Bill Text: TX SR70 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
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-Enrolled.html
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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 State of Texas, 88th | ||
| 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 from the | ||
| Texas Senate. | ||
| Springer | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on November 2, 2023. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
