2015 Ag Week to Commemorate 125th Anniversary of 1890 Land-Grant System

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – This year’s College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences Week will culminate with a Health Walk commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Morrill Act of 1890, which created the land-grant system for universities and colleges including Tennessee State University. State Representative Brenda Gilmore, a TSU alum and strong supporter, will make the opening statement at this year's Ag Week in front of the new Agricultural and Biotechnology Building, at 8 a.m., Saturday, April 11. On Saturday, April 11 at 8 a.m., the ceremony will kickoff in front of the Agricultural and Biotechnology Building on the main campus, with an opening statement by State Representative Brenda Gilmore, followed by the Health walk. The 1890 land-grant system came into being with the signing of the Second Morrill Act for residents in primarily southern and border states who, because of their race, were denied admission to the publically-funded land-grant institutions that were founded in 1862. TSU, which was founded in 1912 as the Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial Normal School, became the designated recipient of Tennessee’s portion of 1890 land-grant funds in 1913. The 125th anniversary observance event is part of a yearlong celebration among the 19 Black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities in the United States. The event will also include a national celebration in Washington, D.C. in July. “The 1890 land-grant universities are a major education resource for the nation, and continue to be a key source for African-American leaders who render valuable service to their communities, the nation, and the world,” said Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences. For more information on the 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, visit www.1890universities.org. Below is schedule of other events marking this year’s CAHNS Week:

Monday, April 6: Student Day

9:30 - 10 -- Refreshments

10 - 2 -- 1890 Land-Grant Celebration Agriculture Career Fair

12 - 2 -- Student Cookout

Tuesday, April 7: Ag & Env Sciences Day

8 - 9:30 -- Continental Breakfast (Lawson)

9:30 - 10:30 -- Guest Speakers (Farrell-Westbrook)

11 - 12 -- Demonstrations

1:30 - 3 Lab Tours

3 - 5 -- Student Professional Development Workshop (AITC)

Wednesday, April 8: Biological Sciences Day

8:30 - 9:25 -- Registration

9:30 - 10:30 -- Guest Speakers (McCord 206)

10:30 - 12 -- Tours and Poster Exhibit

1 - 2:30 -- Program (Floyd Payne Forum 210)

2:30 - 3:30 – Reception

Thursday, April 9: Chemistry Day

8:30 - 9:30 -- Registration & Refreshments (Boswell 106)

9 - 12 -- Chemistry Career Fair (Boswell 122)

9:15 - 10 -- Tours

11:15 - 12:15 -- Chemistry Challenge (Boswell 12)

12 - 2 -- Poster Presentations

2:20 - 3:45 -- Guest Speaker (Boswell 12)

Friday, April 10: College Recognition Day

12 - 2 -- Awards Luncheon (Farrell-Westbrook 118)

Saturday: 1890 Land-Grant 125th Anniversary Healthwalk

7 -8 -- Registration and set-up

8 - 10 -- 5k and Health Walk

10 -11 -- Fellowship and Awareness Campaign

Wednesday, April 15: Family and Consumer Sciences Week of the Young Child

9 - 11 -- North Nashville Childcare Centers Community Event (Ag Complex Circle)Department of Media Relations Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331 About Tennessee State UniversityWith more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 42 undergraduate, 24 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.