West Virginia State University
Seal of West Virginia State University
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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, Land-grant, HBCU |
| Established | 1891 |
| Endowment | $3.2 million |
| President | Anthony Jenkins |
| Students | 2,847 (Fall 2014) |
| Undergraduates | 2,792 |
| Postgraduates | 55 |
| Location |
Institute, West Virginia, U.S. 38°22′57″N 81°45′56″W / 38.38250°N 81.76556°WCoordinates: 38°22′57″N 81°45′56″W / 38.38250°N 81.76556°W |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Black and Gold |
| Athletics | NCAA Division II |
| Nickname | Yellow Jackets |
| Affiliations | Mountain East Conference |
| Website | www |
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West Virginia State University (WVSU) was founded as a historically black public university in Institute, West Virginia, United States. In the Charleston-metro area, the school is usually referred to simply as "State" or "West Virginia State". It was one of the original group of African American land-grant colleges established by the second Morrill Act of 1890 and is the smallest land-grant institution in the country. African-American students currently comprise the minority of attending students. The University is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
WVSU is located on Mound Builder Native American land granted to George Washington for his service in the King's Military before the Revolutionary War. As a slave plantation, it belonged to Governor William H. Cabell. His son, Samuel I. Cabell, married one of his slaves, Mary Barnes. After his death she sold the land to the state as the site of the West Virginia Colored Institute. Sam and Mary Cabell and their children are buried on the campus.
The school was established as the West Virginia Colored Institute in 1891 under the second Morrill Act which provided for land-grant institutions for black students in the 17 states that had segregated schools. The school opened its doors in May 1892 and had an enrollment of over 40 students. The faculty consisted of President James Edwin Campbell, Byrd Prillerman, and T.C. Friend. The curriculum consisted of courses in agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, and domestic science. Teacher education courses were added in 1893. Military education became an integral part of the school, and in 1899 the Legislature passed a bill to admit up to 60 cadets. In 1909, Booker T. Washington recommended his friend and noted educator, Byrd Prillerman, to serve as president. Noted African-American educator and statesman, Washington was instrumental in having the institution located in the Kanawha Valley. He visited the campus often and spoke at its first commencement exercise. During Prillerman's 10-year administration, the school established itself as the center of black intellectual life in the state.
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