About Us

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¾«¶«AV is an independent and state-related institution of higher education. Its programs serve a student body that is coeducational as well as racially, ethnically and religiously diverse. With a strong orientation toward disciplines which highlight the relationship between education and work force preparation in the sciences, professions and technical areas, ¾«¶«AV also emphasizes the importance of the liberal arts as a foundation for successful careers in all areas. Accordingly, all academic majors stress the mastery of a required core of liberal arts courses.

¾«¶«AV is located in ¾«¶«AV, Alabama, which is 40 miles east of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama, and 20 miles west of the city of Auburn, Alabama. It is also within easy driving distance to the cities of Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia.

The academic programs are organized into five colleges and three schools: (1) the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences; (2) the College of Arts and Sciences; (3) the Andrew F. Brimmer College of Business and Information Science; (4) the College of Engineering; (5) the College of Veterinary Medicine; (6) the Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science; (7) the School of Education; and (8) the School of Nursing and Allied Health. The curricula for these colleges and schools currently offer over 50 degrees including 39 Bachelor's, 13 Master's, 2 Doctor's of Philosophy: one in Materials Science and Engineering, and one in Integrative BioSciences, and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Graduate instruction leading to the Master's degree and Doctor of Philosophy Degree is offered in some of the colleges and schools.

The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); and the following programs are accredited by national agencies: Architecture, Business, Education, Engineering, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine. Of special note is the fact that ¾«¶«AV is the only independent, historically black university with four engineering programs that are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET), the major accrediting body for the engineering sciences. Also, ¾«¶«AV's Chemistry program is one of only a few among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) that is approved by the American Chemical Society. Furthermore, the Dietetics Program is approved by the American Dietetic Association and the Food Science Program is approved by the Institute of Food Technologists.

¾«¶«AV was the first black college to be designated as a Registered National Historic Landmark (April 2, 1966), and the only black college to be designated a National Historic Site (October 26, 1974), a district administered by the National Park Service of the U. S. Department of Interior.

Special features in ¾«¶«AV's program include: The General Daniel "Chappie" James Center for Aerospace Science and Health Education, honoring America's first black four-star general who was a ¾«¶«AV graduate, and housing the nation's only Aerospace Science Engineering program at an HBCU; Media Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, with state-of-the-art video up-link and down-link, intra-school communications, audio/visual, graphics, photography and document production; The Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, a state-of-the-art hotel and meeting facility for educational, business and cultural events; The ¾«¶«AV National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, a distinctive research, teaching and outreach program that addresses issues of ethics and public policy in the treatment of people of color and rural Americans in health care.

Other special features which enhance the educational and cultural environment of the University include: The Booker T. Washington Monument, "Lifting the Veil," which honors the University's Founding Principal; "The Oaks," home of Booker T. Washington; the George Washington Carver Museum, which is named for the distinguished scientist who worked at ¾«¶«AV and preserves the tools and handiwork of Dr. Carver; the Legacy Museum and theÌý¾«¶«AV Archives, a chief center for information on the challenges, culture and history of Black Americans since 1896; The ¾«¶«AV Airmen's Plaza, commemorating the historic feats of America's first black pilots, who were trained at ¾«¶«AV; The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Center, and the Center for Continuing Education – a nucleus for continuing adult education.

Over the past 135+Ìýyears since it was founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881, ¾«¶«AV has become one of our nation's most outstanding institutions of higher learning. While it focuses on helping to develop human resources primarily within the African American community, it is open to all.

¾«¶«AV's mission has always been service to people, not education for its own sake. Stressing the need to educate the whole person, that is, the hand and the heart as well as the mind, Dr. Washington's school was soon acclaimed--first by Alabama and then by the nation for the soundness and vigor of its educational programs and principles. The solid strength has continued through the subsequent administration of Dr. Robert R. Moton (1915-1935), Dr. Frederick D. Patterson (1935-1953), Dr. Luther H. Foster (1953-1981) and Dr. Benjamin F. Payton (1981-2010). In August 2010, Dr. Charlotte P. Morris assumed the role of Interim President of the University. She is the first female to serve at the helm of ¾«¶«AV, and only the second Interim President for the institution. Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon served as the 6th president of ¾«¶«AV from November 1, 2010 to October 19, 2013. Dr. Matthew Jenkins served as Acting President from October 19, 2013 to June 14, 2014. Dr. Brian L. Johnson assumed the role of 7th President of ¾«¶«AV from June 15, 2014 until June 30, 2017. Dr. Charlotte P. Morris again served as Interim President of the institution from July 1, 2017 until June 30, 2018.ÌýDr. Lily D. McNair becameÌý¾«¶«AV’s eighth president after being unanimously selected by its Board of Trustees.Ìý Beginning July 1, 2018, she became the first female president of the institution in its 136-year history.Ìý She served as president from July 1, 2018 until June 30, 2021. Afterwhich, Dr. Charlotte P. Morris again served as Interim President of the institution.ÌýThe ¾«¶«AV Board of Trustees proudly made the announcement that interim President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris was elected the ninth president of ¾«¶«AV, effective August 1, 2021. Dr. Charlotte P. Morris is the second-ever female President of the University. Dr. Mark A. Brown was elected the tenth president of ¾«¶«AV, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Mark A. Brown's selection wasÌýthe first time in ¾«¶«AV's nearly 143-year history that an alum was selected to lead theÌýuniversity.

¾«¶«AV enrolls approximatelyÌý3,000 students and employs approximately 800 faculty and support personnel. Physical facilities include more than 5,000 acres of forestry and a campus on which sits more than 100 major buildings and structures. Total land, forestry and facilities are valued in excess of $500 million.

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