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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Austin College is kicking off the celebration of its |
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175th academic year during the fall 2023 semester; and |
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WHEREAS, The oldest college in Texas operating under its |
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original charter and name, the school was established in Huntsville |
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in 1849 by Dr. Daniel Baker, a Princeton-educated Presbyterian |
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missionary; two presidents of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston |
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and Anson Jones, served on the original board of trustees; the |
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institution was named after "the Father of Texas," |
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Stephen F. Austin, and funded by a gift from his sister, Emily; and |
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WHEREAS, Records indicate that the first graduating class in |
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1854 was comprised of two students; the early years were full of |
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challenges, with the Civil War, a rocky economy, and three yellow |
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fever epidemics that swept through the city; as a result, Austin |
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College moved to Sherman in 1876; it began to admit women in 1918, |
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and in 1930, it merged with a women's school, Texas Presbyterian |
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College; and |
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WHEREAS, Beginning in the postwar years, Austin College |
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extensively reviewed the traditional liberal arts curriculum and |
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explored innovations; in 1972, it adopted a comprehensive |
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educational program that has continued to shape much of the |
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academic development in the ensuing years; the next decade brought |
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a new master plan, and iconic Sherman Hall underwent a |
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$1.37 million renovation; and |
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WHEREAS, The college celebrated its sesquicentennial in 1999 |
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and signaled its ongoing commitment to progress through a |
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$120 million campaign; it experienced record enrollment as it |
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continued its tradition of excellence; in 2009, the school welcomed |
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its first female president, Dr. Marjorie Hass, and since 2017, it |
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has been ably led by its 16th president, Steven P. O'Day; the |
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current enrollment of 1,300 includes students from Texas and 13 |
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other states, as well as Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, |
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Thailand, and Vietnam; while maintaining its covenant relationship |
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with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the campus offers a |
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nonsectarian education that fosters understanding of the world's |
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many religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its history, this noteworthy institution |
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has provided young scholars with a rich environment for personal |
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and intellectual growth, preparing them to make a positive |
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difference in Texas and the world beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd |
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Called Session, hereby commemorate the 175th academic year of |
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Austin College and extend to all those associated with this |
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noteworthy institution sincere best wishes for the future; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the college as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas Senate. |