About Texas Southern University
TSU is one of only four independent public universities in Texas (those not affiliated with any of Texas' six public university systems) and the only HBCU in Texas recognized as one of America's Top Colleges by Forbes magazine. TSU is the leading producer of college degrees to African Americans and Hispanics in Texas and ranks 4th in the United States in doctoral and professional degrees conferred to African Americans. The university is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
TSU Points of Pride:
- Earned 10-year renewal of accreditation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
- New BBVA Compass Stadium is home to the TSU football team.
- Of all African American pharmacists in
U.S. , 27% graduated from TSU. - Internationally acclaimed debate team led by Dr. Thomas F. Freeman.
- Only Maritime Transportation degree program in the Houston area and the first at an HBCU.
- TSU is, directly and indirectly, responsible for approximately 3,049 annual average jobs in the Houston Metropolitan Region.
- Awarded National Transportation Security Center of Excellence (
NTSCE ) designation by U.S. government. - Each year, TSU’s graduates make up 16.3% of the annual gain in African Americans in the area with bachelor’s degrees.
- Approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to train Aviation Science students through the use of flight simulators.
- The total contribution of TSU to gross sales in the Houston metropolitan area is $542 million.
- Officially launched on August 10th, 2013, the Confucius Institute at TSU is in a joint partnership with China’s Beijing Jiaotong University with the common goal of strengthening the educational cooperation between the U.S. and China
Mission Statement
TSU is a comprehensive metropolitan university that builds on its legacy as a historically black institution. The University provides academic and research programs that address critical urban issues and prepare an ethnically diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society.
In order to achieve this mission, TSU provides:
- Quality instruction in a culture of innovative teaching and learning;
- Basic and applied research and scholarship that is responsive to community issues;
- Opportunities for public service that benefit the community and the world.
Vision
TSU will become one of the nation's pre-eminent comprehensive metropolitan universities. We will be recognized by the excellence of our programs, the quality of our instruction, our innovative research, and our desire to be a contributing partner to our community, state, nation, and the world.
Schools and Colleges
The academic curriculum at TSU is organized into 10 colleges and schools that continue to serve as cornerstones for developing the greatest potential in leaders from across various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Jesse H. Jones School of Business
The fastest growing school within TSU, the Jesse H. Jones School of Business plays an integral role in providing a diverse educated workforce prepared to succeed in today’s ever-changing competitive workforce. Jesse H. Jones School of Business students receive hands-on, practical experience that teaches the skills employers demand.
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
The Thurgood Marshall School of Law was created as a consequence of a 1946 lawsuit brought by Heman M. Sweatt. Under the Texas Constitution, which required separate but equal treatment, Mr. Sweatt was refused admission to the University of Texas School of Law because he was black. As a result, the Legislature provided for an interim and separate law school for Negroes. During its first academic year, the law school was housed in Austin, Texas, and was subsequently transferred to the new university campus in Houston.
College Of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Currently serving over 800 pre-professional and professional health profession students, the TSU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) has the distinction of being one of the nation’s leading producers of minority health professionals. For the past half century, the College has distinguished itself by graduating almost one-third of the black pharmacists practicing nationwide. TSU has also been a leading producer of black medical technologists and respiratory therapists, meeting local, state and national health care needs.
College of Education
The mission of the College of Education at TSU is "to provide competent career professionals for effective service in urban schools utilizing research, collaboration, and application in seeking solutions to teaching, learning, social, physical and behavioral issues facing urban populations." The College of Education has provided innovative approaches to education since 1947. The College currently serves 1,119 students.
College of Science, Engineering and Technology (COSET)
The College of Science, Engineering and Technology's mission is consistent with the mission of the university. We are committed to educating a diverse population in the science, engineering and technology disciplines for the professions to conduct research and scholarly pursuits for the advancement of knowledge; and to serve society and the communities consistent with the mission of the University. These degree programs are housed in the COSET Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics, Engineering Technologies, Industrial Technologies, Mathematics, and Transportation Studies Departments.
College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
The College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences is the most diversified instructional unit at the University, encompassing eight departments that offer 20 degrees, thirteen Bachelors and seven Masters. Nearly half of all undergraduate students on campus are engaged in programs of study in the College. The aim is to create more knowledgeable, responsible and humane individuals. In an effort to have highly employable graduates, the College seeks to provide the knowledge and understanding necessary for its majors to perform successfully in their specific discipline, as well as in education, mass communications, politics, the international areas and the performing arts. In addition to being prepared to be a leader in today’s diverse workforce, the graduate from the College will be exposed to a variety of literary and cultural experiences.
Graduate School
The Graduate School was established as a unit of TSU when the institution was created by the Texas State Legislature in 1927. The Graduate School has grown steadily since its establishment and currently offers degree programs in thirty-six different academic fields. Graduate courses are taught by faculty members who have been selected by the Graduate Council. Regular graduate faculty members have a doctorate degree and hold research and publication credits. Research and training are also supported by several centers of research and outreach including: Economic Development Center (EDC), Center for Excellence in Urban Education, Center for Transportation Training and Research (CTTR), Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace, Center on the Family, Research Centers in Minority Institutions, Cardiovascular Center, and the NASA Research Center in Biotechnology and Environmental Health.
Barbara Jordan—Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
The mission of the Barbara Jordan—Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs is to serve as an urban-focused community of learning dedicated to educating professionals who will plan and administer environmentally healthy and sustainable communities at the local, state, national and international levels of society. Students in the School who successfully complete their degree programs become well versed in the theories, concepts and practical procedures of the challenging world of public policy making and administration of justice. Their studies help prepare them for effective participation in government, non-governmental organizations, and private sector careers. Students interested in pursuing careers in the legal profession as well as a wide variety of graduate and professional school programs receive excellent instruction.
The School of Communication
The School of Communication provides training in the discipline of human communication, ranging from communicative interaction to digitally-driven mass communication. In preparing for successful careers, students have access to KTSU-FM Radio, the university’s station; a state-of-the-art television broadcast studio, as well as production and laboratory facilities for print media.
Thomas F. Freeman Honors College
The Thomas F. Freeman Honors College at TSU seeks to educate its students to live out their lives as ideal citizens of the Age of the Global. Alumni of the college will be accomplished in their specialties, multidimensional in their knowledge, interdisciplinary in their perspectives and approaches, dedicated to their local communities, and integrated into their national and global communities.
Faculty
TSU is home to more than 500 outstanding faculty members, each playing a critical role in helping this historic institution become one of the nation’s pre-eminent, comprehensive metropolitan universities. TSU recruits nationally for talented and dedicated faculty members committed to teaching excellence. An emphasis on scholarly activities reflects a commitment to research and public services intended to expand human knowledge and to enhance the quality of life.
Students
TSU is heralded as a pioneer and has distinguished itself by producing a significant number of African American students who have obtained post-secondary and advanced degrees. The university’s enrollment has grown to more than 8,800 undergraduate and graduate students from across the world. Although initially established to educate African Americans, TSU has become one of the most diverse institutions in Texas.
Staff
TSU has a staff of approximately 800 members.
Accreditation
TSU is a fully accredited institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. TSU is a level six accredited institution last accredited in 2011 and up for reaffirmation in 2020.
Governance
TSU is governed by a 10-member Board of Regents, the Office of the President and a six-member Presidents Council. The Regents are appointed by the Governor of Texas and serve six-year terms. In addition, a student regent is appointed annually to the Board.
The current members of the Board of Regents are:
- Honorable Alberta H. Myres (Chairman)
- Honorable Marc C. Carter (Vice Chair)
- Honorable Pamela A. Medina (2nd Vice Chair)
- Honorable James M. Benham (Secretary)
- Honorable Caroline Baker Hurley
- Honorable Stephanie D. Nellons-Paige
- Honorable Ron J. Price
- Honorable Marilyn A. Rose
- Honorable Mary Evans Sias
- Honorable Aaliyah M. Fleming
Finances
TSU’s assets and deferred outflows of resources exceed liabilities and deferred inflows of resources by $131,537,571 as of August 31, 2015. The largest portion of TSU’s net position (91 percent) reflects its investments in capital assets. At
TSU Foundation
The purpose of the TSU Foundation is to support the parent institution. Such support includes but is not limited to the following: securing funds for all legitimate purposes of the University; receiving, investing, distributing and accounting for all funds belonging to the Foundation; giving support both materially and through encouragement to the enhancement of the University, its programs, its students, its staff and its faculty; providing suitable recognition of the achievements of students and alumni, and creating and fostering a sense of pride and spirit among the students and the alumni of the University.
Alumni
The TSU National Alumni Association consists of 17 chapters across the nation. The Office of Alumni Relation’s mission is to build upon the loyal alumni base of 60,000 former students that
TSU is a NCAA Division I-AA school and a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Athletic programs include football, basketball, baseball, cross country/track, bowling, volleyball, softball, golf
