Points of Pride

• Virginia State University ranked #11 in the country in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 rankings of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities, climbing 12 spots from its 2025 ranking of #23. This was the largest increase of all HBCUs featured on the list, marking a significant milestone for VSU and its commitment to being one of the nation's premier HBCUs.

• Virginia State University received the largest gift in its 143-year history. VSU was gifted $50 million from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to expand its efforts to transform lives through education and continue the mission outlined in the University's strategic plan. 

• Virginia State University achieved a Carnegie R2 Research Designation as a result of its significant growth in research and graduate education. The designation places VSU among a select group of universities nationwide classified as "Doctoral/Professional Universities with High Research Activity." Only 139 institutions and fewer than 15 HBCUs qualify for R2 status.

• Virginia State University opened the Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons, the largest and most transformative facility in the University's history. The 175,000-square-foot facility serves as the new home for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education, while also symbolizing the University's continued progress and growth.

• Virginia State University broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art residence hall that will significantly expand the University's on-campus housing capacity. The 110,000-square-foot facility will open in Spring 2026 and add 454 beds to VSU's housing portfolio.

• Virginia State University launched the world's first HBCU Studies course in Family and Consumer Sciences, starting in Fall 2025. The new course explores factors related to the family experience at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and builds on the University's previous groundbreaking achievement of offering the first-ever HBCU History course.

• Virginia State University was named a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader for the fourth consecutive year. This esteemed honor recognized VSU's unwavering support for global education and diversity during the 2024-25 academic year. Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders consistently demonstrate outstanding support for Fulbright exchange participants and effectively promote Fulbright program opportunities on campus.

• The Virginia State University Department of Music received a full accreditation reaffirmation from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) through the 2033–34 academic year. This prestigious reaffirmation is a significant milestone that underscores the department's commitment to academic excellence, artistic integrity, and student success. NASM is considered the premier accrediting body for music programs across the nation.

• The Virginia State University Public Health Institute received a grant of $500,575 from the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) to reduce overdoses through interventions, health education, training, outreach, and resource connectivity.

• Virginia State University Athletics celebrated multiple championships this year. The men’s basketball team won the CIAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, while both the men’s and women’s soccer teams captured the inaugural CIAA Soccer Cups with 2-1 victories at Rogers Stadium. The women’s soccer team capped off a historic season by winning the USCAA National Championship.

• Virginia State University became the first Virginia HBCU to be recognized by the Virginia Higher Education Substance Use Advisory Committee (VHESUAC). This prestigious recognition underscored its commitment to furthering student substance use education, prevention, recovery, and intervention efforts.

• Virginia State University was awarded a $2 million grant from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to launch its AI-Enabled Digital Transformation Initiative. VSU was one of eight historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) selected for Project HBCU Capacity Building, a multi-year initiative empowering institutions to improve enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, strengthen research capacity, modernize operations, and foster collaboration across campuses.

• Virginia State University was awarded a competitive grant of more than $1 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant was presented to Associate Professor in the Department of Biology and the Director of the VSU Center for Biotechnology, Genomics, and Bioinformatics (CBGB), Dr. Xianfa Xie, to fund his research project examining the unique biological phenomenon of bioluminescent fungi (glowing mushrooms).

• The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) awarded Virginia State University $250,000 to enhance its Artificial Intelligence (AI) instruction by developing AI-focused open educational resources for students and educators.

• The Virginia State University College of Engineering and Technology was awarded a $100,000 Lockheed Martin Grant in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) for the 2025 academic year. The funding supported the launch of a new initiative, STEP UP – Strengthening Talent, Enrollment, and Persistence through Undergraduate Research and Pre-College Program.

• Virginia State University received the gift of $100,000 from esteemed alumna, Board of Visitors member, and former Rector, Dr. Valerie K. Brown. Dr. Brown has been a proud Trojan since graduating from VSU in 1978 and continues to be a dedicated champion of the University's future.

• Virginia State University extended President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah's contract through 2032, ensuring continued growth, student success, and momentum as one of the nation's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Dr. Abdullah, who has served as VSU's 14th president since February 2016, continues to lead the University through a period of record achievement and transformation.

• Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Languages & Literature, Dr. Latorial Faison, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her book, Nursery Rhymes in Black. The Pulitzer Prize is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in American literature. Winners of the 2026 Pulitzer Prizes are expected to be announced in early May 2026.

• Virginia State University's Azurest South, also known as the Alumni House, was designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL). That designation is the highest federal recognition of a property's historical, architectural, or archeological significance. Azurest South was built in 1939 by VSU alumna Amaza Lee Meredith, one of the first documented African American female architects.

• A team of four Virginia State University students competed in the 36th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship in Torrance, California. The year-round academic competition features HBCUs from across the nation in a fast-paced quiz format. VSU was one of 32 schools competing for the national championship.

• Fifty-one Virginia State University Engineering and Technology students attended this year's National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Annual Convention in Chicago, an event that offers valuable networking and professional development opportunities. More than 80% of the VSU students who attended the convention secured post-convention interviews, internships, or full-time job offers.

• A team of VSU students won first place in the 8th Annual Advancing Minorities' Interest in Engineering (AMIE) Design Challenge for developing an innovative AI-powered solution that helps small-scale farmers analyze soil conditions and maximize crop yields.

• Virginia State University was the only HBCU among 38 institutions invited to compete in the 2025 NASA Lunabotics Challenge in Florida. The VSU Lunabotics Team designed and built a versatile robot capable of navigating and performing complex tasks on simulated lunar terrain, showcasing the University’s innovation, technical excellence, and leadership in STEM.

• Virginia State University partnered with College Pads to offer a new off-campus housing marketplace for students. This partnership has enhanced the University’s off-campus living experience, equipping students with the tools to find and secure housing.

• Virginia State University received a new golf simulator donated by the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA). A second simulator was awarded through the University's participation in the White House HBCU Golf Consortium, a national initiative to increase diversity in the golf industry and expose students to unique professional opportunities.

• Virginia State University Honors College students Camille Hall and Kristina Piercy spent the Fall 2025 semester studying abroad at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Both Hall and Piercy represented VSU with distinction while studying at one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. 

• Virginia State University went viral for its "Boots On The Ground" celebration at Spring 2025 Commencement. Graduates were surprised with VSU-themed clapping fans to dance along to the popular song by 803Fresh, featuring the famous line: "Where them fans at?" A video of the celebration garnered millions of views across social media platforms and was picked up by national outlets.

• A limited-time sale of the iconic VSU-themed clacking fans from its viral commencement celebration raised $16,440 for the Student Tuition Assistance Fund. This fund helps students facing unexpected financial challenges that may otherwise hinder their ability to remain enrolled.

• Virginia State University was approved to offer a new Master of Science (MS) in Data Analytics. By offering this new degree program, VSU can address the underrepresentation of Blacks/African Americans in the data science community. Students began enrolling in the Master of Science (MS) in Data Analytics degree program in Fall 2024.

• Virginia State University became the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the nation to offer a CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) program specializing in trauma-informed care. The MSW program specializes in preparing graduates to systematically and strategically address the well-being of individuals who have experienced trauma. The accreditation is retroactively effective from Fall 2022, when the program first launched.

• Virginia State University became the first public Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Virginia to offer a Masters (MBA) in Business Administration. The new MBA program allows VSU to address the underrepresentation of Blacks/African Americans in the business management and leadership profession. Students began enrolling in the program in Fall 2024.

• Virginia State University announced that its College of Engineering and Technology was approved to offer a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineers ranked first in best engineering jobs, according to U.S. News and World Report, with a mean salary exceeding $96,000. Students began enrolling in this new bachelor's degree program in Fall 2024.

• Virginia State University received a pledge of $100,000 over five years from HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division to establish the Newport News Shipbuilding Scholars Program. The program will provide financial assistance, mentorships to underrepresented students, and access to career advancement opportunities for students pursuing engineering and related degrees at VSU.

• Virginia State University was named a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader for the third consecutive year. This esteemed honor recognized VSU's unwavering support for global education and diversity during the 2023-24 academic year. Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders consistently demonstrate outstanding support for Fulbright exchange participants and effectively promote Fulbright program opportunities on campus.

• Virginia State University earned the Military Friendly School designation for the 2024-25 academic year. This recognition is a testament to the University's commitment to supporting military-affiliated students and their families.

• Virginia State University partnered with Workforce Edge, a full-service education administration provider powered by Strategic Education, Inc. The partnership will grant Workforce Edge partner employees increased access to a wide range of degree programs while expanding the University's accessible education efforts.

• Virginia State University announced a transformative partnership with MedCerts, a leading provider of entry-level training programs. This partnership allows VSU students to acquire industry-recognized professional certifications in high-demand fields such as healthcare and information technology.

• Virginia State University partnered with Coursera, a global online learning platform. The partnership allows VSU students, faculty, and staff to earn industry-branded micro-credentials in high-demand fields, including software engineering, information technology, business, marketing, data science, and analytics from the world's top companies. Enrolling in these courses is free of charge for the VSU community.

• Virginia State University became a founding partner for Micron Technology, Inc.'s Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Semiconductor Network. The MSI Semiconductor Network consists of 16 HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) aiming to increase access to equitable education and develop the next generation of a diverse, semiconductor-ready STEM workforce.

• Virginia State University announced that its online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program earned a five-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This historic milestone marks the first time in the University's history that its nursing program has been nationally accredited.

• Virginia State University became the first HBCU to host the FIRST Chesapeake District Robotics Championship, featuring top high school teams competing to advance to the World Championship. Thousands attended the three-day event held at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center.

• Virginia State University ranked in the top 27% of Best Value Universities for International Students, according to Study Abroad Aide, the most comprehensive database of universities in the world. The rankings are based on the University's commitment to offering high-quality and affordable education to students from different countries.

• Virginia State University Biology Assistant Professor Dr. Matthew Whalen began a research project that studies the temperature and air quality in the Petersburg area. Using PurpleAir air quality monitors, Dr. Whalen is teaching value data skills to his students and also studying hyper-focused data that can be used to benefit the local community.

• Virginia State University partnered with EduTutorVA to offer education majors field credit hours and a competitive honorarium for online tutoring K-12 students. VSU is the first HBCU and the first of EduTutorVA's 14 partner institutions to provide field credit for this intensive tutoring program.

• Virginia State University received a $150,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to conserve Azurest South, also known as the Alumni House. Built in 1939 by alumna Amaza Lee Meredith, this historic University landmark will benefit from essential preservation efforts.

• Virginia State University was awarded $3 million from the National Science Foundation to establish the Trojan Center for Emerging Engineering Research. The center will enhance the academic journey of VSU undergraduate engineering/computer science students and better prepare them for the Engineering-Computer Science (ENG-CS) workforce.

• Virginia State University was awarded $800,000 from the US Department of Defense (DOD) to acquire advanced heterogeneous computing instrumentation. The new equipment will allow VSU faculty and students to conduct groundbreaking research to address some of today's most pressing technological challenges.

• The Virginia State University Women's LeadHERship Institute held a two-day national summit in June to refresh, applaud, and unite women leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Through collaboration, celebration, and candid dialogue, the summit was successful at inspiring new leaders and elevating the legacy of excellence and resilience in the HBCU community.

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• Virginia State University announced its highest year-to-year enrollment growth in school history. With an enrollment of 5190 students for fall 2023, VSU experienced more than an 11 percent increase from fall 2022. According to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, this is the highest year-to-year enrollment increase of any college in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is also believed to be one of the highest increases in the country.
• Virginia State University announced its highest enrollment of first-year students in school history. In the fall of 2023, the university welcomed a total of 1443 students to the first-year class of 2027.
• Virginia State University made history when it was selected to host a 2024 Presidential Debate. VSU is the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) ever selected to host a General Election U.S. Presidential Debate. The debate will be held in the VSU Multipurpose Center on October 1, 2024.
• Virginia State University ranked 16th overall in the U.S. News and World Report's 2024 rankings for HBCUs. There are 107 HBCUs in the United States. The report also ranked VSU first in the state as a Performer on Social Mobility, a list that evaluates which schools best serve and graduate underrepresented students.
• Virginia State University announced the completion of the MT Carter Building Annex, a groundbreaking research and administration building for the College of Agriculture. This approximately 14,000-square-foot facility significantly expands VSU's agricultural research capabilities while supporting innovation, collaboration, and education within the field.
• Virginia State University was recognized among the 2023 "Most Prestigious Universities Driving Student Success and Career Growth" by Insight Success magazine. A six-page article/ad was featured in the magazine, displaying the hard work and commitment of our Trojan Family to ensure that Greater Happens Here.
• Virginia State University announced that it is the first university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and one of the first in the nation, to offer Wi-Fi 6E to its campus. Wi-Fi 6E is the latest generation and is considered the gold standard for Wi-Fi internet. The project was funded by a $2.8 million grant from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA).
• Virginia State University's Trojan Explosion Marching Band ranked as top D-II HBCU Band in the country for 2023. The band will compete against Florida Memorial for ESPN's HBCU Band of the Year in the Division II/NAIA category. The competition will be held on December 15, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.
• Virginia State University announced a new teacher residency program to assist with the teacher shortage in Petersburg City Public Schools. HERO, or Hybrid Education Residency Opportunity, is a comprehensive and innovative program that allowed five VSU College of Education students to get real-world experience by teaching classes while completing their degree.
• Virginia State University announced a first-of-its-kind and innovative program designed to attract and retain highly qualified employees and improve the economies of local communities. The VSU-HAPI (Home Assistance Payment Initiative) provides eligible homebuyers up to a $10,000 match toward the down payment or closing cost of a newly purchased home in Ettrick or Petersburg.
• Virginia State University broke ground, began construction, and officially named its new academic commons building. The Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons will be the largest building on the VSU campus. It will be home to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education.
• Virginia State University announced the establishment of the VSU Center for Biotechnology, Genomics, and Bioinformatics (VSU CeBiGeBi). The VSU CeBiGeBi, believed to be unique among HBCUs nationwide, is a hub for interdisciplinary education and research on the VSU campus.
• Virginia State University received over $3.9 million from the Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP) as a part of the Virginia Cooperative Extension. The grant is being used to educate and empower limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, and military-veteran farmers and ranchers to independently own, operate, and sustain small-scale farms and ranches with agricultural training programs that improve farm management skills and quality of life.
• Virginia State University received a quarter of a million dollars from Sentara Healthcare to fund the Sentara Scholars Program at VSU. The scholarship program is designed to assist students interested in healthcare or healthcare-related fields.
• Virginia State University received a $1 million donation from Thompson Hospitality, the nation's largest black-owned and privately held hospitality company. VSU honored the donation by renaming its Hospitality Department "the Fred & Ruby Thompson Hospitality Department."
• Virginia State University was named an HBCU partner in The Historic Fund, a new venture capital fund with an inaugural total of $10.35 million. The fund is the brainchild of prominent investors and operators in the venture capital ecosystem who recognize the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their role in equality and belonging.
• Virginia State University was named a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader for the second consecutive year. This esteemed honor recognized VSU's unwavering support for global education and diversity during the 2022-23 academic year. Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders consistently demonstrate outstanding support for Fulbright exchange participants and effectively promote Fulbright program opportunities on campus.
• Virginia State University partnered with entertainment and business leaders to highlight the importance of criminal justice reform and advocacy. The University hosted the REFORM Alliance, founded by recording artist Meek Mill and others, to raise awareness about the criminal justice system and activate students to get involved in criminal justice reform.
• Virginia State University recognized Joy Watson and Blaise Davenport as Class of 2023 Co-Valedictorian. This is the first time in university history that two females, both STEM majors, have received this academic honor. They were recognized as part of the 2023 Commencement Ceremony on May 13, 2023.
• Virginia State University hosted a Naturalization Ceremony on campus for 73 candidates to become sworn citizens of the United States of America. This was the first time a Naturalization Ceremony had been held at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
• Virginia State University was recognized for its outstanding support of first-generation college students. The University was selected to participate in the First Scholars Network, which provides additional support and resources to advance student success at institutions of higher education.
• Virginia State University announced the university's new student-parent housing program. The program provides special campus housing for six student parents (students who are also parents) and their young children. Also, in collaboration with Generation Hope, VSU is offering new resources designed for student parents, including a Family Study Room in the library, a new on-campus lactation station, and changing tables inside the student union bathrooms.
• Virginia State University was recognized as an All-Steinway School making it one of only five Historically Black Colleges and Universities to attain this prestigious status. This designation indicates that VSU will provide students and faculty with only the finest pianos for studying music in higher education. There are fewer than 250 All-Steinway Schools in the country.
• Virginia State University made history when the Trojan Explosion Marching Band performed as part of the White House Black History Month Program. The VSU band provided the musical backdrop as guests arrived for the annual event an honor traditionally reserved for the Marine Corps band.
• Virginia State University partnered with Amazon's Career Choice program, which allows employees to further their education and advance their careers. The program offers prepaid tuition and reimbursement for books and fees to hourly employees at Amazon who wish to pursue coursework at VSU.
• Virginia State University announced that a team of students was selected to participate in the 2023-2024 NASA Student Launch Challenge. This is the first time in VSU history that students will compete in the national rocketry competition. The Trojan Takeoff Team will be among the 48 teams from universities nationwide designing, building, and launching a high-powered rocket at an event in Huntsville, Alabama, in April 2024.
• Virginia State University Alumnus Charles Hamilton was promoted to 4-Star General. This marked the second VSU alumnus to achieve this prestigious rank, which is the highest in the U.S. Army. Virginia State University is believed to be one of the only universities in the country to produce two 4-Star Generals.
• Virginia State University welcomed the Rector and President of the only higher education institution for engineering in the Republic of Moldova. The leadership from the Technical University of Moldova (UTM) visited VSU as part of an academic partnership facilitated by the U.S. Embassy in Moldova.
• Virginia State University was chosen as the host site for ESPN's Black College Live show on September 22. In front of a national audience, VSU showed the traditions, atmosphere, and environment around college football at a premier HBCU. The episode included performances from the marching band, Woo Woos, and Greek organizations.
• Virginia State University took another step toward going green and expanding its effort for a cleaner campus by adding fifty (50) new solar-powered trash compactors to its campus. Each unit can compact up to 150 gallons of trash, five times the capacity of current waste receptacles. Each compactor is colorfully wrapped in VSU branding and features a foot pedal to operate the door.

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• Virginia State University enrolled the University's largest incoming class of new students in more than three decades. In fall 2022, VSU welcomed more than 1700 new students (first-time freshmen and transfer students). This is an increase of more than 550 new students over the fall 2021 semester.
• Virginia State University recorded the University's second straight year of record-high numbers. In fall 2022, VSU enrollment grew by 349 students for a total enrollment of 4649 students. This is an increase of more than 8 percent over fall 2021. The increase is the single largest year-to-year increase in enrollment at VSU in over a decade topping the 7 percent increase the University experienced in fall 2021.
• Virginia State University ranked as the top HBCU in Virginia and in the top 12% of all "Bang-for-your-Buck" institutions in the southeast region of the United States. The list is determined by an institution's ability to afford access to marketable degrees for non-wealthy students.
• Virginia State University ranked in the top 15% of the 2022 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This ranking by College Consensus combines the results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews.
• Virginia State University ranked in the top 30 in Best Overall HBCUs, according to the 2022-2023 U.S. News and World Report college rankings. The University rose from 29th to 26th in the annual list, which examines factors such as retention, alumni giving, faculty resources, graduate indebtedness, and student excellence. There are 101 HBCUs in the United States.
• Virginia State University ranked in the top 20% on the 2022-2023 list of "Performers on Social Mobility" of Regional Universities South. This listing, by U.S. News and World Report, evaluates which schools best serve and graduate underrepresented students.
• Virginia State University expanded its online program offerings. The new programs include a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Hospitality Management, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education, a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration and Supervision, and a Certification in Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Forces.
• Virginia State University began construction on what will be the largest building ever built on the VSU campus. The $120M Academic Commons building will replace the old Harris Hall and Daniel gymnasium. As a strategic investment, the Academic Commons will consolidate the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education into one complex.
• Virginia State University expanded the University's athletic opportunities by adding three new sports programs. The Athletics Department added women's soccer, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse to their list of sponsored sports. Men's Soccer will be added in Spring 2023.
• Virginia State University's Reginald F. Lewis College of Business was reaffirmed for accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, International (AACSB).
• Virginia State University hired the University's first director for the University's newly established Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. This office prioritizes support for LGBTQ+ and others who experience discrimination.
• Virginia State University started an innovative program to address the Richmond and Petersburg Teacher Shortage. The VSU program offers free tuition to graduate students in exchange for working in the local school systems.
• Virginia State University partnered to win a portion of a $1 billion grant challenge to boost Virginia's Pharmaceutical Industry. VSU and several strategic partners submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) to establish an advanced pharmaceutical cluster in Central Virginia. The cluster won a total of $52.9 million in shared grant funding.
• Virginia State University launched the VSU "Home Assistance Payment Initiative" (VSU-HAPI). The initiative will provide eligible homebuyers up to a $10,000 match toward a down payment and/or closing cost when they purchase a home within the city limits of Petersburg, VA or in the Village of Ettrick, in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
• Virginia State University was named a 2022 Fulbright Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Institutional Leader. Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders have demonstrated outstanding support for Fulbright exchange participants during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years and have promoted Fulbright program opportunities on campus.
• Virginia State University received a $1.45 million grant to assist enrolled student-parents (students who are also parents) with childcare costs. The funds, which will be distributed over the next four years, will be used to offer student-parents access to affordable childcare services both on and off campus.
• Virginia State University received a commitment for a $500,000 gift from Dr. Audrey Shields Penn, 88, in honor of her aunt and VSU trailblazer, Ms. Otelia Roberta Shields Howard. Ms. Otelia Howard, a Petersburg native, served Virginia State University for over two decades as a professor, advisor, and charter member of two organizations on campus.
• Virginia State University received a portion of a $1 million Health Innovation and Research Grant. VSU is one of five HBCUs in the country to be awarded $200K for visionary projects focusing on health-related research. The Propel Center grant supports faculty and students' world-class research and innovation opportunities.
• Virginia State University joined an initiative that has the potential to impact college debt for thousands of students. Student Freedom Initiative announced that Virginia State University would join their Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that offer an income-contingent alternative to federal Parent PLUS loans.
• Virginia State University was selected as one of six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country to take part in a research and design project focused on building an integrated framework for digital learning at HBCUs. The project is a first-of-its-kind, $2.5 million Digital Learning Infrastructure (DLI) initiative led by Complete College America (CCA) and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
• Virginia State University created the VSU Center for Creative and Entertainment Arts, designed to provide academic offerings, research, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in the arts. This center will also create improved synergies with existing educational programs and expand offerings in the creative and performing arts.
• Virginia State University addressed the student mental health crisis seen across college campuses by hiring a full staff of licensed counselors, forming a holistic health and wellness team, training dozens of employees on mental health first aid, and holding a mental health/wellness fair and walk.
• Virginia State University unveiled the new "Greater Happens Here" mural, believed to be the only one of its kind and inspired by the Black Lives Matter Plaza mural in Washington, D.C. The VSU mural was completed on University Avenue in front of the Foster Hall Student Union.
• Virginia State University hosted the Inaugural James Arthur Baldwin International Symposium (JABIS). The web-based research and artistic forum showcased scholars and artists from North America, Europe, Africa, and Bermuda's British North Atlantic archipelago.

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• Virginia State University placed in the top 30 in the category of Best Overall HBCUs for 2022 according to U.S. News and World Report. The annual list examines factors such as retention, alumni giving, faculty resources, graduate indebtedness, and student excellence.
• Virginia State University is ranked in the top 30% in the "Performers on Social Mobility" list. This listing examines how well the university graduates students typically from low-income households within a 6-year time frame.
• Virginia State University is ranked in the Top 10 in Student Retention Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The University ranked 8th on the list released by UniversityBusiness.com, using the U.S. Department of Education Scorecard for 2019-2020. The high ranking is a result of the university's ability to retain and graduate students.
• Virginia State University is ranked by Washington Monthly Magazine in the top 15% of Bang-for-your-Buck institutions in the Southeast Region of the United States. The list was determined by the institution's ability to afford access to marketable degrees for non-wealthy students.
• Virginia State University announced new names for four previously unnamed buildings on campus. The VSU Board of Visitors approved renaming each of the four buildings to honor Black women, all VSU alums, who have made significant contributions to Virginia State University.
• The VSU Center for Entrepreneurship in the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business and the Division of Research and Economic Development at Virginia State University was awarded a $453,000 grant by GO Virginia, a Commonwealth of Virginia-funded program, to spur minority entrepreneurship via the creation of the "Minority Small Business Launch Center." The Minority Small Business Launch Center was designed to increase the self-employment rate of minorities and the performance of early-stage minority-led firms in the cities and counties within the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
• Virginia State University was selected by Governor Ralph Northam for a new initiative that will position the University to become a major pipeline for filling the STEM teacher shortage in Virginia. HBCUTeach is a national initiative developed as an innovative way to recruit undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and prepare them to become teachers. VSU is among the first HBCUs to implement the HBCUTeach program. Through the program, VSU students can receive their secondary teaching certifications while also completing a STEM major, without additional cost or increasing the number of semesters they spend in college.
• The Virginia State University (VSU) Undergraduate Elementary Teacher Preparation Program was named among the top in the country for contributing to greater teacher diversity by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a nonpartisan, not-for-profit research and policy organization. The VSU program is among only 21% of the 1,256 evaluated across the country and among only six programs in Virginia to be recognized in the new NCTQ report. The VSU program stands out for its efforts in enrolling a cohort of future teachers that is both more racially diverse than the state's current teacher workforce and reflects the racial diversity of their surrounding community.
• Virginia State University enrollment grew by 280 for a total of 4300 students in fall 2021. This is an increase of nearly 7 percent over the fall 2020 semester. The increase is also the single largest year-to-year increase in enrollment at VSU in more than a decade. In addition, VSU is reporting an impressive 76 percent retention rate. Retention rate is the percentage of a school's first-time, first-year undergraduate students who continue at that school the next year. This is the highest retention rate at VSU in more than twenty years.
• Virginia State University (VSU) and Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center (Massey) partnered together to use a prestigious “team science grant to create a program that's the first-of-its-kind in the state of Virginia. The $1.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will be dispersed over a four-year period and will focus on reducing cancer disparities and providing hands-on research opportunities to students who are historically underrepresented in science.
• Virginia State University entered into a partnership to study best practices that impact STEM persistence and retention at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This collaborative work is being performed by the HBCU STEM Undergraduate Success Research Center, an initiative designed to tell the story behind the disproportionate number of HBCU students who go on to receive terminal degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math.
• Virginia State University received a portion of a $1 million donation and a commitment for a yearly gift from an online gaming company and its equity partner. VSU is one of five HBCUs presented with the first of an expected annual investment by Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) and the Virginia Sports and Technology Group (VSTG).
• Virginia State University announced an initiative that makes the University a Community Center for Coding and Creativity. The program is a part of Apple's Community Education Initiative and Tennessee State University's HBCU C2. The innovative teaching and learning initiative is designed to empower Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to expand technology and creativity experiences within their institutions and broader communities.
• Virginia State University announced the establishment of Virginia's first and only military cultural competency training certification program offered at a university. The online Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Forces certificate program is designed to teach students how to interact with active duty service members, veterans, and their families with consideration for military culture and sensitivities. In the program, participants learn to identify and facilitate access to essential services and resources, social support, case management, care coordination, and advocacy options for the military community.
• Virginia State University created the VSU Public Health Institute which is designed to address health disparities within underserved groups through outreach, academic endeavors, public health workforce development and research agendas in preparation of public health professionals for the future.
• Virginia State University established the nation's first HBCU Center for Policing Leadership and Social Justice. The newly established initiative, known as The Center, will further allow VSU and the surrounding communities to address the critical divide between law enforcement and communities of color.
• Virginia State University hosted the Inaugural James Arthur Baldwin International Symposium (JABIS). The web-based research and artistic forum showcased scholars and artists from North America, Europe, Africa, and the British North Atlantic archipelago of Bermuda.

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In 2020, VSU Began Two New Online Programs

• RN-BSN Nursing Program
• Ed. D. Educational Administration and Supervision

In 2020, Started Five New Programs

• Masters of Social Work
• Special Education (K-12)
• Elementary Education
• Intermediate/Middle School
• Career and Technical

• In 2020, VSU established the John Mercer Langston Institute for African American Political Leadership to assess, develop and empower African American Political Leadership, innovative programming, research, and advocacy.
• In 2020, VSU established the Regional Policing Taskforce. The collaborative initiative is designed to bridge the growing divide between police departments and the community, especially communities of color and mental health communities, to achieve a greater level of cross-cultural understanding.
• In 2020, VSU began offering the nation's first and only history course in HBCU History,
• In 2020, VSU established the VSU Public Health Institute to address health disparities and prepare health professionals.
• In 2020, VSU was named one of the "BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK" schools for a quality and affordable education.
• In 2020, Virginia State University (VSU) received a very generous gift on behalf of former VSU President Eddie N. Moore, Jr. who gifted VSU half a million dollars in the form of a bequest from Universal Corporation on behalf of Mr. Moore.
• In 2020, Dominion Energy announced that Virginia State University is among 11 historically black colleges and universities that will receive support through a $35 million initiative aimed at promoting higher education equity.
• In 2020, Author and Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gifted VSU $30 Million. The gift is the largest single donor gift in the 138-year history of the University.
• In 2020, VSU was selected to participate in the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program, a new initiative to help students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) prepare to enter the workforce through digital skills training.
• In 2020, The U.S. Department of Education awarded VSU the Student Support Services grant in the amount of $261,888 for a period of five years. The SSS Project will provide programs and services to 140 low income, first-generation college students, students with disabilities and/or Veteran VSU students annually, to assist with retention, persistence and graduation rates.
• In 2020, VSU President Dr. Makola Abdullah was reappointed to a second term as a member of the Board ofTrustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) responsible for guiding the organization's work and implementing the accreditation process.
• In 2020, The National Council on Teacher Quality ranked The Virginia State University (VSU) College of Education as one of the top undergraduate programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia for new teachers and the only undergraduate program in the Commonwealth to receive an A rating in Clinical Practice and Classroom Management, and it is one of only two programs in the State to score above a C rating in some of the most crucial areas of educator preparation.
• In 2020, the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business was awarded $10,000 by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) to support the digital initiatives of the College.
• In 2020, VSU was awarded a Tree Campus USA University designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation for the sixth year in a row for its dedication to campus forestry management and environ-,mental stewardship.
• In 2020, newly designed civil rights in education signage was erected on Virginia State University's campus highlighting VSU's role in the civil rights in education movement.