Texas Southern University facts for kids
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Former name
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Houston Colored Junior College (1927–1934) Houston College for Negroes (1934–1947) Texas State University for Negroes (1947–1951) |
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| Motto | Excellence in Achievement |
| Type | Public historically black university |
| Established | March 7, 1927 |
| Endowment | $78.4 million (2023) |
| President | James W. Crawford III |
| Provost | Lillian B. Poats (interim) |
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Administrative staff
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500 |
| Students | 8,632 (fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 6,830 (fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 1,802 (fall 2022) |
| Location |
,
U.S.
29°43′20″N 95°21′40″W / 29.72222°N 95.36111°W |
| Campus | Urban, 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Newspaper | The TSU Herald |
| Colors | Maroon & gray |
| Nickname | Tigers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC |
| Mascot | Tiger |
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Texas Southern University (often called Texas Southern or TSU) is a public university in Houston, Texas. It's known as a historically black university (HBCU). This means it was founded to serve African American students during a time when schools were segregated.
TSU is one of the biggest HBCUs in the United States. It has almost 8,000 students and offers over 100 different study programs. The university is a key part of Houston's Third Ward area. It's seen as a cultural and community hub there. TSU also helps the local economy by creating jobs and bringing in money.
The university's sports teams are called the Tigers. They play in NCAA Division I and are part of the SWAC. TSU is also famous for its marching band, the Ocean of Soul.
Contents
- History of Texas Southern University
- TSU Campus
- Notable Buildings and Places
- Academics
- Student Life
- Famous People Who Attended TSU
- Notable Faculty
- Images for kids
History of Texas Southern University
TSU started on March 7, 1927. Back then, schools in Texas were separated by race. The Houston school board decided to create junior colleges for both white and Black students. This led to the creation of Houston Colored Junior College. It first held classes in the evenings at Jack Yates High School. In 1934, its name changed to Houston College for Negroes.
Becoming a State University
In 1946, an African American man named Heman Marion Sweatt wanted to go to the University of Texas Law School. He was not allowed in because of his race. Texas didn't have a law school for African Americans at the time. To avoid having to let Sweatt into the University of Texas, the state decided to create a new law school for Black students.
On March 3, 1947, Texas passed a law to create Texas State University for Negroes in Houston. This was the first state university in Houston. It was meant to offer Black Texans the same types of studies as white Texans. The state took over Houston College for Negroes to start this new university.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that this new school wasn't truly "separate but equal." They said that African Americans also had to be allowed into the University of Texas Law School. This case was called Sweatt v. Painter (1950).
Student Activism and Changes
In March 1960, TSU students led Houston's first sit-in at a lunch counter. This helped lead to the desegregation of many public places in Houston. A special marker now stands where the first sit-in happened, remembering the brave students.
In May 1967, there was a major event on campus involving students and police. While some news reports called it a riot, there was no looting or property damage by students. Many students were arrested, but the charges against them were later dropped. It was found that a police officer's death was not from student fire, but from a ricochet of police bullets.
In September 2019, TSU hosted a Democratic presidential debate. This brought national attention to the university.
In early 2020, there was a disagreement between the university's board and its president, Austin Lane. The board changed rules to have more power over staff. They suspended and then fired President Lane, saying he didn't tell them about fraud claims. Lane disagreed. Later, the board agreed there was no wrongdoing by Lane and paid him a large sum.
TSU Campus
TSU has over 45 buildings on a 150-acre campus in Houston. It's located close to Downtown Houston. The campus is known for its commitment to trees and is a "Tree Campus USA" school.
The first building on campus was the Thornton B. Fairchild Building, built in 1947–1948. It held offices and classrooms. The Mack H. Hannah Hall opened in 1950. Many more buildings, including dorms and student centers, opened in the late 1950s.
Notable Buildings and Places
University Museum
Opened in 2000, this museum has 11,000 square feet of space for art. It's home to a large mural called Web of Life by famous artist John T. Biggers. He was the first head of TSU's art department.
Mack H. Hannah Hall
This building has murals created by TSU students. In 2008, two murals by artist Harvey Johnson were painted over. These murals showed African influences in U.S. culture. Many people were upset by this. The university later set aside money to try and restore the murals.
Leonard H.O. Spearman Technology Building
This modern, four-story building opened in 2014. It has 35 labs and is home to many science and technology programs. These include Engineering, Computer Science, and Aviation Science. TSU is the only state university in Texas to offer a Pilot Ground School course. It's also the first HBCU to have a Maritime Transportation degree program.
Jesse H. Jones School of Business
This business school is in a 76,000-square-foot building. It teaches about 1,600 students. It was the first business school at an HBCU to get a special accreditation from AACSB. It's often ranked as one of the best business schools from a public HBCU.
College of Education
The College of Education has about 1,000 students. It offers programs in counseling, teaching, and health. In 2014, it was ranked among the best secondary education programs in the nation.
Barbara Jordan–Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
This school offers many courses about justice, politics, and urban planning. It's named after two important politicians, Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland.
TSU Justice Center
In 2018, TSU opened the Center for Justice Research (CJR). This center works to find new ways to improve the criminal justice system in America.
TSU Science Center
The Science Center has many science programs and research projects. It works with NASA on research about human health in space. It also helps students get degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. This center also has the only doctoral degree program in environmental toxicology in Southeast Texas.
Spurgeon N. Gray Hall (COPHS)
This building houses the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS). It has about 800 students. TSU is one of only two public HBCUs in the U.S. with a full pharmacy program.
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
The Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) is one of six public law schools in Texas. It's known for being one of the most diverse law schools in the country. It's named after Thurgood Marshall, who became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Transportation
Students can use Houston's public transportation, like buses and the METRORail tram. There's a METRORail station right near the university. In 2019, TSU also became home to the area's first self-driving shuttle. This shuttle can carry up to 15 people and drives itself on a set path.
Academics
Texas Southern University offers over 100 different degrees. These include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. TSU is known for its research activities.
Some of the main schools and colleges at TSU include:
- The Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs: Focuses on justice and public policy.
- The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Studies health and medicine.
- The Thurgood Marshall School of Law: Teaches law and legal studies.
- The College of Education: Prepares future teachers and educators.
- The College of Science, Engineering, and Technology: Offers programs in engineering, computer science, and aviation. It has research centers for transportation and space.
- The Jesse H. Jones School of Business: Teaches about business, finance, and entrepreneurship.
- The School of Communication: Focuses on media, radio, and television.
- The College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences: Includes studies in forensics and has a partnership with China.
- The Thomas F. Freeman Honors College: For high-achieving students.
Libraries
The main library at Texas Southern University is the Library Learning Center. It has computer labs, study rooms, and a special African Art Gallery. It also holds important historical documents. The Thurgood Marshall School of Law building also has a large library.
Student Life
TSU has over 80 student organizations. These include cheerleaders, a debate team, and many clubs based on interests or home states.
Debate Team
The TSU debate team was started in 1949 by professor Thomas Freeman. He led the team for over 60 years. He even trained famous leaders like former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. (when he was a visiting professor at Morehouse College).
Ocean of Soul Marching Band
Texas Southern's marching band, the Ocean of Soul, has won many awards. They have performed at Super Bowls and other big events. The band has over 200 members. Famous jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum was once a member. The band also has a female dance line called The Motion of The Ocean.
Athletics
The Texas Southern sports teams, the Tigers, play in NCAA Division I. They are part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Their biggest rival is Prairie View A&M.
Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, and track and field. Women's sports include basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
Athletic Facilities
- Shell Energy Stadium – This 22,000-seat stadium is the home of Tiger Football.
- Health and Physical Education Arena (H&PE Arena) – This 8,100-seat arena is where the basketball and volleyball teams play. It also hosts graduation ceremonies.
- Alexander Durley Stadium – This 5,500-seat stadium is used for TSU soccer games.
- TSU Recreation and Wellness Center – Opened in 2005, this center has a basketball court, indoor track, weight room, swimming pool, and dance studio for students and the community.
Tiger Baseball
The baseball team plays at MacGregor Park. They won conference championships in 2017 and 2018. They also won the SWAC baseball tournament in 2004, 2008, and 2015.
Tiger Volleyball
The volleyball team plays at the HP&E Arena. They won their first SWAC championship in 1989. They also won championships in 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1994.
Tiger Softball
The softball team plays at Memorial Park. The Lady Tigers won SWAC conference championships in 2014, 2015, and 2017. They have also won their division championship nine years in a row.
KTSU 90.9 FM Radio
KTSU is a radio station that helps train TSU students. It also broadcasts TSU sports, educational, and cultural programs to the Houston area. It's very popular, especially for its Sunday and Friday music shows.
Famous People Who Attended TSU
- Notable TSU alumni
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Michael Strahan
NFL Hall of Famer, actor, and TV personality -
Megan Thee Stallion
Grammy-winning rapper and actress -
Yolanda Adams
Grammy-winning singer and actress -
Mickey Leland
U.S. Congressman and activist -
Barbara Jordan
First African-American woman from the South elected to U.S. Congress
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Many successful people have studied at Texas Southern University. Here are a few:
- Joseph Dunbar (1966) – A medical researcher.
- DJ Candlestick (2019) – An official remix DJ for Drake.
- Kenneth M. Hoyt (1969 and 1972) – A federal judge.
- Ernie Holmes (1971) – A former NFL player, two-time Super Bowl Champion.
- Jennifer Holliday – A singer and actress from Dreamgirls.
- Tray Walker (2015) – A former NFL player.
- Morris Overstreet (1975) – The first African American elected to a statewide office in Texas.
- Kirk Whalum (1982) – A jazz saxophonist.
- Rodney Ellis (1975) – A county commissioner and former state senator.
- Sylvia Garcia (1978) – A member of the Texas Senate.
- Harry E. Johnson (1986) – President and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.
- Tony Wyllie (1993) – A senior vice president for the Washington Redskins.
- Senfronia Thompson (1961) – A long-serving member of the Texas House of Representatives.
- Robert Taylor – Won a gold medal in the 1972 Olympics.
- Michael Strahan (1993) – A Pro Football Hall of Famer, TV personality, and actor.
- Megan Thee Stallion (2019) – A Grammy-winning rapper and actress.
- Jim Hines (1968) – Won two gold medals at the 1968 Olympics and was the first sprinter to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds.
Notable Faculty
Some important people have also taught at TSU:
- Mathew Knowles – Father of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, and a music industry leader. He taught in the School of Communication and Business.
- Robert D. Bullard – A well-known expert on environmental justice.
- Dr. Rod Paige – A former U.S. Secretary of Education. He also coached football and was a dean at TSU.
Images for kids
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Texas Southern University seal
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Texas Southern University wordmark
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TSU cheerleaders at the Cotton Bowl in 2019
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