Southern University at New Orleans
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Southern University at New Orleans is an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is part of the Southern University System, the only HBCU university system in the world. It is sometimes referred to by its initials SUNO.
Opened on September 21, 1959, the campus is located adjacent to the Pontchartrain Park neighborhood, a subdivision historically made up of African-American single-family residences in eastern New Orleans. Like most of the city, the campus experienced flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hurricane Rita also caused damage to all eleven of the buildings on campus. The university was able to open a temporary facility, called SUNO North Campus on February 13, 2006. As of November 2007, SUNO continues to operate out of federally provided trailers and is the only college campus in the New Orleans area still operating out of temporary units. The first of the university's buildings, the gym also known as "The Castle" is expected to be ready by the fall semester of 2007.
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[edit] The Beginning
Southern University at New Orleans was founded as a branch unit of Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (Southern University) in Baton Rouge by Act 28 of the Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature of September 4, 1956. On September 21, 1959 SUNO opened its doors on the current 17-acre site. Established as an open community of learners, classes began with 158 freshmen, one building and a motivated faculty of 15. The University offered 10 courses in four academic disciplines, including Humanities, Science, Social Science and Commerce.
[edit] Expansion and Change
Over the years several events have affected the direction of SUNO. One occurred on November 8, 1960. It was then that the Louisiana Legislature adopted Amendment 26. This act prescribed that SUNO should remain an extension of Southern University, thereby precluding any impending status of autonomy for SUNO.
In January, 1964 Virginia Cox Welch, a white high school teacher, filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against the Louisiana State Board of Education. This litigation, Civil Action No. 14217, resulted in opening the university to all regardless of race or color. In 1975, by virtue of Article 8, Section 7 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, management of SUNO was transferred from the Louisiana State Board of Education to the newly-created Board of Supervisors of Southern University. The new constitution also designated SUNO as a campus of the Southern University System creating parity with the other Southern campuses.
[edit] Academic Programs
Post-Katrina, nineteen academic programs were cut. Despite the losses SUNO began new in the fall of 2007 academic programs to begin filling various needs in the climate of rebuilding New Orleans.
College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts Programs Biology, Psychology, Substance Abuse (which also includes an Associate of Arts) and Sociology.
Bachelor of Science Programs Criminal Justice and Health Information Management.
Master of Arts Programs Museum Studies and Cultural Preservation and Criminal Justice.
College of Business and Public Administration Bachelor Programs Business Entrepreneurship, Management Information Systems (Bachelor of Science) and Public Administration. There is also a Master of Science offered in Management Information Systems.
College of Education Bachelor Programs Early Childhood Education (BS), Elementary Education (BS) and Childhood Development and Family Studies (BA). SUNO also offers alternative certifications in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. As of the fall semester of 2007, the college was awaiting Louisiana Board of Regents approval for the Master of Education in Curriculum Instruction with concentration in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
College of Social Work Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare and a Master of Social Work.
[edit] Athletics
SUNO possesses a surprisingly rich history in athletics. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and part of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Although the Knights are a part of the NAIA at one time they competed in the NCAA's Division III.
National Championships NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track & Field in 1975, 1976 and 1977. NAIA Women's Outdoor/Indoor Women's Track & Field in 1995 and 1997.
SUNO's men have appeared in six NAIA Basketball Tournaments and the women have appeared in one NAIA Basketball Tournament. The university has also garnered over 150 NAIA All-American honors in the athletic programs as of the fall semester of 2007. Dr. Artis Davenport was named NAIA Women's Indoor and Outdoor as well as Men's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in 1995. He earned the same honor in 1997 for Indoor Track & Field. Two Olympians have competed in SUNO's Track & Field Program---Savatheda Fynes (Bahamas) and Julius Achon (Uganda).
Conference Championships 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990: Women's Cross Country 1988 and 1989: Men's Cross Country 1995 and 2003: Men's Basketball Tournament & Conference 2000: Women's Conference co-champions and Men's Conference 2002: Men's Tournament and Conference co-champions 2004: Men's Conference co-champions
[edit] External links
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