Savannah State University Savannah State University is a four - year , state - supported , historically black university ( HBCU ) located in Savannah , Georgia . Savannah State is the oldest public historically black university in Georgia . Savannah State University ' s mission statement is " to graduate students who are prepared to perform at higher levels of economic productivity , social responsibility , and excellence in their chosen career fields of endeavor in a changing global community . " . The University is a member - school of Thurgood Marshall College Fund . Savannah State operates three colleges ( College of Business Administration , College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences , College of Sciences and Technology ) and the Office of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Research ( OGSSR ) . It also operates four research centers ( Center for Teaching , Learning and Academic Support , Savannah Entrepreneurial Center , The Midtown Project , and " A Collaboration to Integrate Research and Education in Marine and Environmental Science and Biotechnology " with the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography , part of the University System of Georgia . Savannah State was ranked fourth tier in the " U . S . News & World Report " America ' s Best Colleges 2008 ( Universities – Master ' s ( South ) category ) . Demographics . The student body consists of 3 , 820 graduate and undergraduate students , and 385 full - time instructional faculty . Administration . Academic oversight . Oversight is provided by the University System of Georgia , the organizational body that sets goals and dictates general policy to all public educational institutions in Georgia . Funding . Savannah State is a public institution , receiving funds from the State of Georgia , tuition , fees , research grants , private scholarship funds ( including the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the Tom Joyner Foundation ) , and alumni contributions . The University System of Georgia is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents and dispenses public funds ( allocated by the state ' s legislature ) to Savannah State , excluding lottery - funded HOPE Scholarships . The university ' s endowment was $ 2 , 433 , 508 As of FY05 , the university ' s budget was $ 42 , 155 , 964 . In FY06 , the university received $ 7 , 725 , 311 in Research , Instruction , and Public Service Contracts and Grants . History . Establishment . Savannah State University was originally founded as a result of the Second Morrill Land Grant Act of August 30 , 1890 . The act mandated that southern and border states develop land grant colleges for black students , as their systems were segregated . On November 26 , 1890 the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation creating the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth . A preliminary session of the school was held in the Baxter Street School Building in Athens , Georgia where Richard R . Wright Sr . was principal . The college operated in Athens for several months in 1891 before moving to its permanent location in Savannah on October 7 , 1891 , with Wright as the first president . The school had five faculty members . Its eight students were all graduates of Edmund Asa Ware High School , the first public high school for blacks in Augusta . Early years . The college awarded its first baccalaureate degree in 1898 . In 1921 the first female students were admitted as residents on the campus . In 1928 the college became a full four - year degree - granting institution and ended the high school and normal school programs . Normal schools had been created in the 19th century in many state systems in the United States , after the German model , to educate teachers for elementary school students . With the expansion of towns across the United States , and continuing issues in trying to educate four million freedmen and their descendants , there was an urgent need to establish many new schools and to quickly train teachers in the North and the South . States used normal schools for training teachers for primary school grades and sometimes secondary school as well . Normal schools or colleges tended to have two or three - year programs . Gradually the normal schools were converted to full colleges with four - year curricula or were left behind . In 1932 the college became a full member institution of the University System of Georgia and its name was changed to Georgia State College . The college served as Georgia ’ s land - grant institution for African - American students until 1947 . The designation was then transferred to Fort Valley State College . In January 1950 , the college changed its name to Savannah State College . Modern history . With the growth in its graduate and research programs , in 1996 the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia elevated Savannah State College to the status of state university and the name was changed to Savannah State University . Savannah State University is the first institution in the state of Georgia to offer the homeland security degree program . It was the second institution in the University System of Georgia to offer wireless Internet connectivity to students throughout the campus . Students may choose from 23 accredited undergraduate baccalaureate and 5 graduate master ’ s degree programs offered through the university ' s colleges . The University has developed new partnerships that expand the range of programs and resources for students . Taking advantage of its location on the coast , the university ' s Marine Biology Department operates two research vessels : the R / V Sea Otter ( a twin diesel vessel owned by NOAA ) and the R / V Tiger ( a outboard work boat ) . In the fall of 2007 Savannah State teamed with the U . S . Army Corps of Engineers to offer a new course in environmental regulations , so students can deepen understanding of policy and implementation issues . The program also helps them learn about specific environmental topics . Savannah State University administers an HIV / AIDS and substance abuse prevention and awareness program funded by a grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention ( CSAP ) , an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services . Specialized accreditations . Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools , Savannah State University also has achieved fully accredited programs in specialized areas of science and engineering : Additionally , the Chemistry department is American Chemical Society ( ACS ) certified . The Bachelor and Masters programs in Social Work are accredited by the ( Council on Social Work Education ) , and the Masters in Public Administration by the ( National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration . The College of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ( AACSB ) International and the Mass Communications Department is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications ( ACEJMC ) . Campus . Savannah State University is located approximately east southeast from the center of Savannah , Georgia , from Atlanta , Georgia , and from Jacksonville , Florida . The campus is accessible from Interstate 95 and Interstate 16 . Spanish moss drapes the dense live oak trees , while palm trees , magnolia s , and a wide variety of azalea s , camellia s , and other native plants are scattered throughout the marsh - side campus at ( 32 . 0224339 , - 81 . 0551121 ) Early years . The original campus consisted of and three buildings ( Boggs Hall , Parsons Hall and a farmhouse ) , with of the land serving as the school ' s farm . Several of the campus ' older buildings were originally constructed by students and faculty members , and display architectural styles from the past century . Historic facilities . The Georgia Historical Commission and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have recognized both the Savannah State campus and Hill Hall as a part of the Georgia Historical Marker Program . Hill Hall . Walter Bernard Hill Hall , built between 1900 and 1901 by students studying manual arts and blacksmithing , was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 . The facility had a variety of uses , including a bookstore , student center , male dormitory , and library . Needing too much renovation for continued use , the building was closed in 1996 . The university and community created the Hill Hall Restoration Project to raise money for the project . After restoration , the building was reopened in 2008 . It houses the university ' s Enrollment Management Center , a presidential suite , administrative offices , a lecture hall , a banquet room , and a small museum . Athletic facilities . Tiger Arena is the 6 , 000 - seat multi - purpose arena which serves as the home for the university ' s basketball team and athletic department offices . Ted A . Wright Football Stadium is the home of the university ' s football team and has an Olympic outdoor track . The 7 , 500 - seat multi - purpose stadium opened in 1967 . The track was constructed in 1995 . Recent additions . On October 15 , 2007 Savannah State broke ground on a new academic building which was dedicated on May 1 , 2009 . It is the first building constructed on the campus since 1986 and includes 10 classrooms , three lecture rooms , three computer labs , and an applied research and observation labs . The building also houses the Africana studies exhibit , the Dean of Humanities and faculty offices , the Public Administration / Urban Studies and the Social Work and Social and Behavioral Sciences departments . Student life . The university offers organized and informal co - curricular activities including 75 student organizations , leadership workshops , 15 intramural activities , student publications and student internships . Wesleyan Gospel Choir . The SSU Wesleyan Gospel Choir was established in 1971 . In 2004 the choir completed and released a live album , entitled " RLW : " Revelation , Love , & Worship " " . Members of the Wesleyan Gospel Choir participated in the NBCAHF Inaugural Gospel Explosion competition in 2006 and the International Gospel Retreat which aired on The Word Network . In 2007 the choir performed at the Dr . Bobby Jones International Gospel Music Industry Retreat which was also broadcast on The Word Network . The choir performed with Ann Nesby during the 13th annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival . Marching Tiger band . The university band , nicknamed the " Coastal Empire Sound Explosion " , performs during Savannah State football games . They were featured performers in the Honda Battle of the Bands in 2004 and 2005 . National fraternities and sororities . All nine of the National Pan - Hellenic Council organizations currently have chapters at Savannah State University . These organizations are : Other national fraternities and sororities with registered chapters currently on campus include : At one time Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity had a registered chapter at Savannah State . Student media . Tiger ' s Roar . The Tiger ' s Roar is the official student - produced newspaper of Savannah State University and provides both a print and on - line version . WHCJ ( College Radio Station ) . SSU operates WHCJ ( FM ) radio , which broadcasts 24 hours a day from the campus , covers all of Chatham County , and can also be heard in Effingham , Bryan , Beaufort , and Liberty counties . Established in 1975 and known as " " the Voice of Savannah State University " " , WHCJ ' s current play formats include gospel , jazz , reggae , blues and salsa music , as well as talk shows , commentaries , and cultural enrichment programming . Athletics . The Savannah State Tigers represent the university in college intercollegate athletics and are administered by the Savannah State University Athletic Department . The department dedicates about $ 2 million per year for its sports teams and facilities . Savannah State University holds membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I ( as an independent ) and participates in the following sports : football , baseball , basketball ( men and women ) , cross - country ( men and women ) , tennis ( men and women ) , track and field ( men and women ) , volleyball ( women only ) , golf ( men ) , and softball ( women ) . On March 20 , 2010 , the Tigers were accepted as provisional members of the Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference ( MEAC ) beginning on July 1 , 2010 . The school gained notoriety when they finished the 2004 – 2005 men ' s basketball season a winless 0 – 28 , the first Division I team to do so since Prairie View A & M University in 1991 – 1992 . The team ’ s final game ( a 49 – 44 loss to Florida A & M ) was covered by several national sports organizations including ESPN .