Howard University

Howard University
City:	Washington, D.C.
Type:	Private
Sports:	basketball, bowling, cross country, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball[1]
Colors:	red, white, blue
Mascot:	Bison
Website:	http://www.howard.edu/

Howard University is a federally funded university in Washington, D.C. founded in 1867 for African Americans.^[2] The school was named for General Oliver O. Howard, a Civil War hero who was both a founder of the University and commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau.^[2] Howard was established as an education facility for African Americans, and, for the most part, is still that today, with 85% of its class being African American.^[3]

The school logo

The school ranked #96 in US News's 2008 "National Universities: Top Schools" list.^[4]

History[edit]

At first, the Freedman's Bureau provided financial support to the university, but in 1879, Congress approved a special appropriation for the university. The charter was amended to authorize an federal support for construction, development, improvement and maintenance of the university.^[2]

Dr. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, who in 1926 became the school's first black president, changed the school from having eight unaccredited schools and colleges to having 10 schools and colleges - all accredited.^[2]

Notes[edit]