ilovegrambling.org

Grambling State University, located in Grambling, La., has a historic mission of providing exceptional educational opportunities for under-served students, many of whom are African-Americans. Since 2009, Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Louisiana State Legislature have cut over $269 million from the higher education budget. Grambling State University's state government support has dwindled from $31 million to $13 million, annually. Grambling State has the worst financial situation of the nine state universities. “The financial situation at Grambling is severe” said Dr. Sandra Woodley, president of the University of Louisiana System. Approximately 127 staff members have been laid off since 2008 and furloughs are common. Professors have also been asked to teach an extra class each year for free.

We are calling on Governor Bobby Jindal, the University of Louisiana System and the State Legislature to fund Grambling State at a level proportionate to other state universities and commensurate with Grambling’s unique historic mission to educate under-served students.

Grambling State University opened on November 1, 1901 as the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School. It was founded by the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association, organized in 1896 by a group of African-American farmers who wanted to organize and operate a school for African Americans in their region of the state. In response to the Association’s request for assistance, Tuskegee Institute’s Booker T. Washington sent Charles P. Adams to help the group organize an industrial school. Adams became its founding president. In 1905, the school moved to its present location and was renamed the North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School. By 1928, after becoming a state junior college and being renamed the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute, the school began to award two-year professional certificates and diplomas.

In 1974, the addition of graduate programs in early childhood and elementary education gave the school a new status and a new name – Grambling State University. The university expanded and prospered between 1977 and 2000. Several new academic programs were incorporated and new facilities were added to the 384-acre campus, including a business and computer science building, school of nursing, student services building, stadium, stadium support facility and an intramural sports center. Grambling State University is home to the world renowned Tiger marching band. And it is also home to a football program formerly led by the late legendary Coach Eddie Robinson, the winningest coach in the history of college football.