Rate this HBCU Day 56: Virginia Union University

[DrBanneker]

We last covered the small Texas Christian school Southwestern Christian College which received an average score of 5.

See the updated leaderboard here

Today we head to the other HBCU in Richmond, Virginia Union University. A private school as opposed to the public nearby Virginia State University, Virginia Union has one of the more impressive campuses amongst HBCUs if photos tell the tale.

Its origins were a boss move by Northern missionaries who established a theological school for Blacks, the Richmond Theological Institute, just after Union troops occupied Richmond, the former capital of the Confederacy. For most of the first half century of its existence it was still primarily a seminary. At one point it occupied a building that formerly housed one of the most notorious slave pens (slave auction 'warehouses' basically) in Richmond.

Virginia Union pulls from similar areas as Hampton University such as Maryland, DC, New Jersey, etc. so it seems the student body and well as majors are quite similar though VUU is significantly cheaper. I wonder if they have a strong DMV alumni network? Different from Hampton though is its nearly even male to female ratio which is rare in colleges today.





Founded: 1865

City, State: Richmond, VA

Type: 4-year, Private not-for-profit (Baptist affiliated)

Nickname: Panthers

Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 1,730 (1,243 undergraduate), 92% Black

Part-time student percentage: 12%

First Generation Student Percentage: 41%

Percentage of students from households under $30k/over $100k: 54% / 7%

Out of State Percentage: 58% (top states: Maryland, DC, New Jersey, New York, Florida)

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 25:1

Admissions Acceptance Rate: 94%

4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 30% / 42%

Transfer out rate: 18%

Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 49% male/ 51% female (1:1)

Tuition: $14k

Median Federal Debt After Graduation: $29k

Median Parent PLUS Loans After Graduation: $36k

Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $38k

Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
Computer and Information Sciences: $44k, Business Administration: $35k, Criminology: $35k

Top Majors by Degrees:
Business Administration, Education, Criminology, Biology

Endowment: $34M

Alumni Engagement: 7.6% of alumni give back

Athletic Conference: CIAA (NCAA Div II)

Mascot: Panthers

Notable Alumni:
Douglas Wilder - mayor of Richmond, governor of Virginia (undergrad)

Randall Robinson - Pan-Africanist and founder of Transafrica, helped kick off modern reparations movement with The Debt (he graduated from VUU, briefly attended Norfolk State)

Ben Wallace - NBA Hall of Famer

Benjamin Mays - iconic president of Morehouse and mentor to MLK

Main Campus

Stadium

Ambassadors of Sound Marching Band

"Rah Rahs" Cheerleaders

Miss Virginia Union

@Eternally Jaded @Coco Loco @AceMan
@ab.aspectus @Originalman @#1 pick @Ziggiy @SupaVillain @Tug life @Idaeo @get these nets @MostReal @Bryan Danielson @Rollie Forbes @Sonic Boom of the South @staticshock @Charlie Hustle @BigAggieLean. @Optimus Prime @How Sway? @DropTopDoc @Johnny seawolf

 

[Rollie Forbes]

It was in Daniel Gymnasium where I saw Ben Wallace dunk on the ENTIRE Trojan basketball team.
I'm deducting a point from Union because of that.

 

[Apprentice]

It was in Daniel Gymnasium where I saw Ben Wallace dunk on the ENTIRE Trojan basketball team.
I'm deducting a point from Union because of that.

Dammm u was at state when Ben was still in the CIAA?

That’s lit asf

 

[Rollie Forbes]

Dammm u was at state when Ben was still in the CIAA?

That’s lit asf

Yessir, I'm the oldhead in the thread!

 

[get these nets]

Wow, at the alumni list. GIANTS.

 

[get these nets]

Endowment: $34M

VUU Makes History with New Endowment Policy

Sep 21, 2021

​

The Virginia Union University Board of Trustees today announced the implementation of its revised Endowment Policy, which mandates 60% of its investment portfolio to be managed by minority-owned firms. This decision is the first of its kind making VUU the first HBCU to mandate that the majority of its endowment be managed by minority firms.
“The vote of VUU’s Board of Trustees is unprecedented. I commend their extraordinary vision to develop an investment strategy that will increase the financial strength of our beloved University,” said Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chair of the VUU Board of Trustees. "It is important that the people who use their hard-earned resources to educate themselves and their families also be afforded the opportunity to steward investments at our university."

DR. HAKIM J LUCAS​

"This action ensures the university can attract and partner with the increased number of successful billion-dollar minority investment firms," said Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, President and CEO of Virginia Union University. "
We will show the success of this strategy and encourage other HBCUs to do the same."Confirmed by vote of the Board of Trustees, the partnership is the first of its kind in the community of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

 

[DropTopDoc]

Not up much on this, but the dmv is hbcu deep

 

[Rollie Forbes]

 

[Rollie Forbes]

 

[Apprentice]

U goin to the game? I literally live 2 mins from Unions stadium lol

 

[Rollie Forbes]

U goin to the game? I literally live 2 mins from Unions stadium lol

I wish I was. I'm on daddy duty today, so I can't make it down 95 today, unfortunately.
I'd be sitting on the VSU side, though.

 

[Apprentice]

I wish I was. I'm on daddy duty today, so I can't make it down 95 today, unfortunately.
I'd be sitting on the VSU side, though.

Couple of my friends play on State rn

I’m debating going but the way my life lookin rn might just catch it on stream

 

[Rollie Forbes]

Couple of my friends play on State rn

I’m debating going but the way my life lookin rn might just catch it on stream

It's going to be a good game. I'm just happy to see State & Union both having good seasons.

 

[Rollie Forbes]

 

[Bigblackted4]

That part of Richmond is pretty rough