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Information About

Sam Houston State University




  motto ''The Measure of a Life is its Service''
  established 1879
  type Public
  endowment $32,090,059
  president Dr James F Gaertner
  city Huntsville
  state Texas
  country USA
  students 15,934 (Spring 2007)
  faculty 598
  campus Urban , 272 acres (11 km&2) main campus
  nickname Bearkats
  colors Orange and White
  website wwwshsuedu


Sam Houston State University, (known as '''SHSU''' and '''Sam''', for short) founded in 1879 , is a Public University located in Huntsville , Texas . It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first such institution of its type in the State of Texas and the Southwestern United States . It is named for one of Texas' founding fathers, Sam Houston , who made his home in the city. The university is part of the Texas State University System and is a comprehensive, doctoral granting university enrolling approximately 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students.


HISTORY

Created by legislation signed by Governor Oran M. Roberts on April 21 , 1879 , Sam Houston Normal Institute's dedicated goal was to train teachers for the public schools of Texas—the first of its kind in the Southwestern United States . On October 10 of the same year, the first class of 110 students and four faculty commenced instruction on the site of what had once been the campus of Austin College .

When the university first opened, students received a certification to teach in the state's elementary and secondary schools, but after 1919, the university began to award bachelor's degrees. In 1923, the school was renamed the Sam Houston State Teachers College. In 1936, the school awarded its first post-baccalaureate degree. In 1965, the school was renamed, again, to Sam Houston State College, and, finally, to Sam Houston State University in 1969.

The university celebrated its 125th year in 2004 .

In April , 2007 , Texas House Bill 1418 passed without objection in the Texas Legislature; the bill prevents the Texas State University System’s board of regents from changing SHSU’s name.


CAMPUS

Sam Houston State University sits on 272 acres in the central area of Huntsville, TX. Recent construction of an expanded mall area of campus will include benches, tables, wireless internet, and more greenspace in the heart of campus. The mall area also includes two clock towers and a water fountain.