TSU Centennial

Chronology

1909	Tennessee General Assembly acted to create the Tennessee A&I State Normal School
1912	Dr. William Hale became President

1912	Tennessee A&I State Normal School opened to serve students

1922	Tennessee A&I State Normal School became a 4-year teachers’ college

1924	First bachelor's degrees were granted

1924	Name changed to Agricultural & Industrial State Normal College

1927	Normal was dropped from the name of the college

1941	Establishment of graduate studies leading to the master’s degree

1943	Dr. Walter S. Davis became President

1944	First master’s degree awarded

1946	Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

1951	Granted university status

1958	Elevated to full-fledged Land grant university status

1968	Dr. Andrew Torrence became President

1968	Rita sanders filed suit against duel system of higher education- UT Nashville

1974	School of Allied health and the School of Business were created

1975	Dr. Frederick S. Humphries became President

1979	School of Nursing established

1979	UT-Nashville merged with Tennessee State University

1987	Dr. Otis Floyd became President

1991	Dr. James A. Hefner became President

1997	Library assists the Shoney’s Human resources Division in organizing their training collections. An article appears in Nation’s Restaurant News about this collaboration.

1999	U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, visited TSU Noted journalist Juan Williams was among the African-American History Month speakers at Tennessee State University Vocalist William Warfield performed at the University. Mayor of Nashville, Phil Bradesen honored at the TSU fund-raising dinner Retired Teacher, former alumnus received Tennessee’s Outstanding Achievement Award presented by Governor Don Sundquist Kweisi Mfume addresses the student body as part of the Student Development Symposium and Presentation Series The Tom Joyner Morning Show returned to campus

2000	College of Education featured in national report in Black Issues in Higher Education

2001	Consent Decree brings new opportunities to TSU

2002	Administrative reorganization included: The new Division of Technology and Administrative Services which includes Communications and Information Technology, Purchasing and Business Services, Human Resources, and Institutional Effectiveness and Research. Dr. Dennis Gendron was appointed Vice President for Technology and Administrative Services. Gerald Washington was named Vice President for University relations and Development. The University launches Strategic E-Business certification initiative. Tennessee State University topped list of black colleges web sites. Home Economics Building renamed after Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, TSU’s fourth president. TSU based project DIANE receives $1.1 million technology grant. TSU’s Small Business Development Center opened a satellite office.

2003	Tennessee State University opened $9 million Performing Arts Center. Master of Education Degree and other teacher training programs became available online. TSU celebrated first Fall Commencement. Olympic Plaza and Wellness Center opened. TSU expanded its Associate Degree program in Nursing to Nashville State Community College. Nobel Laureate lauded TSU researchers .

2004	Presidential candidates, John Edwards and Wesley Clark campaigned at Tennessee State University.

2005	Melvin N. Johnson became the University’s seventh president in June 2005.

2009	Fall - Tennessee State University honored Freedom Riders with a Symposium. December - Legendary Olympic Coach Edward S. Temple received an honorary degree from Tennessee State University during the Fall Commencement.

2010	Tennessee State University received the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Role Award. January - Tennessee State University Astronomer George Henry detected an extrasolar planet that id four times the mass of earth. April - College of Health Sciences established a Master of Public Health degree program. April 14 - Grace M. Eaton Childcare Center was renovated. April - Dr. Cornel West gave a lecture at Tennessee State University. October - Tennessee State University Power Plant was named for Mr. Alexander Murray. Tennessee State University astronomers discovered a planet with two suns November - College of Education was reaccredited by NCATE. December - The Tennessee State University Choir performed for Oprah Winfrey Tribute at the Kennedy center Honors Gala. December - Tennessee State University received classification as a Carnegie Community Engaged University.

2011	Dr. Portia Shields became Interim President January - Tennessee State University Alumnus, Daniel Brown, was sworn as Knoxville’s first Black mayor. April - Tennessee State University’s AFROTC Detachment celebrated sixty-years with Alumnus Fig Newton. April - Tennessee State University’s Catana Starks’ story was captured in a feature film “ From the Rough”. May - Dr. Dennis Gendron was named Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. May - A new chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) was established. May - Name changes, realignments and eliminated academic units. Name Changes Change name of Department of Urban Studies to Department of Sociology, Social Work and Urban Professions in the College of Public Service and Urban Affairs. Change name of School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences to College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Sciences. Change name of the College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Liberal Arts. Re-alignment of Academic Units Move Department of Biology from College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Sciences. Move Department of Chemistry from College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Sciences. Move Department of Physics and Mathematics from College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Sciences. Merge the Department of Civil Engineering and Department of Architectural Engineering into a new Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering in the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science. Move School of Nursing into the College of Health Sciences. Rename the School of Nursing the Division of Nursing in the College of Health Sciences. Close Department of Sociology and Social Work. Move BS Sociology, BS Social Work and MS Social Work from the College of Arts and Sciences to the renamed Department of Sociology, Social Work and Urban Professions in the College of Public Service and Urban Affairs. Move Department of Human Performance and Sport Science to the College of Health Sciences. Academic Units eliminated (name/title change forms attached) Department of Africana Studies eliminated with faculty moved to Department of History, Geography and Political Science. Department of Civil Engineering eliminated and merged into Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering. Department of Architectural Engineering eliminated and merged into Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering. Tennessee State University received Department of Homeland Security Leadership Award.
2013	Dr. Yildiz B. Binkley, Dean of Libraries and Media Centers, retired in June 28, 2013 after serving forty-two years and three months.