West Virginia State University facts for kids
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Former names
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West Virginia Colored Institute (1891–1915) West Virginia Collegiate Institute (1915–1929) West Virginia State College (1929–2004) |
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| Motto | Veritas Lux Mundi (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Truth is the Light of the World" |
| Type | Public historically black land-grant university |
| Established | 1891 |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $12.6 million (2021) |
| President | Ericke S. Cage |
| Students | 3,879 (fall 2017) |
| Undergraduates | 3,755 |
| Postgraduates | 124 |
| Location |
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United States
38°22′57″N 81°45′56″W / 38.38250°N 81.76556°W |
| Campus | Midsize suburb, 100 acres (0.40 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Yellow Jacket |
| Colors | Black and gold |
| Nickname | Yellow Jackets |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II - MEC |
| Mascot | Stinger |
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West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public university in Institute, West Virginia. It was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute. This school is one of the original 19 land-grant colleges. These colleges were created to provide education for Black students. Over time, WVSU became a very diverse campus. By 2017, most students were white, with about 8% being African-American.
WVSU has a special part called the Gus R. Douglass Land-Grant Institute. This institute helps the community in different ways. It has three main parts:
- The WVSU Extension Service helps people across West Virginia. They offer programs for young people (4-H Youth Development). They also teach about farming, natural resources, and family life.
- The WVSU Agricultural and Environmental Research Station studies plants and the environment. They research things like growing fish (aquaculture) and how to grow plants in cities.
- The Center for the Advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CASTEM) encourages young people to study STEM fields. This helps them become scientists, engineers, and teachers.
Contents
History of WVSU
West Virginia State University is built on land that Native Americans once lived on. Later, this land was given to George Washington. It was then used as a farm with enslaved workers. In the 1800s, Samuel I. Cabell bought the land. He made sure his wife, Mary, and their children, who were formerly enslaved, would inherit his wealth. This was very unusual at the time.
After the Civil War, Samuel Cabell's daughter, Maria Cabell-Hurt, sold some land to the state. This allowed the West Virginia Colored Institute to be built. This was important because Black families in the area had to send their children to Ohio for higher education. Samuel and Mary Cabell are buried on the campus.
Early Years of the Institute
The school started as the West Virginia Colored Institute in 1891. It was created under a law called the second Morrill Act. This law helped set up colleges for Black students in states that had segregated schools. The institute opened in May 1892 with over 40 students. Early classes taught farming, mechanical skills, and home economics. They also trained teachers.
Military education became a key part of the school. In 1899, the state allowed up to 60 cadets to join. In 1909, Booker T. Washington, a famous educator, suggested Byrd Prillerman as president. Washington often visited the campus and spoke at its first graduation. During Prillerman's time, the school became a center for Black thinkers in the state.
From 1891 to 1915, the school offered high school-level education. It also provided job training and teacher preparation. In 1915, its name changed to the West Virginia Collegiate Institute. It then started offering college degrees. In 1919, John Warren Davis became president. He hired great teachers and improved the classes. He even got the famous historian Carter G. Woodson to help as academic dean.
In 1927, the school became officially recognized by a group called the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This made it the first of the original Black land-grant schools to get this honor. It was also the first public college in West Virginia to be recognized. In 1929, the name changed again to West Virginia State College. It had 1,000 students and many different study areas.
In 1939, West Virginia State College was one of the first Black colleges to offer an aviation program. This program helped train many African-American pilots for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Some of these pilots became part of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. One of the first graduates, Rose Agnes Rolls Cousins, was the first African-American woman to fly solo in the Civilian Pilot Training Program.
During World War II, the college also took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. This program helped students become Navy officers. In 1942, an ROTC program was started. Many graduates from West Virginia State have become high-ranking military officers. These include Major General Charles C. Rogers and Major General Harvey D. Williams. In 1951, the Drain-Jordan Library opened. It was named after librarian Leaonead Pack Drain-Bailey and Lawrence Victor Jordan.
Becoming a Diverse Campus
West Virginia State College changed a lot under President William J. L. Wallace. In 1954, after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, public schools had to end segregation. The college then became mostly white. This was a big deal and got national attention. President Wallace called it "a tribute to the character and courage of the people." Because of this, West Virginia State adopted the motto "A Living Laboratory of Human Relations." More students enrolled after this change.
In 1957, the school lost its "land-grant" status. This happened because the state stopped providing money needed to get federal land-grant funds. President Hazo W. Carter, Jr. worked for 12 years to get this status back. With help from alumni and U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, the U.S. Congress fully restored the land-grant status in 2001. West Virginia State is now recognized as an 1890 land-grant institution again. It receives funding for teaching, research, and public service. The land-grant part of WVSU is named the Gus R. Douglass Land-Grant Institution.
Becoming a University
In 2003, the school's community college part became a separate school. It was called the West Virginia State Community and Technical College. In 2008, the state officially separated the two schools. They still shared the same campus for a while. In 2009, the community college changed its name to Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College. In 2012, it moved to a different campus.
In 2004, under President Carter, West Virginia State College became West Virginia State University. It then started offering advanced degrees in subjects like Biotechnology and Media Studies. Later, it added graduate degrees in Law Enforcement and Education. The university aims to be a top research and teaching university in West Virginia.
University Leaders
Ericke S. Cage is the current and 13th president of the university. He officially took office in 2022. Many buildings on campus are named after past presidents. These include Campbell Conference Center, Hill Hall, Jones Hall, and Davis Fine Arts Building.
John Warren Davis was the longest-serving president, for 34 years. He focused on hiring the best Black faculty and improving classes. He helped the school become the first Black land-grant school to be officially recognized in 1927.
William James Lord Wallace led the university when schools were ordered to desegregate in 1954. He helped West Virginia State College open its doors to all students. This set an example for others.
Dr. Hazo W. Carter, Jr. worked hard to get the college's land-grant status back. He also led the effort for the school to become a university in 2004. He was the first president to serve under the "university" status.
Dr. Nicole Pride was the university's 12th president and the first female president. She resigned after about a year.
Campus Landmarks and Events
East Hall and the Canty House are historic buildings on campus. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
WVSU holds its graduation ceremonies in December and May. Until 2009, WVSU and the community college had joint ceremonies. Now, WVSU holds its graduations on campus. They are held in the D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center. The Spring 2014 graduation was the first one held there.
Student Activities
Sports Teams
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The sports teams at WVSU are called the Yellow Jackets. Men's teams include football, baseball, basketball, golf, and tennis. Women's teams include basketball, golf, softball, tennis, volleyball, and soccer.
During the time of segregation, the school played against other segregated schools. After segregation ended, the school joined the formerly all-white West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). This conference competed in NCAA Division II. When the WVIAC ended, WVSU joined the new Mountain East Conference in 2013. WVSU's main rivals are the University of Charleston (WV), Central State University (OH), and Kentucky State University.
Music Programs
WVSU has a Music Department that offers two degrees: Music Education and Music Performance. Students can also get a music minor.
Instrumental Music Groups
The Yellow Jacket Marching Band is also known as the "Marching Swarm." They perform at home football games and in parades. In 2018, the band performed in Welch, WV's Veteran's Day Parade. This is the longest-running Veteran's Day parade in the nation. The band has also played for important university events.
The Wind Ensemble performs at WVSU's graduation ceremonies. WVSU also has a chamber orchestra called the West Virginia State Philharmonic Orchestra (WVSPO). In June 2018, the orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They also performed at the Kennedy Center in D.C. in February 2019.
The Jazz Ensemble performs for many events on and off campus. In 2007, the Jazz Ensemble traveled to Austria to perform in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. They have also played for Washington, D.C.'s Emancipation Day celebrations.
Other instrumental groups at WVSU include a Brass Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Woodwind Ensemble. The Montclaire String Quartet, made of professional musicians, also performs at WVSU.
Vocal Music Groups
WVSU has a concert choir called the State A Capella. There is also an audition-only group called State Singers. The State Singers are like ambassadors for the university. They often perform off campus. Every spring, the State Singers go on tour to different cities.
The concert choir has performed with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. They sang music by the band "Queen" and performed for holiday concerts. Dr. Dirk Johnson is the Director of Choral Activities for WVSU.
Student Life on Campus
Many students who live in dorms at WVSU come from big cities or rural areas. Students who stay on campus often gather at the Wilson Student Union.
Student Media
WVSU has a campus radio station that can be heard locally on 106.7 FM. You can also listen to it online. The station plays live music and interviews artists. The campus newspaper, The Yellow Jacket, is written and edited by students. You can find copies in buildings around campus.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from West Virginia State University. Here are a few:
- Chu Berry: A famous jazz tenor saxophonist.
- Joan Browning: A civil rights activist.
- Katherine Johnson: An African-American scientist who worked for NASA. She made important contributions to space exploration. In 2018, a statue of her was put on campus.
- Earl Lloyd: The first African-American to play in the NBA. A statue of him is in the Walker Convocation Center.
- Lou Myers: An actor who played Vernon Gaines in the TV show A Different World.
- Richard Ojeda: A former member of the West Virginia Senate.
- Charles Calvin Rogers: A retired US Army Major General and Medal of Honor recipient.
- Wendell Smith: A sportswriter who helped Jackie Robinson become the first African American player in Major League Baseball.
- Leon Sullivan: A Baptist minister and civil rights leader.
- Carter G. Woodson: An African-American historian known as the "father of black history." He also worked at WVSU.
See also
