<P> In 1959, five years after Brown v. Board of Education the university admitted its first black students . Racial segregation was the norm throughout the South at the time . The Memphis State Eight, as they were known, were admitted to Memphis State University . Their presence on campus was the focus not only of intense media scrutiny, but severe criticism from much of the local public . Ostensibly for the black students' safety and to maintain an air of calm on the campus, University administrators placed certain restrictions on where and when the black students could be on campus . They were to go only to their classes, not to any of the public places on campus, such as the cafeteria; and they were to leave the campus immediately after they had finished their last class . These limitations were lifted after the novelty of their presence on campus had subsided and the public's focus on their presence there had lessened, and as more and more black students were admitted to the university . Today, black students make up more than one - third of the campus student body and they participate fully in all campus activities . </P> <P> Cecil C. Humphreys became president of MSU, succeeding Smith, in 1960 . In 1966, the school began awarding doctoral degrees . Humphreys resigned as MSU president to become the first chancellor of the newly formed State University and Community College System, later renamed the Tennessee Board of Regents . John Richardson was appointed interim president . </P> <P> In 1973, Dr. Billy Mac Jones became president . Also that year, the Memphis State Tiger men's basketball team reached the finals of the NCAA tournament, only to fall at the hands of a UCLA team led by future NBA superstar and Hall of Famer Bill Walton in The NCAA Basketball Championship Game in St. Louis, Missouri . In 1980, Thomas Carpenter became president of MSU; he was succeeded by V. Lane Rawlins in 1991 . On July 1, 1994, Memphis State University changed its name again, to the University of Memphis . </P> <P> V. Lane Rawlins served from 1991 to 2000; Dr. Ralph Faudree filled in as interim president for one year after V. Lane Rawlins' departure . In 2001, The U of M installed its first female president, Shirley Raines, who retired in the summer of 2013 . After a yearlong search, Dr. M. David Rudd was confirmed as the 12th president on May 1, 2014 . </P>

When did memphis state became university of memphis