Troy University facts for kids

This page is about the university in Alabama. For the university in New York, see Troy University (New York).

Quick facts for kids
Troy University

Former names	Troy State Normal School (1887–1929) Troy State Teachers College (1929–1957) Troy State College (1957–1967) Troy State University (1967–2005)
Motto	"Educate the Mind to Think, the Heart to Feel, and the Body to Act"
Type	Public university
Established	1887; 138 years ago (1887)
Accreditation	SACS
Endowment	$192 million (2022)
Chancellor	Jack Hawkins Jr.
Students	14,156 (fall 2022, all campuses and online students)
Location	Troy, Alabama , United States
Campus	College town, 820 acres (330 ha)
Other campuses	Dothan Montgomery Phenix City
Newspaper	The Tropolitan
Colors	Cardinal Silver Black
Nickname	Teachers/Bulldogs (1910-1921), Trojans (1922-1930), Red Wave (1931-1972), Trojans (1973-present)
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – Sun Belt
Mascot	T-Roy

Troy University is a public university located in Troy, Alabama, in the United States. It started in 1887 as the Troy State Normal School. A "normal school" was a special type of school that trained teachers. Over the years, it grew and changed its name several times. Today, it is the main university of the Troy University System.

The university is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). This means it can give out many different types of degrees, from associate (two-year) to doctoral (highest level) degrees.

In 2005, all the different Troy State University campuses merged into one big university called Troy University. Before this, each campus was separate. Now, they all work together as one big school.

Troy University helps students learn at four campuses in Alabama. It also has 60 teaching locations in 17 U.S. states and 11 other countries. More than 100,000 people have graduated from Troy University. They live in all 50 U.S. states and many other countries.

The History of Troy University

Troy Normal School original faculty (1887)

Troy University began as a school to train teachers in 1887. Its main campus is in Troy, Alabama. One of its first teachers was Laura Montgomery Henderson.

How the School Grew Over Time

Over the years, the school became a four-year college. In 1957, it was named "Troy State College" and started offering master's degrees. In the 1960s, the college opened new locations in Montgomery, Phenix City, and Dothan. These locations helped military members stationed nearby get an education.

More locations opened across the U.S. and in other countries. Troy University also started offering online courses in 1997. This made it a leader in online education. The university is known for being creative in how it offers classes to all kinds of students, including those in the military.

Important People at Troy University

Some famous people have been part of Troy University. George Wallace Jr., whose father was a governor, used to be an administrator there. Max Rafferty, who was in charge of public schools in California, was a dean. Former Governor John Malcolm Patterson taught history at the university.

Changes to the University's Name

When the school first opened in 1887, it was called the Troy State Normal School. It was in downtown Troy until 1930, when it moved to its current location.

In 1929, its name changed to Troy State Teachers College. It gave out its first bachelor's degrees in 1931.

Then, in 1957, the name changed again to Troy State College. At this time, it also started offering master's degrees. In 1967, it became Troy State University.

Finally, in 2004, the leaders voted to change the name to Troy University. This change was completed in 2005. It was the fourth time the school's name had changed.

The Troy University System

The Troy University System helps manage the different campuses of Troy University in Alabama. It was created in 1982.

Campuses and Locations

Troy University has four main campuses in Alabama:

Troy University (the main campus)
Troy University at Montgomery
Troy University at Dothan
Troy University at Phenix City

Besides these four campuses, there are also 23 other support locations. These are found across the southeastern United States and in other countries.

What Students Can Study

Troy University offers many different programs. Students can choose from 46 bachelor's degree programs, 22 master's degree programs, and 3 doctoral programs.

How the University is Organized

The university is made up of five colleges, a graduate school, and a division for general studies:

College of Arts & Sciences
College of Communications & Fine Arts
College of Education
College of Health & Human Services
The Sorrell College of Business
The Graduate School
The Division of General Studies

International Programs

Troy University has many international students from over 75 countries. It offers special programs for them, like the English as Second Language Center (ECL). There is also a dormitory called Pace Hall for international students.

University Rankings

Troy University has received good rankings from different groups:

In 2019, Forbes magazine ranked Troy as one of the best schools in the nation. This ranking looks at how well graduates do in their careers.
U.S. News & World Report also ranked Troy University highly in several categories for universities in the Southern U.S. For example, it was ranked #51 among Regional Universities in the South in 2020. It was also recognized as one of the "Most Innovative Schools."

The University Campus

Bibb Graves Hall from University Avenue on the Troy University campus

Troy University's main campus is close to downtown Troy. It has rolling hills and many old oak trees. The first two buildings, John Robert Lewis Hall (originally Bibb Graves Hall) and Shackelford Hall, are still there today. The campus landscape was designed by a famous architectural firm. John Robert Lewis Hall was renamed in honor of John Lewis in 2020.

There is a small lake called Lake Lagoona on campus. The Trojan Oaks Golf Practice Course is also a nice feature. It used to be a full golf course and is still one of the few schools with a large practice course on campus.

The Barnes & Noble campus bookstore

Janice Hawkins Park is a favorite spot on campus. It has an amphitheater, walking trails, a lagoon, and cool art. You can see 200 replica terracotta warriors spread throughout the park. These represent the famous ancient statues found in China.

Student Life at Troy

Who Are the Students?

As of Fall 2022, there are 14,881 students at Troy University.

Where Students Live

The largest residence hall in the Trojan Village student housing complex on the Troy University campus

Students who live on campus can choose from 12 different dorms. Some dorms are for men or women, while others are coed (for both boys and girls).

Eating on Campus

The Trojan Dining Hall

The Trojan Dining Hall is a big, two-story place with many different restaurants. You can find places like a deli, a Mexican grill, and a bakery. It also has an outdoor eating area with a fountain.

Trojan Center food court

The Trojan Center is where a lot of student activities happen. It has a movie theater, meeting rooms, and big ballrooms. You can also find the Barnes & Noble bookstore, Starbucks, a mail room, and a food court with popular restaurants like Chick-fil-A and Steak 'n Shake.

Fun and Fitness

Trojan Fitness & Wellness Center

There are many ways to stay active on campus. The Trojan Fitness Center has exercise machines and weights. The Trojan Games room has billiard tables, table tennis, and foosball. There's also an Olympic-style swimming pool and several gyms for basketball, volleyball, and badminton. The Intramural Fields have space for flag football, softball, and soccer.

Trojan Arena is a new building used for basketball, volleyball, and track events. It also hosts graduation ceremonies. It has seats for 6,000 people and cool features like big video boards. The arena is also home to the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame.

A new $25 million recreation center is being built for students. It will have a basketball court, weight training areas, aerobic rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and a walking track.

Student Groups

Troy University has many student groups, including Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities). About 10% of undergraduate men and 13% of undergraduate women are part of these groups.

Music and Media

The university has six music organizations. Students can also get involved in student media. The school newspaper, The Tropolitan, is written by students and comes out every week. It has been ranked as one of the best college newspapers.

Troy University Television, also called Troy TrojanVision, broadcasts student-produced news shows twice a day. They also make a sports show. TrojanVision was ranked as the #1 Best College TV Station in 2017.

The "Sound of the South" Marching Band

The Sound of the South is the official marching band of Troy University. It started in 1939 and got its current name in 1965. The band has over 300 members and performs at many competitions and sports events. They often travel with the football team to away games. The band is famous for its "Fanfare" piece, played before every performance.

Sports at Troy University

Troy Football Team 2009

Troy State Normal School started its sports program in 1909 with a football team. The teams were first called "Troy State Teachers" and then "Red Wave." In the 1970s, students voted to change the name to "Trojans." This is because "Red Wave" sounded too much like another university's team. Troy is now part of NCAA Division I athletics and plays in the Sun Belt Conference.

Football

Troy University's football team has won three national championships: in 1968, 1984, and 1987. They moved to NCAA Division I-A in 2001. In 2004, they joined the Sun Belt Conference for football.

The Trojans have had some big wins, including beating a ranked team in 2004. They have also played in several bowl games, winning the New Orleans Bowl in 2006 and 2010. In 2023, they played in the Birmingham Bowl. The Trojans also won the Sun Belt Conference championship in 2022 and 2023.

Larry Blakeney was the head football coach for 25 seasons. He is the winningest coach in Troy University history.

Basketball

Main court in Trojan Arena

The men's basketball team was coached by Don Maestri for 31 years. He is the winningest coach in school history with 500 wins. The team has won 11 conference championships.

On January 12, 1992, Troy set a record by scoring 258 points in a game, which is the highest score in NCAA basketball history. The Trojans have also played in the NCAA Tournament and the NIT (National Invitation Tournament).

Baseball

The Troy University baseball team won two national championships in 1986 and 1987. They had a big win in 1998, beating a highly ranked team. The team has also played in the NCAA Baseball Tournament several times.

Rodeo

Troy University has a rodeo program. They host a three-day rodeo event each October. In 2007, a Troy University student won the national title in calf roping.

Women's Soccer

The Troy University women's soccer team started in 2003. They play in the Sun Belt Conference. The team's stadium was updated in 2010. The current head coach, Ged O'Connor, joined the team in 2017.

Special Features on Campus

John Maloy Long Hall

Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors

This Hall of Fame was created in 1979 by the National Band Association. It honors band directors who have done great things in leading bands.

The Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy

This center was started in 2010 with a large gift. It focuses on teaching about how economic freedom can make life better for people.

University Libraries

The libraries at the Dothan, Montgomery, and Troy campuses have over 300,000 books and many online resources. The main library in Troy is also a Federal Depository Library.

Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park

Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park

This 23-acre park on campus has an amphitheater, walking trails, and a lagoon. It also has the International Arts Center, which includes art galleries and a special exhibit called Warriors Unearthed. You can see 200 replica terracotta warriors in the park, which are like the famous ancient statues from China. The park is named in honor of Mrs. Janice Hawkins.

Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences

In 2018, the university received a grant to create this center. It focuses on research into recycling plastic materials. This helps the local plastic recycling industry and creates jobs.