Harris–Stowe State University

Harris–Stowe State University is a historically black public university in St. Louis, Missouri. The university offers 50 majors, minors, and certificate programs in education, business, and arts & sciences. It is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. It is immediately east of the Saint Louis University campus.

Harris–Stowe State University
Harris–Stowe State University
MottoInspiring change.
TypePublic
Established1857
PresidentCorey Bradford
ProvostLaTonia Collins-Smith (interim)
Students1,716 (Fall 2018)
Location
St. Louis
,
Missouri
,
United States
CampusUrban
ColorsBrown      & Gold     
AthleticsNAIA - AMC
MascotHornet
Websitewww.hssu.edu
Harris Teachers College
Location3026 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103
Coordinates38°38′00″N 90°13′27″W
Area1.9 acres (0.77 ha)
Built1905 (1905)
Architectural styleTudor Revival
NRHP reference No.04000787[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 4, 2004

History

In 1857, St. Louis Public Schools established a normal school (teaching college) for white students; it was subsequently named Harris Teachers College, after William Torrey Harris, a former St. Louis superintendent of schools and United States Commissioner of Education. In 1863 philosopher Anna Brackett became principal of the school, and it became the first normal school led by a woman in the United States. In 1920, it was authorized to issue a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.[2]

In 1890, the St. Louis school system established Sumner Normal School to train black teachers. In 1929, its name was changed to Stowe Teachers College, after author Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, had promoted the abolitionist cause in the antebellum United States.[2]

The U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education mandated integration of public-school systems. In response to this, Harris and Stowe Colleges were merged into one institution, which retained the "Harris Teachers College" name. At the behest of Stowe alumni and other St. Louisans, the name "Stowe" was added, and the school became Harris-Stowe College.[2]

In 1979, the college was added to the state system of public higher education, under the name of Harris-Stowe State College. Its four-year education degree was changed to a Bachelor of Science in Education. It subsequently expanded its programs to offer several new degrees in education, including the B.S. in Urban Education, designed to enable non-teaching urban education personnel to address problems specific to urban schools; and a degree in Business Administration with various professional options.[2]

In 2005, the college attained university status, and was renamed Harris–Stowe State University.[2]

Academics and accreditation

Academics

The Department of Academic Affairs comprises comprises three academic units:

  • Anheuser-Busch School of Business
  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • College of Education

All degree programs at Harris-Stowe are first focus on general education studies with the upper-level courses concentrating on disciplinary studies.[3]

Accreditation

Harris–Stowe State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Anheuser-Busch School of Business receives additional accreditation through the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. The School of Education receives additional accreditation through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.[4]

Student activities

Student organizations

The Office of Student Engagement sponsors or hosts more than thirty activities or special interest clubs and approximately a dozen academic clubs and honor societies, several campus affiliate chapters of national organizations, and nearly 12 Greek organizations (mostly in conjunction with other St. Louis area colleges and universities).[5]

Academic Organizations

Athletics

The Harris–Stowe State University mascot is the Hornet.[6] The university competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a member of the American Midwest Conference (AMC).

Harris-Stowe sponsors four men's and five women's teams in NAIA sanctioned sports:

The Harris–Stowe State University Men's Basketball team won the American Midwest Conference championship in 2017 and 2018.

William L. Clay, Sr. Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center

The William L. Clay, Sr. Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center is an early childhood child care center that sits on the campus of Harris–Stowe State University. Harris-Stowe invested $11 million into the new facility that is used to train early learning professionals, provide parenting education, and high quality full day care for children. Harris-Stowe was awarded an FY09 Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) start-up and expansion grant to assist in the purchase of developmentally appropriate materials for the center's new infant/toddler rooms.[7]

Notable alumni
  • Arlene Ackerman, former superintendent of public schools in District of Columbia, San Francisco and Philadelphia
  • David S. Cunningham, Jr., Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1973–87
  • Kimberly Gardner, reformist prosecutor in City of St. Louis
  • Julius Hunter, retired television anchorman, former St. Louis University vice-president, author
  • Bobby Wilks, U.S. Coast Guard aviator, first African-American promoted to Captain in the Coast Guard

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Campus History". Harris-Stowe State University. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  3. "Harris-Stowe State University (314) 340-3366". hssu.edu. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  4. "Harris-Stowe State University (314) 340-3366". hssu.edu. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  5. "Harris-Stowe State University (314) 340-3366". hssu.edu. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  6. "Athletics". Archived from the original on 2006-01-13.
  7. "ARCHS' PRE-K PARTNER SET TO OPEN NEW CENTER". ARCHS. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
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