SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 286
WHEREAS, Students, faculty, and members of the administration
of Prairie View A&M University are visiting the State Capitol on
March 2, 2015, and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity
to pay tribute to the rich history and continuing achievements of
this notable institution; and
WHEREAS, Prairie View A&M University dates back to 1876,
when the 15th Texas Legislature established a school known as the
"Alta Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for
Colored Youth" during Reconstruction; the first students
enrolled in 1878, and a normal school for training teachers, the
state's first coeducational public institution of higher
learning, was created by the legislature the following year; the
normal school and the agricultural and mechanical college were
combined by the 20th Legislature in 1887; and
WHEREAS, The institution expanded its curriculum to four
years in 1901 and began offering intercollegiate athletics three
years later; a cooperative agricultural extension program was added
in 1914, and establishment of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps
followed in 1917; during the 1920s, the school introduced the first
baccalaureate degrees and a school of nursing, took part in the
organization of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and initiated
the Prairie View Interscholastic League for African American high
schools, which later merged with the University Interscholastic
League; and
WHEREAS, In 1937, a graduate school was established at
Prairie View; the school began a program for commissioning United
States Army officers in 1943 and naval reserve officers in 1968;
five commissioned officers from the school's army training corps
have gone on to become three-star generals, and three officers
from its navy training corps have become admirals; and
WHEREAS, Voters approved a state constitutional amendment
in 1984 that recognized Prairie View A&M as a university of the
first class and restructured the state's Permanent University
Fund to include Prairie View as a beneficiary; in addition, the
legislature established the Texas Institute for the Preservation
of History and Culture at Prairie View in 1999; the school
launched its first doctoral program, in juvenile justice, in 2001
and has since added others in electrical engineering, juvenile
forensic psychology, and education leadership; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of president Dr. George C. Wright,
the university currently has an enrollment of over 8,000 students,
including more than 1,500 graduate students; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the state of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby recognize March 2, 2015, as Prairie View A&M
University Day at the State Capitol and extend to all those
associated with the university sincere best wishes for continued
success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for the university as an expression of high regard from
the Texas Senate.
Kolkhorst
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 2, 2015.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate