City: Baton Rouge, LA

Category: Education

Telephone: (225) 771-1512

Description: The Southern University and Agriculture and Mechanical College System has become the only historically black university system in America. The school opened its doors in 1880 in New Orleans with 12 students, five faculty, and a budget totaling $10,000. In 1914 the university was relocated to Baton Rouge. The same year, a public law school also was opened at this site. Today the Southern system offers 86 baccalaureate degree programs, 23 associate degrees, and 12 certificate programs. Although most programs are offered at the undergraduate level, the university currently offers 26 master’s degrees, one post master, one professional, and five doctoral degree programs. The University Law Center (SULC) graduates the majority of Louisiana’s African-American lawyers.Southern University provides opportunities for students to do internships and summer assignments in industry and the federal government. Southern also is home to the Timbuktu Academy, a national model program for mentoring students in science, math, engineering, and technology. The Southern sports teams, the Jaguars, have thrilled fans for years. Among notable athletes who attended Southern are Mel Blount, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers; Harold Carmichael, an NFL player and four-time Pro-Bowler who played 14 years for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys; Willie Davenport, two-time gold medalist of the U.S. Olympic Track Team; and Rodney Milburn, track and field gold medalist at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Other notable alumni include: Alvin Batiste, renowned jazz artist and educator; Isiah Carey, television news reporter; Randy Jackson, musician, record producer, and American Idol judge; Branford Marsalis, jazz saxophonist; and Melvin “Kip” Holden, mayor of Baton Rouge.Along with athletes, the Southern University Human Jukebox marching band has been invited to participate in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California; presidential inauguration ceremonies; and several Super Bowl halftime presentations. The band has appeared in television commercials and was once named the number one marching band in the United States by USA Today.Visit the campus and its historic buildings. You will find enthusiastic students boldly meeting the challenges of today. To send mail, address items to specific departments such as Office of Admissions, Southern University, Baton Rouge, 70813.