Dillard University

Photo of an early building on the Straight University campus The history of Dillard University dates to 1869 and its founding predecessor institutions— Straight University (later renamed Straight College) and Union Normal School (which developed into New Orleans University ). [ citation needed ] Straight University This section does not cite any sources . ( July 2025 ) Main article: Straight University Responding to the post- Civil War need to educate newly freed African Americans in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the surrounding region, the American Missionary Association of the Congregational Church founded Straight University on June 12, 1868. Straight University also offered professional training, including a law department from 1874 to 1886. Its graduates participated in local and national Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era civil rights struggles. Straight University was renamed Straight College in 1915, to better reflect the limitations of its curriculum.

In 2003, musician Ray Charles added a provision in his will to endow a $1 million (~$ 1.63 million in 2024 ) professorship of African-American culinary history at Dillard. It is the first such position in the country, and is called the Ray Charles Program. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] In August 2005, the campus, not far from the lower levee breach of the London Avenue Canal , suffered extensive flood damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina . Nelson Hall was destroyed by a fire. A bus fire destroyed belongings of 37 students who were in the process of being evacuated. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] In spring 2006, the students of Dillard University took their classes at The New Orleans World Trade Center and The New Orleans Hilton Riverside Hotel. As is tradition, Dillard held graduation on the Rosa Freeman Keller Avenue of the Oaks in July 2006. Students returned to campus in September 2006. In November 2016, Raycom Media rented a space at Dillard University to host a debate with senatorial candidates, including David Duke . The event was met with opposition; six protesters were arrested. When the rental agreement was made, months in advance, the university was unaware of the candidates. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] In 2019, Dillard signed a partnership with a for-profit college , Ross University School of Medicine , to increase the number of African American physicians in the US. [ 12 ] In 2020, MacKenzie Scott donated $5 million (~$ 5.95 million in 2024 ) to Dillard University. In 2025, Scott donated an additional $19 million which is the largest single gift in Dillard's history. [ 13 ] [ 14 ]

Quick facts Academic rankings, Liberal arts ... Academic rankings Liberal arts U.S. News & World Report [ 15 ] RNP Washington Monthly [ 16 ] 83 Close Dillard University offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees in over 35 majors. These majors are organized within four academic colleges, and further subdivided by departments. Undergraduate research The university is a member of the Council of Undergraduate Research and the National Council of Undergraduate Research. Most departments offer courses in methodology, and the university's Office of Undergraduate Research organizes additional workshops on writing proposals, analyzing data, and using human participants. Students can participate in A Katrina Recovery Initiative (AKRI), Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LAMP), and the Undergraduate Research & Creative Work Competition. The university also produces the Dillard University Journal of Undergraduate Research (DUJOUR), which publishes the findings and articles of finished undergraduate research projects. [ 17 ]

Dillard has dual degree programs in multiple disciplines with institutions such as Louisiana State University , Tulane University , University of New Orleans , Georgia Institute of Technology , Columbia University , Texas Chiropractic College , and Western Michigan University . [ 19 ] [ 20 ]