Prairie View A and M University - Pantherland Yearbook (Prairie View, TX)

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'p'uwi Ocvi 'P'te tcCevit As the second oldest institution of higher education in Texas, Prairie View A M University has an important heritage, which you the students continue to enhance. From the original eight students on opening day in 1878 to the 4,501 students who enrolled in the fall of 1986, there has been much change. The curriculum has expanded steadily as the university offered courses as a “Normal School” (1879), an Agricultural Experiment Station (1887), and a Land Grant College (Morrill Acts, 1862 and 1890), and then in Nursing (1918). We became a four-year college (1919), and later offered graduate studies (1937). The first administrative head of the new university was L. W. Minor, whose title was Principal. Over the next 70 years there would be eight principals in all, though E. B. Evans’ title was changed from Principal to Dean (1947) and then to President (1948). There have been three presidents since Evans (J. M. Drew, A. I. Thomas, and myself). During these administrations, the university has continued to develop its academic programs and improve its facilities. After years of insufficient funding, PVAMU in the early 1980’s was faced with a physical plant requiring extensive renovation and repair and a curriculum that needed updating. President Pierre and Donald Hense. Vice-President for Development, greet the members of the Texas Legislature that visited Prairie View on February 18. 1987. The recent renaissance at PVAMU is due in part to a belated recognition of the university’s important mission. This recognition came in several forms: with the amendment to the Texas Constitution in 1984, designating PVAMU to be an “institution of the first class;” with the access to the Permanent University Fund; and with the affirmation of the A M Regents that PVAMU become, an institution nationally recognized in its areas of education and research. We have begun a major construction program, providing long overdue modern facilities while transforming the campus into one of the most beautiful in the country. We have completely revised the curriculum, strengthened admissions standards, and recruited top-flight students and faculty. 6 Introduction Dr. and Mr . Pierre, as well as several other administrators. attended one of the Panther basketball games. Dr. Percy A. Pierre speaks to the citizens of Prairie View from the steps of City Hall, while Mayor Ron Leverett (immediate left) listens intently.

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 O' Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youths Prairie View State Normal Institute Prairie View Normal and Industrial College Prairie View University Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College Prairie View A M University of Texas The first name was established by the legislative act that created the school. It was used in 1878-79. With the onslaught of the training patterns of the New England “Normal” school, the second name welcomed students at the re-opening in late 1879. In 1889, after additions to Prairie View’s curriculum, the Twenty-Sixth Legislature changed to the third name. The fourth name was incurred in 1945 after many improvements in the school’s program. However, two years later, in 1947, the fifth name was created by the Fiftieth Legislature. Just in time for the Centennial celebration of Prairie View, the Sixth and present name was adopted. To Introduction 5

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You are among the first PVAMU students to benefit from the higher academic standards. Our research opportunities and achievements keep increasing. Last fall President Reagan honored PVAMU, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Education, for our exemplary alliances with private companies, federal agencies, and national laboratories. PVAMU ranks fourth in research dollars per faculty and sixth in actual research dollars in Texas. This is indicative of several positive facts: we are providing good research opportunities for faculty and students, we are providing up-to-the-minute technical instruction, and financially we are more than carrying our own weight. We are proud of many things. With many colleges facing hard times, PVAMU announced an 8% enrollment increase for the spring 1987 over the same period last year. Our construction continues, with a new Engineering Technology Building opening soon, a new Library due in the summer of 1988, and ground-breaking soon to begin for Agricultural Research and Physical Education facilities. PVAMU students are outstanding: in 1986, the university had 138 Academic Scholars and six Talent Scholars enrolling as freshman. Our College of Engineering graduates more black engineers than any of the nation’s 307 colleges and universities offering engineering. President Pierre spoke to a large Sesquicentennial - celebrating crowd when this year's trail riders passed through Prairie View-heading for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Dr. Percy A. Pierre shakes hands with Mayor Ron I verett. Both distinguished men spoke at the '86 MI.K Pre- sentation. President and Mrs. Pierre congratulate the Alumni Associatior Homecoming Queen. Benjamin Banneker Honors College was the first honors college established on an historically black college or university campus, and it is one of 15 honors colleges in the nation. PVAMU students are achievers: to name only a few recent instances, this year our architecture students won awards for their models against national competition; 61 outstanding PVAMU students will be listed in the 1987 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; accounting students won scholarships from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the PVAMU Marching Band was invited to perform during the NBA Playoffs; the PVAMU Forensic Society won trophies at the Barbara Jordan Forensic Tournament and at Pi Kappa Delta’s national tournament in LaCrosse, Wisconsin; and last summer there were more PVAMU Engineering interns in national research laboratories than any other university in the nation. As you know, we also have successful alumni in all fields, whose ranks you will soon join. ' Thank you for carrying our heritage so well into a very bright future.