RAMP 39th Annual Conference
February 6-8, 2020
Austin, Texas
Theme:
The Challenges Facing Our Nation: How Do We Respond?
Continuing the Dialogue (Revisited)
Press Release
Join RAMP in the Live Music Capital of the World!
Austin is the state capital and is also the fourth-most populous city in Texas and the 11th most-populous in the Unites States. Located in the center of the state, Austin has both scenic, natural views and the hustle and bustle of big city life. It is also the fastest growing large city in the United States and the southernmost state capital in the contiguous United States. The city is the cultural and economic center of the Austin–Round Rock metropolitan statistical area, which has an estimated population of over 2 million people. Located in Central Texas within the greater Texas Hill Country, Austin is home to numerous lakes, rivers, and waterways, including Lady Bird Lake and Lake Travis on the Colorado River, Barton Springs, McKinney Falls, and Lake Walter E. Long.
As Austin's official slogan is The Live Music Capital of the World, the city has a vibrant live music scene with more music venues per capita than any other U.S. city. Austin's music revolves around the many nightclubs on 6th Street and an annual film/music/interactive festival known as South by Southwest (SXSW). The concentration of restaurants, bars, and music venues in the city's downtown core is a major contributor to Austin's live music scene.
Austin is known for its Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine. Franklin Barbecue is perhaps Austin's most famous barbecue restaurant; the restaurant has sold out of brisket every day since its establishment. Breakfast tacos and queso are popular food items in the city; Austin is sometimes called the "home of the breakfast taco." Kolaches are a common pastry in Austin bakeries due to the large Czech and German immigrant population in Texas. The Oasis Restaurant is the largest outdoor restaurant in Texas, which promotes itself as the "Sunset Capital of Texas" with its terraced views looking West over Lake Travis. P. Terry's, an Austin-based fast food burger chain, has a loyal following among Austinites. Austin is also home to a large number of food trucks, with the second-largest number of food trucks per capita in the United States. Austin has a large craft beer scene, with over 50 microbreweries in the metro area.
Higher Education
Huston–Tillotson University (HU), the 2020 RAMP Conference host institution, is a private historically black university in Austin, Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and the United Negro College Fund. Huston–Tillotson University awards four-year degrees in business, education, the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, science and technology. The University also offers alternative teacher certification and academic programs for undergraduates interested in pursuing post-graduate degrees in Law and Medicine. Established in 1875, Huston–Tillotson University was the first institution of higher learning in Austin. Huston-Tillotson teams, nicknamed athletically as the Rams, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC).
Austin is also home to the University of Texas at Austin, the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. In 2020 rankings, the university was ranked 48th among "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report. Other institutions of higher learning in Austin include St. Edward's University, Austin Community College, Concordia University, the Seminary of the Southwest, the Acton School of Business, Texas Health and Science University, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Austin Graduate School of Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Virginia College's Austin Campus, and The Art Institute of Austin.
As Austin's official slogan is The Live Music Capital of the World, the city has a vibrant live music scene with more music venues per capita than any other U.S. city. Austin's music revolves around the many nightclubs on 6th Street and an annual film/music/interactive festival known as South by Southwest (SXSW). The concentration of restaurants, bars, and music venues in the city's downtown core is a major contributor to Austin's live music scene.
Austin is known for its Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine. Franklin Barbecue is perhaps Austin's most famous barbecue restaurant; the restaurant has sold out of brisket every day since its establishment. Breakfast tacos and queso are popular food items in the city; Austin is sometimes called the "home of the breakfast taco." Kolaches are a common pastry in Austin bakeries due to the large Czech and German immigrant population in Texas. The Oasis Restaurant is the largest outdoor restaurant in Texas, which promotes itself as the "Sunset Capital of Texas" with its terraced views looking West over Lake Travis. P. Terry's, an Austin-based fast food burger chain, has a loyal following among Austinites. Austin is also home to a large number of food trucks, with the second-largest number of food trucks per capita in the United States. Austin has a large craft beer scene, with over 50 microbreweries in the metro area.
Higher Education
Huston–Tillotson University (HU), the 2020 RAMP Conference host institution, is a private historically black university in Austin, Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and the United Negro College Fund. Huston–Tillotson University awards four-year degrees in business, education, the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, science and technology. The University also offers alternative teacher certification and academic programs for undergraduates interested in pursuing post-graduate degrees in Law and Medicine. Established in 1875, Huston–Tillotson University was the first institution of higher learning in Austin. Huston-Tillotson teams, nicknamed athletically as the Rams, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC).
Austin is also home to the University of Texas at Austin, the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. In 2020 rankings, the university was ranked 48th among "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report. Other institutions of higher learning in Austin include St. Edward's University, Austin Community College, Concordia University, the Seminary of the Southwest, the Acton School of Business, Texas Health and Science University, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Austin Graduate School of Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Virginia College's Austin Campus, and The Art Institute of Austin.
