N.C. A&T is joining the nation’s other 18 historically black land-grant universities in celebrating 125 years of providing access to all citizens through education, research, and Cooperative Extension outreach.
The celebration commemorates the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act legislation passed by Congress in 1890 that opened the doors of public higher education to all Americans. This landmark legislation stipulated for the first time that African Americans were to be included in the U.S. Land-Grant University System. Its intent was similar to the First Morrill Act of 1862, which established funding for a public land-grant college in every state that would be “accessible to all, especially to the sons of toil.” Southern and border states, however, refused to enroll African American citizens. Therefore, Congress allowed these states to establish separate institutions through the Second Morrill Act in 1890. The result is a legacy of achievement, access to equal opportunity, and an emphasis on service to the underrepresented by the community of historically black land-grant universities, known collectively as “the 1890s.”
N.C. A&T’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is organizing the celebration of the Second Morrill Act, beginning with a lecture by Dr. M. Ray McKinnie on February 17, then building to a convocation at the Library of Congress in July, and culminating with a National Day of Prayer in August. The campus then will turn its attention to the 125th anniversary of the founding of N.C. A&T in 1891. That yearlong celebration will begin in August.
“This is a special celebration for the 1890 community as we look back on our mission and long list of achievements. Many of us have become flagship institutions in our state. We are especially proud of our accomplishments and future here at N.C. A&T State University,” said Dr. Bill Randle, dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
“We are delighted and proud to use the anniversary celebration of the Second Morrill Act to educate our community and state about the contributions N.C. A&T and the historically black land-grant colleges and universities have made to our nation’s progress, both economically and socially,” added Dr. Shirley Hymon-Parker, associate dean of A&T’s Agricultural Research Program.
For more information and updates on the 125th Anniversary Celebration of Second Morrill Act of 1890, visit http://morrill1890.ag.ncat.edu/. |
