DrBanneker
Space is the Place
We last checked in at Kentucky State University in Frankfort which received an average vote of 6.7.
See the updated leaderboard here
Last time we visited Arkansas was on Day 17 when we covered the small private community college, Shorter College. Today we visit the larger institution of Little Rock, Philander Smith College. Philander Smith is not the largest HBCU in Arkansas, that honor belongs to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, but it is important and in many ways reminds me of Claflin University and Paul Quinn College. It is a small liberal arts college and has a relatively high graduation rate (42%) and substantial alumni giving (15%). A lot of this can probably be credited to past president Dr. Walter Kimbrough who led Philander Smith from 2004 to 2012 and current president Dr. Roderick Smothers who has lead since 2015. Kimbrough went on to lead Dillard University and is now working with Morehouse and USC. Both have been credited with raising graduation and alumni giving rates.
Started in 1877 as Walden Seminary to educate emancipated slaves. It later changed its name to Philander Smith in honor of the husband of a widow that was a large benefactor. Its students were very active in the Civil Rights movement in Little Rock with sit ins and other desegregation efforts.
Basic data (all data 2021 unless otherwise noted)
Founded: 1877
City, State: Little Rock, AR
Type: 4-year, Private not-for-profit (United Methodist affiliated)
Nickname: Panthers
Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 710, 90% Black
Out of State Percentage: 58%
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Admissions Acceptance Rate: Open admissions
4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 35% / 44%
Transfer out rate: N/A
Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 36% male / 64% female (1.8:1)
Tuition: $13k
Median Debt After Graduation: $26,500
Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $35,583
Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
Business Administration: $35k
Top Majors by Degrees:
Business Administration, Biology, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology
Endowment: ~$5-10M including an anonymous $2.5M donation in 2021
Alumni Engagement: 15.5%
Athletic Conference: GCAC (Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference) (NAIA)
Mascot: Panthers
Notable Alumni:
Joycelyn Elders - former surgeon general under Bill Clinton
Lottie Shackelford -former mayor of Little Rock
Al Bell - prominent executive at Stax and Motown Records
Main Campus
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CJ Duvall Student Center
Dr. Joycelyn Elders School of Allied & Public Health
Panther Dolls
Miss Philander Smith
@murksiderock @Marc Spector @Swaggatron @Kiyoshi-Dono @Taadow @DUKE ILLINGTON - the Arkansas crew
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