HUSTON-TILLOTSON COLLEGE UNVEILS ITS NEW NAME AND NEW BRAND
Huston-Tillotson College officials unveiled more at the Second Annual President’s Masked Ball than the faces behind the masks. President Larry L. Earvin, Ph.D. announced the College’s move to university status, and along with Roy M. Spence, Jr., President and Founder of GSD&M, unveiled the university’s new brand, seal, tag line, and mascot before a capacity crowd during the black-tie gala at the Hilton Austin Hotel.
Established 130 years ago as a Normal Institute dedicated to educating and producing African American teachers, Huston-Tillotson College officially changed its name to Huston-Tillotson University, effective February 28, 2005, and will roll out its first graduate program in teacher education. The newly created tag line, LEARN MORE, which stand alone as a sentence, invites others to ask questions, seek information, or view the new htu.edu Web site to find out more about the oldest new university in Austin.
Advertising agency GSD&M, known for their work with Southwest Airlines, the United States Army, Wal-Mart, and the State of Texas with the recognized “Don’t Mess with Texas” slogan, designed the University’s new materials. The agency completed the pro bono work for Huston-Tillotson University in part because of their commitment to community and to furthering higher education said Eric Webber, GSD&M spokesperson. “We get a lot out of being part of the Austin community, and we like to give back by doing what we do best.”
The yearlong process included enhancing the official seal and incorporating the 1875 and 1876 founding dates. Huston-Tillotson College, chartered in 1952 by the State of Texas, represents the merger of two former colleges located in Austin, Texas: Tillotson College and Samuel Huston College. Tillotson College dates back to 1875 when the Congregationalists (now known as the United Church of Christ) worked with the “freedmen,” the descendants of slavery, to establish a secondary school. The secondary school eventually became Tillotson College and Normal Institute. Throughout the years, the Institute changed to Andrews Normal School, a junior college, a woman’s college, and a senior college. The roots of Samuel Huston College date back to 1876 when the Reverend George Warren Richardson, a Methodist minister from Minnesota, leased St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas, as the site for a school for the colored youth of Dallas. A fire destroyed St. Paul and the school was relocated to a temporary site and then to the Colored Methodists Church of America. Eventually the Methodist West Texas Conference agreed to relocate the school to Austin, Texas and Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, now known as Wesley United Methodist Church.
“Throughout history the college has redefined itself for a number of reasons but always for the purpose of advancing the mission,” said Earvin. “I believe the founding fathers of both institutions would be pleased about the move to university status.”
Within two years, Huston-Tillotson University will offer a Master of Arts degree in teacher education. Currently, Huston-Tillotson University offers professional and content preparation in interdisciplinary studies (elementary education), academic degrees (secondary education), and the alternative teacher certification program. Huston-Tillotson University was one of the first in the state to establish the Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) after the concept was approved by the 68th Legislature. Established in 1984, ATCP provides entry into the teaching profession for qualified individuals seeking a career change who meet specific requirements in order to fill shortages in critical classroom needs areas. Hundreds of professionals have successfully completed the program and are now teaching in the public school system.
The teacher preparation program is housed in the oldest building on the Huston-Tillotson University campus—Evans Industrial Building—built between 1911-1912 and designated as a Texas Historical Site. Evans has been equipped with one of the most advanced systems for instructional technology on the Huston-Tillotson University campus. Distance-learning classrooms and state-of-the-art computer laboratories are available for instructional enrichment.
Finally, the agency designed a new “Ram” mascot, which depicts not only the new spirit of the institution, but the spirit and dedication of the many athletes who compete in basketball, baseball, soccer, track and field, and volleyball. Guests at the Second Annual President’s Masked Ball were the first to receive lapel pins of the new university seal, presented to them by students. The Mankind Assisting Students Kindle Educational Dreams (MASKED) ball showcased students who were seated at nearly every table and who gathered on the dance floor for a moment in the spotlight. National recording artists Pieces of a Dream, known for their quiet grooves, classic covers, and up tempo Euro-beat, headlined the event, along with local favorites Pamela Hart and Thomas Hughes.
Posted By: Will Moss
Friday, March 25th 2005 at 3:55AM
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