West Virginia State University
This article needs to be updated.(April 2021) |
President Ericke S. Cage | | |
Students | 3,879 (fall 2017)[2] | |
---|---|---|
Undergraduates | 3,755 | |
Postgraduates | 124 | |
Location | , , United States 38°22′57″N 81°45′56″W / 38.38250°N 81.76556°W | |
Campus | Midsize suburb[3], 100 acres (0.40 km2) | |
Newspaper | The Yellow Jacket | |
Colors | Black and gold | |
Nickname | Yellow Jackets | |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II - MEC | |
Mascot | Stinger | |
Website | www | |
West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a
The university's Gus R. Douglass Land-Grant Institute is divided into three programmatic divisions: WVSU Extension Service, WVSU Agricultural and Environmental Research Station, and The Center for the Advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CASTEM). The WVSU Extension Service (1890 Extension) provides community and agricultural outreach throughout West Virginia via 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, and
History
WVSU is located on land once occupied by
Early history
The school was established as the West Virginia Colored Institute in 1891 under the second
From 1891 through 1915, the school provided the equivalent of a high school education, with vocational training and teacher preparation for segregated public schools. In 1915, it became the West Virginia Collegiate Institute and began to offer college degrees. In 1919, John Warren Davis became president of the institute. A Morehouse graduate, Davis recruited highly qualified faculty and focused on curriculum development. He persuaded noted historian Carter G. Woodson to assist him as academic dean. In 1927, the school was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, making it the first of 17 original black land-grant schools to be certified by a regional association and one of only four black colleges to gain such status. It also became the first public college in West Virginia to be accredited by North Central. In 1929, the name was changed to West Virginia State College. With an enrollment of 1,000 students, the college contained divisions of Applied Arts and Sciences; Languages, Literature and Fine Arts; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and Social Sciences and Philosophy.[6]
In 1939, West Virginia State College became the first of six historically black colleges to be authorized by the
Desegregation
West Virginia State College underwent a significant transformation under the guidance of president William J. L. Wallace. In 1954, following the Brown v. Board of Education order to desegregate public education, and the initiation of the G.I. Bill, the college transformed into a predominantly White institution. This garnered national attention. President Wallace hailed it as "a tribute to the character and courage of the people of Kanawha Valley." As a result, West Virginia State adopted the motto "A Living Laboratory of Human Relations." Enrollment substantially increased after the change in demographics.
In 1957, the school lost its land grant status because the West Virginia Board of Education voted to end the state funding needed to obtain matching federal land-grant aid. Although land-grant university funding is governed by federal laws, the federal aid is conditioned upon matching state funds. Under the leadership of President
University status
In 2003, the school's
In 2004, under President Carter's leadership, West Virginia State College gained University status, becoming West Virginia State University, and began to offer graduate degrees in Biotechnology and Media Studies. In the fall of 2011, WVSU began to offer a graduate degree in Law Enforcement.[12] In the spring of 2014, WVSU began offering a graduate degree in education.[13] Under President Brian O. Hemphill, the university set a goal to become the most student-centered research and teaching, land-grant university in West Virginia.[6] Under President Anthony L. Jenkins, PhD, the university celebrated a historic achievement, receiving its full land-grant state match.
Leadership
After serving as interim president, Ericke S. Cage is the current and 13th president of the university, officially taking office in 2022. Past presidents of the university include: James Edwin Campbell (1892–94), John H. Hill (1894–98), James McHenry Jones (1898–1909), Byrd Prillerman (1909–19), John Warren Davis (1919–53), William J.L. Wallace (1953–73), Harold M. McNeill (1973–81), Thomas W. Cole, Jr. (1982–86), Hazo W. Carter, Jr. (1986–2012), Brian O'Harold Hemphill (2012–16), Anthony L. Jenkins (2016–20), and Nicole Pride (2020–21).[14] . Several buildings on campus are named after them: Campbell Conference Center, Hill Hall, Jones Hall, Prillerman Hall, Davis Fine Arts Building, Wallace Hall, McNeill Facilities Building, Cole Complex, and the Dr. Hazo W. Carter Jr. Integrated Research and Extension Building and the adjacent Dr. Hazo W. and Judge Phyllis H. Carter Food and Agricultural Complex.[15][16]
James Edwin Campbell was a poet, free-lance writer, and mathematician from Pomeroy, Ohio. Following Campbell was John H. Hill, who was a lawyer, teacher, administrator, and soldier, who oversaw the university's first commencement. He resigned to fight in the Spanish–American War and later returned as an instructor. James McHenry Jones was responsible for adding teacher education (a "normal" department), and is buried on campus. Before becoming the fourth president, Byrd Prillerman was a faculty member and one of those responsible for locating the school in the Kanawha Valley. During his tenure, academic programs were expanded and the institution was renamed the "West Virginia Collegiate Institute". John Warren Davis focused on recruiting the best black faculty members he could find and developing the curriculum. He persuaded noted historian Carter G. Woodson to assist him as Academic Dean. During his tenure, the school was first accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1927, and became West Virginia State College in 1929. Davis is the longest-serving president, having served for thirty-four years.[15]
William James Lord Wallace's greatest challenge of his presidency came following the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregated schools to be unconstitutional. Following that, the historically black West Virginia State College opened its doors to all students. Dr. Wallace not only met the challenge but set an example for the world to follow. During Harold M. McNeill's tenure, the community college component was established; a building was erected for community college programs, and Ferrell Hall and the Drain-Jordan Library were renovated. During Thomas Winston Cole, Jr.'s administration, he made several organizational changes in the institution, creating new academic divisions and establishing a planning and advancement unit. Cole left West Virginia State in 1986 to become Chancellor of the West Virginia Board of Regents.[15]
Shortly after he became the ninth president in September 1987, Dr. Hazo W. Carter, Jr. began a 12-year quest to regain the college's land-grant status that had been transferred in the 1950s. Since "State" was the only institution to have the status removed, there was no precedent for recovering it. After this status was restored, a quest then began for West Virginia State to be designated a university, which became a reality in 2004; he became the first president to serve under the "university" status. These achievements, accompanied by two highly successful accreditation's by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the addition of graduate programs, highlight his administration.
Just less than one year as president, Dr. Nicole Pride, the university's 12th president who was also the first female president of WVSU, resigned following controversy. Her cabinet called for her termination due to allegations of a hostile work environment under her leadership. A vote of "no confidence" was taken and the Board of Governors unanimously accepted her resignation letter.[18][19]
Other
East Hall and the Canty House, home of "Colonel" James M. Canty, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[20]
WVSU's
Student activities
Athletics
The athletic teams are known as the Yellow Jackets. WVSU athletic teams include men's football, baseball, basketball, golf, and tennis, and women's basketball, golf, softball, tennis, volleyball and soccer. During the segregation era, the school competed in athletics as "West Virginia" and played other segregated schools as a member of the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association. After desegregation, the school withdrew from the CIAA (today's Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) and competed as "West Virginia State" to avoid confusion with West Virginia University. The school then moved to the formerly all-white West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), which competed in the NCAA's Division II. After the dissolution of the WVIAC, WVSU joined the new Mountain East Conference in 2013, which is also part of NCAA Division II. WVSU's main rivals include University of Charleston (WV), Central State University (OH), and Kentucky State University.
During the segregation era, black high schools were barred from competition in the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, and State therefore sponsored an unofficial "state colored championship" from 1932 to 1959.
Music
WVSU's Music Department is housed in the College of Arts and Humanities. Currently, WVSU offers two undergraduate degrees in music, a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance, as well as a music minor.
Instrumental ensembles
In the mid-late 1990s, the band saw a period of resurgence under the direction of Chris Card. From 1995 until 2000, the band had an enrollment of between 35 and 50 members. Many of the members during this time period were scholarship recipients, and the band often contained 5-10 veterans or active members of Drum Corps International. The band was known for its small size and huge sound. The band marches in a "corps-style" fashion, the only band of its type at an HBCU, as most have a "show-style" band. The band tries to do a different marching show at every home football game, with the exception of homecoming.
The Yellow Jacket Marching Band, also known as the "Marching Swarm", performs in one parade unless invited to others: the WVSU Homecoming Parade. In 2018, the band performed in
The Wind Ensemble has performed at WVSU's commencement ceremonies. Students of the Advanced Conducting studio may also conduct on a concert. The Advanced Conducting studio is a unique feature of WVSU as not many colleges offer it at the undergraduate level. In the spring of 2015, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at
The Jazz Ensemble performs for various events on and off campus. In November 2007, the Jazz Ensemble traveled to Austria to perform in
Other instrumental groups at WVSU include a Brass Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Woodwind Ensemble. In addition, WVSU is home to the Montclaire String Quartet, the Quartet in Residence at WVSU, composed of the principle string players of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Vocal ensembles
In addition to the instrumental ensembles, WVSU features a concert choir called the State A Capella and an audition-only chamber vocal ensemble called State Singers. Depending on enrollment, vocal ensembles specifically for male and female groups may also be offered. The State Singers consists of eight to ten vocalists and also occasionally perform as the WVSU Vocal Jazz Choir. The State Singers act as ambassadors for the university and frequently perform off campus for important community and cultural events. Every spring, the State Singers go on tour. Recent tours have taken the group to
Student life
Many of the students who live in dorms on campus are from large urban areas outside of West Virginia or from the rural counties in the state. Those who stay on campus generally congregate at Wilson Student Union.
Student media
The campus radio station at WVSU can be heard locally on 106.7 FM or over the internet. The station has hosted live music and interviews with recording artists. The campus newspaper, The Yellow Jacket, is published and edited by students and can be picked up in major buildings across the campus.
Notable alumni
- Chu Berry, jazz tenor saxophonist
- Albert Grant Brown (1881–1924), architect and educator; both an alumnus and a professor at West Virginia Colored Institute.[24]
- Joan Browning, civil rights activist
- Harriet Elizabeth Byrd, first African-American to serve in the Wyoming Legislature
- Augusta Clark, librarian, politician, and lawyer; second African-American woman to serve on the Philadelphia City Council (1980–2000).[25]
- Herbert Fielding, former South Carolina lawmaker
- Antoine Fuqua, writer and director of various movies, including Training Day (2001), starring Denzel Washington
- Donald L. Graham, Senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
- Calvin Hicks, African American photographer, a founder of The Black Gallery
- Serita Jakes, Associate Pastor, and wife of TD Jakes of The Potters House of Dallas, entrepreneur
- Katherine Johnson, African-American scientist, who made significant contributions to America's aeronautics and space exploration for NASA; in 2018, a statue of Johnson was erected on campus next to the Cole Complex and a scholarship was established in her honor
- Damon Keith, Senior Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; the Keith Scholars Hall dormitory is named in his honor
- Earl Lloyd, first African-American to play in the NBA; in 2014, a statue of Lloyd was erected and is on display in the Walker Convocation Center and the basketball season starts with the Earl Lloyd Classic in his honor, which also began in 2014; in 2018, the street in front of the Convocation Center was renamed to Earl Lloyd Way
- Texas State University-San Marcos
- A Different World
- Bill Nunn, journalist, professional football scout, and member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Richard Ojeda, former member of the West Virginia Senate.
- Leaonead Pack Drain-Bailey, librarian and namesake of WVSU's Drain-Jordan Library.
- SUNYsystem
- Will Robinson, first African-American Division I basketball coach and NBA scout
- Charles Calvin Rogers, US Army Major General (ret); Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient for his actions in Vietnam; a bust of Rogers was dedicated in 2016 and is on display in the Wilson Student Union
- Florida Supreme Court
- Wendell Smith, noted African American sportswriter who was influential in the choice of Jackie Robinson to become the first African American player in Major League Baseball
- Leon Sullivan, Baptist minister, a civil rights leader and social activist, longtime General Motors board member, and an anti-Apartheid activist; Sullivan Hall is named in his honor
- Bob Thompson, jazz pianist, composer and arranger; in 2015, Thompson was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.[26][27]
- Reggie B. Walton, Senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
- Harvey D. Williams, African-American retired United States Army major general
- Carter G. Woodson, African-American historian cited as the father of black history; served as Academic Dean of WVSU from 1920 to 1922
See also
References
- ^ "Data USA-WVSU".
- ^ As of September 28, 2017."West Virginia State University Posts 10 Percent Enrollment Increase for Fall 2017". Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "IPEDS-West Virginia State University".
- ^ "College Navigator - West Virginia State University". Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ "The Murder of Samuel I. Cabell". www.wvculture.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Vision 2020: State's Roadmap to the Future, West Virginia State University
- ^ "Booker T. Washington Monument To Be Dedicated In Malden". WVSU. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ Louis E., Keefer (1994). "On the Homefront in World War II: Soldier-Scholars at West Virginia State College, Volume 53". West Virginia Division of Culture and History, pp. 119-132. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
- ^ "West Virginia State University, Army ROTC Alumni". Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- ^ "Leaonead Pack Drain-Bailey". Notable Kentucky African Americans Database. University of Kentucky Libraries. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ "Drain-Jourdan Library". West Virginia Libraries. 34 (1): 23. Spring 1981. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- Charleston Gazette. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ "WVSU to Offer New Master of Education Degree Beginning Spring 2014" (Press release). West Virginia State University. September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "MEET OUR NEW PRESIDENT, DR. NICOLE PRIDE". West Virginia State University. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "History and Past Presidents". West Virginia State University. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY NAMES CAMPUS FACILITIES IN HONOR OF FORMER PRESIDENT HAZO W. AND JUDGE PHYLLIS CARTER". West Virginia State University. August 7, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ "UPDATE: Retiring WVSU President Gets Emeritus Status". Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ Kelliher, Rebecca (August 1, 2021). "West Virginia State University President Resigns Amid Controversy". Diverse. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Bailey, Jack (September 23, 2021). "ERICKE S. CAGE NAMED INTERIM PRESIDENT OF WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY". West Virginia State University. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "DC Emancipation Day 150th Anniversary Concert at the Lincoln Theater – Washington Peace Center".
- ^ "DC Emancipation Day 150th Anniversary Jazz and Comedy Concert at the Lincoln Theater – Washington Peace Center".
- ^ "Alumnus to Deliver Keynote Address at Reading Association Annual Conference Nov. 21-22" (Press release). West Virginia State University. November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-203-49312-0.
- ^ "Former Philly Councilwoman Augusta Clark Dies at 81". WCAU. October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
- ^ Macko, Rob (February 8, 2022). "Honoring Black History: Bob Thompson". WOWK 13 News. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Keller, Michael W. (December 11, 2022). "This Week in West Virginia History". The Register-Herald. Retrieved March 2, 2024.