Academics
Savannah State University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the city and the oldest public HBCU in Georgia. Its location—atop a salt water estuary—has made it nationally recognized as a top producer of marine science degrees and is an important research resource for the coastal area, in a variety of fields. Students also have their choice of 29 other undergraduate degrees across four colleges: Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Sciences and Technology. The Center for Student Success and Retention provides services and resources to help students achieve academic success, including academic advising and counseling, tutoring, and testing services. For those looking to catch up or get a jump start on their curriculums, SSU’s nine-week mini-mester courses let students stay on track with their credits, providing the same courses as during a full semester but in an accelerated format (online core requirement courses are always available). The International Education Center helps convert students into global citizens, and it coordinates study abroad in nine different countries. SSU is also the first institution in the state of Georgia to offer a homeland security degree program.
Career
Black History Month is always celebrated with events throughout the campus, including a Black Heritage Festival, gospel concerts, and an Annual African American Read-In. Students are encouraged to participate in the more than 70 clubs and organizations, numerous fraternities and sororities, and 15 intramural sports that serve social, political, and religious interests, all of which are service-oriented. WHCJ is the official radio station of the university and can be heard throughout nearby counties, and it provides a professional, hands-on experience for students looking to go into broadcasting; additionally, The Tiger’s Roar is an independent news publication at the school. The school has a sprawling 201-acre campus that includes an arena, football stadium, a pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The Marching Tiger band, nicknamed the “Powerhouse of the South,” performs during SSU football games (the school is Division II in the NCAA).
Culture
The university was recently awarded a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency to operate a pilot project to increase entrepreneurship education for its undergraduate students. Notable alumni include preservationist and civil rights leader W. W. Law, African-American scholar and jazz historian Dr. Charles Elmore, and retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Annie B. Andrews.
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