III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 293 

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Morgan State University. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 18, 2017 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. VAN HOLLEN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Morgan State 

University. 

Whereas, on November 27, 2017, Morgan State University 

(referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘University’’), located in Baltimore, Maryland, will celebrate the 150th 

anniversary of the first academic year of the University 

and Founders Day; 

Whereas the University was envisioned by African-American 

pastors in the Washington Conference of the Methodist 

Episcopal Church, and officially founded by white pastors 

in the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal 

Church; 

Whereas the University was incorporated on November 27, 

1867, as the Centenary Biblical Institute, in celebration 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 293 ATS 

of the centennial anniversary of Methodism in the United 

States; 

Whereas the University was established with a modest budget 

of $5,000 to train for the ministry males who were 

former slaves and freedmen; 

Whereas the first classes of the University were held in the 

basement lecture hall of Sharp Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore on April 30, 1867, with a 

class of 9 students and 1 teacher; 

Whereas the University admitted the first female students to 

the University during the 1874–75 academic year and 

amended the charter of the University to train students 

in teaching as well as in ministry; 

Whereas, in 1886, the University established a branch named 

Princess Anne Academy on the eastern shore of Maryland; 

Whereas, in 1890, the University was renamed Morgan College in honor of Lyttleton F. Morgan, a long-time board 

member who was a strong financial supporter of the institution, and was authorized to offer bachelor’s degrees; 

Whereas the first bachelor’s degree from the University was 

awarded in 1895 to George W. F. McMechen, who went 

on to earn a law degree from Yale University and to distinguish himself as a citizen and civil rights lawyer in 

Baltimore, Maryland; 

Whereas, in 1893, the University established the second 

branch of the University, named Virginia Collegiate and 

Industrial Institute, in Lynchburg, Virginia; 

Whereas, becoming fully accredited in 1925, the University 

established a strong record in academics, sports, and the 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 293 ATS 

promotion of an appreciation for African-American history and culture; 

Whereas the University moved to the present location of the 

University in northeast Baltimore, and, on the recommendation of the Commission on Higher Education of 

Negroes in Maryland, which was appointed by the State 

Legislature, was purchased by the State of Maryland and 

renamed Morgan State College, thereby becoming the 

second of only 2 public State-supported liberal arts colleges in Maryland; 

Whereas the University featured a distinguished faculty, expanded the facilities, and developed an outstanding undergraduate curriculum that led the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, an accrediting agency, to 

declare the undergraduate curriculum of the University a 

model liberal arts program; 

Whereas the graduate program of the University was established in 1965 and the first master’s degree from the 

University was awarded in 1967; 

Whereas, in 1975, the University was granted university status by the Maryland General Assembly and was authorized to offer a doctoral degree; 

Whereas, in 1983, the first doctoral degree from the University was awarded; 

Whereas, in 2004, the choir of the University was declared 

‘‘The Best College Choir in the United States’’ by Reader’s Digest; 

Whereas, in 2007, after a period of phenomenal growth and 

achievement in academic programs, research, external 

grants, and public service—an era that many call the 

Morgan Renaissance—the University was reclassified by 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 293 ATS 

the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a doctoral research university; 

Whereas, since the 1950s, the University has established a 

record of winning more Fulbright Awards than any of the 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (referred to 

in this preamble as ‘‘HBCUs’’) in the United States; 

Whereas, in 2016, the entire campus of the University was 

designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust 

for Historic Preservation, making the University the only 

institution in the United States to have earned that distinction; 

Whereas, after 150 years as an institution, the University has 

grown— 

(1) from a student body of a modest 7 students to 

nearly 8,000 students; 

(2) from a faculty of 1 to nearly 400 full-time faculty members; and 

(3) from a single-track curriculum in ministry to an 

institution now offering 48 degree programs at the bachelor’s level, 10 at the post-baccalaureate certificate level, 

34 at the master’s degree level, and 16 at the doctoral 

level; 

Whereas the University has awarded diplomas, certificates 

and degrees to more than 51,000 students; 

Whereas the University currently ranks in the top tier of institutions locally and nationally in graduating African 

Americans at all degree levels, and in fields such as architecture, marketing, nursing, the health professions, 

communication and journalism, family and consumer 

sciences, civil engineering, electrical engineering, finance, 

and industrial engineering; 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 293 ATS 

Whereas, during the 2017 calendar year, the University is 

celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the 

University; and 

Whereas, on September 28–30, 2017, the University hosted 

on the campus of the University the 8 other HBCUs that 

also are celebrating their 150th anniversaries, in a 

United HBCU-9 Sesquicentennial Celebration: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) makes note of and celebrates the history, 

3 legacy and achievements of Morgan State Univer4 sity; 

5 (2) applauds Morgan State University for the 

6 150-year devotion to academic excellence and to pro7 viding educational opportunities to thousands of stu8 dents in Maryland, the United States, and the 

9 world; 

10 (3) commends Morgan State University for 

11 being named Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban 

12 Research University in 2017, and for the entire 

13 campus of Morgan State University being declared a 

14 National Treasure by the National Trust for His15 toric Preservation; 

16 (4) recognizes the achievements of all of the ad17 ministrators, professors, students, and staff mem18 bers who have contributed to the success of Morgan 

19 State University; and 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 293 ATS 

1 (5) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

2 the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu3 tion to— 

4 (A) the president of Morgan State Univer5 sity; and 

6 (B) the provost and vice president for aca7 demic affairs. 

Æ 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS