Title: A resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of Morgan State University.
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Celebrates the history, legacy, and achievements of Morgan State University on its 150th anniversary.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 293 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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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 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 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 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;
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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) makes note of and celebrates the history, legacy and 
        achievements of Morgan State University;
            (2) applauds Morgan State University for the 150-year 
        devotion to academic excellence and to providing educational 
        opportunities to thousands of students in Maryland, the United 
        States, and the world;
            (3) commends Morgan State University for being named 
        Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University in 2017, 
        and for the entire campus of Morgan State University being 
        declared a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic 
        Preservation;
            (4) recognizes the achievements of all of the 
        administrators, professors, students, and staff members who 
        have contributed to the success of Morgan State University; and
            (5) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
                    (A) the president of Morgan State University; and
                    (B) the provost and vice president for academic 
                affairs.
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