Allen University

Allen University is a private historically black university in Columbia, South Carolina. It has more than 600 students and still serves a predominantly Black constituency.[2] The campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Allen University Historic District.

Allen University
Historic Coppin Hall
Former names
Payne Institute
MottoWe Teach The Mind To Think, The Hands To Work, The Heart To Love
TypePrivate, historically black university
Established1870
AffiliationUNCF
Religious affiliation
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Endowment$307,322[1]
PresidentDr. Ernest McNealey
Students600
Location
Columbia
,
South Carolina
,
United States
CampusUrban
ColorsBlue and Gold
         
AthleticsNAIA – Appalachian Athletic Conference
NicknameYellow Jackets
Sports10 varsity sports
MascotYellow Jacket
Websitewww.allenuniversity.edu

History

Allen University was founded in Cokesbury in 1870 as Payne Institute by ministers of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, including John M. Brown.[3] Its initial mission was to provide education to freedmen, former African American slaves and their children.

In 1880, it was moved to Columbia and renamed Allen University in honor of Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The university remains connected to the denomination, which is related to other Methodist churches. As one of two black colleges located in Columbia, Allen has a very strong presence in the African-American community. Allen University initially focused on training ministers and teachers, who were considered critical to the progress of African Americans. Over the years, it has enlarged its scope to produce graduates in other academic areas.

In 1885, Joseph W. Morris became president of the University.[4] By 1898, the university reported having a total of 9 faculty, 304 students, and 208 graduates.[5]

Academics

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. These degrees are awarded in the following divisions and departments:

  • Division of Humanities
    • Department of English
    • Department of Music
  • Division of Social Sciences
  • Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
    • Department of Biology
    • Department of Chemistry
    • Department of Mathematics
  • Division of Business Administration
  • Division of Religion

In 2010, Washington Monthly reported in its annual College Guide edition that the school had a six percent graduation rate.[6] In 2018, Allen University launched its first graduate program, the Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary.[7]

Campus
Allen University
Chappelle Administration Building
Location1530 Harden St., Columbia, South Carolina
Coordinates34°0′38″N 81°1′14″W
Built1891
NRHP reference No.75001705[8]
Added to NRHPApril 14, 1975

Buildings such as Arnett Hall, the Chappelle Administration Building, Coppin Hall, the Joseph Simon Flippen Library, and the Canteen Building are included in what is designated as the Allen University Historic District, listed in 1975 on the National Register of Historic Places.[8][9][10]

Several of the district's buildings were restored, using $2.9 million in funds obtained through the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Building Restoration and Preservation Act. Chappelle Auditorium's seating capacity of 700 has made it the site of countless organizations' and community events.

The auditorium was the site of the meeting of educators and lawyers to initiate efforts that led to the landmark US Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education (1954) on school integration. Nationally known musicians and artists, including Leontyne Price, Brooks Benton and Langston Hughes, have performed in the auditorium. Notable speakers include: Mary McCleod Bethune, Reverend Martin Luther King,[11] Muhammad Ali, Reverend Jesse Jackson, George Elmore, John H. McCray, and Senator Strom Thurmond. The auditorium was named in honor of Bishop William D. Chappelle, an Allen University President. On April 14, 1975, Chappelle Administration Building was recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chappelle Administration Building was designed by John Anderson Lankford (1874-1946), who is known as the "Dean of Black Architects". It is a National Historic Landmark. Lankford also served as the official architect of the AME Church.

Student life

Allen University is the home of more than 15 on-campus student organizations.

Academic organizations/honor societies

National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations

Allen University has eight of the nine national black fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council present on campus.

Organization Symbol Chapter Chapter Symbol
Alpha Kappa Alpha ΑΚΑ Mu M
Alpha Phi Alpha ΑΦΑ Gamma Gamma ΓΓ
Delta Sigma Theta ΔΣΘ Gamma Pi ΓΠ
Kappa Alpha Psi ΚΑΨ Beta Rho ΒΡ
Omega Psi Phi ΩΨΦ Mu Sigma ΜΣ
Phi Beta Sigma ΦΒΣ Alpha Omicron ΑΟ
Sigma Gamma Rho ΣΓΡ Beta Iota ΒΙ
Zeta Phi Beta ΖΦΒ Lambda Λ

Athletics

Allen University athletic teams, nicknamed the Yellow Jackets, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing as a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), effective in the 2016–17 school year.[12] The Yellow Jackets formerly competed in the now-defunct Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) and as an Independent of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII). Men's sports include basketball, football, track and field, and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. The university also fields a co-ed competitive cheerleading team.

Notable alumni
Name Class year Notability References
Sam Davis 1967 A retired American football player, who played for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers from 1967 to 1979.
Hall Johnson 1908 American composer and arranger
George Harold former professional American football player
Joseph DeLaine 1931 minister and civil rights leader who worked with South Carolina NAACP on the legal case Briggs vs Elliot in 1952. It was one of the four cases argued under Brown vs. Board of Education
Lewis C. Dowdy 1939 American educator; Sixth president and first chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University [13]
Ralph Anderson 1949 member of the South Carolina House of Representatives (1991- 1996) South Carolina Senate, 19th District (1997)
DeWitt Williams 1950 member of the South Carolina Senate, 102nd District (1983-1996-present) SC Senate (1996-1997) District 102nd
Kay Patterson 1956 member of the South Carolina Senate, 7th District (1985-2008)
William Clyburn 1964 member of Aiken City Council (1973-1980) (1983-1983) the South Carolina House of Representatives, 82nd District (1995-Present)
Clementa Carlos Pinckney 1995 member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, 73rd District (1997- 2000) SC Senate District 45 (2000-2015)
Tywanza Sanders 2014 victim of the Charleston church shooting

References
  1. "Allen University". Best Colleges 2010. U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  2. "Southern Accreditor Clears Virginia, Fisk, Florida A&M". Inside Higher Ed. December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  3. Simmons, William J., and Henry McNeal Turner. Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. GM Rewell & Company, 1887. p1113-1118
  4. [No Headline], Washington Bee (Washington, DC), 20 June 1885, p. 3
  5. Hawkins, John R., ed. (1898). "Our Schools from Latest Reports". The Educator. Educational Department of the A.M.E. Church. 1 (no. 1): 47.
  6. "Dropout Factories". College Guide 2010. Washington Monthly. Archived from the original on 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  7. "Allen University launches Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary". Carolina Panorama Newspaper. August 2, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  8. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. Dixon, Nenie; Pat Landholt (January 26, 1975). "Octagon House" (pdf). Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  10. "Allen University Historic District, Richland County (1530 Harden St., Columbia)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  11. https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article85771372.html
  12. Allen University joins Appalachian Athletic Conference - NAIA - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
  13. "Dr. Lewis Carnegie Dowdy Chancellor of North Carolina A&T University". Retrieved 20 May 2014.
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