History
West Virginia State University, or WVSU, is a historically black public college located in Institute, West Virginia, a suburb of Charleston. In the Charleston area, West Virginia State University is typically referred to as “State” or “West Virginia State.” The university provides students with a campus full of innovative mentors and an educational system designed to inspire and challenge. West Virginia State University offers diversity with flexible courses that integrates knowledge with encouragement. The school provides a healthy positive climate that is intended to help students achieve their academic goals.
Part of the school’s mission is to assist the economic growth in the state while also meeting the higher education needs of those who attend. Utilizing the tool of applied research enables West Virginia State University to augment traditional study methods with practical experiences that make the educational process fulfilling.
WVSU has a rich history. It is one of the original 1890 land grant colleges, and it is the smallest land-grant institution in the country. The campus is located on Mound Builder Native American land which was granted to George Washington for his service in the King’s Military prior to the Revolutionary War.
The school was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute. It went through various changes over the years, notably being renamed the West Virginia Collegiate Institute in 1915 and West Virginia State College in 1929. It was granted university status in 2004 and its name changed yet again to West Virginia State University.