One of three major universities in Richmond, Virginia Union University is situated on the original site was a former slave jail known as Lumpkin's Jail. However, its official founding was in 1865 to give newly emancipated African Americans an opportunity to "free their mind in an ethical, humanistic environment."

   In 1865, following the surrender of the Confederacy, branches of the “National Theological Institute” in Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia went their separate ways for many years. The Washington institution received a grant from the Freedman’s Bureau and met at various locations but finally, Meridian Hill. The school became known as Wayland Seminary; and it acquired a sterling reputation under the direction of its president, Dr. George Mellen Prentiss King. Dr. King, who administered Wayland from 1867-97 and stayed on as a professor.

   Wayland Seminary was named in commemoration of the brilliant Dr. Francis Wayland, former president of Brown University and a leader in the anti-slavery struggle. Among the more eminent students to grace Wayland’s halls were: Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr.; Dr. Booker T. Washington; Reverend Harvey Johnson of Baltimore, Maryland – pastor and early civil rights activist.

ACADEMIC MERIT

   Virginia Union University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Divinity.

   One of the many impressive facts about Virginia Union is that it's still the only historically black institution with a police training academy on campus -- home to Richmond's Police Training Academy which also serves as headquarters for the university's Criminology/Criminal Justice academic program. A charter member of The College Fund/UNCF, a consortium of select HBCUs across the nation, Virginia Union welcomes diversity among faculty and staff as well as the student body.

   Located in historic Northside just five minutes from downtown Richmond, the campus covers nearly 100 acres. Possessing beautiful architecture, five of the older buildings are constructed of Virginia granite and have been designated national historic landmarks, and the more recent facilities feature brick and Belgian tile, as well as stone crafted like the original Virginia granite.

   There are a wide-variety of student organizations including social, academic, and Greek groups, and favorite campus gathering places encompass the Language Lab, Coburn Hall, The Square, Martin E. Gray Hall, L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource Center, and The Caf, among others.

   Given Richmond is the capital of Virginia, it is home to many historical and cultural avenues while having all of the advantages of a big city but with a genuine hometown feel. There are a wealth of great parks, river recreation, sports, museums, arts, shopping, and nightlife, plus numerous other recreational opportunities within two hours drive in Washington D.C, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and at the Atlantic Ocean.

ADDRESS: 1500 North Lombardy Street, Richmond, VA
PHONE: 804-257-5600
WEBSITE: http://www.vuu.edu