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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A delegation from Prairie View A&M University is |
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visiting Austin on February 18, 2025, in celebration of Prairie |
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View A&M University Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, The second-oldest public institution of higher |
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education in Texas, Prairie View A&M University traces its origins |
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to 1876, when it was established by the 15th Texas Legislature as |
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Alta Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored |
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Youth; at that time, the board of directors of the Agricultural and |
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Mechanical College at Bryan was responsible for its management; and |
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WHEREAS, The institution opened a campus in Prairie View on |
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March 11, 1878, and welcomed its first class of students, which |
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included eight young African American men; it was originally |
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designated as a normal school for the training of teachers, but |
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after it was approved as a branch campus of the Agricultural |
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Experiment Station and as a Land Grant College, its curriculum |
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expanded to include the arts and sciences, home economics, |
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agriculture, mechanical arts, and nursing; a four-year senior |
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college program was introduced in 1919, and a division of graduate |
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studies, which offered master's degrees in agricultural economics, |
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school administration, and other subjects, was added in 1937; by an |
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act of the 63rd Texas Legislature, the institution adopted its |
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present-day name, Prairie View A&M University, in 1973; and |
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WHEREAS, Prairie View A&M has grown considerably over the |
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course of its long history, and during the fall 2024 semester, it |
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posted a record-breaking enrollment of nearly 9,900 students; since |
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its inception, it has awarded some 46,000 academic degrees; today, |
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the university benefits from the able leadership of its president, |
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Dr. Tomikia LeGrande, and offers more than 70 degree programs |
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through its eight colleges and schools; situated on a picturesque |
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campus in rural Prairie View, it welcomes students from across the |
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United States and from many foreign countries; and |
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WHEREAS, Among its many accomplishments, Prairie View A&M is |
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one of just 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities to hold |
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the R2 Carnegie Melon Distinction, which recognizes institutions |
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for their contributions to doctoral research; and |
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WHEREAS, Prairie View A&M University has provided countless |
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students with a strong foundation for achievement, and it is a |
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pleasure to join in honoring the institution on this special |
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occasion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 18, 2025, as Prairie View A&M |
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University Day at the State Capitol and extend to all those |
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affiliated with the institution sincere best wishes for the future; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Prairie View A&M as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |