Virginia Union University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Virginia Union University

Former names	Colver Institute (1865–1886) Richmond Theological Institute (1886–1899) Wayland Seminary (1865–1899) Hartshorn Memorial College (1883–1932)
Motto	The Lord Will Provide
Type	Private historically black university
Established	1865; 160 years ago (1865)
Endowment	$29 million
President	Hakim Lucas
Students	1,700
Location	Richmond , Virginia , United States 37°33′45″N 77°27′4″W / 37.56250°N 77.45111°W / 37.56250; -77.45111
Campus	Urban, 84 acres (34 ha)
Colors	Maroon and Steel
Nickname	Panthers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – CIAA
Website	www.vuu.edu
Virginia Union University
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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 is a private university in Richmond, Virginia. It is a special kind of school known as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). These schools were first created to provide higher education for African Americans.

History of Virginia Union University

Pickford Hall, Virginia Union University

Virginia Union University was founded in 1865. It was started by the American Baptist Home Mission Society (ABHMS). The school was first called the Richmond Theological Institute. It was created shortly after the American Civil War ended. Its main goal was to help African Americans who had been freed from slavery to become ministers.

The university had the first academic library at an HBCU. This library was built in 1865, the same year the college began. Soon, the school started offering more programs. These programs included college, high school, and preparatory classes. Both men and women could attend.

Early Schools and Mergers

In 1867, a separate school called Wayland Seminary opened in Washington, D.C. It was named after Francis Wayland, who fought against slavery. Famous students like Booker T. Washington attended Wayland Seminary.

Another school, Colver Institute, started in 1867. It was located in a building once known as Lumpkin's Jail. This building had been a "slave jail." Colver Institute later became the Richmond Theological Institute. In 1899, it joined with Wayland Seminary to form Virginia Union University in Richmond.

Over the years, other schools joined Virginia Union University. In 1932, Hartshorn Memorial College, a college for women, became part of the university. Later, in 1964, Storer College, another historically black college, merged its funds with Virginia Union.

Academics at Virginia Union

Virginia Union University is organized into four main schools. Each school focuses on different subjects:

• Evelyn Reid Syphax School of Education and Interdisciplinary Studies
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology
• Sydney Lewis School of Business

Theology Program

The university's program for studying theology is called The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. This school trains students for religious leadership. It is also a member of the Washington Theological Consortium.

Student Life and Activities

Students at Virginia Union University can join many different groups. There are over 20 student organizations. These include various fraternities and sororities, which are social clubs for students.

Athletics and Sports

Virginia Union University has many sports teams. They compete in the NCAA Division II. This is a division for college sports teams. They are part of the Eastern Division of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

The school has teams for men's basketball, football, cross country, golf, tennis, and track and field. For women, there are teams in basketball, bowling, cross country, tennis, track and field, softball, and volleyball. In 2018, both the men's and women's basketball teams won the CIAA Championship.

Virginia Union plays basketball and volleyball in the Barco-Stevens Hall. This building is very unique. It was originally built for the 1939 New York World's Fair as the Belgian Building. The university received the building in 1941. It was moved to its current spot in 1943.

University Affiliations

Virginia Union University is connected with the American Baptist Churches USA. This means it has ties to this religious group.

Notable Alumni

Many successful people have graduated from Virginia Union University. Here are a few examples:

• 

  Charles S. Johnson

• 

  Spottswood William Robinson III

• 

  Douglas Wilder

• 

  Ben Wallace

• 

  Donald McEachin