University of Memphis

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The University of Memphis is a public research university in Memphis, Tennessee. It opened in 1912 as West Tennessee State Normal School and later became Memphis State University before receiving its current name in 1994. The university has about 20,000 students, with roughly 16,700 undergraduates and 5,200 graduates, and offers a wide range of programs through its colleges of Engineering, Law, Nursing, Public Health, Communication and Fine Arts, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and more. It is classified as a high-level research university (R1: Very High Research Activity).

Campus and locations
The main campus sits on about 1,160 acres in east Memphis, in a park-like, tree-lined setting near the University District. The university also operates the Park Avenue Campus to the south and, since 2010, the downtown campus for the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The Lambuth Campus in Jackson, Tennessee, was added to extend the university’s reach. Recent expansions include a pedestrian bridge (the Hunter Harrison Memorial Bridge), a new Student Recreation & Fitness Center (2021), and the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music building (2022).

History and governance
Memphis State University became the University of Memphis in 1994. The university joined the Tennessee Board of Regents system for many years but, in 2017, established its own governing board under the FOCUS Act. The school has grown through the years, expanding its campuses, facilities, and research programs.

Academics and centers
The University of Memphis is home to several well-known colleges and schools, including:
- Herff College of Engineering
- Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law (downtown campus)
- Loewenberg College of Nursing
- School of Public Health
- College of Communication and Fine Arts
- Fogelman College of Business and Economics
- College of Arts and Sciences
It hosts major research centers such as the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) and the FedEx Institute of Technology, and it houses academic programs in archaeology and Egyptology through the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology. The university is committed to sustainability, with initiatives like the Green Campus program, LEED-certified projects, and energy programs that include renewable energy purchases.

Student life and traditions
The university’s nickname is the Tigers, with blue and gray as school colors. The long-running band, The Mighty Sound of the South, performs at football and basketball games. The live Bengal tiger mascot TOM (TOM I–III) lived on campus until 2020; a costumed tiger, Pouncer, now represents the school in many events, and the campus also features dozens of tiger statues honoring the university’s history. The Daily Helmsman is the student newspaper, with a tradition dating back to 1931 as The Tiger Rag. The university also hosts programs like the Governor’s School for International Studies and the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change, which focuses on civil rights history and public policy.

Athletics
Memphis Tigers compete in NCAA Division I FBS as part of The American conference, with a strong tradition in basketball and football.

Notable facts
- Endowment: about $379.8 million (2024)
- President: Bill Hardgrave
- The university emphasizes accessibility, research, and community engagement, with programs and facilities designed to support students from diverse backgrounds and to serve the Memphis region.