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	$56.1 million (2020)
President	Makola M. Abdullah
Academic staff	300
Students	4,648 (fall 2022)
Location	Petersburg , Virginia , United States
Campus	Large suburb, 231 acres (0.93 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 public university in Ettrick, Virginia. It is known as a historically Black university. This means it was founded to provide higher education for African Americans. VSU is also a land-grant university, which means it gets special funding from the government for teaching agriculture and engineering.

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.

History of Virginia State University

University entrance

Virginia State University began on March 6, 1882. It was first called the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. A "normal institute" was a school that trained teachers. A lawyer named Alfred W. Harris helped create the law that started the school.

The school faced some challenges at first. It finally opened its doors on October 1, 1883. In its first year, VSU had 126 students and seven teachers. All the teachers were Black. The school had one building and a small library.

Over the years, the school's name changed several times:

• In 1902, it became the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute.
• In 1920, a special program for Black students in agriculture moved to VSU.
• In 1930, it was renamed Virginia State College for Negroes.
• In 1946, the name changed to Virginia State College.
• Finally, in 1979, it became Virginia State University.

By 1982, VSU had grown a lot. It had nearly 5,000 students and about 250 full-time teachers. The campus had expanded to 236 acres. There were more than 50 buildings, including many dorms and classrooms.

The university is located in Ettrick, Virginia. It sits on a hill near the Appomattox River. You can easily reach it from major highways.

Leaders of VSU

The first person to lead VSU was John Mercer Langston. He was a very famous Black man of his time. He was even elected to the U.S. Congress in 1888. He was also the great-uncle of the famous writer Langston Hughes.

Many presidents have led VSU over the years. Some, like John M. Gandy and Luther H. Foster, served for a long time. They helped the school grow and succeed. In 2015, Dr. Pamela V. Hammond became the first woman to lead VSU. Today, Dr. Makola Abdullah is the 14th president. He is the youngest African American to earn a Ph.D. in engineering.

In 2020, a generous gift of $30 million was given to Virginia State by MacKenzie Scott. This was the largest single gift in the university's history.

Campus Life at VSU

Library

VSU has a main campus that covers 231 acres. It also has a large farm for agricultural research. The main campus has over 50 buildings. These include 11 dorms and 18 academic buildings. The campus is located near the Appomattox River.

Campus 2006

Where Students Live

VSU has several residence halls (dorms) for students:

• Branch Hall
• Byrd Hall
• Eggleston Hall
• Gateway 2
• Langston Hall
• Moore Hall
• Quad Hall (buildings I&II)
• Seward Hall
• Whiting Hall
• Williams Hall
• University Apartments (off-campus)

What Can You Study at VSU?

VSU offers many different subjects to study. Here are some of the main areas:

Student Body

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

Sports at VSU

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 called the Trojans.

Student Life and Activities

There are more than 70 student groups at VSU. These include the Student Government Association.

Marching Band

The Virginia State University Trojan Explosion is a famous marching band. It includes musicians, dancers, and flag twirlers. The band is known for its high energy and amazing performances. They have 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!

Cheerleading

The VSU cheerleading squad is called the Woo Woos. They are known for their original and energetic routines. The Woo Woos focus on helping the community and showing school spirit. Many former Woo Woos are now part of an alumni group that supports the squad.

• 

  The Woo Woos in 1977...

• 

  ... and in 2017

Concert Choir

The Department of Music has a Concert Choir. In 1974, the choir recorded an album. It featured songs by a Black composer and former faculty member, Undine Smith Moore. The choir also performs gospel songs arranged by VSU students.

Famous People Who Attended VSU

Alumna Camilla Williams, the first African American to get a contract from a major American opera company

Many talented people have studied at Virginia State University. Here are a few:

See also

• Dovell Act