Virginia State University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Virginia State University

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; 143 years ago (1882-03-06)
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	ORAU SCHEV TMCF VHTP
Endowment	$100 million (2025)
President	Makola M. Abdullah
Academic staff	300
Students	5,701 (Fall 2024)
Location	Petersburg, Virginia , 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 (VSU or Virginia State) is a public university in Ettrick, Virginia, USA. It is a historically Black university. This means it was founded to provide higher education for Black Americans. VSU is also a land-grant university, which means it receives special funding from the government to teach agriculture, science, and engineering. It was started on March 6, 1882. VSU was the first four-year college in the United States fully supported by the state for Black Americans. It is part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

History of VSU

University entrance

How VSU Began

Virginia State University started on March 6, 1882. The state government passed a law to create the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. A Black lawyer named Alfred W. Harris helped make this law happen. There was a legal challenge that delayed the opening. But the school finally opened its doors on October 1, 1883.

Changes Over the Years

In 1902, the school's name changed to Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. Its college program was also made smaller. Later, in 1920, a special program for Black students in agriculture and engineering moved to VSU. This program had been at a private school before.

The college program was brought back in 1923. In 1930, the school's name changed again to Virginia State College for Negroes. A two-year branch campus was added in Norfolk in 1944. This branch became a four-year college in 1956. It then became its own independent school, Norfolk State College, in 1969. The main school was renamed Virginia State College in 1946. Finally, in 1979, the state law changed its name to Virginia State University.

Growth and Development

In its first year, 1883–1884, VSU had 126 students and seven teachers. All the teachers were Black. The university had one building and a small library. By 1982, when the university was 100 years old, it had grown a lot. It had nearly 5,000 students and about 250 full-time teachers. The campus had grown to 236 acres. There were more than 50 buildings, including 15 dorms.

The university is located in Chesterfield County. It is in Ettrick, right across the Appomattox River from Petersburg. You can easily get there using major highways.

Leaders of VSU

The first person to lead the university was John Mercer Langston. He was a very famous Black man of his time. He was the only Black person elected to the U.S. Congress from Virginia until 1992. He was also the great-uncle of the famous writer Langston Hughes.

From 1888 to 1968, four presidents led the school for about 20 years each. They helped the university grow and succeed. In 2015, Dr. Pamela V. Hammond became the first woman president of Virginia State University. She was an interim president at first. On February 1, 2016, Dr. Makola Abdullah became the 14th president. He is the youngest African American to earn a Ph.D. in engineering.

In 2020, MacKenzie Scott gave $30 million to Virginia State. This was the largest single gift the university had ever received.

Campus Life

Library

Main Campus and Facilities

The main campus of Virginia State University is about 236 acres. It also has a 412-acre farm for agricultural research. This farm is called the Randolph Farm. The main campus has over 50 buildings. These include 11 dorms and 18 academic buildings. The campus is near the Appomattox River in Ettrick, Virginia.

Campus 2006

Student Housing

VSU has several residence halls where students can live. These include:

• 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)

Academics at VSU

The university offers many different subjects for students to study. These subjects are organized into seven colleges:

• College of Agriculture
• Reginald F. Lewis College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Engineering and Technology
• College of Graduate Studies, Research, and Outreach
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• College of Natural Sciences

Student Body

In the 2017–2018 school year, about 57% of students were female and 43% were male. Most students (nearly 70%) were from Virginia. About 97% of students lived on campus. Most students (about 91%) identified as Black/African American.

Sports and Athletics

Virginia State has 14 sports teams that compete in Division II. They are part of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference. The teams are known as the Trojans.

Student Activities

There are more than 70 student groups at VSU. These include the Student Government Association and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Marching Band

The Virginia State University Trojan Explosion is the university's marching band. It includes musicians, dancers, flag performers, and twirlers. The band was renamed the "Trojan Explosion" in 1984. The Trojan Explosion has performed at the White House for President Barack Obama. This was during the signing of a bill to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Cheerleading

The Woo Woos in 1977 (left) and in 2017

The Woo Woos are VSU's nationally recognized cheerleading squad. They are known for their energetic performances. The squad has about 30 members. They also focus on community service and showing school spirit. Tryouts are held every spring for full-time VSU students.

Concert Choir

The Department of Music at VSU has a 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 music history. The choir also performed songs from this series in Baltimore.

Famous People from VSU

Many talented people have attended Virginia State University. Here are some of them:

Alumna Camilla Williams, the first African American to get a contract from a major American opera company (namesake of Taylor-Williams Hall at the university)

See also

• Dovell Act