Virginia State University facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former names
|
Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (1882–1902) Virginia State College for Negroes (1902–1946) Virginia State College (1946–1979) |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Greater Happens Here" |
| Type | Public historically black land-grant university |
| Established | March 6, 1882 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
|
Academic affiliations
|
|
| Endowment | $96.5 million (2024) |
| President | Makola M. Abdullah |
|
Academic staff
|
300 |
| Students | 5,701 (Fall 2024) |
| Location |
,
United States
|
| Campus | Large suburb, 236 acres (0.96 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Statesman |
| Colors | Orange and blue |
| Nickname | Trojans |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division II – CIAA |
 |
|
Virginia State University (often called VSU or Virginia State) is a special kind of public university. It is located in Ettrick, Virginia, in the United States. VSU is known as a historically Black college or university (HBCU). This means it was founded to provide higher education for Black Americans. It is also a land-grant school, which means it receives support to teach agriculture and technical subjects.
VSU was started on March 6, 1882. It was the first four-year college in the United States fully supported by the state for Black Americans. Today, VSU is part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which helps support public HBCUs.
Contents
The Story of VSU: A Look Back
Virginia State University began on March 6, 1882. Lawmakers passed a bill to create the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. A Black lawyer named Alfred W. Harris helped make this happen. He represented Dinwiddie County in the government.
The school's opening was delayed for 19 months because of a legal challenge. It finally opened on October 1, 1883. In 1902, the school's name changed to Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. Its college program was also made smaller for a time.
Growth and New Programs
In 1920, a special program for Black students moved to VSU. This program focused on agriculture and technical skills. It had been at a private school called Hampton Institute since 1872. In 1923, the college program was brought back. The school's name changed again in 1930 to Virginia State College for Negroes.
A new two-year campus was added in Norfolk in 1944. This campus grew into a four-year school by 1956. It became independent as Norfolk State College in 1969. In 1946, the main school was renamed Virginia State College. Finally, in 1979, a new law changed the name to Virginia State University.
VSU's Early Days and Expansion
In its first year (1883–1884), VSU had 126 students and seven teachers. All of the teachers were Black. The school had one building and a small library. By 1982, VSU had grown a lot. It had nearly 5,000 students and about 250 full-time teachers. The library held many books and other learning materials. The campus had grown to 236-acre (96 ha) with over 50 buildings. This included 15 dorms and 16 classroom buildings.
VSU is located in Chesterfield County. It sits on a hill near the Appomattox River. You can easily reach it by major highways.
Leaders Who Shaped VSU
The first president of VSU was John Mercer Langston. He was a very famous Black leader of his time. He was also the great-uncle of the well-known writer Langston Hughes. From 1888 to 1968, four presidents led the school for about 20 years each. They helped VSU grow and succeed through many challenges.
Later, from 1968 to 1992, six more presidents guided the university. On June 1, 1993, Eddie N. Moore, Jr. became the twelfth president. Dr. Keith T. Miller served as the 13th president from 2010 to 2014. In 2015, Dr. Pamela V. Hammond made history. She became the first woman to lead Virginia State University in 133 years. She was an interim president starting January 1, 2015.
On February 1, 2016, Dr. Makola Abdullah became the 14th president. Dr. Abdullah is from Chicago. He is known as the youngest African American to earn a Ph.D. in engineering. He studied civil engineering at Howard University and Northwestern University.
Generous Gifts to VSU
In 2020, MacKenzie Scott gave a very large gift to Virginia State. She donated $30 million to the university. This was the second-largest single gift VSU had ever received.
In October 2025, MacKenzie Scott gave another big gift. She donated an additional $50 million to Virginia State. This became the largest single gift in the university's history.
Exploring the VSU Campus
The main campus of Virginia State University is quite large. It covers about 236-acre (0.96 km2). There is also a 412-acre (1.67 km2) farm called Randolph Farm. This farm is used for agricultural research.
The main campus has over 50 buildings. These include 11 dorms where students live. There are also 18 buildings used for classes and learning. The campus is located near the Appomattox River in Ettrick, Virginia.
Where Students Live: Residence Halls
- Byrd Hall
- Branch Hall
- Howard Hall
- Campbell Hall
- Gateway 2
- Langston Hall
- Moore Hall
- Quad Hall (buildings I&II)
- Seward Hall
- Whiting Hall
- Williams Hall
- University Apartments (off-campus)
What You Can Study: Academic Programs
VSU offers many different subjects to study. These are organized into seven main colleges:
- College of Agriculture (for farming and food science)
- Reginald F. Lewis College of Business (for business and management)
- College of Education (for becoming a teacher)
- College of Engineering and Technology (for science and building things)
- College of Graduate Studies, Research, and Outreach (for advanced studies and research)
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences (for history, writing, and understanding people)
- College of Natural Sciences (for biology, chemistry, and other sciences)
Who Attends VSU: Student Demographics
| Race and ethnicity | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 93% |
|
| Unknown | 3% |
|
| White | 3% |
|
| International student | 1% |
|
In Fall 2023, VSU had 5,701 students. Most students (93%) identified as Black/African American. About 3% were White, and 1% were international students. The remaining 3% did not report their race.
Sports and Teams: VSU Athletics
Virginia State has 14 sports teams. They compete in NCAA Division II. VSU is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference. The teams are known as the Trojans.
Fun at VSU: Student Activities
There are more than 70 student groups at VSU. These include the Student Government Association. There are also groups from the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
The Trojan Explosion Marching Band
The Virginia State University Trojan Explosion is a famous marching band. It includes talented musicians, the Essence of Troy Dancers, Satin Divas Flag team, and Troy Elegance Twirlers.
The band was first called the "Marching 110." It became the "Trojan Explosion" in 1984. The band has been chosen to perform at the Honda Battle of the Bands nine times in a row. The drum line even performed at the White House for President Barack Obama. This was during the signing of a bill to help HBCUs.
The Woo Woos Cheerleading Squad
The Woo Woos are VSU's nationally recognized cheerleading squad. They are known for their energetic performances. The squad has about 30 young women from all over the country. They also focus on helping the community and showing school spirit.
The VSU Concert Choir
The Department of Music at VSU has a recording Concert Choir. In 1974, this choir recorded an album. It was called The Undine Smith Moore Song Book. This album was part of a series about African-American heritage in songs. The choir also performed songs from this series in Baltimore.
Famous People from VSU
Many talented people have studied at Virginia State University. Here are a few examples:
- James Avery – A well-known actor.
- Deshauna Barber – She was crowned Miss USA 2016.
- Herman Branson – An African American physicist. He researched the alpha helix protein structure.
- Trenton Cannon – An NFL running back for the New York Jets.
- Roger L. Gregory – A judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
- Reginald F. Lewis – A successful businessman. He owned TLC Beatrice International.
- Lucy McBath – A U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia.
- Billy Taylor – A famous jazz musician.
- Dennis L. Via – A four-star general in the U.S. Army (retired).
- Gladys West – A mathematician whose work helped develop the Global Positioning System (GPS). She is in the United States Air Force Hall of Fame.
- Camilla Williams – The first African-American to get a contract from a major American opera company.
See also
- Dovell Act
 | Victor J. Glover |
 | Yvonne Cagle |
 | Jeanette Epps |
 | Bernard A. Harris Jr. |
