Howard University: A Legacy of Truth, Service, and Academic Excellence

Howard University, a private, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C., stands as a testament to the pursuit of truth and service. From its humble beginnings shortly after the American Civil War to its current status as a leading academic institution, Howard has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of higher education for African Americans and contributing to the broader global community.

Historical Overview

The genesis of Howard University can be traced back to the First Congregational Society of Washington, which initially envisioned a theological seminary for black clergymen. This idea quickly evolved into a broader vision for a university, and within two years, the institution comprised colleges of liberal arts and medicine. Named in honor of General Oliver Otis Howard, a Civil War hero and commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, the university was chartered by Congress on March 2, 1867. Early funding was secured through endowment, private benefaction, and tuition.

Throughout its history, Howard University has faced both triumphs and challenges. The Great Depression of the 1930s brought financial hardship, with budget cuts impacting the campus despite appeals from Eleanor Roosevelt. However, the university persevered, solidifying its role as a vital center for African American intellectual and cultural life.

Howard University played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement on a number of occasions. Alain Locke, chair of the Department of Philosophy and first African American Rhodes Scholar, authored The New Negro (1925), which helped to usher in the Harlem Renaissance. Ralph Bunche, the first Nobel Peace Prize winner of African descent, served as chair of the Department of Political Science. Beginning in 1942, Howard University students pioneered the "stool-sitting" technique of occupying stools at a local cafeteria which denied service to African Americans, blocking other customers waiting for service. This tactic was to play a prominent role in the later Civil Rights Movement. By January 1943, students had begun to organize regular sit-ins and pickets around Washington, D.C. at cigar stores and cafeterias which refused to serve them because of their race. Stokely Carmichael, also known as Kwame Ture, a student in the Department of Philosophy and the Howard University School of Divinity, coined the term "Black Power" and worked in Lowndes County, Alabama as a voting rights activist. Historian Rayford Logan served as chair of the Department of History.

The latter part of the 20th and early 21st centuries were marked by periods of both progress and turmoil. The closure of Freedman's Hospital in 1975, after 112 years as the Howard University College of Medicine's primary teaching hospital, signified a shift in the university's medical education landscape. Student protests in 1989 against the appointment of Lee Atwater to the board of trustees highlighted the university's commitment to social justice and its willingness to challenge controversial decisions. Instances of internal strife and financial mismanagement allegations in the 2000s and 2010s led to calls for leadership changes and greater accountability. In 2018, nearly 1,000 students held a sit-in demanding injunction over the administration's use of funding, after a Medium post revealed that six university employees had been fired for "double dipping" financial aid and tuition remission. In May 2021, the university announced that the newly re-established college of fine arts, led by Dean Phylicia Rashad, would be named the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts.

Read also: A Look at Howard Football

Despite these challenges, Howard University has remained steadfast in its mission, adapting to changing times while upholding its core values.

Campus and Resources

Howard University's 256-acre campus, often called "The Mecca", is located in northwest Washington, D.C. Major improvements, additions and changes occurred at the school in the aftermath of World War I. The campus is home to a variety of resources that support the academic and research endeavors of its students and faculty.

Research Centers and Facilities

Howard University is committed to advancing knowledge and innovation through its numerous research centers and facilities, including:

The Interdisciplinary Research Building (IRB): Opened in 2016, this state-of-the-art facility provides a collaborative space for researchers across various disciplines.
The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC): A world-renowned repository for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent.
The Beltsville Center for Climate System Observation (BCCSO): A NASA University Research Center focused on climate system research.
The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center (RBC): Enhancing international engagement through study abroad programs, scholarships, and research.

Media Outlets

Howard University is home to the commercial radio station WHUR-FM 96.3, also known as Howard University Radio. A student-run station, WHBC, operates on an HD Radio sub-channel of WHUR-FM. HUR Voices can be heard on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Howard is also home to the public television station WHUT-TV, located on campus next to WHUR-FM.

Libraries and Publications

On 2 December 1907, Andrew Carnegie granted Howard University $50,000 to establish its first library. Howard University is home to The Hilltop, the university's student newspaper. Howard University is the publisher of The Journal of Negro Education, which began publication in 1932. The Howard University Bison Yearbook is created, edited and published during the school year to provide students a year-in-review.

Read also: Tuition and Fees at Howard

Academic Divisions and Programs

Howard University offers a wide array of academic programs across its 13 schools and colleges. These divisions encompass a broad spectrum of disciplines, providing students with diverse opportunities for intellectual growth and professional development. Academic divisions include the colleges or schools of arts and sciences; business; communications; dentistry; divinity; education; engineering, architecture, and computer sciences; law; medicine; pharmacy, nursing, and allied health sciences; and social work. There is also a graduate school. Students may declare majors, minors, and concentrations (where applicable) in areas such as the arts, sciences, humanities, business, engineering, architecture, nursing, allied health sciences, education and communications.

Bachelor of Arts to Juris Doctor Program (BA/JD)

The Howard University Bachelor of Arts to Juris Doctor program (BA/JD) is open to incoming students majoring in legal communications, political science, philosophy, English, criminology, sociology, or economics. Admitted students will complete 90 undergraduate credits in three years and begin law school in their fourth year. Students will be awarded a B.A. degree after completing their first 30 credits at Howard Law. Essentially, the first 30 credits of law school will count toward the B.A. degree and the J.D. degree. After completing 88 law school credits, students will be awarded a Juris Doctor. Students enrolled in the B.A.-J.D. program are not automatically admitted to Howard Law School. Students must apply and be accepted. To this end, B.A.-J.D. students will be advised by the director of the BA/JD program and will have access to a law student mentor. BA/JD students will also participate in the Howard Pre-Law Summer Enrichment Program (PLSEP) where they will receive a free Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) course. Eligibility for the program will be based on high school GPA and chosen undergraduate major.

Bison STEM Scholars Program

In 2017, Howard established the Bison STEM Scholars Program to increase the number of underrepresented minorities with high-level research careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. Bison STEM Scholars are given full scholarships and committed to earning a PhD or a combined MDâPhD in a STEM discipline.

Howard University West

announced it had established a pilot residency program named "Howard University West" on its campus in Mountain View, California, to help increase underrepresented minorities in the tech industry.

Disney Storytellers Fund

In July 2022, the Walt Disney Company announced it established the Disney Storytellers Fund at the Cathy Hughes School of Communications and the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts to support creative student projects.

Student Life and Traditions

Howard University offers a rich and vibrant student life, with a wide range of activities and traditions that foster a sense of community and belonging.

Greek Life

Howard University has many academic and social Greek letter organizations on campus.

Homecoming and Springfest

Howard Homecoming week is the most prominent and richest cultural tradition of the institution. Over 100,000 of alumni, students, celebrity guests, and visitors are in attendance to patronize the many events and attractions affiliated with the festive week on and near campus. While the specific calendar of events changes from year to year, the traditional homecoming events include the Homecoming Football Game and Tailgate, Pep Rally, Coronation Ball, Greek Step-Show (Howard NPHC Greeks), and Fashion Show. Springfest is an annual tradition created by the Undergraduate Student Association (UGSA) to celebrate the arrival of spring. Springfest is similar to homecoming week in the fall but on a smaller scale and with more emphasis on the student body. Springfest events traditionally include the Fashion Show, Talent Show, Vendor Fair, Poetry Showcase, Beauty Conference, Charity Basketball Game, and a major community service event.

Bison Ball and Excellence Awards

The Bison Ball and Excellence Awards is an annual black tie gala hosted by the Howard University Student Association (HUSA). A select number of students, faculty, organizations, and administrators from the Howard community are honored for their exceptional accomplishments.

Resfest Week

Resfest week is a Howard tradition that involves freshmen living in residence halls on campus competing in several organized competitions (field day, academic debate, dance, stroll, step-show, etc.) for campus bragging rights.

Harriet Tubman Quadrangle

The Harriet Tubman Quadrangle â "The Quad" â consists of five halls housing approximately 640 freshmen (women only). The resident halls are Wheatley (after Phillis Wheatley), Baldwin, Frazier (Julia S.

Howard University Ice Skating Club

In February of 2024 the Howard University Ice Skating Club became the first HBCU organization to compete in an intercollegiate figure skating competition; that competition was the Blue Hen Ice Classic.

Notable Alumni

Howard University has produced a remarkable array of distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to various fields. These individuals include:

A vice president of the United States
Several United States diplomats and United States governors
A United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Foreign royals
Seven foreign heads of state
11 members of United States Congress
A Supreme Court Justice
Directors and executives of Fortune 500 companies
Academy Awardâ and Emmy Awardâwinning actors
Grammy Awardâwinning songwriters and producers
Two US Army generals
A US Air Force general and Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Nobel laureates including Nobel Prize for Literature winner Toni Morrison

Additional alumni include civil rights activists and pioneers in the Civil Rights Movement, a United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, a United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a United States Secretary of Agriculture, a United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a United States Secretary of the Army, a United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce, 12 Mayors of American cities, and three State Attorneys General.

Howard University has also produced many firsts, including Roger Arliner Young who became the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate in zoology, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. the first African-American US Army general, Frederic E. Davison the first African-American US Army Major General and the first to command a US Army Infantry Division, Johnson O. Akinleye, 12th Chancellor of North Carolina Central University, Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court justice, and Edward W. Brooke III who became the first African-American elected to the US Senate, among others.

Howard University also counts four Rhodes Scholarship winners, 22 Pickering Fellows, 11 Truman Scholars, over 70 Fulbright Scholars, a Schwarzman Scholar, a Goldwater Scholar, and two Pulitzer Prize winners and numerous other Pulitzer Prize nominees among its alumni.

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