The first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) was founded in 1837 in Pennsylvania. There are now over 100 accredited HBCUs in the United States. A majority originated between 1865 and 1900 to offer people of African descent access to the education they had so long been denied.
Kentucky is home to two HBCUs, both founded during that period: Simmons College of Kentucky and Kentucky State University. Both schools are important institutions, providing students with a robust higher education and an inclusive community.
Simmons College of Kentucky
Simmons College of Kentucky is located in Louisville and was the first HBCU in the state. In 1865, after the civil war, the Kentucky State Convention of Colored Baptist Churches originally proposed the idea for a school dedicated to post-secondary education for students of color. The school was founded in 1879 as the Kentucky Normal and Theological Institute.
The school was renamed to Simmons University in 1918 after former president Dr. William Simmons. After the university faced a series of challenges including declining student enrollment and struggles securing funding during the Great Depressions, it was renamed again to Simmons Bible College and began to focus on theological studies.
However, in 2005, under the direction of the current president Dr. Kevin Crosby, the school was renamed a final time to Simmons College of Kentucky to reflect its shift back to general liberal arts education. With an increase in student enrollment, an expanded campus in downtown Louisville and ever growing course offerings, Simmons is seen as a top HBCU in the country and its student-to-faculty ratio ranks top five among all HBCUs.
Approximately 230 students attend Simmons College. Simmons boasts of a Black-centric curriculum, guided by faith-based values. The school offers over 20 associate, bachelor and master degrees in areas such as religious studies, business administration, teaching and medical sciences. Simmons is still committed to serving traditionally underserved communities, just as they were when founded almost 150 years ago.
Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University (KSU) is located in Frankfort, Kentucky and is the larger of the two schools. Currently home to 1,689 students, KSU was founded in 1886 to train more African American teachers. The school was originally named the State Normal School for Colored Persons. KSU became a land-grant institution in 1890, as it added three new fields of study to its curriculum.
With the turn of the century, the school continued to grow. In 1938, the school transitioned to giving students a more liberal arts education. It was also renamed the Kentucky State College for Negroes at that time. However, it was once again renamed Kentucky State College in 1952, the name that still remains today.
Today, the school offers associate degrees in three disciplines, baccalaureate degrees in 24 disciplines, and master’s degrees in five disciplines. In addition to expanding educational opportunities, in the 138 years since its founding, the campus has expanded to an 882-acre campus with a 204-acre agricultural research farm and a 306-acre environmental education center. The student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1, which is the one of lowest in the entire state.
Both of these schools have shown a commitment to diversity in the many years since their founding. As time goes on, both Simmons College and Kentucky State University will remain dedicated to furthering educational opportunities for Black students in Kentucky.
