. They can choose from over 80 bachelor's degrees. There are also 59 master's and 10 doctoral degree programs. The university offers more than 20 online degrees too. It is known for its "High research activity."
Contents
Discovering SHSU's Past
How SHSU Began: The Early Years
The land where Sam Houston State University stands was once home to Austin College. This college moved to Sherman, Texas, in 1876. Austin Hall was built in 1851. It is the oldest university building west of the Mississippi that is still used. It was updated in 2012. Today, it hosts special meetings and events. Sam Houston himself was there when the building was first opened.
Sam Houston Normal Institute was created on April 21, 1879. Governor Oran M. Roberts signed the law. Its main goal was to train teachers for Texas public schools. It was the first school of its kind in the southwestern United States. On October 10, 1879, the first class began. There were 110 students and four teachers. The first president, Bernard Mallon, sadly passed away soon after the school opened.
The Peabody Memorial Library was built in 1901. It was the first separate library building on a campus in Texas. Funds came from the George Peabody Foundation. The library was described as "a very handsome structure." It was said that no other school like it in the South had such a building. It has been fully restored. Now, it is used for special university events.
When the university first opened, students earned a certificate. This allowed them to teach in elementary and high schools. After 1919, the university started giving out bachelor's degrees. In 1936, the school awarded its first advanced degree.
SHSU in the 21st Century
SHSU celebrated its 125th birthday in 2004.
The university also has other locations. On May 30, 2012, SHSU-The Woodlands Center opened. It is on the Lone Star College-Montgomery campus. This building is very large and has a five-story parking garage. The university also runs SHSU-University Park. This is located near Tomball, on the property of Lone Star College-University Park.
How SHSU's Name Changed Over Time
Sam Houston State University has had a few different names:
- 1879 (April 21): It started as Sam Houston Normal Institute.
- 1923: It became Sam Houston State Teachers College.
- 1965: It was renamed Sam Houston State College.
- 1969: It finally became Sam Houston State University.
In 2007, a law was passed in Texas. This law stopped the university's name from being changed to Texas State – Huntsville.
There's a funny story, or joke, about the school's name. Some people, like journalist Dan Rather, used to say it was called "Sam Houston Institute of Technology." But this was just a joke. The school was never actually called that. This joke even inspired a movie called Accepted in 2006.
Exploring the Main Campus
The main campus is in Huntsville. It is covered with oak trees and spans 316 acres. There are also two large farming areas. These include a 1,600-acre teaching and research farm. There is also a rodeo arena. The campus has a planetarium and an observatory. It also has a special outdoor research area and an 18-hole golf course. The golf course is called The Bearkat Course. In the middle of the main campus, you can find the Blatchley Bell Tower and Clock. There is also a fountain.
The campus was used as the fictional Austin University in the movie The Life of David Gale.
Learning at SHSU: Academic Programs
| USNWR National University | 249 (tie) |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 76 |
| Forbes | 481 |
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 48% |
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| Hispanic | 26% |
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| Black | 18% |
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| Other | 5% |
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| Asian | 2% |
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| Foreign national | 1% |
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| Native American | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 45% |
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| Affluent | 55% |
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Sam Houston State has eight main colleges for its different subjects:
- College of Business Administration
- College of Criminal Justice
- College of Education
- College of Arts and Media
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Science & Engineering Technology
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Elliott T. Bowers Honors College is for high-achieving students. Over 350 undergraduate students are part of this special program.
Some programs at Sam Houston State are very well-known. The Criminal Justice programs are ranked among the top five in the country. The theater and dance programs are also ranked highly. SHSU has the only Professional Golf Management program in Texas. It is one of only 17 in the whole country. The university also has one of the oldest speech and debate programs.
As of May 2016, the university offers many choices:
- Eighty-eight different bachelor's degree programs
- Fifty-nine master's programs
- Eight doctoral programs, including Clinical Psychology and Criminal Justice
- Twenty-one different certificates
Learning About Texas: Texas Studies
The university is praised for its courses about Texas. These classes teach about the history and culture of the Lone Star State. In 2012, the university library started a project. They worked with a local museum. They created a collection of stories from Texas military veterans.
Sports and Teams: The Bearkats
Sam Houston State's colors are bright orange and white. Their sports teams are called the Bearkats. Sam Houston teams play in Division I sports. They are part of Conference USA. The Sam Houston Bearkats won the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship. They beat South Dakota State 23–21. They had a perfect 10–0 season. This was the first national championship for Bearkat football since 1964.
SHSU's teams have been called "The Bearkats" since 1923. Before that, they were called "The Normals." This was when the university's name changed.
No one is sure exactly where the name "Bearkat" came from. It might have come from a saying, "tough as a Bearkat!" The animal was thought to be more mythical than real. So, the spelling "Bearkat" was chosen. Some people think the Bearkat is based on a Binturong or a Kinkajou.
In the late 1940s, the university president tried to change the mascot to "Ravens." This was Sam Houston's Cherokee nickname. But the alumni voted to keep the Bearkat.
A costumed mascot named Sammy Bearkat started appearing at games in 1959. A female mascot, Samantha, joined in 1986. Samantha retired in 2005.
Big Games: Rivalries
SHSU's main rival is Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA). The two schools are about 90 miles apart. They are both in the Piney Woods area. Their annual football game is called the Battle of the Piney Woods. This game started in 1923. Since 2010, it has been played at NRG Stadium in Houston. SHSU has won most of these games. They have won the last 11 meetings.
SHSU also has a rivalry with Texas State University (TXST). They have played 92 times. TXST has won more games. These two schools are both part of the Texas State University System. They used to play each other every year.
Meet the Mascot: Sammy Bearkat
Sam Houston's mascot is Sammy Bearkat. He is a costumed character. Sammy has been cheering on teams and entertaining crowds since 1959.
Fun and Games: Club Sports
Club sports are very popular at SHSU. Students can join teams for powerlifting, ultimate frisbee, and lacrosse. There are also clubs for rugby, martial arts, and inline hockey. Other sports include basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and baseball. In 2013, the Sam Houston quidditch team won a national championship.
The Spirit Programs at Sam Houston include cheer, dance, and mascots. They have won the most national titles out of all the sports and activities at the university.
Campus News and Media
The SHSU School of Mass Communication runs KSHU. This is a student-run radio station (90.5 FM) and television station (cable channel 7). They broadcast news, sports, and entertainment for the campus and community. "The Houstonian" is the student newspaper. It is published twice a week. All these media groups have their offices in the Dan Rather Communication Building.
The Alcalde was the university's yearly yearbook. It was published from 1910 to 1998, and again from 2003 to 2006. It was named after Texas Governor Oran M. Roberts, who was nicknamed "The Old Alcalde".
Other Schools Connected to SHSU
The university runs a network of charter schools. The main offices are in Huntsville. But all the charter schools are in the Greater Houston area. This network started in 2017. The university decided to use space in daycare centers for its schools.
- Brighton Academy (Kindergarten to 6th grade)
- Cypress Trails (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- Greengate Academy (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- Spring Woods (Kindergarten to 2nd grade) – located at Spring Woods United Methodist Church
Famous People Who Went to SHSU
Many notable people have attended Sam Houston State University:
- Dana Andrews, actor
- Michael Bankston, professional football player
- Fred Beene, professional baseball player
- Ray Benge professional baseball player
- Rhett Bomar, professional football player
- Ken Boswell, professional baseball player
- Jeremiah Briscoe, professional football player
- Katie Rose Clarke, actress
- Priscilla Coleman, artist
- Jerry Coker, jazz educator
- Davion Davis, professional football player
- Keith Davis, professional football player
- Mary DeChambres, film and television picture editor
- Tim Denton, professional football player
- Lachlan Edwards, professional football player
- Ashley Etienne
- John Ferling author, historian, professor
- Victoria Gonzales AKA Raquel Rodriguez, professional wrestler
- P. J. Hall, professional football player
- Keith Heinrich, professional football player
- Phil Hennigan, professional baseball player
- Abby Johnson, activist
- Bryce Johnson, professional baseball player
- Matt Langwell, professional baseball player
- Richard Linklater, movie director
- Dustin Long, professional football player
- Marcus Luttrell, U.S. Navy Seal
- Morgan Luttrell, United States Congressman
- Rick Matula, professional baseball player
- Josh McCown, professional football player
- Joel McDonald, voice actor
- Ryan O'Hearn professional baseball player
- Dan Rather, journalist
- Ralph Ruthstrom, professional football player
- Shea Serrano, author
- Allen Shamblin, country music songwriter
- Thaksin Shinawatra, former Thai prime minister
- Caleb Smith, professional baseball player
- Monty Sopp, better known as Billy Gunn, professional wrestler
- Steve Sparks, professional baseball player and broadcaster
- Jordan Tata, professional baseball player
- Ryan Tepera professional baseball player
- Don Welchel, professional baseball player
- Phillip Wellman, professional baseball coach
- Hayden Wesneski, professional baseball player
- Charlie Wilson, U.S. politician
- Dusty Wolfe, professional wrestler and history teacher
- William Garrett Wright, poet
See also
