Bill Text: TX SR70 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Recognizing Austin College on the occasion of its 175th anniversary.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-11-02 - Reported enrolled [SR70 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR70-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Recognizing Austin College on the occasion of its 175th anniversary.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-11-02 - Reported enrolled [SR70 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR70-Introduced.html
88S31169 BPG-D | ||
By: Springer | S.R. No. 70 |
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WHEREAS, Austin College is kicking off the celebration of its | ||
175th academic year during the fall 2023 semester; and | ||
WHEREAS, The oldest college in Texas operating under its | ||
original charter and name, the school was established in Huntsville | ||
in 1849 by Dr. Daniel Baker, a Princeton-educated Presbyterian | ||
missionary; two presidents of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston | ||
and Anson Jones, served on the original board of trustees; the | ||
institution was named after "the Father of Texas," | ||
Stephen F. Austin, and funded by a gift from his sister, Emily; and | ||
WHEREAS, Records indicate that the first graduating class in | ||
1854 was comprised of two students; the early years were full of | ||
challenges, with the Civil War, a rocky economy, and three yellow | ||
fever epidemics that swept through the city; as a result, Austin | ||
College moved to Sherman in 1876; it began to admit women in 1918, | ||
and in 1930, it merged with a women's school, Texas Presbyterian | ||
College; and | ||
WHEREAS, Beginning in the postwar years, Austin College | ||
extensively reviewed the traditional liberal arts curriculum and | ||
explored innovations; in 1972, it adopted a comprehensive | ||
educational program that has continued to shape much of the | ||
academic development in the ensuing years; the next decade brought | ||
a new master plan, and iconic Sherman Hall underwent a | ||
$1.37 million renovation; and | ||
WHEREAS, The college celebrated its sesquicentennial in 1999 | ||
and signaled its ongoing commitment to progress through a | ||
$120 million campaign; it experienced record enrollment as it | ||
continued its tradition of excellence; in 2009, the school welcomed | ||
its first female president, Dr. Marjorie Hass, and since 2017, it | ||
has been ably led by its 16th president, Steven P. O'Day; the | ||
current enrollment of 1,300 includes students from Texas and 13 | ||
other states, as well as Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, | ||
Thailand, and Vietnam; while maintaining its covenant relationship | ||
with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the campus offers a | ||
nonsectarian education that fosters understanding of the world's | ||
many religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions; and | ||
WHEREAS, Throughout its history, this noteworthy institution | ||
has provided young scholars with a rich environment for personal | ||
and intellectual growth, preparing them to make a positive | ||
difference in Texas and the world beyond; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd | ||
Called Session, hereby commemorate the 175th academic year of | ||
Austin College and extend to all those associated with this | ||
noteworthy institution sincere best wishes for the future; and, be | ||
it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for the college as an expression of high regard by the | ||
Texas Senate. |