Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View A&M University, commonly abbreviated

PVAMU or PV, is a historically black university (HBCU)
located in Prairie View, Texas, United States (northwest
of Houston). The University is a member of the Texas
A&M University System. In 2016, PVAMU celebrated
its 140th year.

terms of the federal Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act which provided public lands for the establishment of colleges - authorized the Alta Vista Agriculture and Mechanical College for the Benet of Colored Youth as part
of the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas (now
Texas A&M University).[3]

The University oers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 masters degrees and four doctoral degree programs through eight colleges and the School of
Architecture. PVAMU is one of the Texas land-grant
universities.[2] Founded in 1876, PVAMU is the 2nd oldest public university in the State of Texas, and is named
an institution of the rst class in the Texas Constitution.
The University is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Governor Richard B. Hubbard appointed a three-member

commission that purchased Alta Vista Plantation (1388
acres) from Mrs. Helen Marr Kirby, the widow of the
late Col. Jared Ellison Kirby, near Hempstead in Waller
County, Texas for $15,000. Alta Vista Plantation was
one of four plantations and several farms owned by the
Kirby family, whose combined properties had a population of more than 400 slaves. The commission appointed
the Texas University board to keep the school, and Texas
A&M president Thomas S. Gathright selected L. W. Minor of Mississippi as the rst principal.

1
1.1

History

The Fifteenth Legislature ocially established the Alta

Vista Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas for
Colored Youth on August 14, 1876. Eight young AfricanAmerican men presented themselves for admission, and
the students began their studies on March 11 of 1878.
Students were charged tuition of $130, which included
nine months of instruction, board, and one uniform.[3]

Origins and early years (1876 1900)

In 1879, as the institution was struggling to nd resources

to continue, Governor Oran Roberts suggested closing
the college. But Barnas Sears, an agent for the Peabody
Fund, persuaded the Sixteenth Texas Legislature to issue
charters for two normal schools (institutions that trained
school teachers, with the intention of establishing educational norms). One of these normal schools was
to be called Prairie View Normal Institute. The Texas
A&M College board met in August 1879 to establish
thirteen elementary and secondary subjects, and founded
the coeducational institution. Women were housed in
PVAMU Campus (c.1876)
the plantation house called Kirby Hall, and men were
housed in a combination chapel-dormitory called PickThe university is rooted in the Texas Constitution of ett Hall. Among the rst faculty appointed to the new
1876. Established during the Reconstruction Period af- normal school was E. H. Anderson.
ter the Civil War. In that year, senators Matthew Gaines
Edward L. Blackshear was appointed principal in 1895,
and William H. Holland both former slaves who beand on June 4, 1897, Booker T. Washington delivered the
came leading political gures - crafted legislation for the
rst commencement address.
creation of a state-supported Agricultural and Mechanical college. In another article, the constitution stated In 1890, the second Morrill Act was passed; designating
that Separate schools shall be provided for the white and Prairie View as a land-grant institution specically for
colored children, and impartial provisions shall be made persons of color.
for both.
In an eort to comply with these constitutional provisions, the Fifteenth Texas Legislature, consistent with
1

1.2

20th Century

In 1945, the name of the segregated institution was

changed from Prairie View Normal and Industrial
College to Prairie View University. The school was authorized to oer, as need arises, all courses oered at
the University of Texas.
In 1947, the Texas Legislature changed the name to
Prairie View A&M College of Texas and provided that
courses be oered in agriculture, the mechanics arts,
engineering, and the natural sciences connected therewith, together with any other courses authorized at Prairie
View at the time of passage of this act, all of which shall
be equivalent to those oered at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas at Bryan.

ACADEMICS

1.4 Voting Rights

In 2004, Oliver Kitzman, the district attorney of Waller
County, challenged the voting rights of PVAMU students
in local elections, arguing that student rights were based
on permanent residence.[4] As a result, the United States
Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation
on Kitzman. Georey Connor, the Texas Secretary of
State, said that PVAMU students, like other university
students, have the right to vote for ocials in the universitys voting districts as long as they are registered to vote
there.[5]
In July 2013, Priscilla Barbour, then president of the
Prairie View A&M University student government association, sent a letter to Texas Secretary of State, John
Steen, and registrar, Robyn German. Her letter requested
a voting location on campus for county and national elections; arguing that Waller Countys failure to put a voting
location on campus for these elections violated the federal
Voting Rights Act. In September, 2013, Waller County
Commissioners approved early voting and Election Day
polling places; including a new location at the Prairie
View A&M University Willie A. Tempton Memorial Student Center. Now, students have on-campus access to
voting for county and national elections.

On August 27, 1973, the name of the institution was

changed to Prairie View A&M University, and its status
as an independent unit of the Texas A&M University System was conrmed. In 1983, the Texas Legislature proposed a constitutional amendment to restructure the Permanent University Fund to include Prairie View A&M
University as a beneciary of its proceeds. The Permanent University Fund is a perpetual endowment fund
originally established in the Constitution of 1876 for the
sole benet of Texas A&M University and the University
of Texas, which were originally whites-only institutions.
The 1983 amendment also dedicated the university to en- 1.5 Names Given to the University
hancement as an institution of the rst class under the
August 14, 1876, the Fifteenth Legislature estabgoverning board of the Texas A&M University System.
lished Alta Vista Agriculture & Mechanical ColThe constitutional amendment was approved by the votlege of Texas for Colored Youth
ers on November 6, 1984.
In January 1985, the Board of Regents of the Texas
A&M University System responded to the 1984 Constitutional Amendment by stating its intention that Prairie
View A&M University become an institution nationally
recognized in its areas of education and research. The
board also resolved that the university receive its share of
the Available University Fund, as previously agreed to by
Texas A&M University and the University of Texas.

April 19, 1879, the Sixteenth Legislature established Prairie View State Normal School in Waller
County for the Training of Colored Teachers
In 1887, the Sixteenth Legislature attached the
Agriculture & Mechanical Department to Prairie
View Normal School; the Twenty -Six Legislature
In 1899, changed the name to Prairie View State
Normal & Industrial College
June 1, 1945, the Forty-ninth Legislature changed
the name to Prairie View University

1.3

21st Century

March 3, 1947, the Fiftieth Legislature changed the

name to Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical
College of Texas

In October 2000, the Governor of Texas signed the Prior In 1973, the sixty-third Legislature changed the
ity Plan, an agreement with the U.S. Department of Eduname to Prairie View A&M University
cation Oce of Civil Rights to ensure Prairie View A&M
University is an educational asset available to all Texans.
The Priority Plan mandated the creation of many new
educational programs, and required removing language 2 Academics
from the Institutional Mission Statement that might have
given the impression of excluding any Texan from attend- Prairie View A&M University oers academic programs
through the following administrative units:
ing Prairie View A&M University.

2.3

Principals and Presidents

College of Agriculture and Human Sciences

2.3 Principals and Presidents

Nathelyne A. Kennedy College of Architecture

Initially, Texas A&M College and Alta Vista was governed by Principals.

Marvin and June Brailesford College of Arts and

Sciences
College of Business

1878 to 1879 L.W. Minor served as principal of

both Texas A&M College and Alta Vista.

Whitlowe R. Green College of Education

E.H. Anderson served 1879 to 1885

Roy G. Perry College of Engineering

L.C. Anderson served 1885 to 1897.

College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology

Edward L. Blackshear served 1897 to 1915

College of Nursing

I.M. Terrell served 1915 - 1918

Undergraduate Medical Academy

J.G. Osborne served 1918 to 1926

Oce of Graduate Studies

W.R. Banks served 1926 to 1947.

In 2004, Prairie View A&M established the Undergraduate Medical Academy (UMA) which is a rigorous premedical program designed to prepare and mentor academically talented undergraduate students for success in
medical school.[5] UMA began as a result of a Texas legislative mandate in 2003 and is state funded with a mission to increase minority representation in the medical
eld and redress statewide physician shortages.[6]
Additionally, Prairie View A&M established an honors program for academically exceptional undergraduates
who meet the specic SAT/ACT, GPA, and recommendation criteria.[7]
Prairie View A&M is consistently recognized as one of
the top institutions in the country for producing the highest number of African-American architects and engineers
by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.[8][9]
Prairie View A&M annually awards the second most
STEM degrees in the Texas A&M University System.[10]
Prairie View A&M academic programs are accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and each college within the university
holds additional accreditation or certications.[11]

2.1

Graduation and Awarded Degrees

During the universitys 140-year history, more than

60,000 academic degrees have been awarded.

2.2

Accreditations

The University is accredited by the University (Regional

Accreditation) Agency: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Inc. (SACSCOC). The university is accredited by this agency to
award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Dr. Edward B. Evans became the eighth principal

in 1947,
In 1947, the Fiftieth Legislature changed the name of the
institution to Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas, and the title of principal was changed to
dean by the Board of Directors for the 1947-1948 school
year. Then, on September 1, 1948, the title was changed
to president.
Dr. Edward B. Evans was inaugurated as the rst
president of Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College December 3, 1948.
Upon his retirement, Dr. E.B. Evans was replaced
in 1966 by Dr. J.M. Drew, yet when Dr. Drew fell
ill shortly thereafter, Dr. Evans stepped back into
the post.
Dr. Alvin I. Thomas was elected third president in
November, 1966.
Upon Dr. Thomas resignation in 1982, Dr. Ivory
Nelson served as acting president for two months,
until January 27, 1983.
Dr. Percy A. Pierre was inaugurated in 1983.
Dr. Milton R. Bryant served as interim president
from 1983 to 1989.
Julius W. Becton, Jr. LTG (Ret.) was appointed
president on December 15, 1989,
Dr. Charles A. Hines served from 1994 to 2002.
Mr. Willie A. Tempton served from 2002 to 2003
George C. Wright was inaugurated seventh president
of Prairie View A&M University in 2003.

2.4

Presidents Reading List

ACADEMICS

Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and

Culture (TIPHC)

In 2007, the university created the PVAMU Presidents

Reading List, with the intention to generate interest College of Arts and Sciences
in reading, to promote formal and informal discussions
and to broaden knowledge and intellectual thought. The
Prairie View Solar Observatory (PVSO)
reading list was distributed to PVAMU students, alumni,
faculty, and sta, and was then circulated to and enthu Radiation Institute for Science and Engineering
siastically received by high school students, members of
the Texas Legislature, representatives from other universities, and by the general public.
College of Engineering
After distributing more than 40,000 copies of the rst
PVAMU reading list, the university released a second
reading list, consisting of 70 recommended titles, both
ction and non-ction in 2014.

The Center for Radiation Engineering and Science

for Space Exploration (CRESSE)

2.5

The Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability

Art Gallery, Library, and Digital Resources

John B. Coleman Library oers reading and research resources to PVAMU students and the surrounding area.
The library holds over 370,000 Volumes, including over
700 print periodicals, close to 4,000 media materials, and
provides access to 85 full-text databases across all academic disciplines. The librarys extensive databases provide access to over 42,000 electronic periodicals and over
30,000 electronic books.
The librarys Special Collection and Archives houses
unique, rare, and historic collections, including the
Tatum Collection, the Interscholastic League Papers
and Awards, the Cooperative Extension Papers & photographs. The library serves as a partial Federal Document Depository and holds close to 2,500 government
documents.

The Center for Digital Battleeld Communications

The Center of Excellence for Communication Systems Technology Research

Computational Biology and Bioengineering Research Lab
Information Communication and Cyber Security
Research and Education
The Future Aerospace, Science and Technology
The Texas Gulf Coast Environmental Data
Center for Advancing Innovations in Smart Microgrid
The Thermal Science Research Center

The John B. Coleman Fourth Floor Art Gallery was

Minority Achievement, Creativity, and high Ability
founded in 2004, with the goal of providing cultural enCenter
richment to the Prairie View A&M University community through exhibitions, collections, and programming.
The gallery showcases a diverse range of work by artists College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology
of color and creative visionaries from myriad cultural
backgrounds. Showcased artists include: Ted Ellis, Ron Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center
ney Stevens, Ava Cosey, and Carolyn Crump.
College of Business

2.6

Research Centers

Small Business Development Center

PVAMU is home to research centers in diverse areas of

study:
College of Nursing
College of Agriculture and Human Science
Prairie View Center for Nursing Research
The Cooperative Agricultural Research Center
(CARC)
Undergraduate Medical Academy
College of Architecture

Undergraduate Medical Academy

3.3

Student Life

Campus

3.3 Student Life

PVAMU dedicates a number of spaces and buildings to

maintaining quality of life on campus; including the New
Student Park, Owens-Franklin Health Center, William
H. Holland and Matthew Gaines Student Park, Willie A.
Tempton, Sr. Memorial Student Center, Laundromat,
Johnson-Phillip All Faiths Chapel, and the John B. ColeWith dedicated facilities for academics, administration, man Library.
local community, student services, campus life, athletics,
agriculture study, and research; PVAMU provides stateof-the-art resources for its students and surrounding area. 3.4 Historical Markers and National HisThe university sits on a 1,440-acre (5.8 km2 ) campus in
Prairie View, Texas and is 47.4 miles (76.3 km) northwest of downtown Houston. The rural campus is often
aectionately referred to as The Hill because it rests
on a hill in the region.[12]

torical Register
3.1

Academic Facilities

Historical markers include Alumni Hall, L.O. Evans FacSeventeen academic buildings are dedicated to various ulty and Sta Dormitory, The First Administration Building, Holley Hall, C.W. Luckie Hall, the Prairie View
elds of study.
Hospital, the Prairie View Training School/Rosenwald
School, the Presidents House.
Nathelyne Archie Kennedy Architecture Building
Wilhelmina R.F. Delco Building

3.5 Locations

Hilliard Hall Communication Building

Hobart Thomas Taylor Sr Building
Don K. Clark Building
E.E. Obanion Science Building
S.R. Collins Engineering Building
G.R. Woolfolk Political Science Building
Gilchrist/C.L. Wilson Engineering Building
Electrical Engineering Building
Business/Agriculture Building
Harrington Science Building
W.R. Banks Building
College of Nursing Texas Medical Center Houston
Campus
Northwest Houston Center
The Solar Observatory
Leroy G. Moore Gym

3.2

Administration and Local Community

Services

Nine on-campus facilities are dedicated to administration and local community services; including a Recreation
Center, Elementary School, Police Station, and US Post
Oce. The campus also houses Transportation, Retail
Center, Bowling Center, and Panther Plaza.

PVAMUs NW Houston Center was established in 1980,

when the original oce of the Civil Rights Texas Plan
assigned PVAMU the responsibility for satisfying the
higher education needs of the citizens of Texas, especially
in the NW Houston Corridor.
The NW Houston Center is located at 9449 Grant Rd. in
Houston, TX, has 52,000 square feet of classroom, meeting, and student service space, and is a fully functional
extension of the PVAMU main campus.

3.6 International Aairs

The oce of International Aairs oers study abroad
programs in Paris, China, Namibia, Spain, Belize, South
Africa, South Korea, Namibia, and Ghana-to name a few.
.

3.7 Aliated Media

KPVU 91.3 public radio station
HBCU Radio, Sirius XM Channel 142

3.8 Student Media

The Panther, student-published newspaper
PV-U KNO, student radio station
K-Hill, student TV Station
Pantherland, student yearbook

3.9

5 STUDENT LIFE

Community and Economic Develop- 5.2 University College

ment

PVAMUs Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) gives

practical, research-based knowledge to small farm producers, families, aspiring entrepreneurs, and youth in 35
Texas counties. The CEP is a network of professional
educators and more than 4,000 volunteers.

Demographics

Geared toward freshmen, this program assists students in

the transition to higher education. University College is
both a living and learning community; this is a studentcentered network specially designed to support students
intellectual and social development. Both academic and
residential resources are provided, including an advisement program, academic enhancement classes, and cocurricular activities; giving students the support they need
to thrive in a college setting.

As of Fall 2014 the university enrolled 6,932 undergradu5.3 Division of Student Aairs
ate students, 1,265 students in masters programs, and 146
in doctorate programs. 5,111 (61%) of the undergraduate students were female and 3,232 (39%) were male.[13] The Division of Student Aairs consists of the following
As of Fall 2014, of the 8,343 students enrolled, 6,958 departments:
(83%) were African-American, non-Hispanic; 267 (3%)
were white, non-Hispanic; 420 (5%) were Hispanic; 234
Student Engagement
(3%) were Asian; 33 were Native American or Alaska natives; 6 were Hawaiian; 144 (2%) were multiracial; 237
Diagnostic Testing & Disability Services
(3%) were international;" and the ethnicity of 44 (1%)
was unknown or unreported. The percentage of African Student Conduct
Americans had dropped from 86% in fall 2010 and the
percentage of Hispanic and international students had in Veterans Aairs
creased slightly.[2] 7,682 (92%) of the students were from
Texas, 456 (5%) were from other states, and 205 (2%)
Volunteer Services
were from other countries.[14]
Student Counseling Services

5
5.1

Student Life
Housing

In 1998 ACC was awarded the contract to develop, build,

and manage a student housing property at PVAMU.[15]
Both student residence housing properties at PVAMU
are owned and operated by American Campus Communities.[16][17] Freshmen students on campus may reside
in the University College community. Upperclassmen
may live in apartment style living in University Village[18]
(phases I, II, III, VI, and VII). The rst of these apartment
buildings was built in 1995.

Recreational Sports
Career Services
Multicultural Aairs

5.4 Special Programs

Students Participating in Transcending Knowledge

(S.P.I.T Knowledge), Presidents Lecture Series, and
Royce West Symposium, Founders Day and Honors
Convocation, Hatitude, Womens History Month,
University College opened in 2000. As of the fall International Festival, Hispanic Heritage Month.
of 2001, 40% of on-campus students lived at University College and the remaining 60% lived at University
Village.[19]
5.5 S.P.I.T. Knowledge
Previous buildings that formerly housed students include
Alexander Hall, Banks Hall, Buchanan Hall, Collins Hall,
Drew Hall, L. O. Evans Hall, Fuller Hall, Holley Hall, and
Suarez Hall. Suarez Hall was already closed in 1996. In
1997 Alexander Hall, Buchanan Hall, and Collins Hall
had closed. In 1998 Holley Hall had closed. In 2000
Drew Hall, Evans Hall, and Fuller Hall had closed. During the same year, Alexander, Buchanan, and Holley had
been demolished. In 2001 Banks Hall had closed.[19]

Students Participating in Transcendent Knowledge is a

lecture series that brings a diverse selection of speakers
to inform and inspire students. All lectures are open to
the public. Recent speakers have included spokesperson
Sybrina Fulton, violinist Josh Vietti, gospel singer Erica
Campbell, former NFL running back and mixed martial artists Herschel Walker, and Little Rock Nine social
change student Minnijean Brown Trickey.

7.2

5.6

Athletics

Dining

PVAMU oers six dining locations on campus:

MSC Dining Hall
Jazzmans Caf & Bakery
Food Court
The Zone
Starbucks
Bistro 1876

5.7

Campus Transportation

7
Billings, a senior from Austin, Eric Johnston, a sophomore from Boerne, and Chayse Lavallais, a freshman
from Houston, with Herbert Thomas, Career Placement
Coordinator as the coach and Shahryar Syed, an Institutional Representative. The HCASC academic challenge
and quiz bowl is the countrys answer to March Madness
where academic excellence and quick intellectual wit is
on display. The road to the nal four begins in the fall
from a eld of 78 and narrowed down to the Great 48 of
Americas Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs). Regional tournaments are held throughout
the year with qualifying teams advancing. The PVAMU
team is a charter member of the program which began
in 1989 with Frederick V. Roberts, then Director of
Student Activities at the university as the founding coach
1989-1996.

The Oce of Transportation oers an on-campus shuttle

service, o-campus shuttle service, transportation to local
bus stations, airports, and a bi-monthly shopping shuttle. 7.2 Athletics
Students can also ll out Special Run Request Forms for
customized transportation needs.
Prairie View A&M University oers a wide variety of
varsity and intramural sports programs.

5.8

Recreational Facilities

Recreational Facilities include the Student Recreation

Center. The center includes an indoor pool, climbing wall, group exercise studios, wellness suite, cooking
demonstration kitchen, game room, cardio equipment,
weight room, activity courts for badminton, volleyball
and basketball, indoor track and stretching area, and outdoor intramural and Club Sports elds.

Traditions

Mens and womens athletic teams are nicknamed the

Panthers and the team colors are purple and gold. Prairie
View A&M is a charter member of the Southwestern
Athletic Conference (SWAC), and is a member of the
West Division of the SWAC in sports since the conference is currently divided by two divisions (West and
East). Prairie View competes in NCAA Division I in
all varsity sports; in football, the Panthers play in the
Division I FCS.
Prairie Views most notable rivals are Texas Southern
University and Grambling State University.

Mens varsity sports include baseball, basketball, cross

Many of Prairie View A&Ms traditions are deeply rooted country, football, golf, tennis, and track and eld.
in its heritage as Texass second oldest (Paul Quinn Col- Womens varsity sports include basketball, bowling, cross
lege was established in 1872) historically black univer- country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and eld, and
volleyball.
sity.
Some PVAMU traditions include Pointing to the Hill,
Not Walking on the Grass, PV-UKNO Chant, the
PV Shue, Alumni Pinning Ceremony, PV Man &
7.2.1 Football
PV Woman, Homecoming, SpringFest, Summer Lake
Nights, tailgating, humpday, Pantherland day, HumaniMain article: Prairie View A&M Panthers football
tarian Award, legacy students, Miss & Mr. PVAMU
In summer 2016, Prairie View A&M completed the rst
phase of construction for its $60 million football stadium
and athletic eld house. The state-of-the-art facility is
55,000 square feet and holds up to 15,000 people. The
7.1 Honda Campus All Star Challenge
second phase of construction will increase capacity to
[20]
The Prairie View Honda Campus All Challenge 30,000 people.
(HCASC) team won the National Championship in PVAMU annual football classics include the Labor Day
2010 and 2015. The winning team in 2015 included Classic versus Texas Southern and the State Fair Classic
Joseph Dowell, Captain, a senior from Killeen, Brannon in Dallas versus the Grambling State Tigers.

Student activities

8
7.2.2

7 STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Mens basketball

7.2.6 Baseball

The Prairie View A&M Panther baseball team captured

its rst Southwestern Athletic Conference championship
in the schools history and won back-to-back SWAC titles
in 2006 and 2007. During the last ve years, Prairie View
A&M has made four consecutive appearances in the
SWACs title game, nishing as the conferences runner7.2.3 Womens basketball
up in 2005 and 2008. Prairie View A&M recently captured its third SWAC title in 2012, defeating Mississippi
The womens basketball team received national attention
Valley State University.
in 2005 with the naming of Cynthia Cooper as the head
basketball coach. Cooper, a two-time WNBA MVP, led Prior to a double header against the Texas Southern
the Lady Panthers to the schools rst ever SWAC title Tigers, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the renoand NCAA Tournament berth in her second season as vated baseball stadium on April 26, 2014. Along with the
coach. Dawn Brown is the current womens coach. The opening, the stadium was formally dedicated to former
Lady Panthers won the SWAC Tournament and NCAA Panthers baseball coach, John W. Tankersley. The renovated stadium features seating for 512 including 192 chair
berth for four consecutive years (2010-2014).
backed seats, new concession stand, new restrooms, press
box, and bricked dugouts. The stadium is also Wi-Fi
enabled.[21] The Panthers dedicated the stadium sweeping the double header winning 9-0 and 7-4.[22]
7.2.4 Womens outdoor track & eld
Main article: Prairie View A&M Panthers basketball

The Lady Panthers Track and Field teams accumulated

an unprecedented string of championships both indoor
and outdoor. From 1965 to 1991 the Lady Panthers
claimed 8 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) outdoor titles and 2 indoor titles; won national
titles in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for
Women and the U.S. Track and Field Federation; won 8
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) cross country titles, nine indoor titles and ve outdoor SWAC titles
in track and eld. In total the Lady Panthers won 23
SWAC championships
Coach Barbara Jacket was named SWAC Coach of the
Year on 23 occasions and NAIA Coach of the Year ve
times and Jacket tutored 57 All-Americans. As coach
of the 1992 U.S. Womens Olympic Track Team during the Olympics which ran from July 25 August 9
in Barcelona, Spain, Ms. Jacket had the enviable task
of coaching such greats as long jumper Jackie JoynerKersee and sprinters Gwen Torrance, Gail Devers, and
Evelyn Ashford. The Womens team won overall 4 Gold
Medals, 3 Silver Medals, and 3 Bronze Medals more than
any team since 1956. She was the second Black female
to coach an Olympic team

7.3 Marching band

The universitys ocial marching band is referred to as
the Marching Storm and is led by four drum majors. It
supports the Delta Psi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity along with the Epsilon Psi chapter
of Tau Beta Sigma honorary band sorority.
In operation for over 80 years, the Marching Storm has
history dating back as far as WWII.
During WWII the bands men enlisted in the military, and
the Marching Storm became known as the Co-eds, and
was made up of exclusively female musicians. The Coeds toured extensively throughout the US and the segregated south.
Past performances include President George W. Bushs
2001 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C.,
the 2004 Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game, the
Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia and during the 2011 Super Bowl XLV
halftime show with The Black eyed Peas.

The marching band traveled to the 2009 Tournament

of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California and performed
in the opening act in front of the grandstands for the
world-wide television audience.[23] In Summer 2009, the
Marching Storm mourned the death of their leader, Pro7.2.5 Womens Bowling
fessor George Edwards. Students aectionately referred
In 2012, the Womens Bowling Team of Prairie View to him as Prof and will forever be remembered in their
A&M Universitywon its rst SWAC Champions and hearts.
National Tenpin Coaches Association Final National Poll In 2012 the Marching Storm welcomed director Tim19th Place OverallCynthia Veney, Shanice Brown, mey Zachery. The Marching Storm was selected as the
LeJewelia Lewis, Alexis Holmes, Roonesia Newsom, rst halftime performance of the 2014 15 season for
Sharita Turner and Coach Glenn White. The team has the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener against the San
since won the SWAC Championship in 2013 and 2015. Francisco 49ers. By nationwide vote, the group played in

7.5

ROTC

the Honda Battle of the Bands 2016 invitation.

7.5 ROTC

The Marching Storm was invited to represent the university and the State of Texas at the 2017 Macys Thanks- Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force
giving Day Parade.
Visit the PV Marching Storm Website for more 7.6 Religious Life
information.[24]
The Johnson-Phillip All Faiths Chapel oers religious resources for students of all denominations.
Black Foxes
The Marching Storm is joined by the Black Foxes, the 7.7
university majorette/dance line.

Campus Organizations

All nine members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council

are represented at PVAMU. Though not a member of the
National Pan-Hellenic Council, Kappa Kappa Psi a naThe McFunk B.O.X. is the nickname for the drumline. tional Honorary Band Fraternity, was the rst Greek orThe B.O.X., as they are aectionately called for short, ganization to have a chapter on campus. Sigma Lambda
was the rst black collegiate showstyle drumline to incor- Gamma, a multicultural sorority, also has a chapter.
porate a feature in the middle of a halftime show. The Student organizations There are more than 150 orgaB.O.X. made their debut in the fall season of 1989 and as nizations registered at the university representing various
of 2013, referred to as M.S.D.
interests to include academic, honor societies, volunteer
causes, political, special interests, etc. These organizations make up the social, political and economical struc7.4 Prairie View Interscholastic League
ture of the university. If an organization does not exist to
match the students interest, students are encouraged to
form the organization.
The McFunk B.O.X.

Student groups include:

Greek Letter Organizations
Panther Advisory Leaders (PALS)
Charles Gilpin Players theatrical troupe
PVAMU Music & Drama Club (c.1920)

In 1920, the Colored Teachers State Association of Texas

and the Negro School Division of the State Department
of Education organized the Texas Interscholastic League
of Colored Schools, serving as the as the governing body
for extra-curricular activities for Texas African American high schools. In 1923, the league came under the
authority of Prairie View A&M College, becoming the
Prairie View Interscholastic League.
From 1920 to 1967, the Prairie View Interscholastic
League played a leading role in providing resources for
African American high school students in the arts, literature, athletics, and music, staging competitions in athletics, typing, declamation, music, and extemporaneous
speaking, and hosting state state championship games in
football, basketball, baseball, and track. At its peak, the
PVIL enrolled 500 schools.
June 9, 1965, the UIL State Executive Committee validated the Legislative Councils decision to open league
membership to all public schools; the PVIL began merging with the UIL at the start of the 1967-68 school year,
disbanding at the end of the 1969 70 school year.

Panthers At Work (PAW) service learning

Classic Dance Ensemble
Concert Chorale
Honor Societies
Professional Organizations
Professional Service Organizations
Panther Ambassadors
Campus Activity Board
The Gold Members Club
Hometown Clubs

8 Administration and Organization

10

8.1

11

Governance

REFERENCES

[12] PVAMU Campus Cemetery in Dispute Over Ownership. African American News.

Prairie View A&M University is administrated by a number of governing bodies; the oce of the president, fac- [13] Total Student Enrollment by Gender Fall 2010 - Fall
2014 (PDF). pvamu.edu. Prairie View A&M University.
ulty senate, and student government association.
Retrieved July 27, 2015.

8.2

Student Government

[14] Total Student Enrollment by Geographical Source Fall

2010 - Fall 2014 (PDF). pvamu.edu. Prairie View A&M
University. Retrieved July 27, 2015.

The PVAMU Student Government Association was

founded in 1982, and is ocially chartered to speak on [15] Company News. Austin American-Statesman. 27 June
1998. Retrieved 5 October 2011. American Campus
behalf of the student body to the University AdministraCommunities has been awarded projects totaling $52.5
tion, and internal and external organizations.

See also
KPVU 91.3 FM Radio
Flossie M Byrd

10

Notable alumni

11

References

million to develop, build and manage three student housing projects at Prairie View A&M University, Texas
A&M University and Iona College.

[16] Home page. University College. Retrieved on October 5,

2011.
[17] Home page. University Village. Retrieved on October 5,
2011.
[18] "Department of Resident Life. Prairie View A&M University. Retrieved on October 5, 2011. Incoming Freshman Housing links to University College, Returning
Student Housing links to University Village
[19] "PVAMU Fact Book 19962001. Prairie View A&M
University. 77. Retrieved on October 5, 2011.

[1] http://assets.system.tamus.edu/files/academic/pdf/
ACCPVAMU.pdf

[20] New Look. Panther Stadium. Retrieved 2016-04-09.

[2] Total Student Enrollment By Ethnicity Fall 2010 - Fall

2014 (PDF). pvamu.edu. Prairie View A&M University.
Retrieved July 27, 2015.

[21] Tankersley Field Ribbon Cutting, SWAC Baseball Showdown set for Saturday at 12:30 P.M.. Prairie View A&M
University Athletics. April 23, 2014. Retrieved January
12, 2015.

[3] PVAMU Visual Identity Guidelines (PDF). Retrieved

2016-04-09.
[4] Kliewer, Terry (25 February 2004). Waller County DA
apologizes in vote ap. Chron. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
[5] Application : Undergraduate Medical Academy.
Pvamu.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
[6] USA (2015-09-28). Addressing medical school diversity through an undergraduate partnership at Texas A&M
Health Science Center: a blueprint for success. - PubMed
- NCBI. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-09.

[22] Panthers Dedicate Tankersley Field in Style with Doubleheader Sweep over TSU. Prairie View A&M University
Athletics. April 26, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
[23] Rose Parade Participants
[24] Home. MARCHING STORM.
[25] Sebastian Barrie. pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved
February 23, 2013.
[26] Cynthia Cooper-Dyke

[7] The Honors Program. Pvamu.edu. Retrieved 2016-0409.

[27] Dr. J. Don Boney. Past Presidents, University of

HoustonDowntown (2000), www.uhd.edu. Archived
from the original on 2007-09-27.

[8] Bhatia, Anchal (22 December 2014). PVAMU is the

Top Producer of Black Architecture Undergrads. IBCU
Lifestyle.

[28] Finder, Chuck (February 24, 2002). Trail blazer: Willie

'The Pro' Thrower opened door for black quarterbacks.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 23, 2013.

[9] Top 100 Degree Producers: Baccalaureate. Diverse.

[10] http://assets.system.tamus.edu/files/communications/
pdf/Facts2015.pdf

[29] Cline, Georgette (July 12, 2012). Kirko Bangz Sheds

Light on Marriage, Houston Rap Veterans, Ditching College. The Boombox. Retrieved February 23, 2013. line
feed character in |title= at position 50 (help)

[11] Accreditations : PVAMU Home. Pvamu.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-09.

[30] Cline, Georgette (May 12, 2014). Who is MarQuis

Trill. Vaultof1520. Retrieved November 17, 2015.

11

[31] Cline, Georgette (December 18, 2010). The Most followed person in the city of Houston which is the 4th largest
city in america. Twitter.com. Retrieved August 3, 2009.

[52] Timms, Ed; Emily, Jennifer; Jeers, Gromer Jr. (July

16, 2011). After acclaim for exoneree work, Dallas DA
Craig Watkins taking hits. The Dallas Morning News.
Retrieved February 22, 2013.

[32] STL ENG. STL American. Retrieved October 27, 2014.

[33] Arts and Sciences Alumni Make Their Mark (PDF).
PreView. Prairie View A&M University College of Arts
and Sciences. 2007. p. 6.

[53] Wade-Lewis, Margaret (2005). Mark Hanna Watkins.

Histories of Anthropology Annual, vol 1, pp.181-218.
[54] Representative James Whites Biography.
mart.org. Retrieved 3 October 2013.

[34] Brown, Tony Russell (Charles)". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved February 23, 2013.

[55] Clarence Williams. NFL.com.

[35] CLEAVER, Emanuel, II, (1944 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 23,
2013.

12 External links

[36] PVPantherAthletics YouTube channel (October 19,

2011). Prairie View A&M Baseball Receives Visit From
Cecil Cooper. YouTube.
[37] Clem Daniels. NFL.com.
[38] Birchmeier, Jason. Dorrough Biography. allmusic.com.
Retrieved February 23, 2013.
[39] Terry Ellis. HBCU Connect. Retrieved February 23,
2013.
[40] Archived copy (PDF). Archived from the original
(PDF) on September 12, 2015. Retrieved February 24,
2013.
[41] Clement Glenn for Governor. clementeglennforgovernor.com.
[42] Louise Daniel Hutchinson Interviews. Record Unit
9558. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 20
April 2012.
[43] Jim Mitchell. NFL.com.
[44] Ambrose, Patrick (September 2009). DJ Premier: Hope
to the Underground. The Morning News. Retrieved
February 12, 2012.
[45] Benjamin, Ludy T. (November 2008), Americas rst
black female psychologist, The Monitor, American Psychological Association, 39 (10), p. 20
[46] Alvin Reed. NFL.com.
[47] Doris Eastman Harris, Smothers ... New Voice of a
Silent Majority, October 2, 1970. The Malako News.
Retrieved October 11, 2013.
[48] Legislative Reference Library - James H. Stewart.
[49] Mr. T biography. Biography.com. A&E Networks. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
[50] Waller, Lt. General Calvin (19371996)".
past.org. Retrieved February 23, 2013.

Black-

[51] WASHINGTON, Craig Anthony, (1941 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved
February 23, 2013.

votes-

Ocial website
Ocial athletics website
Coordinates: 300531N 955922W / 30.09194N
95.98944W

12

13

13
13.1

TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

Prairie View A&M University Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_View_A%26M_University?oldid=744323278 Contributors:

SimonP, Fred Bauder, SeanO, Transaspie, WhisperToMe, Topbanana, AnonMoos, RadicalBender, RemembertheAFL, Dale Arnett, Pigsonthewing, Academic Challenger, Christopher Parham, H-2-O, Mboverload, Peter Ellis, Bumm13, D6, Rich Farmbrough, Bender235,
Cohesion, Anonymous Cow, Alansohn, Fpo, Cburnett, Wadems, Boothy443, Tabletop, Cbustapeck, Triddle, Paxsimius, Kinu, Ccson,
ElKevbo, Naraht, Ground Zero, Brianreading, Caesarscott, Elmer Clark, Wgfcrafty, Elviajeropaisa, Amchow78, Cornellrockey, Lordsutch,
Eraserhead1, RussBot, Gaius Cornelius, Thane, Grafen, Badagnani, Patchyreynolds, Davemck, Moe Epsilon, Cardsplayer4life, J. Nguyen,
ArgosDad, Meegs, SmackBot, Aelfthrytha, Masonpatriot, Stie, Cs-wolves, Chris the speller, ACupOfCoee, Busanga, Jwillbur, OrphanBot, Greenshed, Anthon.E, Wendelswerk, Clicketyclack, Khazar, Reliv1908, Cpastern, Arbustoo, Nobunaga24, GETONERD84, Meld,
JYi, Billy Hathorn, CmdrObot, Araucaria, Cydebot, BlueAg09, Sullivan9211, Soulsaving, DumbBOT, Iss246, JamesAM, Fluxbot, Missvain, Drew1914, JustAGal, Texink, BualoChip97, AntiVandalBot, Freddiem, Nicholas Tan, Freedomlinux, Jllm06, The Anomebot2, Ensign beedrill, Absolon, Truthy not fakie, MartinBot, Racepacket, Patriarca12, R'n'B, CommonsDelinker, Johnpacklambert, Paulmcdonald,
Johnluisocasio, SirChan, Uncle Dick, Justinm1978, DadaNeem, Jrcla2, Korranus, Jamesontai, Packerfansam, Andy Marchbanks, Trybeck,
Funandtrvl, Hammersoft, Indubitably, Haverstock, Falcon8765, CenturionZ 1, Quantpole, Logan, MrChupon, Jomfan, Midnightalpha1906,
WereSpielChequers, Hertz1888, Yintan, Arbor to SJ, M3barack, Lightmouse, Altzinn, Sphilbrick, Txnomad, ImageRemovalBot, Profgeo1,
ClueBot, Parkwells, Rodneythomas, Khis~enwiki, 718 Bot, Arjayay, DumZiBoT, Marcweb, Eleven even, Addbot, Ucla90024, Sportsfan92,
Tide rolls, Lightbot, The Bushranger, EagleAg04, Yobot, Broadmoor, Legobot II, ASUPhotog, AnomieBOT, Javelina93, Materialscientist, Jmundo, Armbrust, FrescoBot, Saythetruthalwaysandlive, Intelligentsium, Michelle81, I dream of horses, Trappist the monk, Zink
Dawg, ARCEditor, Mean as custard, RjwilmsiBot, Acsian88, MadSkilz252, John of Reading, Mlscott78, Chillwill2, 1TUFDOC, ClueBot
NG, MelbourneStar, Reginaldduckworth, Youngsolar24, Frietjes, Primergrey, Imme23, Pvamugmc, Manc1234, DFWZ33, Lowercase
sigmabot, Muckels76, BG19bot, PhnomPencil, Kagundu, Altar, Idaruler12345, Glacialfox, Cameron Van Til, BattyBot, Teammm, Cyberbot II, Tecmo, Chuntuk, Khazar2, Tmcf1987, SmartGuy, Mogism, Corkythehornetfan, Liz, OccultZone, WikiOriginal-9, SovalValtos,
Amortias, LUSportsFan, Cellissimax, Byytypo, Jlynn357, Jdcomix, CAPTAIN RAJU, SSTyer, Kanjuzi, GreenC bot, Carla B Ferrell,
RaEdits, Tosh Ferrell and Anonymous: 225

13.2

Images

File:AmericaAfrica.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/AmericaAfrica.svg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0

Contributors: Created using Image:Flag of the UNIA.svg and Image:Map of USA without state names.svg. Original artist: Created by
Edward Deutsch (Jndrline)
File:Flag_of_Houston,_Texas.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Flag_of_Houston%2C_Texas.png
License: Public domain Contributors: http://vector-images.com/image.php?epsid=6060 Original artist: vector-images.com
File:Flag_of_Texas.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Flag_of_Texas.svg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:PVAMU_Campus_c1876.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2c/PVAMU_Campus_c1876.jpg License: CCBY-SA-4.0 Contributors:
Sent to me personally
Original artist:
Prairie View A&M University
File:PVAMU_Music_Drama_Club_c1920.jpg Source:
Club_c1920.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Contributors:
was sent to me personally
Original artist:
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/PVAMU_Music_Drama_

File:PVAMU_wordmark.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/PVAMU_wordmark.png License: Fair use Contributors:

<a data-x-rel='nofollow' class='external text' href='http://www.pvamu.edu'>www.pvamu.edu</a>
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13.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0