Catholic Student Center

SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY

For more than 130 years, Sam Houston State University has been preparing students for meaningful lives of achievement. Its motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service,” echoes across SHSU’s six colleges and beyond campus through student research, creative endeavors, learning, volunteering and more.

Named for Sam Houston, Texas’ greatest hero, SHSU continually strives to honor its historical roots through academic excellence that includes exceptional teaching from faculty members who care as much about their students’ success as they do about furthering the knowledge of their fields.

SHSU: A Brief History
Sam Houston State University, originally Sam Houston Normal Institute, was established by the Sixteenth Texas Legislature, named for Sam Houston, and located at Huntsville in Walker County at the site formerly occupied by Austin College. The school opened on October 10, 1879, under the principalship of Bernard Mallon. During the early years the courses of study emphasized professional subjects and methods of teaching. In 1911 the course of study was expanded to four years, the last two years’ work being of college level to give the institution junior college status. In 1915 the curriculum was again extended to include four years of college work leading to the degree, and in 1919 the first baccalaureate degree was granted. As the institution evolved and grew so did its name - in 1923 the legislature changed the name of the school to Sam Houston State Teachers College. The name was changed again in 1965, to Sam Houston State College and finally in 1969 to its current name.

The SHSU Community
This is a university that thinks big but feels small. SHSU prides itself in creating a close community. Current students and alumni alike attest to the warm, supportive environment found all over the SHSU campus. Faculty members are more than professors—they are mentors, advisors, informal tutors and personal links to great career connections.