Establishment

Savannah State University was originally founded as a result of the Second Morrill Land Grant Act of August 30, 1890. The act mandated that southern and border states develop Black land grant colleges. On November 26, 1890 the Georgia General Assembly passed enabling legislation creating the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth.

A preliminary session of the school was held in the Baxter Street School Building in Athens, Georgia where Richard R. Wright Sr. was principal. The college operated in Athens for several months in 1891 before moving to its permanent location in Savannah on October 7, 1891, with Wright as the first president. The school had five faculty members. Its eight students were all graduates of Edmund Asa Ware High School, the first public high school for blacks in Augusta, Georgia.

Early years

The first baccalaureate degree was awarded in 1898. In 1921 the first female students were admitted as residents on the campus. In 1928 the college became a full four-year degree-granting institution and removed the high school and normal school programs. Normal schools had been created in the 19th century in many state systems in the United States, after the German model. With the expansion of towns across the United States, and continuing issues in trying to educate four million freedmen and their descendants, there was an urgent need to establish many new schools and to quickly train teachers in the North and the South. States used normal schools for training of teachers for primary school grades and sometimes secondary school as well. Normal schools or colleges tended to have two or three-year programs. Gradually the normal schools were converted to full colleges with four-year curriculum or were left behind.

In 1932 the college became a full member institution of the University System of Georgia and its name was changed to Georgia State College. The college served as Georgia’s land-grant institution for African-American students until 1947. The designation was then transferred to Fort Valley State College). In January 1950 the college changed its name to Savannah State College.

Modern History

With the growth in its graduate and research programs, in 1996 the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia elevated Savannah State College to the status of state university and the name was changed to Savannah State University.

Students may choose from 23 accredited undergraduate baccalaureate and 5 graduate master’s degree programs offered through the university's colleges. Savannah State University is the first institution in the state of Georgia to offer the homeland security degree program. The University has developed new partnerships that expand the range of programs and resources for students. Taking advantage of its location on the coast, the university's Marine Biology Department operates two research vessels: the R/V Sea Otter (a 35-ft twin diesel vessel owned by NOAA) and the R/V Tiger (a 22-ft outboard work boat). In the fall of 2007 Savannah State teamed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to offer a new course in environmental regulations, so students can deepen understanding of policy and implementation issues. The program also helps them learn about specific environmental topics.