Huston-Tillotson University
The Intellectual Heartbeat of East Austin
Words by Jess Hagemann Photos Courtesy Huston Tillotson University
The very first institution of higher learning in Austin, Huston-Tillotson University was established in 1875 (UT would follow in 1881), though it wouldn’t officially go by that name until Samuel Huston College and Tillotson College merged in 1952.
As the current HT Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Steven Richardson, says, “The founders of Huston-Tillotson wanted to make sure that the university would stand the test of time. When they realized that the two schools could be stronger together, they joined forces. Today, HT is a symbol of that resilience.”
In the nearly 150 years since HT opened its doors, Austin—especially East Austin—has seen countless changes, but the historically black university (now open to any student regardless of race, gender, or creed), has more than held its own, climbing a steady-if-not-steep growth trajectory to its current peak population of just over 1,100 students. The recent addition of a new business school, the creation of more active student clubs, and the 2015 installment of the wildly popular Dr. Collette Pierce Burnette as HT’s first female president have all helped to bolster the school’s reputation in the public eye, attracting both prospective students and the companies who would hire them. Merck, Dell, PayPal, TXDOT, and Texas Parks and Wildlife, to name just a few, have all lately partnered with HT to co-curate program curriculums, offer student internships, and recruit new graduates toward the end of increasing workforce diversity.
This is all-around good news for HT’s non-traditional student body, largely composed of poor and first-generation minorities. Ninety-five percent of HT students receive financial aid; 70% attend on the Pell grant. Shares Richardson: “Many are the first in their family to go to college. Some come from large families, where they had to share resources or go without. At HT, they’re not told ‘no,’ or denied access. Here they’re individuals with names and with dreams. It’s no longer a dream deferred.” Particularly for students in HT’s adult-degree program—which Richardson says is geared toward “everyday, hardworking Americans with families and full-time jobs, who for whatever reason were unable to finish their college education in the past”—the opportunity to attend HT is “making good” on the notion that America is a “land of promise.” Here in what Richardson calls “the intellectual heartbeat of East Austin,” he says, “We’re trying to give them everything they could ever want.”
According to President Burnette, no class yet has deserved it more. She calls the current class of centennials “the genius generation,” noting their technological adeptness, fearless risk-taking, and commitment to “something bigger than themselves.” A “mother figure” (Richardson’s words) who promotes a ‘fRAMily’ culture at HT by breaking bread with the students once/week, she’s outlined a new set of values for the HT community. IDEAL stands for Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, Accountability, and Leadership. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to consider whether every decision they make is “ideal”—simultaneously holding them accountable to the expectation of success, while also providing a built-in support system to make sure no one is left behind. One of many IDEAL initiatives is an imminent expansion of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation into its new location at the Center for Social Innovation on Springdale Road. Such initiatives, says Richardson, ensure that HT’s “highly competitive” students, who may presently be “underknown,” become known—“because they have the potential to do the greatest things.”
Support
A non-profit, private institution of higher learning, Huston-Tillotson University receives no government subsidies; ergo, it’s constantly seeking alternative funding sources. One campaign called “Reach for a New Rhythm” benefits the music department, which hopes to raise $2.25 million to increase the number of scholarships for students, enhance support for faculty, improve facilities, and modernize technical equipment. Last year, an anonymous donor gifted 15 Steinway pianos to HT, making it just the fourth HBCU to earn the designation “All-Steinway School” and only the 196th such institution worldwide. Donate at: http://htu.edu/offices/ia/steinway.
Diversity
Now in its fourth year, HT hosts the country’s only youth and diversity-focused hackathon that is 100% organized and operated by students of color. The end goal is the creation of mobile apps that address a hyperlocal social issue. Last year’s winner improved minority access to health care.
Contact:
512.505.3000
900 Chicon Street
htu.edu
@hustontillotsonuniversity
