Virginia University of Lynchburg

Virginia University of Lynchburg is a private historically black Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia. The university is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools and offers instruction and degrees, primarily in religious studies, including a Doctorate of Ministry program. The campus is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]

This article is about the historically black college in Lynchburg, Virginia. For the private institution changing its name to the University of Lynchburg, see Lynchburg College.
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Former names
Virginia Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary and College
Virginia Seminary and College
MottoSibi Auxilium et Libertas
TypePrivate, HBCU
Established1886 (1886)
Religious affiliation
Christian
PresidentKathy Franklin
Administrative staff
32
Students500
Location
Lynchburg
,
Virginia
,
United States

37°23′42.7″N 79°9′6.3″W
CampusSuburban
AthleticsIndependent
NicknameDragons
Websitewww.vul.edu
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Location2058 Garfield Ave., Lynchburg, Virginia
Area6.82 acres (2.76 ha)
Built1888 (1888)
ArchitectRomulus C. Archer Jr.
Architectural styleColonial Revival, Beaux-Arts
NRHP reference No.11000035[1]
VLR No.118-5297
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 22, 2011
Designated VLRDecember 16, 2010[2]

History
Humbles Hall

Virginia University of Lynchburg is the oldest school of higher learning in Lynchburg. The school was founded in 1886 and incorporated in 1888 by the Virginia Baptist State Convention as the coeducational "Lynchburg Baptist Seminary". Classes were first held in 1890 under the name Virginia Seminary.[4] With the offering of a collegiate program in 1900, the name was again changed, to Virginia Theological Seminary and College. In 1962, the institution was renamed to the Virginia Seminary and College. Finally, in 1996, the school was given its current name. The campus includes three historic academic buildings on 6.82 acres: Graham Hall (1917), Humbles Hall (1920–21) and the Mary Jane Cachelin Memorial Science and Library Building (1946). These buildings and the Hayes Monument (c. 1906) comprise a historic district,[5] which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.[1]

Its first President was the Rev. Phillip F. Morris, pastor of the city's Court Street Baptist Church. Seeking a financial patron, Morris agreed to step down as president rather than yield to the demand of the American Baptist Home Mission Society that he step down from the pulpit to assume full-time leadership of the school. Rev. Morris would later serve as President of the National Baptist Convention. Rev. Gregory W. Hayes, a graduate of Oberlin College, assumed the full-time position as President in 1891, serving until his death in 1906. His wife, Mary Rice Hayes Allen, biracial daughter of a Confederate general and mother of author Carrie Allen McCray, assumed the presidency until replaced by Dr. JRL Diggs in 1908.

During Hayes' administration, controversy arose between black separatists and accommodationists over the future of the school. The chief patron wished it to become a pre-collegiate manual training institution. Hayes, among the separatists, returned the patronage to retain and strengthen black autonomy and academic integrity. This move eventually led to a schism within the National Baptist Convention.

In July 2010, the school reached an agreement with Liberty University to help VUL students looking for degrees not offered at the school to complete their degrees at Liberty.[6]

Among the alumni of the university is John Chilembwe, a Nyasa (Malawian) Baptist preacher and leader of the 1915 Chilembwe uprising, who graduated in 1901.

Athletics

The Virginia University of Lynchburg was formerly a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. After exiting the USCAA, Virginia University of Lynchburg became a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association NCCAA. VUL is athletically known as the Dragons. Men's sports include basketball, football, and track and field; while women's sports include basketball and track and field.

Notable alumni and faculty

References
  1. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 2/22/11 through 2/25/11. National Park Service. 2011-03-04.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. Carmel, Margaret. "Historic district proposed for Lynchburg's 12th Street".
  4. Bogger, Tommy L. "John M. Armistead (1852–1929)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  5. Ashley Neville & John Salmon (September 2010). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Virginia University of Lynchburg" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06. and Accompanying six photo Archived 2013-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Virginia University of Lynchburg, Liberty University strike deal for degrees". Retrieved 2010-07-10.
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