Virginia Union University facts for kids
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Former names
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Colver Institute (1865–1886) Richmond Theological Institute (1886–1899) Wayland Seminary (1865–1899) Hartshorn Memorial College (1883–1932) |
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| Motto | The Lord Will Provide |
| Type | Private historically black university |
| Established | 1865 |
| Endowment | $29 million |
| President | Hakim Lucas |
| Students | 1,700 |
| Location |
,
Virginia
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United States
37°33′45″N 77°27′4″W / 37.56250°N 77.45111°W |
| Campus | Urban, 84 acres (34 ha) |
| Colors | Maroon and Steel |
| Nickname | Panthers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II – CIAA |
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Virginia Union University
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| Location | 1500 N. Lombardy St., Richmond, Virginia, United States |
| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | John H. Coxhead |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004590 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1982 |
Virginia Union University (VUU) is a private, historically black university (HBCU) in Richmond, Virginia. HBCUs are schools that were founded mainly for African-American students before 1964, when laws were passed to end segregation in schools.
VUU is known for its long history of providing education and opportunities to its students. It is connected with the American Baptist Churches USA.
Contents
History of the University
Virginia Union University was founded in 1865, right after the American Civil War. A group called the American Baptist Home Mission Society started the school to educate newly freed African Americans. The university's first library was also created in 1865, making it the first academic library at an HBCU.
A New Beginning
The school began as the Richmond Theological Institute. Its goal was to train men to become ministers. Soon, it grew to offer college, high school, and prep school classes for both men and women.
Another school, called Wayland Seminary, was started in Washington, D.C.. A famous student there was Booker T. Washington, who became a major leader for African Americans.
In 1867, the school in Richmond moved into a building that was once known as Lumpkin's Jail. This building had been used to hold enslaved people. By turning it into a school, the founders transformed a place of sadness into a place of hope and learning.
Joining Together to Grow
In 1899, the Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary joined together. They formed a new university in Richmond called Virginia Union University.
Over the years, other schools joined VUU.
- In 1932, Hartshorn Memorial College, a school for women, became part of the university.
- In 1964, Storer College, another historically black college, merged its funds with VUU to help it grow stronger.
What You Can Study
The university is divided into four main schools where students can take classes and earn degrees.
- Evelyn Reid Syphax School of Education and Interdisciplinary Studies
- School of Arts and Sciences
- Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology (for religious studies)
- Sydney Lewis School of Business
The theology school at VUU is named after Samuel DeWitt Proctor, a former president of the university. It is a well-respected program for students who want to become religious leaders.
Campus Life and Sports
Life at VUU is full of activities. There are more than 20 student clubs and organizations. Students can also join fraternities and sororities, which are social groups that often do community service.
The VUU Panthers
VUU's sports teams are called the Panthers. They compete in the NCAA Division II against other universities. The school has teams for many sports, including:
- Men's sports: basketball, football, cross country, golf, tennis, and track and field.
- Women's sports: basketball, bowling, cross country, tennis, track and field, softball, and volleyball.
In 2018, both the men's and women's basketball teams won their league championship, which is a major achievement.
A fun fact about VUU is where its basketball and volleyball teams play. Their gym is called Barco-Stevens Hall. This building was originally the Belgian Building at the 1939 New York World's Fair. After the fair, the building was given to the university in 1941 and moved to the campus. It has unique stone carvings that show scenes from the former Belgian Congo.
Famous Graduates
Many successful people have graduated from Virginia Union University. They have become leaders in government, sports, civil rights, and many other fields.
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Charles S. Johnson, a sociologist and the first black president of Fisk University.
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Spottswood William Robinson III, a lawyer and judge who fought for civil rights.
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Douglas Wilder, the first African American to be elected governor of a U.S. state.
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Ben Wallace, a famous NBA basketball player and Hall of Fame member.
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Donald McEachin, who served in the U.S. Congress.
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