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About HT

About HT

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Mission Statement

HT nurtures a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values.

Vision Statement

A connected world where diversity of thought matters.

Accreditation Statement

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Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate and masters degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Huston-Tillotson University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

General Information

Huston-Tillotson University is affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). HT, in Austin, is a coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences, operating jointly under the auspices of the American Missionary Association of the United Church of Christ, and the Board of Education of The United Methodist Church. Huston-Tillotson College officially changed its name to Huston-Tillotson University on February 28, 2005.

Huston-Tillotson College was formed by the merger of Samuel Huston College and Tillotson College, which was effective on October 24, 1952. Huston-Tillotson College remained primarily a black college after the merger, although there were no restrictions as to race.

Huston-Tillotson University awards undergraduates, four year degrees in business, education, the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, science and technology. A multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-faith institution, the University welcomes students of all ages, races, and religions.

In 1966 the 19-acre campus contained an administration building, science building, two residence halls, student union-dining hall, gymnasium-auditorium, music hall, lounge, and two other halls. The Downs-Jones Library subscribes to more than 350 periodicals, and is a member of TexShare, a library resource-sharing program which enables students, faculty, and staff to borrow books from other member libraries. By the early 1970s new buildings included a classroom-administration building, a chapel, an addition of three wings to the women’s dormitory, and an addition of two wings to the men’s residence hall. In 2004, the first phase of renovation work was completed on the Old Administration Building and it reopened after standing unoccupied for 35 years.  The Downs-Jones Library and both residence halls were updated in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Mary E. Branch and William H. Jones, past presidents of Tillotson College and Karl E. Downs, Robert Harrington, and Willis J. King, past presidents of Samuel Huston College, undertook cooperative sponsorship of several academic activities beginning in 1945. Matthew S. Davage served as interim president during the transition period. He retired in 1955 and was succeeded by J.J Seabrook, the first permanent president of Huston-Tillotson. Upon Seabrook’s retirement in 1965, John Q. Taylor King became president. King was president in the 1974-75 term, when the enrollment was 696 students. King retired in 1988 and Joseph T. McMillan, Jr., succeeded him. In the fall of 1998 there were 59 faculty members and 621 students at Huston-Tillotson University. Larry L. Earvin became the fifth president of the University in 2000 and moved the institution to university status in 2005.  In 2015, Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette became the first woman to be named president of Huston-Tillotson University.

The University is a not-for-profit corporation. The president serves as chief executive officer of the corporation.

Statements on Non-Discrimination Educational Programs

Huston-Tillotson University does not discriminate in its student admissions and educational programs or other University-administered programs on the basis of race, national origin, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability or disability, or criteria prohibited under state and federal age discrimination statutes. Additionally, the College conforms to all federal, state and local laws and policies, in addition to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and amended (PL-93-380).

Employment Practices

The University does not discriminate on the basis of the applicant’s or employee’s race, national origin, religion, color gender, sexual orientation, physical ability or disability, or criteria prohibited under state and federal age discrimination statues.

ADA Compliance

Consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the ADA Amendment Act of 2008, it is the policy of Huston-Tillotson University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability shall be subjected to discrimination because of that disability under any program or activity conducted or sponsored by the University.

Web Site

If you have difficulty accessing any portion of this page with adaptive technology, please send a message to webmaster@htu.edu. You will be contacted by a representative from the Huston-Tillotson University’s Counseling and Consultation Center in order to discuss alternative solutions.

Events

If you have accessibility or accommodation needs for a campus event or activity due to a disability, you must notify the Counseling and Consultation office in writing at least seven business days in advance of the program in order to allow time to make proper arrangements.  Contact the office at 900 Chicon Street, Austin, Texas  78702, 512.505.3149 or counseling@htu.edu. For those who are deaf, hard of hearing, and/or speech impaired, please use e-mail or the relay option of your choice to contact.