Grambling State University

Public university in Grambling, Louisiana, U.S.

"Grambling" redirects here. For the town, see Grambling, Louisiana.

Grambling State University

Former name

| 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)
Motto| Where Everybody Is Somebody
Type| Public historically Black university
Established| 1901

Parent institution

| UL System

Academic affiliations

| Space-grant
Endowment| $7 million[1]
President| Martin Lemelle[2]
Provost| Connie Walton
Students| 5,232[3]
Location|

Grambling

Louisiana

United States

32°31′31″N 92°42′55″W﻿ / ﻿32.5252°N 92.7153°W﻿ / 32.5252; -92.7153
Campus| Rural
Newspaper| The Gramblinite[4]
Colors|     Black & Gold
Nickname| Tigers

Sporting affiliations

| NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC
Website| www.gram.edu

Grambling State University (GSU, Grambling, or Grambling State) is a public historically black university in Grambling, Louisiana, United States. Grambling State is home of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum and is listed on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. Grambling State is a member-school of the University of Louisiana System and Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Grambling State's athletic teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are known as the Grambling State Tigers. Grambling State is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

## History

[edit]

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.[citation needed]

From 1977 to 2000, the university grew and prospered. Several new academic programs were incorporated. New facilities were added to the 384-acre (155-hectare) campus, including a business and computer science building, school of nursing, student services building, stadium, stadium support facility, and an intramural sports center.[citation needed]

In May 1999, President Clinton served as the commencement keynote speaker.[6]

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]

On December 7, 2010, the Grambling State University Historic District, an area comprising 16 buildings dating from 1939 to 1960, was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[8]

In 2019, Grambling broke ground for building of the first digital library on a HBCU campus. The US$16.6 million project was completed in 2024.[9][10][11][12]

### Presidents

[edit]

1. Charles P. Adams (1901-1936) - first president of the university
2. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones
3. Joseph Benjamin Johnson
4. Harold W. Lundy
5. Raymond Hicks
6. Leonard Haynes III
7. Steve A. Favors
8. Neari Francois Warner - first female president.[13]
9. Horace Judson
10. Frank Pogue
11. Cynthia S. Warrick
12. Willie Larkin
13. Richard J. Gallot, Jr. - first GSU alumnus to serve as president
14. Martin Lemelle - current president and GSU alumnus[14]

## Academics

[edit]

Academic rankings

Master's
Washington Monthly[15]| 125 of 603
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[16]| 99 (tie) of 136

Grambling State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following four colleges:[17]

* College of Art & Sciences
* College of Business
* College of Educational and Graduate Studies
* College of Professional Studies

Grambling State University offers two doctoral degree programs, one in Developmental Education and one in Criminology and Justice Administration.[18]

In 2020, Grambling State University became the first collegiate institution in Louisiana to offer bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and cloud computing.[19]

## Student life

[edit]

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023[20] Race and ethnicity  | Total

|

Black | 93%  |

Two or more races | 3%  |

Hispanic | 2%  |

International student | 2%  |

Economic diversity
Low-income[a] | 74%  |

Affluent[b] | 26%  |

### Athletics

[edit]

GSU athletics logo

Main article: Grambling State Tigers

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.

Grambling State's most notable rivals are their south Louisiana foe Southern, Prairie View A&M, Jackson State, and Alcorn State.

### Student body

[edit]

As of 2022[update], approximately 40% 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]

### GSU Tiger Marching Band

[edit]

Main article: GSU Tiger Marching Band

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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* 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

* Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center at Grambling State

* Eddie G. Robinson Stadium at Grambling State

## Notable alumni

[edit]

Main article: List of Grambling State University alumni

Alumni of Grambling State include numerous MLB, NBA and NFL players, public officials, lawyers, doctors, scholars, journalists, business professionals, and artists.

* Rick Gallot \- appointed president of the University of Louisiana System and 10th president of Grambling State University
* Erykah Badu, Grammy Award winner (attended, but did not graduate)[28]
* Charles M. Blow, New York Times columnist[29]
* Hao Mingjin, Chairman of the CNDCA, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of the NPC (attended, but did not graduate)[30]
* Buck Buchanan, former Kansas City Chiefs football player and NFL Hall of Famer
* N. Burl Cain, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and former warden of Louisiana State Penitentiary
* Ronnie Coleman, retired professional bodybuilder and eight-time Mr. Olympia winner[31]
* Alma Dawson, scholar of librarianship
* Natalie Desselle-Reid, actress
* E-40, American rapper (attended, but did not graduate)[32]
* Stephanie A. Finley, United States Attorney and former nominee for United States District Judge
* Bob French, jazz drummer and radio show host[33]
* Cedric Glover, state representative, first African-American former mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
* Ernie Ladd, former professional football player and a WWE Hall of Famer.
* Lenton Malry, retired New Mexico state legislator
* Judi Ann Mason television writer, producer and playwright
* Ivory V. Nelson, American chemist, educator, and academic administrator. Fulbright Scholar in 1966[34]
* Willis Reed, former professional basketball player, NBA Hall of Famer, member of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History" and NBA 75th Anniversary Team[35]
* Doug Williams, Super Bowl XXII MVP quarterback[36]
* Paul "Tank" Younger, former professional football player[37]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
2. ^ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Grambling Audit" (PDF). LLA Default Homepage. Louisiana Legislative Auditor. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
2. ^ "Here's what we know about the new president of HBCU Grambling State University".
3. ^ Thissel, Raven (September 16, 2019). "Grambling State's Enrollment Reaches a Seven-Year High". Retrieved December 8, 2020.
4. ^ "Grambling State University (thegramblinite) News and Classifieds". www.thegramblinite.com. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
5. ^ "Caldwell, George A." Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
6. ^ "Clinton touts importance of family to Grambling seniors - May 23, 1999". www.cnn.com. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
7. ^ "Descendants of Lemuel Holstead". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
8. ^ "Grambling State University Historic District" (PDF). State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018. with 16 photos and two maps Archived July 17, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ "Digital Library - Grambling State University".
10. ^ "Grambling State University Breaks Ground on a new Digital Library". September 9, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
11. ^ "Grambling State unveils new digital library plans". AP NEWS. February 1, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
12. ^ "NEW DIGITAL LIBRARY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, GRAMBLING, LA – Mathes Brierre Architects".
13. ^ "Neari Francois Warner, Ph.D. - Executive PhD in Urban Higher Education | Jackson State University".
14. ^ "ULS Board names Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. New president of Grambling State University". February 22, 2024.
15. ^ "2024 Master's Universities Rankings". Washington Monthly. August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
16. ^ "2024-2025 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
17. ^ "Grambling State University - Academics". gram.edu.
18. ^ "Accreditations". Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
19. ^ "Board of Regents Approves Cloud Computing Degree at Grambling State". May 29, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
20. ^ "College Scorecard: Grambling State University". College Scorecard. United States Department of Education. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
21. ^ Grambling State University eFact Book (PDF) (15 ed.). 2022.
22. ^ "Playing for the President, Grambling Marching Band to Return to Washington". diverseeducation.com. January 14, 2013.
23. ^ "Grambling and Southern clash at Battle of the Bands". WGNO. November 29, 2014.
24. ^ "Grambling State University - Gramblinite Staffers Win Journalism Awards at Southeast Journalism Conference | News". Gram.edu. March 4, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
25. ^ "Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Fayetteville, Ark. | Society of Professional Journalists | Improving and protecting journalism since 1909". Spj.org. April 14, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
26. ^ "Grambling State University - KGRM". Gram.edu. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
27. ^ "Grambling State University - Campus Media". Gram.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
28. ^ Henry, DeEric (April 3, 2008). "A conversation with Erykah Badu – The Gramblinite". Retrieved February 25, 2025.
29. ^ "Charles M. Blow's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
30. ^ "郝明金同志简历". Xinhua News.
31. ^ "Ronnie Coleman – ISHOF | International Sports Hall of Fame | United States". Retrieved February 21, 2025.
32. ^ "MULTIPLATINUM RECORDING ARTIST AND ENTREPRENEUR EARL "E-40" STEVENS AWARDED HONORARY DOCTOR OF MUSIC DEGREE". May 12, 2023.
33. ^ "Where is Grambling State University, LA, USA on Map Lat Long Coordinates". www.latlong.net. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
34. ^ Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. "U.S. Department of State Recognizes Contributions of African-American Fulbright Program Alumni". 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
35. ^ "26 Notable Alumni of Grambling State University". EduRank.org - Discover university rankings by location. August 11, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
36. ^ "Reflections on the 35th Anniversary of Doug Williams' Culture-Shifting 1988 Super Bowl Victory". January 31, 2023.
37. ^ "Paul 'Tank' Younger, Football Player born". African American Registry. Retrieved February 21, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

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Grambling State University

Campus|

* Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium
* Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center
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* Grambling State Tigers
* Baseball
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Student life|

* Grambling's White Tiger (1981)
* Season of the Tiger (2006)]]
* KGRM
* Tiger Marching Band

People|

* List of Grambling State University alumni

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Public colleges and universities in Louisiana

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