DrBanneker
Space is the Place
Yesterday we covered Voorhees College in South Carolina which received an average rating of 7.
See the updated leaderboard here
Today we shift to the ATL and cover our first member of the Atlanta University Center (AUC). Clark Atlanta University is one of the oldest HBCUs in the United States and the oldest in the South. It was originally started in 1862 during the Civil War by literate ex-slaves (James Tate and Grandison B. Daniels) who used a church (not sure how they survived doing this then). After the war in September 1865, northern missionaries bought a boxcar that they used as the first class room for Atlanta University. Atlanta University was not only a trailblazer in Black education but in higher education research having one of the first (maybe the first) sociology departments in the country headed by the legendary W.E.B. DuBois who was trained in sociology in Europe.
Clark University (later Clark College) was founded by the United Methodist Church in 1869 as a liberal arts institute for undergraduates. Its focus was always undergraduate while Atlanta University had both undergraduate and graduate studies. In 1929, John Hope, president of Morehouse (and formerly president of Atlanta University) envisioned the Atlanta University Center (AUC) which would be a consortium of 3 HBCUs then in Atlanta: Morehouse, Spelman, and Atlanta University. Clark College, and Morris Brown joined in 1957. It would be used to coordinate and share resources though each school would keep their own administrations. They currently share Robert W. Woodruff Library and a dual engineering program.
As part of the AUC formation in 1929, Atlanta University gave up its undergraduate program to Morehouse and Spelman and became a graduate only training and research institute. Clark College remained only undergraduate. By 1988 both schools faced issues: Atlanta University had financial issues and Clark College had no room to expand. Thomas W. Cole Jr.,, then the chancellor of the state university system of West Virginia, was called to help orchestrate a merger between Atlanta University and Clark College (helped behind the scenes by Mayor Andrew Young and Clark College board of trustees member Vernon Jordan). Clark Atlanta University was thus born in 1988.
Clark Atlanta University is the only co-ed undergraduate institution in the AUC (Morehouse School of Medicine is co-ed but grad). It is well-known and over half of its students come from other states, most of which are not in the south. It may not be seen as elite as Morehouse or Spelman but has a good reputation and is often a choice for Black folks in Atlanta.
Basic data (all data 2021 unless otherwise noted)
Founded: 1865
City, State: Atlanta, GA
Type: 4-year, Private not-for-profit (United Methodist affiliation)
Nickname: Panthers
Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 4,055 (3,390 undergraduate), 78% Black
Out of State Percentage: 62% (top states are Illinois, California, Florida, and New York)
Largest international contingent is actually Saudi Arabia (grad work it seems mostly)
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Admissions Acceptance Rate: 58%
4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 31% / 44%
Transfer out rate: 17%
Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 24% male / 76% female (3:1)
Tuition: $24k
Median Debt After Graduation: $27,000
Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $39,369
Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
Business Administration: $43k, Criminal Justice: $35k, Communications: $30k
Top Majors by Degrees:
Business Administration, Communications, Biology, Fashion Design, Theatre/Music, Psychology, Criminal Justice
Endowment: $74M (incl. $15M from Mackenzie Scott and $1M from Kenya Barris)
Alumni Engagement: 8.5% of alumni give back
Athletic Conference: SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (NCAA Div II)
Mascot: Panthers
Main Campus
DuBois bust at Harkness Hall
Wright-Young Hall (Business School)
Dorms
Panther Stadium
Essence Dancers
Miss CAU
@ab.aspectus @Originalman @#1 pick @Ziggiy @SupaVillain @Tug life @Idaeo @get these nets @Smokee Robinson @MostReal @Tee @Bryan Danielson @Rollie Forbes @Willie Lump Lump @staticshock @Charlie Hustle @Karume @BigAggieLean. @Optimus Prime @How Sway? @DropTopDoc @TheKongoEmpire @Son_Of_God @Theolodius_Black @mson @xoxodede @Anerdyblackguy @EndDomination
