Virginia State University
Encyclopedia
Virginia State University is a historically black
and land-grant university
located north of the Appomattox River
in Chesterfield
, in the Richmond
area. Founded on , Virginia State was the United States
's first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for black Americans. The university is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
.
, William Mahone
(1826–1895) of Petersburg, Virginia
was the driving force in the linkage of Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
, South Side Railroad and the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad
in 1870 to form the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad (AM&O), a new line extending from Norfolk
to Bristol
. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when the AM&O was sold at auction to form the Norfolk and Western Railway
.
Mahone, a former Confederate general best known as the hero of the Battle of the Crater
, later led Virginia's Readjuster Party
and was a major proponent of public schools for the education of the former slave
s and free blacks. He became a United States Senator from Virginia, and arranged for the proceeds of the AM&O sale to help found a school for teachers near Petersburg
. In 1882, the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute at Petersburg was established. State delegate Alfred W. Harris, a black attorney, introduced the bill that established the institute.
The school was designated one of Virginia's land grant colleges
in response to the 1890 Amendments to the Morrill Act, which required that states either open their land-grant colleges to all races or else establish a separate land-grant educational facilities for blacks.
Virginia State's first president was John Mercer Langston
, who later became the first African-American elected to Congress from Virginia. The board of trustees was almost entirely African-American, except for one member. The faculty of the collegiate program and the normal school was African-American until the mid-1960s.
In 1902, the legislature revised the school's charter and renamed it the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. In 1923, the college was renamed Virginia State College for Negroes, shortened to Virginia State College in 1946, and finally renamed Virginia State University in 1979. Meanwhile, the school's two-year branch in Norfolk
, Virginia
, founded in 1935, became Norfolk State College, now known as Norfolk State University
.
In 2003, the university accepted its first students in its first Ph.D. program.
On July 1, 2010, President Keith T. Miller was named the 13th President of Virginia State University. He previously served as president of Lock Haven University. Miller earned his bachelor, master and doctoral degrees from the University of Arizona.
in Petersburg, Virginia
, a jazz musician, and Dr. Camilla Ella Williams an opera artist. This three story, six-wing residence hall was built in 1980 as part of the village complex. Each wing is equipped with two community bathrooms. This residence hall features an air-conditioned lobby on each floor along with a computer lab on the first floor.
The university also has the Office for International Education and the Institute for Study of Race Relations.
This list includes graduates, non-graduate former students and current students of Virginia State University.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
and land-grant university
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
located north of the Appomattox River
Appomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
in Chesterfield
Ettrick, Virginia
Ettrick is a census-designated place in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,682 at the 2010 census. The town is home to Virginia State University and the Petersburg Amtrak train station....
, in the Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
area. Founded on , Virginia State was the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for black Americans. The university is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund , named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987. TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending 47-member schools, which include public Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Predominantly Black...
.
History
Following the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, William Mahone
William Mahone
William Mahone was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy"....
(1826–1895) of Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
was the driving force in the linkage of Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was built between Norfolk and Petersburg, Virginia and was completed by 1858.It played a role on the American Civil War , and became part of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad in 1870. The AM&O became the Norfolk and Western in 1881...
, South Side Railroad and the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad was an historic railroad in the Southern United States, much of which is incorporated into the modern Norfolk Southern Railway...
in 1870 to form the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad (AM&O), a new line extending from Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
to Bristol
Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when the AM&O was sold at auction to form the Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
.
Mahone, a former Confederate general best known as the hero of the Battle of the Crater
Battle of the Crater
The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It took place on July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General George G. Meade The...
, later led Virginia's Readjuster Party
Readjuster Party
The Readjuster Party was a political coalition formed in Virginia in the late 1870s during the turbulent period following the American Civil War. Readjusters aspired "to break the power of wealth and established privilege" and to promote public education, a program which attracted biracial support....
and was a major proponent of public schools for the education of the former slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s and free blacks. He became a United States Senator from Virginia, and arranged for the proceeds of the AM&O sale to help found a school for teachers near Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
. In 1882, the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute at Petersburg was established. State delegate Alfred W. Harris, a black attorney, introduced the bill that established the institute.
The school was designated one of Virginia's land grant colleges
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
in response to the 1890 Amendments to the Morrill Act, which required that states either open their land-grant colleges to all races or else establish a separate land-grant educational facilities for blacks.
Virginia State's first president was John Mercer Langston
John Mercer Langston
John Mercer Langston was an American abolitionist, attorney, educator, and political activist. He was the first dean of the law school at Howard University and helped create the department. He was the first president of what is now Virginia State University. In 1888 he was the first African...
, who later became the first African-American elected to Congress from Virginia. The board of trustees was almost entirely African-American, except for one member. The faculty of the collegiate program and the normal school was African-American until the mid-1960s.
In 1902, the legislature revised the school's charter and renamed it the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. In 1923, the college was renamed Virginia State College for Negroes, shortened to Virginia State College in 1946, and finally renamed Virginia State University in 1979. Meanwhile, the school's two-year branch in Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, founded in 1935, became Norfolk State College, now known as Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University is a four-year, state-supported, coed, liberal arts, historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the Virginia High-Tech Partnership.-Academics:...
.
| The third season of BET Bet Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory... 's reality television Reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded... series College Hill was filmed at Virginia State University in 2006. |
On July 1, 2010, President Keith T. Miller was named the 13th President of Virginia State University. He previously served as president of Lock Haven University. Miller earned his bachelor, master and doctoral degrees from the University of Arizona.
Main Campus
The university has a 236 acre (0.95505896 km²) main campus and a 416 acres (1.7 km²) agricultural research facility. The main campus includes more than 50 buildings, including 15 dormitories and 16 classroom buildings. The main campus sits atop a rolling landscape overlooking the Appomattox RiverAppomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
in Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
Residence Halls
Virginia State University uses the term "Residence Hall" rather than 'Dormitory', which is derived from the Latin word "dormus" which means "to sleep". A residence hall is considered a home-away-from-home, a campus community, not simply a place to sleep.Branch Hall
Branch Hall is a freshmen female residence hall at Virginia State University and was erected during the 1949-1950 academic year. This four story, five-wing residence hall is named for the late Mary E. Branch, the first graduate of the institution to become president of a college. In 1930 she became the first Black woman to be appointed the president of Tillotson Teachers' College in Austin Texas. Each wing in Branch Hall is equipped with one community bathroom.Byrd Hall
Byrd Hall, a freshmen female residence hall was named in honor of The Honorable Harry Flood Byrd, Former Governor of Virginia. This five story, nine wing residence hall was erected during the 1929-1930 school year from funds derived from the Noell Act and from appropriations made by the General Education Board. Byrd Hall is equipped with three large air-conditioned lobbies, individual air conditioning units in each room, recreational areas, a quiet study room, laundry facilities and a computer lab that has high speed internet connectivity. Each wing of Byrd Hall shares a community bathroom.Howard Hall
Howard Hall, a female freshmen residence hall, was named in honor of Otelia Sheild Howard an English teacher and an adviser to the Virginia Statesman newspaper. Howard Hall features central air- conditioning throughout the building and two community bathrooms per floor. It also has laundry facilities and a computer lab with Internet and word processing capabilities.Eggleston Hall
Eggleston Hall, an all female residence hall for freshmen students, is named in honor of Dr. Joseph D. Eggleston. Eggleston was a former member of the Board of Visitors at Virginia State College. This three-story brick residence hall was completed in the 1927-1928 academic school year. This residence hall features an air-conditioned lobby area where students can relax, laundry facilities and a computer lab with Internet and word processing capabilities.Puryear Hall
Puryear Hall, a four-story, freshmen male residence hall was erected in 1959 and is named in honor of Rev. Thomas Puryear, a former Dean of Men, football and baseball coach at Virginia State University. Puryear Hall features an air-conditioned lobby and recreation room where students can relax along with two community bathrooms on each floor. It also has laundry facilities and a computer lab with internet and word processing capabilities.Seward Hall
Seward Hall, a three-story brick co-educational residence hall, was erected in 1926-1927. This three-story residence hall was named for Hatcher S. Seward, a member of the Board of Visitors from Petersburg. Seward is equipped with air conditioners in each room for the resident’s convenience and features laundry facilities, mail service and a computer lab that has internet access. Each floor of Seward Hall is equipped with two community bathrooms.Williams Hall
Williams Hall, a freshmen male residence hall, was named in honor of Professor Daniel Barclay Williams who taught at the college for many years. This three story, 6 wing building was begun in 1934 and completed in 1935. Williams Hall is equipped with an air-conditioned lobby where students can relax, a recreational area, laundry facilities and a computer lab that has internet access and word processing capabilities. It is also equipped with one community bathroom per wing.Langston Hall
Langston Hall, a freshmen co-educational honors hall was built in the 1928-1929 school year and named for Mr. John Mercer Langston, the first president of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. Langston Hall has been completely renovated and features a lobby where students can relax on the first floor, as well as, lounges on each floor. Although it is a co-educational residence hall, each floor or wing is designated as male or female only. The residence hall has laundry facilities, mail services and a computer lab that has internet access and word processing capabilities. This residence hall contains single rooms, single suites, double rooms and double suites.Moore Hall
Moore Hall, a co-educational suite style residence hall was completed in August 2008. It is named in honor of Eddie N. Moore, Jr. the universities 12th president and his wife Elisia. Students are able to choose from the following floor plans: Suite A (4-party single), Suite B (4-party double), Suite C (2-party single), Suite E (single suite). Each suite in Moore Hall is equipped with a refrigerator and microwave along with personal room controls for heat and air conditioning. The hall boasts of smart classrooms, a computer lab, laundry facilities, a game room, wellness center and salon.Quad Hall A & B
Quad Hall is a co-educational residence hall completed in 2010. The Quad consist of two L-shaped residence halls connected by a singular lobby. The two buildings (Quad A and B) house 458 national exchange, and upper-class students. Quad Hall includes one and two-bedroom units with both handicap and hearing impaired units. All double rooms are equipped with a private bathroom and all single rooms are suite style (two singles share one bathroom). Amenities include study lounges on each floor, computer laboratories, laundry facilities, smart classrooms, multipurpose rooms and a kitchen in each building. Shared spaces between the two buildings will include a central main entrance and lobby, a main commons area, a wellness center, a game room and a beauty/barber salon.The Student Village Complex
Located across from Rogers Stadium, the Student Village Complex or more commonly referred to as "The Vill," provides housing for returning Virginia State University students. The Student Village includes, Taylor-Williams, a female residence hall; Barrett-Jackson and Nicholas Hall; both Co-ed residence halls and Powell Pavilion. Due to its distance from main campus, students often refer to the Student Village Complex as the "The Suburbs" and main campus as "The City."Taylor-Williams Hall
Taylor-Williams Hall (Buildings A & B) is a residence hall for upper-class females and named in honor of two world renowned alumni of Virginia State University. Dr. Billy TaylorBilly Taylor
Billy Taylor was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and since 1994, he was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in...
, a jazz musician, and Dr. Camilla Ella Williams an opera artist. This three story, six-wing residence hall was built in 1980 as part of the village complex. Each wing is equipped with two community bathrooms. This residence hall features an air-conditioned lobby on each floor along with a computer lab on the first floor.
Barrett-Jackson Hall
Barrett-Jackson Hall (Student Village Buildings C & D) is a co-ed residence hall named in honor of Miss Julia Louise Barrett the Director of Admissions and Registrar from 1926 to 1965 and Mr. Henry Colson Jackson who served as Dean of Men. This three story, six-wing residence hall was built in 1980 as part of the village complex. Each wing is equipped with two community bathrooms. This residence hall features an air-conditioned lobby on each floor along with a computer lab on the first floor.Nicholas Hall
Nicholas Hall (Building E), a co-educational upper-class Residence Hall, was named in honor of James F. Nicholas who in 1944 was invited to join the faculty of Virginia State College where he became an instructor in education and principal of the high school. This three story residence hall was built in 1980 as part of the village complex. Each wing is equipped with two community bathrooms. This residence hall features an air-conditioned lobby on each floor along with a computer lab on the first floor.Academics
This is a list of the departments within each School:- School of Agriculture
- Agriculture and Human Ecology
- Hospitality Management
- Dietetic Internship, ADA Accredited
- Cooperative Extension
- Agriculture Research Station
- The Reginald F. Lewis School of Business
- Accounting and Finance
- Management Information Systems
- Management and Marketing
- School of Engineering, Science, and Technology
- Engineering, Engineering Technology, Industrial Education and Technology
- Engineering Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Industrial Education and Technology
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Biology
- Chemistry and Physics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Computer
- Psychology
- Nursing
- School of Liberal Arts and Education
- Professional Education Programs
- Graduate Professional Education Programs
- Center for Undergraduate Professional Education Programs
- Health, Physical Education and Recreation
- History and Philosophy
- Languages and Literature
- English
- Mass Communication
- Military Science
- Music, Art and Design
- Political Science, Public Administration and Economics
- Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice
- Professional Education Programs
- Bachelor of Individualized Studies
- School of Graduate Studies, Research, and Outreach (offering Master Degrees in):
- Biology
- Career and Technical Studies
- Counselor Education
- Criminal Justice
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- English
- History
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Mathematics
- Mass Communications
- Psychology
- Sport Management
The university also has the Office for International Education and the Institute for Study of Race Relations.
Demographics
The 2009-2010 student body is 62.2% female and 37.5% male. It consists of 69.7% in-state and 30.3% out-of-state students. 97.2% of students live on campus and 2.8% off-campus. 91.1% of students self-identify as Black/African American, while 4.0% are White, and 4.0% are racially unreported.Marching band
Directed by, Dr. Mark W Phillips, the VSU Trojan Explosion has approximately 170 members including the Essence of Troy Dancers, The Satin Divas Flag Corps, The Troy Elegance Majorette Squad in addition to the instrumentalists.Cheerleading
Originally led by head coach Dr. Paulette Johnson for 35 years the Woo Woo's are a nationally recognized cheerleading squad known for original, up-tempo and high energy performances. The 30 member squad is composed of young women from all over the country. The squad focuses on community service as well as promoting school spirit. Tryouts are held annually during the spring semester for VSU full-time students. Instructional camps and workshops are offered throughout the state. In 2001, the University granted the Woo Woo Alumni chapter its initial charter. The organization has a rapidly growing membership that is actively involved in the promotion of the squad and its individual members. Shandra Claiborne, a former woo woo,is now in charge of cheerleading for all Virginia State University athletic teams.Notable alumni
External links
- www.vsu.edu -- Official web site
- www.trojanexplosion.org --Trojan Explosion website