Savannah State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth (1890–1932) Georgia State College (1932–1950) Savannah State College (1950–1996) |
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| Motto | Lux Et Veritas |
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Motto in English
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Light and Truth |
| Type | Public historically black university |
| Established | November 26, 1890 |
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Parent institution
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University System of Georgia |
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Academic affiliation
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $10 million |
| President | Jermaine Whirl |
| Provost | Sametria R. McFall |
| Students | 2,945 (fall 2022) |
| Location |
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United States
32°1′30″N 81°3′50″W / 32.02500°N 81.06389°W |
| Campus | 401-acre (1,622,789.4 m2), coastal setting |
| Newspaper | The Tiger's Roar |
| Colors | Burnt orange and reflex blue |
| Nickname | Tigers and Lady Tigers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II – SIAC |
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Savannah State University (SSU) is a public university in Savannah, Georgia, USA. It is a historically black university, meaning it was founded to educate African American students. SSU is the oldest public university of its kind in Georgia. It is also part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Savannah State has four main colleges. These are the College of Business Administration, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Sciences and Technology, and the College of Education.
Contents
Discovering SSU's History
Savannah State University has a long and interesting past. It started over 130 years ago!
How SSU Began
Savannah State University was created because of a law called the Second Morrill Land Grant Act in 1890. This law said that states in the South needed to create colleges for black students, because schools were separated by race back then.
On November 26, 1890, the state of Georgia passed a law to create the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth. The first classes were held in Athens in 1891. Later that year, on October 7, 1891, the college moved to its permanent home in Savannah. Richard R. Wright Sr. became the first president. The school started with five teachers and eight students. The campus was built on land that used to be a plantation.
Early Years and Growth
The college gave out its first four-year degree in 1898. In 1921, female students were allowed to live on campus for the first time. By 1928, the college became a full four-year school. It stopped offering high school programs.
In 1932, the college joined the University System of Georgia. Its name changed to Georgia State College. In 1950, the name changed again to Savannah State College.
SSU Today: A Modern University
As the college grew and offered more advanced programs, it became a university. In 1996, the name officially changed to Savannah State University.
Savannah State was the first school in Georgia to offer a degree program in homeland security. It was also one of the first schools in the University System of Georgia to offer wireless internet for students across the campus.
Notable Campus Events
Savannah State's campus has been a setting for some exciting events!
Filming The General's Daughter
Parts of the movie The General's Daughter were filmed at Hill Hall on campus in 1997. The director liked the campus and Savannah because they looked "brooding" and "hot and steamy," which fit the movie's Southern style.
Trading Spaces Visits SSU
The TV show Trading Spaces filmed an episode at Savannah State in 2007. Two areas in the King-Frazier Student Center were redecorated by members of student groups. The episode first aired in November 2007.
What Students Learn: Academics
Savannah State University offers many different study programs. Students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees.
Colleges and Programs
SSU has four main colleges where students can study:
- College of Business Administration: This college teaches students about business. It also offers a master's degree in business (MBA).
- College of Sciences and Technology: Here, students can study science and technology. The college works with Georgia Tech on engineering programs.
- College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS): This college covers subjects like history, English, and social sciences.
- College of Education: This college helps students become teachers.
The university offers 23 different bachelor's degree programs and 5 master's degree programs. Because SSU is located near the coast, its Marine Biology Department has two research boats, the R/V Sea Otter and the R/V Tiger. These boats help students study ocean life.
SSU also has an honors program for students who achieve high grades and want an extra challenge.
School Accreditation
Savannah State University is officially approved by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This means the university meets high standards for education. Many of its specific programs also have special approvals:
- Engineering technology programs (like civil, electronics, and mechanical engineering) are approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
- The Chemistry department is approved by the American Chemical Society.
- Social Work programs are approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
- The Public Administration master's program is approved by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
- The College of Business Administration is approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
- The Mass Communications Department is approved by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.
How SSU is Managed
The Office of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Research helps manage the university's teaching, research, and community programs.
Who Oversees the University
The University System of Georgia oversees Savannah State. This group sets goals and rules for all public colleges in Georgia. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) also allows SSU to offer graduate degrees.
How SSU Gets Money
Savannah State is a public university. It gets money from the state of Georgia, student tuition, fees, and research grants. It also receives money from private scholarships and donations from former students.
Exploring the Campus
Savannah State University is about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Savannah. The campus is beautiful, with Spanish moss hanging from live oak trees, palm trees, and many colorful flowers like azaleas. The campus covers 201 acres (81 hectares) and is located near a marsh.
Early Campus Buildings
The first campus had 86 acres (35 hectares) and three buildings. Students and teachers built some of the older buildings themselves. These buildings show different architectural styles from the past.
Historic Places on Campus
Both the Savannah State campus and Hill Hall are recognized as historic sites in Georgia.
Hill Hall: A Historic Building
Walter Bernard Hill Hall was built between 1900 and 1901. Students who were learning manual arts and blacksmithing helped build it. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Hill Hall was used for many things, like a bookstore, student center, and library. It closed in 1996 because it needed a lot of repairs. People worked together to raise money to fix it. Hill Hall reopened in 2008. Now it has offices, a lecture hall, a banquet room, and a small museum.
Sports Facilities
Tiger Arena is a large building with 6,000 seats. It's where the university's basketball team plays and where the athletic department offices are. Ted A. Wright Football Stadium is where the football team plays. It has 7,500 seats and an Olympic outdoor track. The stadium opened in 1967, and the track was built in 1995.
New Campus Additions
On October 15, 2007, Savannah State started building a new academic building. It opened on May 1, 2009. This building has classrooms, computer labs, and research labs. It also houses departments like Public Administration and Social Work.
Student Life at SSU
About 3,800 students attend Savannah State University. The university offers many activities outside of classes. There are 75 student organizations, workshops, and sports activities.
Wesleyan Gospel Choir
The SSU Wesleyan Gospel Choir started in 1971. In 2004, the choir released a live album called RLW: "Revelation, Love, & Worship". The choir has performed at many gospel music events and even with famous singers like Ann Nesby.
The "Powerhouse Of The South" Band
The university's marching band is called the "Powerhouse of the South." They perform at Savannah State football games. The band has been featured in the Honda Battle of the Bands several times, including in 2004, 2005, and 2023.
Fraternities and Sororities
Savannah State University has chapters of all nine National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations. These are Greek-letter groups that focus on community service, leadership, and friendship. There are also other national fraternities and sororities on campus.
Student Media
Students at SSU create their own media.
The Tiger's Roar Newspaper
The Tiger's Roar is the official student newspaper of Savannah State University. It is available both in print and online.
WHCJ Radio Station
SSU operates WHCJ (FM) radio station. It broadcasts 24 hours a day from the campus. You can hear it in Savannah and nearby counties. WHCJ started in 1975 and is known as "the Voice of Savannah State University." It plays gospel, jazz, reggae, blues, and salsa music. It also has talk shows and cultural programs.
SSU Sports: The Tigers
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The sports teams at Savannah State University are called the Savannah State Tigers. They compete in college sports. The university spends about $2 million each year on its sports teams and facilities.
Savannah State University is part of the NCAA Division II. They are members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). SSU has teams for:
- Football
- Baseball
- Basketball (men's and women's)
- Cross-country (men's and women's)
- Tennis (men's and women's)
- Track and field (men's and women's)
- Volleyball (women's)
- Golf (men's)
- Softball (women's)
In April 2017, Savannah State announced that its sports programs would move back to Division II. This change happened for the 2019-20 academic year.
SSU Cheerleading
Savannah State University's cheerleading team made history in February 2017. They became the first team from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to win a national cheerleading title. The 13-member team won a CheerSport National title for their top performance.
Images for kids
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The official seal of Savannah State University.
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The logo for Savannah State University.
