Running head: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY 1

Historical development of Alcorn State University

Institution Affiliation

Date
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Introduction

Alcorn State University is a public institution of higher learning which was formed

after the establishment of the civil acts right of 1964 with the sole purpose of serving the

African-American communities of Claiborne County, Mississippi. It was established to

ensure that the formerly enslaved black men and women were provided with higher

education, and it is on record as the first black college formed as a beneficiary of the Morrill

Acts of 1862 and 1890. The main campus of ASU is located about 80 miles southwest of

Jackson, Mississippi. The University is known for producing civil rights activists such as

Medgar Evers, who formed the civil rights movement to ensure that there was an end to racial

segregation, which consequently included registration of black voters. This paper delves into

how the ASU came into existence and its primary educational mission. Entailed in it also is

the mission of the institution and the changes it has undergone in terms of history and the

target audience.

Formation (whom, when, and in which social/historical context)

Alcorn State University was established in 1871 and holds the record historically for

being the first public historically black land-grant institution in the United States. In

Mississippi, it is the second-oldest institution of higher learning with the full support of the

state. The main reason for its formation was to ensure that the descendants of the formerly

enslaved black men and women were provided with higher education, and as a result, it was

named after the then sitting governor of Mississippi, James L. Alcorn. The University is

located approximately 80 miles of Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi, and it lies in the

land formerly harboring Oakland College. Within the first ten years of its establishment, the

state legislature ensured that it provided funding to support the operations of the University,

such as the acquisition of Alcorn's agricultural and mechanical components. Immediately

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after its establishment, the institution offered the following study components; the four-year

college track, the two-year college track, and the three-year graded track. Classes started at

seven o'clock in the morning and ended at noon, after which some students worked in the

shops, boards, and laundry for pay. Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College came into

existence in 1878, where only males were admitted at first. Later on, admission of women

began, which saw the building of their dormitory in 1902 ("History - Alcorn State

University," 2020).

In coordination with the state, the institution's facilities were improved and increased

from about three structures to over eighty, and the land acquired up to 1,700 acres. It was

granted University status in 1974 by Governor William L. Waller, and since then, the

institution has been successful in fulfilling most of its goals and set objectives even though

the state has not been very generous in terms of resource allocation. The target audience of

the institution has diversified a great deal, as have the academic programs offered. Currently,

the institution harbors students from all over the United States and some parts of the world.

Additionally, various undergraduate programs are provided for students to ensure that they

follow their passions, such as teaching, law, and other professions. ASU's standing and

significance have been raised due to the recognition of the importance of offering education

to the citizens by the state of Mississippi. As a result, the initial eight faculty members at the

time of its establishment in 1871 has increased to over 800 faculty and staff. The student

body has also seen massive growth from 179 students to over 4,000 students with different

ethnic backgrounds. Graduates from the University have become successful entrepreneurs in

the country (Posey, 2017). As a result of the institution’s commitment to improving the image

of the institution and offering quality education to young people, “the college has excelled

against great odds” and is currently among the leading universities in the United States.

Primary educational mission

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Alcorn State University’s educational mission focuses attention on the intellectual

development of all students and deliberate learning through the application of the pedagogical

approaches such as constructivist, collaborative, inquiry-based, integrative, and reflective

approaches. The university also ensures that access to globally competitive academic and

research programs is available to students from all walks of life. Some of the valuable

programs provided include applied and basic research, public service and outreach, cultural,

and professional programs. Alcorn also guarantees the preparation of its students to deal with

the 21st century by training well-mannered and well-adapted future leaders who will bring the

desired changes and be highly successful in the global market ("Mission & Vision - Alcorn

State University," 2020).

Empowering of young black men and women is also another primary mission of

Alcorn State University. Prior to its establishment, there were a myriad of problems faced by

African American students living in Mississippi, the main one being denied access to higher

education. For those who were lucky enough to get to the available learning institutions, they

faced stigmatization, mislabelling, misidentification, misplacement and they got mis-

instructed. The available institutions did not recognize and value their behavioural, learning

and cultural styles. For this reason, there was a need for a higher learning institution for the

blacks so that they could be empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to bring a

change in their communities. This saw the establishment of ASU as the first public

historically black land-grant institution in the United States.

The following goals drive Alcorn State University; first and foremost, it is student-

centered as its main aim is to ensure lifelong imparting of knowledge and empowering of

students to become future leaders who are technologically competent and environmentally

sensitive. It also promotes diversity by taking part in activities that are all-inclusive and

encourages acceptance of people's differences. Academic excellence is another goal that the
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university is keen on promoting. It is geared towards innovative pedagogy, renowned faculty,

and cutting-edge facilities, which are the ingredients used to guarantee academic excellence.

The innovative educational approaches applied include interdisciplinary learning, discovery

learning, experiential learning, consideration of alternative perspectives, acting on learning,

and case study approach. Shared governance and professionalism in all aspects of life is

another goal of the institution. It strives to produce students who are honest and transparent in

their communication and maintain accountability in all their activities. Also, the enhancement

of infrastructure and technology to be used in the achievement of the mission and vision of

the university. It aims to come up with strategies that ensure all students are up to date with

technological trends in the market, which can be fundamental in their success. The last goal is

enhancement and diversification of resources to be used for the development of the university

and running of its operations. Sources of funding can be diversified through entrepreneurship,

creative fundraising strategies, partnerships, and leveraging its intellectual property.

Has the mission changed over time

Yes. The mission of the institution has undergone several changes over time as part of

the strategic planning process. This is because at the time of its founding, there were still

several incidences of black segregation, and an institution that catered for the black people

that were formerly enslaved was needed. Currently, it has developed to cater for the needs of

students from all walks of life. The socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers policy

research center offers expertise in policy research affecting socially disadvantaged farmers

and ranchers. The mission of the policy research center is to come up with policy

recommendations for the benefit of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers achieved

through the transparent management structure. Also, Educational Equity and Inclusion

promotes a safe environment and community for students, faculty, and staff by eliminating

harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

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Conclusion

The history of Alcorn State University is a significant tool in the achievement of the

institution’s goals and objectives. It clearly outlines the challenges and issues that the

university had to overcome to reach the status of becoming one of the leading universities in

the nation. The college excelled against great odds since its founding as a result of the

collaborative strength ad contribution of the leadership and faculty. Among the challenges

faced, was during the late 50s and early 60s that saw a period of unrest within campuses in

the country. A publication by Clennon King in the Jackson State Times, a segregationist

publication sparked anger among students resulting to boycotting of King's classes. The

university president and a section of the faculty were dismissed. One criticism against the

history of Alcorn State University is the failure to outline the role played by the student’s

body in running of the institution. The hindrances that the students faced by virtue of being

black have not been outlined in the history of the university, and at the time, racial inequality

was at its peak in the parts of the nation occupied by African American former slaves.
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References

Posey, J. M. (2017). Succeeding Against Great Odds: Alcorn State University in Its Second

Century. Univ. Press of Mississippi.

History - Alcorn State University. (2020). Retrieved 13 February 2020, from

https://www.alcorn.edu/discover-alcorn/history

Mission & Vision - Alcorn State University. (2020). Retrieved 13 February 2020, from

https://www.alcorn.edu/discover-alcorn/mission-vision