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The African Institute
The African Institute, now known as Cheyney University, opens its doors to African American students (Sass, 2016). It was the first higher education institute for African Americans. Richard Humphreys founded the institute during a flourishing period of higher education ("History of Cheyney," n.d.). Cheyney University gave African Americans a chance to receive a college education. Link to photo: http://www.cheyney.edu/about-cheyney-university/cheyney-history.cfm -
Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
Mary Lyon founded Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, which was the first college for women (Sass, 2016). Though this was before the women's suffrage movement, the opening of this institution removed some of the boundaries put on women. With 80 students originally enrolled, Lyon paved the way for females to gain an education outside of the household (Sass, 2016). Link to photo: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/ -
Richards graduates from MIT
Ellen Swallow Richards becomes the first female to graduate from the Massachusetts Institution of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry ("Ellen Swallow Richards," n.d.). She paved the way for women in the sciences. Link to photo: https://libraries.mit.edu/archives/exhibits/esr/esr-womenslab.html -
Second Morrill Act of 1890
The Second Morrill Act of 1890 creates the opportunity for 16 historically black land-grant colleges (Sass, 2016). Morrill's goal was to incorporate education and agriculture. African American students benefited from the opening of the 1890 universities; black students had more options in where they could continue their educations. Link to photo: http://www.1890universities.org/history -
G.I. Bills of Rights
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill of Rights, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, to encourage veterans to continue their education after World War II. More than two million veterans take advantage of the bill and changed the demographic of college students (Sass, 2016). Higher education was no longer only available to the wealthy. Link to photo: https://www.britannica.com/topic/GI-Bill-of-Rights -
Integration of The University of Alabama
During the peak of the Civil Rights Era, Alabama Governor George Wallace tried to block the way for two black students to enroll at The University of Alabama ("University of Alabama," n.d.). President John F. Kennedy intervened and by the end of the day, UA was officially integrated, making it one of the few colleges in the southern states. Link to photo: http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/ref/collection/photo/id/191 -
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education, though it is often remembered by female participation in collegiate sports (Sass, 2016). The government put this into place so that men and women are treated equally in the educational field and to help prevent sexual abuse occurences. Link to photo: http://brothersontherise.com/event/title-ix-with-the-brothers/ -
Americans with Disabilities Act
President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities act into effect. The law ensures that individuals with disabilities have the same opportunities as other Americans ("Introduction to the ADA," n.d.). These opportunities include higher education. Students with disabilities are protected under ADA and are granted access to colleges and universities like other students. Link to photo: https://adata.org/ada-timeline/ada-passed-house-july-26-ada-signed -
Ruth J. Simmons at Brown University
Ruth J. Simmons becomes the first African American president of an Ivy League institution at Brown University (Gates, n.d.). This historical presidency in higher education opens doors for both African Americans and women; Simmons' appointment show students that hard work and determination can make history. Link to photo: http://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/profiles/ruth-simmons/ -
Affirmative Action at UT Austin
The Supreme Court ruled that race-based affirmative action admissions decisions are constitutional (Lawrence, 2013). Abigail Fisher sued the University of Texas at Austin because she believed that she was not admitted to the university because she was not a minority. Admissions decisions can be based on race if it is "narrowly tailored" (Lawrence, 2013). Link to photo: http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/supreme-court-keeps-affirmative-action-sidesteps-issue/
