History of USA

May 3, 1963	USA founded by an act of the Alabama Legislature.
October 1963	First meeting of the USA Board of Trustees; Dr. Frederick P. Whiddon named president.
April 1964	The University moved from 154 St. Louis Street to its present location in west Mobile.
June 1964	First classes began; initial enrollment totaled 276 students.
October 1964	Gov. George C. Wallace dedicates the University of South Alabama campus.
April 1965	The jaguar was adopted as the University's mascot.
October 1965	Ground-breaking for Alpha Dorms, the University's first residence hall complex.
June 1967	Eighty-eight baccalaureate degrees were conferred at the first commencement.
December 1968	The University was admitted membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
May 1969	The University acquired the 327-acre Brookley Conference Center.
August 1969	A resolution of the Alabama Legislature supported establishment of a medical school under the auspices of the University of South Alabama.
November 1970	Mobile General Hospital was transferred to the University.
May 1971	Dr. Robert M. Bucher named first dean of the College of Medicine.
January 1973	The charter class of 25 students entered the College of Medicine.
April 1975	Mobile General Hospital was renamed University of South Alabama Medical Center.
October 1976	The University became a charter member of the Sun Belt Athletic Conference.
September 1978	The University's first Ph.D. program —in Basic Medical Sciences— was initiated.
January 1983	The USA Children's and Women's Hospital was established.
August 1984	The University of South Alabama Baldwin County branch was established.
August 1987	The former Providence Hospital was acquired by the University to house programs of the colleges of Allied Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing.
June 1990	The University acquired Doctors Hospital and Knollwood Park Hospital.
October 1997	Dedication of the Frederick Palmer Whiddon Administration Building.
July 1998	Dr. Frederick Whiddon retires as USA's only president in its 35-year history.
July 1998	V. Gordon Moulton named University President.
November 1998	Dedication of the John W. Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.
May 1999	Naming of the Mitchell College of Business, recognizing endowments of faculty chairs and scholarships by the Mitchell family of Mobile.
October 1999	Dedication of the 208,300-square-foot Mitchell Center.
October 2001	Dedication of the USA Children's Park, a 16-acre park at USA Children's and Women's Hospital displaying bronze sculptures celebrating children and families.
December 2001	Refurbishment of Alumni Hall completed following more than $40,000 in contributions from the Toulmin family and the USA Alumni Association.
May 2002	Establishment of the USA Cancer Research Institute, later re-named the Mitchell Cancer Institute.
June 2002	Creation of the University Research and Technology Park Corporation.
December 2002	The University awarded it 50,000th degree at Fall Commencement.
March 2003	Dedication of the 53,000-square-foot addition to the University Library.
October 2003	Dedication of the new 16-acre Intramural Athletics Complex and Field House.
December 2003	Dedication of the Mentor Graphics Corporation Building, the first building in the USA Technology and Research Park.
September 2004	Dedication of the Larry D. Striplin III Basketball Practice Facility
December 2005	Completion of a second building in the USA Technology and Research Park.
February 2005	Implementation of a new $6.2 million campus transportation system, Jag Tran.
April 2005	Groundbreaking ceremony held for USA's cancer institute, which was later named the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute.
April 2005	Dedication of Stanky Field, following a $3.8 million renovation.
July 2005	USA and Infirmary Health System announce a strategic health care alliance to enhance health care in the region and provide innovative cancer treatment and research through the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute.
March 2006	Launching of the University's first comprehensive fund-raising campaign.
March 2006	The USA Cancer Research Institute is renamed the Mitchell Cancer Institute following a $22 million gift in support of the Institute from the Mitchell family of Mobile.
April 2006	Infirmary Health System assumes operation of former USA Knollwood Hospital as Infirmary West at Knollwood.
September 2006	Dedication of Meisler Hall, an $8 million student services building named in honor of the Meisler family of Mobile, who donated $2 million to endow the facility.
October 2006	Dedication of the $2.2 million Alfred and Lucile Delchamps Archaeology Building, which serves as a public museum of ancient artifacts and a teaching and research center as home of the USA Center for Archaeological Studies. The building was created in part through the generosity of the Delchamps family of Mobile.
November 2006	A joint pharmacy program between USA and Auburn University was established, with plans to admit the first class of students in fall 2007. Graduates of the pharmacy program in Mobile receive a degree from the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy at the University of South Alabama.
March 2007	Dedication of the Joseph and Rebecca Mitchell Learning Resource Center at the Mitchell College of Business, a $2.5 million facility that significantly improves the learning environment for USA business students.
April 2007	The natural connections among Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health Professions were acknowledged through a new cooperative administrative structure under the guidance of the first Vice President for Health Sciences, Dr. Ron Franks.
April 2007	The University names its first vice president for health systems, Stan Hammack, who will oversee the clinical operations of USA’s health system, including its hospitals and physician practice.
April 2007	Began construction of the new $45 million Health Sciences Building, which will bring the colleges of Allied Health Professions and Nursing back to USA’s main campus.
May 2007	Hired first Vice President for Research, Dr. Russ Lea, symbolizing USA’s ever-expanding programs in research, outreach and scholarly activity.
August 2007	Opening of a privately funded student apartment complex, The Grove, which by fall 2008 housed 1,000 students.
September 2007	Celebrated the grand opening of the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy at the University of South Alabama and welcomed its inaugural class of students.
November 2007	USA students presented a petition to President Moulton in support of football and marching band programs during half-time at a Jaguar Men’s Basketball game.
December 2007	USA Trustees approve NCAA-sanctioned football and marching band programs.
December 2007	The historic number of degrees awarded by the University topped 60,000.
February 2008	USA hired its first football coach, Joey Jones.
February 2008	Public groundbreaking held during Homecoming for USA Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza.
March 2008	Plans for USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital expansion approved by USA Board of Trustees.
April 2008	Public groundbreaking ceremony held for new state-of-the-art, 116,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center.
July 2008	USA officially begins new marching band program with announcement of band’s first director, Ward Miller.
August 2008	USA unveils new athletic and marching band logo.
November 2008	Dedication of the new USA Mitchell Cancer Institute building, which represents a total investment of more than $135 million, including $75 million in construction and equipment.
April 2009	Conclusion of the University's first comprehensive fund-raising campaign, which resulted in more than $93.5 million for USA programs, faculty, students and construction.
September 2009	Launched inaugural season of USA’s football and marching band programs.
September 2009	Dedication of the Health Sciences Building, new home of the colleges of Allied Health Professions and Nursing.
September 2009	Groundbreaking ceremony for Shelby Hall Engineering and Computing Sciences Building.
November 2009	Dedication of the Football Field House and practice fields.
January 2010	Dedication of Veterans Memorial Plaza, which is dedicated to the students, alumni, faculty and staff who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
July 2010	Completion of the new USA Jaguar Marching Band drill tower and pavilion.
September 2010	First classes held in the new glass arts building, a 5,000-square-foot facility in the Visual Arts complex.
September 2010	Dedication of the new state-of-the-art, 116,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center.
October 2010	Dedication of Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza.
November 2010	Groundbreaking on USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital expansion.
November 2010	Opening of a new 20,000-square-foot dining hall near residence halls.
August 2011	Opening of Stokes Hall, a 330-bed residence hall that includes the University’s first Faculty in Residence and incorporates the concept of “Learning Communities.”
September 9, 2012	Dedication of Shelby Hall, home of College of Engineering and School of Computing.
May 3, 2013	50th Anniversary of USA’s founding.