Stillman College: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 33°11′53″N 87°35′7″W / 33.19806°N 87.58528°W / 33.19806; -87.58528
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{{Short description|Historically black private college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA}}
{{Infobox University
{{Use American English|date = April 2019}}
|name = Stillman College
{{Use mdy dates|date = April 2019}}
|native_name =
{{Infobox university
|image_name = StillmanSeal.png
|image_size = 150px
| name = Stillman College
|caption = Stillman College Seal
| image_size = 200px
|latin_name =
| established = {{start date and age|1876|}}
| type = [[Private university|Private]] [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]]
|motto =
|established = 1876
| endowment = $25,812,266
| accreditation = [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |SACS]]
|closed =
|academic_affiliations = [[Council of Independent Colleges|CIC]] <br />
|type = [[Private university|Private]], [[Historically black colleges and universities|HBCU]]
| president = [[Yolanda W. Page]]
|affiliation = [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]]<br>[[United Negro College Fund|UNCF]]
| students = 917 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Stillman+College&s=all&id=102270 | title=College Navigator - Stillman College }}</ref>
|endowment =
| city = [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]
|officer_in_charge =
|chairman =
| country = U.S.
|chancellor =
| campus = {{convert|105|acre|ha}}
| former_names = Tuscaloosa Institute (1876–1895)<br />Stillman Institute (1895–1948)
|president = Dr. Ernest McNealey
| athletics_affiliations = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Southern States Athletic Conference|SSAC]]
|vice-president =
| sports_nickname = Tigers & Lady Tigers<ref name="NAIAInfo" />
|superintendent =
|provost =
| website = {{url|www.stillman.edu}}
| module = {{Infobox NRHP
|vice_chancellor =
|rector =
| embed = yes
|principal =
| name = Stillman College
|dean =
| nrhp_type =
|director =
| image =
|head_label =
| caption =
|head =
| location =
|staff =
| locmapin = Alabama#USA
|students = 1,500
| built = {{Start date|1907}}
|undergrad =
| architect =
| architecture =
|postgrad =
|doctoral =
| added = March 16, 2021
|other =
| area =
| refnum = 100004680<ref name="nris">{{NRISref |refnum=100004680|version=2010a}}</ref>
|city = [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]
| designated_other1 = ARLH
|state = [[Alabama]]
| designated_other1_date = June 23, 2016<ref>{{cite web |title=Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage as of April 7, 2023 |url=https://ahc.alabama.gov/AlabamaRegisterPDFs/Alabama%20Register%20of%20Landmarks%20&%20Heritage%20Property%20Listing%20(for%20web1).pdf |website=ahc.alabama.gov |access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref>
|country = [[United States]]
| nocat = yes
|coor = {{coord|33|11|53|N|87|35|7|W|display=inline,title}}
}}
|campus = {{convert|105|acre|km2|sing=on}}
| logo = Stillman College Athletics Block S.png
|former_names =
|free_label =
| logo_size = 150px
|free =
| image = Stillman College.png
| religious_affiliation = [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]]
|sports =
| coordinates = {{coord|33|11|53|N|87|35|7|W|display=inline,title}}
|colors = [[Navy Blue]] and [[Gold (color)|Vegas Gold]]<br>{{color box|#000080}} {{color box|#FFD700}}<ref name="SIACInfo">{{cite web|url=http://thesiac.com/stillman-college/|title=TheSIAC.com >> Stillman College|accessdate=2008-02-08}}</ref>
| colors = Navy Blue & Vegas Gold<ref name="NAIAInfo">{{cite web|url=http://thenaia.com/stillman-college/ |title=TheNAIA.com >> Stillman College|access-date=2008-02-08}}</ref><br />{{color box|#06255b}}&nbsp;{{color box|#c5b358}}
|colours =
| affiliations = [[Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities|APCU]]<br />[[United Negro College Fund|UNCF]]<br />[[Council of Independent Colleges|CIC]]
|nickname = Tigers and Lady Tigers<ref name="SIACInfo" />
|mascot =
|athletics = [[NCAA]] [[Division II (NCAA)|Division II]]
|affiliations = [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]]<ref name="SIACInfo" />
|website = [http://www.stillman.edu www.stillman.edu]
|logo = [[File:StillmanTigersLogo.png|100px]]
|footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Stillman College''' is a [[historically black colleges and universities|historically black]] [[liberal arts]] college founded in 1876 and located in the [[West Tuscaloosa, Alabama|West Tuscaloosa]] area of [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]], [[Alabama]].


'''Stillman College''' is a [[Private college|private]] [[historically black colleges and universities|historically black]] [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]] college in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]. It awards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 22 programs housed within three academic schools (School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Entrepreneurship and CIS, amend School of Education). The college has an average enrollment of 728 students and is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacscoc.org/details.asp?instid=70400|title=Commission on Colleges|website=www.sacscoc.org|access-date=2016-10-22}}</ref>
==Academics and demographics==
The {{convert|105|acre|km2|sing=on}} college campus offers programs of study leading to the [[bachelor's degree]]. The Division of Arts and Sciences includes: Art, Biology, Business with concentrations in Accounting, Marketing, and Management; English, History, Mathematics, Music, and Nursing. The Division of Education includes: Psychology, Elementary Education and Health & Physical Education.


==History==
==History==
{{Infobox US university ranking
Stillman College, authorized by the General Assembly of the [[Presbyterian Church]] in the United States in 1875, held its first classes in 1876 and was chartered as a legal corporation by the State of Alabama in 1895. At that time, the name was changed from Tuscaloosa Institute to Stillman Institute. The institute was a concept initiated by the Reverend Dr. Charles Allen Stillman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. The mandate for the Institution expanded over the years and it acquired its present campus tract of over {{convert|100|acre|km2}}. A junior and senior high school was organized and the Institute established a junior college program, which was accredited in 1937. In addition, between 1930 and 1946, it operated a hospital and nurse training school. [[File:Stillman college campus ext.jpg|thumb|right|The campus of Stillman College.]]
| USNWR_REG = 78 (tie) of 90
| Wamo_NU = 136 of 242
Under the administration of Dr. Samuel Burney Hay (1948–1965), the school sought to expand into a senior liberal arts institution and in 1948 the name was officially changed to Stillman College. The following year, Stillman expanded into a four-year college and graduated its first baccalaureate class in 1951. The College was accredited by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] in 1953. Under Dr. Hay, seven new buildings were constructed: a gymnasium, a library, an administration-classroom building, two women’s residence halls, a prayer chapel, and a student center.
}}
Dr. Harold N. Stinson (1967–1980) was the first African American to assume the presidency. Under his dynamic leadership, new programs designed to improve educational quality were instituted, and the physical plant was expanded with the addition of two men’s residence halls, faculty apartments, a maintenance building, and a mathematics-science center. Snedecor Hall, Batchelor Building, and Birthright Auditorium were renovated.


[[File:Stillman Institute (Main Building) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1914.jpg|thumb|right|The Main Building in 1914.]]
Constance M. Rizzi (1974–1978) was the 1st non-black Graduate of Stillman College in 1978. Recruited out of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, West Virginia by Samuel Merriweather. She was also the 1st non-black Cheerleader, the 1st non-black Associate Editor of the Campus newspaper; "The Tiger's Paw" and one of original Founders of the Stillman College Dance Team (CADA) under the direction of Dr. Betty Smith. Ms. Rizzi is currently an active member of [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] sorority.

Stillman College was founded as '''Tuscaloosa Institute''', when it was authorized by the General Assembly of the [[Presbyterian Church]] in the United States in 1875,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.stillman.edu/index.php/about-us/history-and-mission|title=stillman.edu - History and Mission|website=www.stillman.edu|access-date=2016-10-22}} {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> and held its first classes in 1876. It was chartered as a legal corporation by the State of Alabama in 1895. At that time, the name was changed from Tuscaloosa Institute to '''Stillman Institute'''. The institute was a concept initiated by Charles Allen Stillman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, "for the training of colored men for the ministry".<ref>{{cite book |title=Where to educate, 1898-1899. A guide to the best private schools, higher institutions of learning, etc., in the United States |last=Thomas |first=Grace Powers |year=1898 |publisher=Brown and Company |location=Boston |page=4 |access-date=August 17, 2012 |url=https://archive.org/stream/wheretoeducate1800thomrich#page/4/mode/1up}}</ref> The mandate for the Institution expanded over the years and it acquired its present campus tract of over {{convert|100|acre|km2}}. A junior and senior high school was organized and the Institute established a junior college program, which was accredited in 1937. In addition, between 1930 and 1946, it operated a hospital and nurse training school.
Under the leadership of the College’s fourth president, Dr. Cordell Wynn (1982–1997), the appearance of the campus improved dramatically; Winsborough and John Knox Halls were renovated; and the Marie Lundy Wynn Hall and Johnson/Robinson Student Health Center were erected. The enrollment grew beyond 1,000 students; the endowment increased significantly; and the educational program was broadened to include the Stillman Management Institute and a community-service component.

[[File:Stillman College Library students.jpg|thumb|right|The Stillman College library.]]

Under the administration of Samuel Burney Hay (1948–1965), the school sought to expand into a senior liberal arts institution and in 1948 the name was officially changed to '''Stillman College'''. The following year, Stillman expanded into a four-year college and graduated its first baccalaureate class in 1951. The college was accredited by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] in 1953.<ref name=":1" /> Under Hay, seven new buildings were constructed: a gymnasium, a library, an administration-classroom building, two women's residence halls, a prayer chapel, and a student center.

When John Rice became the dean of students at Stillman College in 1966, he lived on campus with his wife, Angelena (née Ray) Rice, and their daughter, [[Condoleezza Rice]], who later served as the 66th [[United States Secretary of State]].<ref name="tuscaloosanewshortoneducatorsrecall">{{cite news|last1=Horton|first1=Ebony|title=Stillman College educators recall Rice's ties to town|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/DA/20041206/news/606118308/TL/|access-date=January 1, 2018|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=December 6, 2004|quote=Rice moved from Titusville, near Birmingham, to Tuscaloosa in 1966 when her father, John Rice, became the dean of students at Stillman. The family resided on campus in a brick home behind Hay Residence Hall, while Rice, then 11, attended what is now Central High School.}}</ref>
Harold N. Stinson (1967–1980) was the first African American to assume the presidency. Under his dynamic leadership, new programs designed to improve educational quality were instituted, and the physical plant was expanded with the addition of two men's residence halls, faculty apartments, a maintenance building, and a mathematics-science center. Snedecor Hall, Batchelor Building, and Birthright Auditorium were renovated. During his presidency, the college graduated its first non-black student, Constance M. Rizzi, in 1978.
On July 1, 1997, Dr. Ernest McNealey was named the fifth president. Since then, Stillman has garnered national attention in the areas of technology, athletics and scholarly pursuits. One of the leaders in wireless computing, the College received the National Innovation in Technology Award by Apple Computers and continues to be on the cusp of technological innovations in higher education. The College’s football program and marching band were revitalized and the College experienced its largest enrollment in the history of the institution. Dr. McNealey infused new life into the academic component by strengthening the curriculum, and attracting a highly qualified faculty (84% hold terminal degrees), improving admissions standards, and enhancing the value of a Stillman education with the addition of guaranteed outcome programs. Notwithstanding, in 2004 the College received its first-ever ranking among top tier schools in U.S. News & World Report and continues to hold this distinction.
Under the leadership of the college's fourth president, Cordell Wynn (1982–1997), the appearance of the campus improved dramatically; Winsborough and John Knox Halls were renovated; and the Marie Lundy Wynn Hall and Johnson/Robinson Student Health Center were erected. The enrollment grew beyond 1,000 students; the endowment increased significantly; and the educational program was broadened to include the Stillman Management Institute and a community-service component.
The McNealey administration has transformed the campus in order to create a sense of place. A stately, iron and brick fence and formal entrances were constructed and all campus buildings were renovated. Additionally, four new structures were erected (School of Education building, Wynn Fine Arts Center, Roulhac Residence Hall, and the stadium with accompanying playing fields, buildings, and a NCAA regulation track). This sense of place is further manifested in the current construction of the Thomas E. Lyle Band Center and NCAA regulation tennis complex. With a focused vision, Stillman celebrates its past as it advances confidently into the future, embracing excellence for the common good.
[[File:Stillman College Choir.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Stillman College Choir at Convocation]]


On July 1, 1997, Ernest McNealey (1997–2013) was named the fifth president. During his tenure, Stillman garnered national attention in the areas of technology, athletics and scholarly pursuits. One of the leaders in wireless computing, the college received the National Innovation in Technology Award by Apple Computers and continues to be on the cusp of technological innovations in higher education. The college's football program and marching band were revitalized and the college experienced its largest enrollment in the history of the institution. In 2004 the college received its first-ever ranking among top-tier schools in U.S. News & World Report. During McNealey's tenure, four new structures were erected (School of Education building, Wynn Fine Arts Center, Roulhac Residence Hall, and the stadium with accompanying playing fields, buildings, and an NCAA regulation track). The sense of place was further manifested in the construction of the Thomas E. Lyle Band Center and NCAA regulation tennis complex.
==Student activities==

===Athletics===
On June 26, 2014, at a press conference in Birthright Alumni Hall, Stillman Board of Trustees named interim president Peter E. Millet the sixth president of the school. In August 2014, Stillman was awarded a donation of $2 million by an unknown donor to help with the long term stability of the college. On December 29, 2014, President Peter E. Millet announced via school email that tuition for the small liberal arts school would be reduced from $22,500 to $17,500 in an effort to boost enrollment and make college more affordable. On January 1, 2015, Stillman became a smoke-free campus in an effort to keep with its theme of promoting a healthier lifestyle. In December 2015, Stillman cut its current sports from 12 to 2. Currently, Stillman has six intercollegiate sports teams, Men's and Women's Basketball, Baseball, Men's and Women's Bowling, Softball, Men's and Women's Track and Field, and Volleyball. [[File:Dr. Cynthia Warrick.jpg|thumb|Cynthia Warrick at SGA Installation in September 2018]]

On December 14, 2016, the Stillman College Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Cynthia Warrick as the new Interim President for Stillman College. She took office on January 3, 2017. On April 24, 2017, Cynthia Warrick (2017-2023) was named the seventh president and the first female president of Stillman College.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} On July 1, 2023, Dr. Yolanda Page was named the 8th president and the second female president of Stillman College.

The school's Tuscaloosa campus was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2021.<ref>{{NRHPweekly}}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{see also|Stillman Tigers football}}
{{see also|Stillman Tigers football}}
The college's intercollegiate athletic teams, the ''Tigers'' and ''Lady Tigers'', compete in the [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] in [[Division II (NCAA)|Division II]] of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA).<ref name="SIACInfo" />
Men's Basketball (2006 SIAC Champions), Women's Basketball,
Baseball (2007-2008 SIAC Champions) (2007 Division II National Champions),
Softball,
Tennis,
Track & Field,
Football.
In the 2009-10 season, 1 year removed from taking over a 1-27 team, head coach Michael Grant led the men's basketball team to the school's first ever appearance in the National Top 25 rankings.


The Stillman athletic teams are called the Tigers and Lady Tigers. The college is a member of the Division I level of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Southern States Athletic Conference]] (SSAC; formerly known as Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) until after the 2003–04 school year) since the 2018–19 academic year.<ref name="GCACnfo">{{cite web|url=http://thenaia.com/stillman-college/|title=TheGCAC.com >> Stillman College|access-date=2008-02-08}}</ref> The Tigers and Lady Tigers previously competed as a member of the [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] (SIAC) from 1978–79 to 1998–99, and again from 2002–03 to 2015–16, which is currently a [[NCAA Division II]] athletic conference; as a member of the [[Great South Athletic Conference]] (GSAC) of the [[NCAA Division III]] ranks from 1999–2000 to 2001–02; and as an [[NAIA independent schools|NAIA Independent]] within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) from 2016–17 to 2017–18.
===Alumni===
{{alum/start
|ilist=
|alist=
{{Alum|name=[[Junior Galette]]|year=2010|nota=NFL defensive end/linebacker, an undrafted free agent, signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2010|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Sammie Lee Hill]]|year=2009|nota=NFL defensive tackle, who was drafted in the fourth round of the [[2009 NFL Draft]] by the [[Detroit Lions]]|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Brian Witherspoon]]|year=2008|nota=NFL cornerback, originally signed as an [[undrafted free agent]] with [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] in 2008. Witherspoon was traded in December 2009 and has played now with the [[Detroit Lions]] and [[New York Giants]]|ref=}}
}}


Stillman currently competes in eight intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball and track & field. Stillman formerly sponsored football from the 1999 fall season until the 2015 fall season, when the school eliminated all athletic teams, except for men's and women's basketball, due to increased costs associated with the athletic program.<ref name="Discontinued1">{{cite news|last=Stephenson|first=Creg|title=Stillman to drop football, all other sports except basketball|publisher=AL.com|date=December 3, 2015|accessdate=April 4, 2017|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/12/stillman_to_drop_football_all.html}}</ref><ref name="Discontinued2">{{cite news|last=Deas|first=Tommy|title=Stillman College to eliminate football program|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News|date=December 3, 2015|accessdate=April 4, 2017|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20151203/stillman-college-to-eliminate-football-program}}</ref>
===Marching Band===
The school's marching band is named the Blue Pride Marching Band.<ref name="SIACInfo" />
In February 2010, Stillman College dedicated the brand new facility, the Thomas Lyle Band Center, named in honor of former band director Thomas Lyle, in conjunction with the Wynn Fine Arts Center.
Organizations include: [[Kappa Kappa Psi]], Kappa Omicron Chapter. [[Tau Beta Sigma]] Theta Chi Chapter.


In fall 2018, the college added men's and women's cross country and track and field. Stillman plans to bring back volleyball in the fall of 2022 and add women's bowling in the fall of 2023.
===Greek Organizations, National Panhellenic Council===
[[Alpha Phi Alpha]], Epsilon Nu Chapter (1962)
[[Alpha Kappa Alpha]], Delta Sigma Chapter (1963)
[[Kappa Alpha Psi]], Epsilon Epsilon Chapter (1963)
[[Omega Psi Phi]], Rho Gamma Chapter
[[Delta Sigma Theta]], Epsilon Eta Chapter (1962)
[[Phi Beta Sigma]], Gamma Chi Chapter (1962)
[[Zeta Phi Beta]], Epsilon Gamma Chapter


===Accomplishments===
===National Honor Societies===
Recent Athletic accomplishments include:
Beta Kappa Chi (Science)


* Men's Basketball – In 2018 the Men's Basketball Team was the NAIA A.I.I Conference Champs. Losing in the opening round of the National Tournament, the men finished the season with a record o 27–5, losing only one game at home. The Tigers swept the conference awards with the Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and a first Team Honorable mention. 2006 and 2016 SIAC Championship;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesiac.com/story.aspx?filename=mbball_0305165034&file_date=3/5/2016&path=mbball|title=Stillman captures SIAC basketball tournament title|website=SIAC|access-date=2016-10-22}}</ref> In the 2009–10 season, 1 year removed from taking over a 1–27 team, head coach Michael Grant led the men's basketball team to the school's first ever appearance in the National Top 25 rankings.
===Other Organizations===
* Women's Basketball – In 2018, the Lady Tigers were the NAIA A.I.I. Conference Champ Runner Ups. The Lady Tigers lost in the opening round of the National Tournament and finished with a 19–12 record.
Chancellor Social Club (1943), Chancellorette Social Club (1959), F.B.I. Incorporated (1985), Beta Phi Beta Brotherhood (1986), Gamma Delta Iota (1992), Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Omega Alpha Chapter (1992), Intelligent Black Women (1992), Golden Heart Club (1998)
* Baseball – In 2018, the Tigers finished their season with a record of 19–22; 2007–08 SIAC Championships; 2007 Division II National Championship
* Softball – The 2018 Lady Tigers Softball team finished with a record of 18–18, an impressive record considering the installation of a new coach in December and a 0–8 start to the season.

==Notable alumni==
{{clear}}
{{alum/start
|ilist=
|alist=
{{Alum|name=[[Teddy Keaton]]|year=1999|nota=College football coach}}
{{Alum|name=[[Jeff Henderson (athlete)|Jeff Henderson]]|year=2012|nota=Olympic Gold Medalist - Long Jump (2016)}}
{{Alum|name=[[Junior Galette]]|year=2010|nota=Professional football player}}
{{Alum|name=[[Sammie Lee Hill]]|year=2009|nota=Professional football player}}
{{Alum|name=[[Brian Witherspoon]]|year=2008|nota=Professional football player}}
{{Alum|name=[[Gilbert Johnson]]|year=1922|nota=One of the first African Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps; Sergeant Major}}
{{Alum|name=[[Ruth Bolden]]|year=1952|nota=Civil rights worker and library founder in west [[Tuscaloosa]].}}
{{Alum|name=[[Trudier Harris]]|year=1969|nota=First tenured African-American faculty member at the [[College of William and Mary]]; Distinguished Research Professor of English at the [[University of Alabama]]; author of nearly two dozen books.}}
{{Alum|name=[[Michael Figures]]|year=1969|nota=Alabama State Senator from 1978-1996; one of the first three African-Americans to earn his Juris Doctor from the [[University of Alabama School of Law]]}}
{{Alum|name=[[Willie Williams (general)|Willie Williams]]|year=1974|nota=One of the first African Americans to achieve three star rank in the United States Marine Corps; Lieutenant General}}https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Williams_(general)}}

==Notable faculty==
* Presbyterian clergyman [[Andrew Flinn Dickson]], the first professor of the Institute for the Training of Colored Ministers in October 1876
* [[Michael Hill (activist)|Michael Hill]] taught British history at Stillman before and during his founding of the [[League of the South]], a neo-Confederate and [[white supremacist]] organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2018/07/alabama-based_league_of_the_so.html|title = New-Confederate group launches Russian web page|date = July 20, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Yolanda W. Page]], eighth president of Stillman, provost of [[Savannah State University]] from 2022 to 2023<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Cobb |first=Mark Hughes |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Stillman College names Yolanda W. Page as new president, replacing Cynthia Warrick |url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/06/08/yolanda-w-page-named-stillman-colleges-eighth-president/70299375007/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Tuscaloosa News |language=en-US}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 116: Line 119:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


{{commons category|Stillman College}}
==Additional reading==
* [http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/20/Opinion/A_dream_lay_dying.shtml/ An article written by a former professor about his frustrating time on the faculty]


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.stillman.edu/ www.stillman.edu] -- Official web site
* {{Official website|http://www.stillman.edu}}
* [http://www.gostillman.com Official athletics website]


{{Southern States Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{Tuscaloosa, Alabama}}
{{Colleges and universities in Alabama}}
{{Colleges and universities in Alabama}}
{{Presbyterian Colleges}}
{{Presbyterian Colleges}}
{{HBCU}}
{{HBCU}}

{{Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Stillman College| ]]
[[Category:Stillman College| ]]
[[Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Alabama]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1876]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1896]]
[[Category:Council of Independent Colleges]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)]]
[[Category:African American history of Alabama]]
[[Category:African-American history of Alabama]]
[[Category:Education in Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]
[[Category:Education in Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in Alabama]]

[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Alabama]]
[[no:Stillman College]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage]]

Revision as of 20:13, 13 May 2024

Stillman College
Former names
Tuscaloosa Institute (1876–1895)
Stillman Institute (1895–1948)
TypePrivate historically black college
Established1876; 148 years ago (1876)
AccreditationSACS
Religious affiliation
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Academic affiliations
CIC
Endowment$25,812,266
PresidentYolanda W. Page
Students917 [1]
Location,
U.S.

33°11′53″N 87°35′7″W / 33.19806°N 87.58528°W / 33.19806; -87.58528
Campus105 acres (42 ha)
ColorsNavy Blue & Vegas Gold[2]
   
NicknameTigers & Lady Tigers[2]
Sporting affiliations
NAIASSAC
Websitewww.stillman.edu
Stillman College
Stillman College is located in Alabama
Stillman College
Stillman College is located in the United States
Stillman College
Built1907 (1907)
NRHP reference No.100004680[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 16, 2021
Designated ARLHJune 23, 2016[4]

Stillman College is a private historically black Presbyterian college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It awards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 22 programs housed within three academic schools (School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Entrepreneurship and CIS, amend School of Education). The college has an average enrollment of 728 students and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[5]

History

Academic rankings
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[6]78 (tie) of 90
National
Washington Monthly[7]136 of 242
The Main Building in 1914.

Stillman College was founded as Tuscaloosa Institute, when it was authorized by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1875,[8] and held its first classes in 1876. It was chartered as a legal corporation by the State of Alabama in 1895. At that time, the name was changed from Tuscaloosa Institute to Stillman Institute. The institute was a concept initiated by Charles Allen Stillman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, "for the training of colored men for the ministry".[9] The mandate for the Institution expanded over the years and it acquired its present campus tract of over 100 acres (0.40 km2). A junior and senior high school was organized and the Institute established a junior college program, which was accredited in 1937. In addition, between 1930 and 1946, it operated a hospital and nurse training school.

The Stillman College library.

Under the administration of Samuel Burney Hay (1948–1965), the school sought to expand into a senior liberal arts institution and in 1948 the name was officially changed to Stillman College. The following year, Stillman expanded into a four-year college and graduated its first baccalaureate class in 1951. The college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1953.[5] Under Hay, seven new buildings were constructed: a gymnasium, a library, an administration-classroom building, two women's residence halls, a prayer chapel, and a student center.

When John Rice became the dean of students at Stillman College in 1966, he lived on campus with his wife, Angelena (née Ray) Rice, and their daughter, Condoleezza Rice, who later served as the 66th United States Secretary of State.[10]

Harold N. Stinson (1967–1980) was the first African American to assume the presidency. Under his dynamic leadership, new programs designed to improve educational quality were instituted, and the physical plant was expanded with the addition of two men's residence halls, faculty apartments, a maintenance building, and a mathematics-science center. Snedecor Hall, Batchelor Building, and Birthright Auditorium were renovated. During his presidency, the college graduated its first non-black student, Constance M. Rizzi, in 1978.

Under the leadership of the college's fourth president, Cordell Wynn (1982–1997), the appearance of the campus improved dramatically; Winsborough and John Knox Halls were renovated; and the Marie Lundy Wynn Hall and Johnson/Robinson Student Health Center were erected. The enrollment grew beyond 1,000 students; the endowment increased significantly; and the educational program was broadened to include the Stillman Management Institute and a community-service component.

Stillman College Choir at Convocation

On July 1, 1997, Ernest McNealey (1997–2013) was named the fifth president. During his tenure, Stillman garnered national attention in the areas of technology, athletics and scholarly pursuits. One of the leaders in wireless computing, the college received the National Innovation in Technology Award by Apple Computers and continues to be on the cusp of technological innovations in higher education. The college's football program and marching band were revitalized and the college experienced its largest enrollment in the history of the institution. In 2004 the college received its first-ever ranking among top-tier schools in U.S. News & World Report. During McNealey's tenure, four new structures were erected (School of Education building, Wynn Fine Arts Center, Roulhac Residence Hall, and the stadium with accompanying playing fields, buildings, and an NCAA regulation track). The sense of place was further manifested in the construction of the Thomas E. Lyle Band Center and NCAA regulation tennis complex.

On June 26, 2014, at a press conference in Birthright Alumni Hall, Stillman Board of Trustees named interim president Peter E. Millet the sixth president of the school. In August 2014, Stillman was awarded a donation of $2 million by an unknown donor to help with the long term stability of the college. On December 29, 2014, President Peter E. Millet announced via school email that tuition for the small liberal arts school would be reduced from $22,500 to $17,500 in an effort to boost enrollment and make college more affordable. On January 1, 2015, Stillman became a smoke-free campus in an effort to keep with its theme of promoting a healthier lifestyle. In December 2015, Stillman cut its current sports from 12 to 2. Currently, Stillman has six intercollegiate sports teams, Men's and Women's Basketball, Baseball, Men's and Women's Bowling, Softball, Men's and Women's Track and Field, and Volleyball.

Cynthia Warrick at SGA Installation in September 2018

On December 14, 2016, the Stillman College Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Cynthia Warrick as the new Interim President for Stillman College. She took office on January 3, 2017. On April 24, 2017, Cynthia Warrick (2017-2023) was named the seventh president and the first female president of Stillman College.[citation needed] On July 1, 2023, Dr. Yolanda Page was named the 8th president and the second female president of Stillman College.

The school's Tuscaloosa campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.[11]

Athletics

The Stillman athletic teams are called the Tigers and Lady Tigers. The college is a member of the Division I level of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC; formerly known as Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) until after the 2003–04 school year) since the 2018–19 academic year.[12] The Tigers and Lady Tigers previously competed as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) from 1978–79 to 1998–99, and again from 2002–03 to 2015–16, which is currently a NCAA Division II athletic conference; as a member of the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) of the NCAA Division III ranks from 1999–2000 to 2001–02; and as an NAIA Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) from 2016–17 to 2017–18.

Stillman currently competes in eight intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball and track & field. Stillman formerly sponsored football from the 1999 fall season until the 2015 fall season, when the school eliminated all athletic teams, except for men's and women's basketball, due to increased costs associated with the athletic program.[13][14]

In fall 2018, the college added men's and women's cross country and track and field. Stillman plans to bring back volleyball in the fall of 2022 and add women's bowling in the fall of 2023.

Accomplishments

Recent Athletic accomplishments include:

  • Men's Basketball – In 2018 the Men's Basketball Team was the NAIA A.I.I Conference Champs. Losing in the opening round of the National Tournament, the men finished the season with a record o 27–5, losing only one game at home. The Tigers swept the conference awards with the Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and a first Team Honorable mention. 2006 and 2016 SIAC Championship;[15] In the 2009–10 season, 1 year removed from taking over a 1–27 team, head coach Michael Grant led the men's basketball team to the school's first ever appearance in the National Top 25 rankings.
  • Women's Basketball – In 2018, the Lady Tigers were the NAIA A.I.I. Conference Champ Runner Ups. The Lady Tigers lost in the opening round of the National Tournament and finished with a 19–12 record.
  • Baseball – In 2018, the Tigers finished their season with a record of 19–22; 2007–08 SIAC Championships; 2007 Division II National Championship
  • Softball – The 2018 Lady Tigers Softball team finished with a record of 18–18, an impressive record considering the installation of a new coach in December and a 0–8 start to the season.

Notable alumni

Name Class year Notability References
Teddy Keaton 1999 College football coach
Jeff Henderson 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist - Long Jump (2016)
Junior Galette 2010 Professional football player
Sammie Lee Hill 2009 Professional football player
Brian Witherspoon 2008 Professional football player
Gilbert Johnson 1922 One of the first African Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps; Sergeant Major
Ruth Bolden 1952 Civil rights worker and library founder in west Tuscaloosa.
Trudier Harris 1969 First tenured African-American faculty member at the College of William and Mary; Distinguished Research Professor of English at the University of Alabama; author of nearly two dozen books.
Michael Figures 1969 Alabama State Senator from 1978-1996; one of the first three African-Americans to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law
Willie Williams 1974 One of the first African Americans to achieve three star rank in the United States Marine Corps; Lieutenant General https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Williams_(general)

Notable faculty

See also

References

  1. ^ "College Navigator - Stillman College".
  2. ^ a b "TheNAIA.com >> Stillman College". Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  3. ^ "National Register Information System – (#100004680)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ^ "Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage as of April 7, 2023" (PDF). ahc.alabama.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Commission on Colleges". www.sacscoc.org. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  6. ^ "Best Colleges 2023: Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "2023 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "stillman.edu - History and Mission". www.stillman.edu. Retrieved October 22, 2016. [dead link]
  9. ^ Thomas, Grace Powers (1898). Where to educate, 1898-1899. A guide to the best private schools, higher institutions of learning, etc., in the United States. Boston: Brown and Company. p. 4. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  10. ^ Horton, Ebony (December 6, 2004). "Stillman College educators recall Rice's ties to town". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 1, 2018. Rice moved from Titusville, near Birmingham, to Tuscaloosa in 1966 when her father, John Rice, became the dean of students at Stillman. The family resided on campus in a brick home behind Hay Residence Hall, while Rice, then 11, attended what is now Central High School.
  11. ^ "Weekly listing". National Park Service.
  12. ^ "TheGCAC.com >> Stillman College". Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  13. ^ Stephenson, Creg (December 3, 2015). "Stillman to drop football, all other sports except basketball". AL.com. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  14. ^ Deas, Tommy (December 3, 2015). "Stillman College to eliminate football program". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  15. ^ "Stillman captures SIAC basketball tournament title". SIAC. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  16. ^ "New-Confederate group launches Russian web page". July 20, 2018.
  17. ^ Cobb, Mark Hughes (June 8, 2023). "Stillman College names Yolanda W. Page as new president, replacing Cynthia Warrick". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved July 23, 2023.

External links