Tag: Virginia State University

Virginia State University to Offer New Undergraduate Degree in Mechanical Engineering

"The approval of the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering is a testament to VSU's dedication to academic excellence and preparing our students for success in STEM fields," said Tia A. Minnis, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Virginia State University.

Virginia State University to Be the First HBCU to Host a 2024 Presidential Debate

Virginia State University is the first historically Black college or university ever selected to host a general election U.S. Presidential Debate. The debate, scheduled for October 1, 2024, is the second of three scheduled general election presidential debates. The debate will take place in the university's Multipurpose Center.

Virginia State University Students Get Classroom Experience in City Schools

The city of Petersburg and the university established HERO, or Hybrid Education Residency Opportunity program. It is a comprehensive and innovative program that combines coursework and practical teaching in an actual classroom setting.

Alleged Racial Incident at Soccer Match at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina

Members of the soccer team at Virginia State University were subjected to racial slurs and taunting by fans at a match at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. During the game, the fans reportedly yelled the N-word and made monkey noises aimed at Virginia State student-athletes.

Elementary School in Richmond Renamed to Honor Howard University Professor Emerita

Lois Harrison-Jones, professor emerita in the School of Education at Howard University in Washington, D.C., has been honored by the Richmond, Virginia School Board with the renaming of an elementary school in her honor. The school was previously named for a colonel in the Confederate Army.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Nine HBCUs Become Limited Partners in a $10 Million Venture Capital Fund

The Historic Fund is a unique philanthropic initiative that invites selected HBCUs to be limited partners without investing their own assets. The goal of the initiative is not only to bolster the endowments of HBCUs, but also to foster connectivity between these institutions and the broader venture capital community.

Five African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to New Administrative Posts at Universities

Taking on new administrative roles are James Curbeam at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Vanessa Love at the University of Pittsburgh, Ian Bouie at Stockton University in New Jersey, Taylor Whitehead at Virginia State University, and Tourea B. Robinson at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida.

Legislation Would Allow Virginia’s Public HBCUs to Offer In-State Tuition to Non-Virginians

Under the legislation, Virginia State University and Norfolk State University would be able to offer in-state tuition rates to any out-of-state student who has completed 30 credit hours of college coursework in data science and technology, science and engineering, health care, or education.

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Appointed Provost at Georgia State University in Atlanta

Since arriving at Georgia State in January 2020 as associate provost for faculty affairs, Dr. Parsons-Pollard has created, implemented, and championed a variety of faculty development programs to support and strengthen faculty in teaching and research, as well as leadership programming for department chairs and other administrators.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Charletta H. Barringer-Brown Is the New Dean of the School of Education at Virginia Union University

Dr. Barringer-Brown had been serving as a tenured professor in the department of political science and public administration and as the faculty director of general education at Virginia State University. Earlier in her career, Dr. Barringer-Brown served as an assistant dean, department chair, and director of research at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina from 2004-2018.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Virginia State University Program to Address Teacher Shortage in Local School Districts

In the new teacher residency program, graduate students will co-teach and earn a master's degree in education within one year at no charge. Upon successful completion of the program, they must commit to full-time teaching positions for three years in schools where the district's population has a least a 30 percent poverty rate.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Virginia State University Offers a Major Vote of Confidence in President Makola Abdullah

Dr. Abdullah became the 14th president of Virginia State University in 2016. Now, the board of visitors of Virginia State University has extended the contract of President Abdullah through 2029.

In Memoriam: Delores Ann Richburg Greene, 1935-2022

A long-time educator in several public school systems in Virginia, Dr. Green concluded her career serving as dean at both Virginia Union University and Virginia State University.

Dietra Trent Is the New Leader of the White House Initiative on HBCUs

Since 2019, Dr. Trent has been serving as chief of staff for the president of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Earlier, she was secretary of education for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In Memoriam: Rayford Lee Harris Sr., 1924-2022

Harris taught industrial arts in the Richmond public school system, before joining the faculty at Virginia State in 1959. At Virginia State, he directed the industrial arts and technical education teacher training program. For 32 years, he prepared school teachers in woodworking, metalworking, and other industrial arts.

Three HBCUs Join Forces to Examines Best Practices in STEM Program Retention at HBCUs

The center, known as “STEM-US,” will be housed at Morehouse College. The three HBCUs will share a $9 million award from the National Science Foundation. The five-year grant will assist in the ultimate goal of implementing effective interventions that will increase retention across all STEM disciplines and improve graduation rates to above the national average.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Virginia State University Names Four Buildings to Honor Black Alumnae

Virginia State University has announced new names for four buildings on campus that will now honor Black alumnae. In March 2021, the university announced the removal of the names and signs identifying the four buildings saying the buildings were named for individuals whose past beliefs were not consistent with the beliefs and legacy of Virginia State University. 

In Memoriam: Esther Arvilla Harrison Hopkins, 1926-2021

Esther A. H. Hopkins was a biophysicist, chemist, educator, and environmental attorney. She taught for several years at what is now Virginia State University before embarking on a career as a research scientist.

Virginia State University to Pay Full Tuition of Local Pell Grant-Eligible Students

To qualify, students must be Pell Grant eligible, meet the university admission requirements, and live within a 25-mile radius of campus. This initiative provides qualified students, who have limited financial resources, the option to attend a four-year university directly out of high school.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Google to Train 20,000 HBCU Students to Enhance Their Digital Skills

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is partnering with Google to launch the Grow with Google Career Readiness Program. The goal is to have 20 participating HBCUs by January and to have the program be available to all HBCUs by fall 2021.

Virginia State University Offering a New Course on HBCU History

Virginia State University is now offering what could be the nation’s first higher education course in the history of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This is the first semester that the course is being offered. It quickly filled to capacity.

University of Virginia Honors Its First African American Doctoral Graduate

In 1953, Walter N. Ridley earned a doctorate from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. Dr. Ridley holds the distinction of being the first African American to earn a doctoral degree from a historically white university in the South.

In Memorim: Leedell Wallace Neyland, 1921-2020

Leedell Neyland was the former dean of Arts and Sciences, provost, and professor emeritus of history at Florida A&M University. As a member of the U.S. Navy, he participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Floyd L. Robinson

Floyd L. Robinson was the former band director, professor, and administrator at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. Upon his retirement in 2001, the university renamed its fine arts auditorium in his honor.

Big Sean Sponsors Entreprenurial Contest For HBCU Students

The contest, "Moguls in the Making," gave HBCU students the opportunity to plan, develop, and present a business plan in front of their peers and a panel of judges. They also participated in workshops focused on various topics such as financial literacy, idea pitching, and building business models.

In Memoriam: Ulysses S. Washington, 1920-2018

Washington began his career at then-Delaware State College in 1949 as an assistant professor of agriculture education and farm mechanics. He retired from his position as chair of the department of agriculture at Delaware State University in 1991.

New Administrative Posts in Higher Education for a Quartet of Black Americans

Appointed to new administrative positions are Ronald Howell at Virginia State University, Olufemi Ogundele at the University of California, Berkeley, Dejah Carter at Stanford University, and Bryan Terry at Arkansas State University.

Five African Americans in New Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new roles at Ben Quillian III at California Polytechnic State University in Pomona, Jennifer Robinson at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, Jamarco Clark at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, Jerry Bettis Sr. at Virginia State University, and Beverly Barrington at Florida A&M University.

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