Colored Industrial and Agricultural School (1901–1905) North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School (1905–1928) Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute (1928–1946) Grambling College (1946–1974)
Bust of Charles P. Adams, the founder and first president of Grambling State University
Grambling State University developed from the desire of African-American farmers in rural north Louisiana who wanted to educate other African Americans. In 1896, the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association led by Lafayette Richmond was formed to organize and operate a school. After opening a small school west of what is now the town of Grambling, the Association requested assistance from Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Charles P. Adams, sent to aid the group in organizing an industrial school, became its founder and first president.[citation needed]
Under Adams' leadership, the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School opened on November 1, 1901. Four years later, the school moved to its present location and was renamed as the North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School. By 1928, the school was able to offer two-year professional certificates and diplomas after becoming a state junior college. The school was renamed Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute.[citation needed]
In 1936, the program was reorganized to emphasize rural education. It became known as "The Louisiana Plan" or "A Venture in Rural Teacher Education." Professional teaching certificates were awarded when a third year was added in 1936, and the first baccalaureate degree was awarded in 1944 in elementary education. The institution's name was changed to Grambling College in 1946 in honor of a white sawmill owner, P. G. Grambling, who donated a parcel of land for the school. Thereafter, the college prepared secondary teachers and added curricula in sciences, liberal arts and business. With these programs in effect, the school was transformed from a single purpose institution of teacher education into a multi-purpose college.[citation needed]
In 1949, the college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Grambling science building is one of twenty-six public structures in Louisiana constructed by the prominent contractor George A. Caldwell.[5] In 1974, the addition of graduate programs in education allowed the college to be granted university status under its present name, Grambling State University.
From 1977 to 2000, the university grew and prospered. Several new academic programs were incorporated. New facilities were added to the 384-acre (1.55 km2) campus, including a business and computer science building, school of nursing, student services building, stadium, stadium support facility, and an intramural sports center.
State Representative George B. Holstead of Ruston worked to increase state appropriations for Grambling State University during his legislative tenure from 1964 to 1980.[7]
In 2019, Grambling broke ground for building of the first digital library on a HBCU campus. The $16.6 million project was completed in 2023.[9][10][11][12]
Presidents
Following the first President Charles P. Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones became the second president and baseball coach from 1936 until his retirement in 1977. Five presidents served from 1977 to 2001: Joseph Benjamin Johnson, Harold W. Lundy, Raymond Hicks, Leonard Haynes III, and Steve A. Favors.[citation needed]
Neari Francois Warner was the university's first female president.[13] Horace Judson, who became the institution's seventh president in 2004, led a 5-year campaign to rebuild the institution's facilities.[citation needed] He retired at the end of October 2009. That year Frank Pogue started as the institution's eighth president. On April 4, 2014, Pogue announced his retirement effective June 30, 2014. Cynthia S. Warrick became Grambling's second female president, serving a one-year interim term starting on July 1, 2014, and ending on July 1, 2015. Willie Larkin served as president from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2016.[14] The tenth president was GSU alumnus Richard J. Gallot, Jr. who served from 2016 to 2024. The current and 11th president is GSU alumnus Martin Lemelle.[15]
Grambling State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following four colleges:[18]
College of Art & Sciences
College of Business
College of Educational and Graduate Studies
College of Professional Studies
Grambling State offers its only doctoral degree in Developmental Education through the College of Educational and Graduate Studies.[19] In 2020, Grambling became the first collegiate institution in Louisiana to offer bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and cloud computing.[20]
The Grambling Tigers represent Grambling State University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Grambling's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision for football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Currently, the Grambling State University Department of Athletics sponsors Men's Intercollegiate football, along with men's and women's basketball, baseball, track & field, softball, golf, soccer, tennis, bowling and volleyball.
As of 2022[update], 37% of GSU's student body is from outside Louisiana; Texas, California, and Illinois are the three largest feeder states. 65% of the student body is female, 35% is male. 93% of the student body identify as black, 7% identify as non-black.[21]
The World Famed Tiger Marching Band performing at the 2019 State Fair Classic
The GSU Tiger Marching Band also known as "The World Famed Tiger Marching Band" is a historic marching band. They are the only HBCU marching band in the nation to perform at two consecutive U.S. presidential inaugurations.[22] "World Famed" was founded in 1926 and serves as one of the premier ambassadors of the university.[23]
Campus media
The Gramblinite is the university's weekly student newspaper that is consistently awarded for excellent journalism.[24][25]
KGRM Tiger Radio 91.5 FM is a 24-hour student-run radio station that provides a variety of music, news, sports and public affairs programming.[26]
The GSU-TV Media Center is operated by the Department of Mass Communications to train students interested in broadcasting careers.[27]
Gallery
The President's Home at Grambling State is particularly elegant and stately.
Favrot Student Building at Grambling State
The Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling State
Eddie G. Robinson Stadium at Grambling State
Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center at Grambling State
Alumni of Grambling State include numerous MLB, NBA and NFL players, public officials, lawyers, doctors, scholars, journalists, business professionals, and artists.
Notable GSU alumni
Erykah Badu Grammy-Award winning singer and actress
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