2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 22
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Tuesday, April 18, 2023, as Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCU) Day at the capitol.
WHEREAS, Louisiana is proud to be home to eight Historically Black Colleges and
Universities: Dillard University, Grambling State University, Southern University and A&M
College, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Southern
University Law Center, Southern University at New Orleans, Southern University
Shreveport, and Xavier University of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is also home to the nation's only HBCU System, the Southern
University System, which is uniquely positioned as an exemplar with a profound
commitment to research and student success; and
WHEREAS, it would be remiss not to welcome two of Louisiana's HBCU presidents
to the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the Southern University System welcomed new leadership in 2022,
naming Dennis J. Shields as President of the System and Chancellor of its flagship, Southern
University and A&M College; and
WHEREAS, under President-Chancellor Shields' leadership, informed by over 40
years of higher education experience, each Southern University campus continues to
advance, support, and promote economic, cultural, and workforce development initiatives
that bring benefits beyond the borders of the great state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2023, Rochelle L. Ford, PhD, APR, was named the eighth
president of Dillard University; and
WHEREAS, Rochelle L. Ford, PhD, APR, has built a robust resume in higher
education administration, research and instruction and is recognized nationally for her work
in public relations; and
WHEREAS, under President Ford's leadership, Dillard will prioritize advancing
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equity and opportunities through economic development with world-class education and
workforce training, sustainability and innovation, improving cybersecurity, promoting safe
and equitable communities, food equity, physical and mental health, and entrepreneurship;
and
WHEREAS, since their establishment 187 years ago, HBCUs have continued to build
a legacy of excellence, achievement, and inclusion; and
WHEREAS, in the face of discrimination against black Americans by many
institutions of higher education, HBCUs created pathways to opportunity and educational
excellence for black students throughout our nation, building America's black middle class;
and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's HBCUs collectively enrolled 23,071 students in 2022-2023;
and
WHEREAS, HBCU graduates are exemplary public servants, scientists, doctors,
artists, lawyers, judges, engineers, educators, entertainers, business owners, and leaders; and
WHEREAS, the pageantry, traditions, bands, and rivalries of HBCUs are second to
none; and
WHEREAS, the legacy and history of Louisiana's HBCUs will, for the first time, be
permanently installed in the Capitol Park Museum; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's HBCUs have distinguished themselves in numerous ways,
both nationally and in the state as follows:
Dillard University will offer its first Master of Science in Nursing in Fall 2023, and
is recognized for its National Institute of Health Center for Minority Health and Health
Equity Research, its nationally ranked mock trial program and Center for Racial Justice, and
for producing distinguished alumni such as Justice Orelia Merchant, who has been
nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the
Eastern District of New York; and
Grambling State University is the leading producer of computer science graduates
in the state, is the only institution to offer bachelor's degree programs in cybersecurity and
cloud computing, is currently constructing the first digital library at an HBCU and on a
Louisiana college campus, and consistently produces graduates in recession-proof jobs in
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the fields of accounting, information technology, education, and beyond; and
Southern University and A&M College (SUBR), a Carnegie Research 2 institution
with high research activity, celebrates 143 years of academic and social progress, serves
communities through various programs, including its School of Nursing partnership with the
Ochsner Health System to create the "Jag Mobile" community health unit, and produces
distinguished alumni such as recent Medal of Freedom honoree, Colonel Paris Davis
(retired), who received the honor from President Joe Biden in March 2023; and
Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) will begin its Bachelor of Science
in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity programs in Fall 2023 and has taken
critical steps to support community mental wellness by establishing a Grief and Trauma
Center, Counseling Center and ZEN Room on its campus; and
Southern University Shreveport (SUSLA) celebrates 55 years of providing an
accessible, excellent educational experience to students and programming for its surrounding
community, has unveiled the Roy Griggs School of Business to advance SUSLA's academic
and workforce priorities by helping to close gaps in the region and assist in business
retention and expansion efforts, and has been approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents
to offer more than 10 new academic programs; and
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center has established
the Mobile Education & Technology Center to travel across the state of Louisiana to bring
internet access, hands-on testing, and live instruction to the most marginalized areas and
remote corners of the state and the related College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer
Science hosts the Environmental Toxicology PhD program, the only program of its kind in
Louisiana, offering four areas of specialization in chemical and biochemical toxicology,
cellular and molecular biology, developmental biology, material science, and bioinformatics;
and
Southern University Law Center (SULC) celebrating 75 years of opening doors
for legal professionals and under the leadership of Chancellor John K. Pierre, the Law Center
continues to thrive as a progressive and transformational legal education institution that
provides access and opportunity to its students and community through innovative
programming and experiential learning; and
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Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) was recognized as the most successful
HBCU for upward mobility and third in the nation for economic return on investment in
2022, and recently announced its plans to establish a College of Medicine with Ochsner
Health System, which will be the fifth HBCU medical school in the nation; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to commend Louisiana's Historically Black Colleges
and Universities for their outstanding achievements and their numerous alumni for their
contributions to their local communities, the state, and the world.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby recognize Tuesday, April 18, 2023, as HBCU Day at the capitol and does
hereby acknowledge Louisiana's HBCUs for their invaluable contributions to our residents
and state.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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