2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 141
BY SENATORS GALLOT, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, CORTEZ,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GUILLORY, JOHNS,
KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH,
MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK, PERRY, PETERSON, GARY
SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH,
WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To memorialize the Congress of the United States to take such actions as are necessary to
designate Grambling State University as an 1890 land-grant college.
WHEREAS, a land-grant college or university is a postsecondary education
institution that has been designated to receive the benefits of the federal Morrill Acts of 1862
or 1890; and
WHEREAS, there is at least one land-grant institution in every state and territory of
the United States, as well as the District of Columbia, and over the years, land-grant status
has been associated with several types of federal support; and
WHEREAS, two universities in this state, Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College (LSU) and Southern University and Agricultural and
Mechanical College (SU), are designated as land-grant institutions; LSU received this
designation in 1862, and in 1890, what is known as the Second Morrill Act conferred
land-grant status to several historically black colleges and universities, commonly referred
to as "1890 land-grant institutions", and SU is among this group; and
WHEREAS, Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, is seeking
designation as an 1890 land-grant institution under the banner of the Second Morrill Act; and
WHEREAS, Grambling State University was founded in 1901 by the North
Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association; in 1905, it moved to its present location
and was renamed the North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School; in 1946, it became
Grambling College; and in 1949, it earned its first accreditation by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools; and
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 141 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, in 1974, the school began to offer graduate programs in early childhood
and elementary education and acquired the name Grambling State University; over the years,
several new academic programs have been incorporated and new facilities added to the
384-acre campus; and
WHEREAS, Grambling now offers more than eight hundred courses and forty-seven
degree programs in five colleges, including an honors college, two professional schools, a
graduate school, and a Division of Continuing Education; and
WHEREAS, Grambling combines the academic strengths of a major university with
the benefits of a small college, and its students grow and learn in a serene and positive
environment; and
WHEREAS, in addition to being one of the country's top producers of
African-American graduates, Grambling is home to the internationally renowned Tiger
Marching Band and remains proud of the legacy of the late Eddie Robinson Sr., a truly
legendary football coach; and
WHEREAS, Grambling places an emphasis on the value and importance of each
student, which is exemplified by its motto, "Where Everybody is Somebody"; and
WHEREAS, after more than a decade since its founding, Grambling remains an
important influence in the quality of lives and communities of generations of North
Louisiana residents; and
WHEREAS, the designation of Ohio's Central State University as an 1890 land-grant
institution in the 2014 Farm Bill set a very recent precedent for the addition of a university
to the land-grant system; and
WHEREAS, the nation's system of land-grant institutions would be strengthened by
the inclusion of Grambling State University; and
WHEREAS, as a historically black university with a strong record of academics,
research, and service, Grambling, with its rich history and traditions, would bring a unique
perspective to the land-grant system; and
WHEREAS, for one hundred twenty-five years, the 1890 land-grant institutions have
played a vital role in ensuring access to higher education and opportunity for underserved
communities, and as such an institution, Grambling would have access to increased
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 141 ENROLLED
resources that it could direct to serving such communities and to providing research,
extension, and public services in North Louisiana, an area where these services are not
currently being provided sufficiently; and
WHEREAS, such designation would be consistent with Grambling's agricultural
origins and its mission and history of service to African-American students and the people
of Louisiana and would strengthen Grambling's research and teaching in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs and enhance existing programs
and facilitate the development of new programs in agricultural business, biotechnology,
economics, environment and natural resources, family and consumer science, and
engineering technology; and
WHEREAS, Grambling State University has made the same extraordinary
contributions to the education of African Americans in the state of Louisiana as other 1890
land-grant universities have made in their respective states; and
WHEREAS, as the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the
University of Louisiana System, the role that Grambling plays in the state is critical; and
WHEREAS, a land-grant designation would enhance greatly Grambling's service to
the people of Louisiana, and it is appropriate that Congress take all necessary measures to
grant such designation to Grambling State University.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary
to designate Grambling State University as a United States Department of Agriculture 1890
land-grant institution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the secretary of the United States Senate, the clerk of the United States House of
Representatives, and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States
Congress.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 3 of 3