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This Austin university has a rich history and a promising future. Established in 1875 to educate newly emancipated slaves, Huston-Tillotson encourages professional development and public service as part of its educational mission. More than 750 students attend the school, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ. The W. E. B. DuBois Honors Program, named for the African American intellectual and activist, provides students with a challenging and diverse curriculum beyond the school’s 15 major fields of study. Students can also take advantage of study-abroad programs in China and Argentina. Affiliated with the School of Business, the Wachovia Business Resource and Training Center assists community members and small-business owners by providing laptop computers and other equipment. Job training programs are also in the planning stages.
The school’s long legacy extends to its sports program as well: Jackie Robinson briefly coached the basketball team before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. Today Huston-Tillotson’s teams compete in the NAIA, with men’s track and field consistently earning top awards. A women’s soccer team is the newest addition to the sports roster.
The 23-acre campus tends to become sparsely populated on weekends, with students taking advantage of the university’s proximity to downtown Austin nightspots and the ever-growing number of hip clubs opening within blocks of the East Austin campus. Given the increased revitalization that is taking place in the surrounding neighborhood, it seems as if more local businesses—mostly restaurants and boutiques—are opening daily.