Virginia University of Lynchburg#Athletics
{{short description|Private HBCU in Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.}}
{{About|the historically black college in Lynchburg, Virginia|the private institution formerly known as Lynchburg College|University of Lynchburg}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox university
|name = Virginia University of Lynchburg
|image = VUL_Sign.jpg
|logo = Virginia University of Lynchburg Logo.jpg
|image_size =
|motto = Sibi Auxilium et Libertas
(Self Help and Freedom)
|mottoeng =
|established = {{start date and age|1886}}
|religious_affiliation = Christian
|type = Private historically black university
|president = Kathy Franklin
|administrative_staff = 50
|students = 750
|city = Lynchburg
|state = Virginia
|country = U.S.
|coordinates = {{Coord|37|23|42.7|N|79|9|6.3|W|display=inline,title}}
|campus = Suburban
|former_names = Lynchburg Baptist Seminary (1886–1890)
Virginia Seminary (1890–1900)
Virginia Theological Seminary and College (1900–1962)
Virginia Seminary and College (1962–1996)
|sports_nickname = Dragons
|athletics_affiliations = National Christian College Athletic Association – South
|colors = Navy Blue & Light Blue
{{color box|#2a344e}} {{color box|#579fd3}}
|website = {{URL|www.vul.edu}}
| module=
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Virginia University of Lynchburg
| embed = yes
| nrhp_type = hd
| nocat = yes
| designated_other1 = Virginia Landmarks Register
| designated_other1_date = December 16, 2010{{cite web|title=Virginia Landmarks Register|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053819/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
| designated_other1_number = 118-5297
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| image =
| caption =
| location = 2058 Garfield Ave., Lynchburg, Virginia
| locmapin = Virginia#USA
| built = {{Start date|1888}}
| architect = Romulus C. Archer Jr.
| architecture = Colonial Revival, Beaux-Arts
| added = February 22, 2011
| area = {{convert|6.82|acre}}
}}
}}
Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL) 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/historic-district-proposed-for-lynchburg-s-th-street/article_41312321-a82e-5a4f-90ec-60f195c098c9.html|title=Historic district proposed for Lynchburg's 12th Street|first=Margaret|last=Carmel|date=11 February 2018 }}
History
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.{{cite web|last1=Bogger|first1=Tommy L.|title=John M. Armistead (1852–1929)|url=http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Armistead_John_M_1852-1929|publisher=Encyclopedia Virginia|access-date=26 August 2015}} 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 {{cvt|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,{{cite web |url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Lynchburg/118-5297_Virginia_University_Lynchburg_2010_NR_FINAL.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Virginia University of Lynchburg |author=Ashley Neville & John Salmon |date=September 2010 |publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources |access-date=2013-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813190152/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Lynchburg/118-5297_Virginia_University_Lynchburg_2010_NR_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=2013-08-13 |url-status=dead }} and [http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Lynchburg/118-5297_Va.University.Lynchburg.photos.html Accompanying six photo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813190157/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Lynchburg/118-5297_Va.University.Lynchburg.photos.html |date=2013-08-13 }} which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
Its first President was 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. Morris would later serve as president of the National Baptist Convention. 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 John R. Jones, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/virginia_university_of_lynchburg_liberty_university_strike_deal_for_degrees/28439/|title=Virginia University of Lynchburg, Liberty University strike deal for degrees|access-date=2010-07-10}}
On April 22, 2024, the TRACS board voted to place the VUL on probation for failing to maintain its accreditation standards.{{cite web |last1=Irby |first1=Sarah |title=Virginia University of Lynchburg under accreditation probation |url=https://wset.com/news/local/virginia-university-of-lynchburg-under-accreditation-probation-vul-june-2024-tracs |website=WSET-TV |publisher=ABC |access-date=3 September 2024}} Namely, the TRACS board found issue in the financing of VUL, stating the institution failed to meet Title IV regulations, and must provide a full audit of its 2023 financials. VUL had until September 1, 2024, to submit its completed 2023 audit, otherwise the TRACS board would have voted on whether to place the school on a second year of probation, which could have resulted in the school losing its accreditation as a university.{{cite web |last1=Fields |first1=Odyssey |title=HBCU, Virginia University of Lynchburg at risk of losing accreditation |url=https://www.wfxrtv.com/lynchburg/hbcu-virginia-university-of-lynchburg-at-risk-of-losing-accreditation/ |website=WFXR |publisher=FOX |access-date=3 September 2024}} However, as of 2025, the institution has demonstrated compliance with all TRACS standards, with no follow-up reporting required.{{cite web|url=https://www.tracs.org/member-institutions|title=TRACS Member Institutions|access-date=2025-04-14}}{{cite web|url=https://tracs.edvera.com/directory/institutions?t=qs&q=Virginia+University+of+Lynchburg|title=Virginia University of Lynchburg|access-date=2025-04-14}}
=University presidents=
The following have led Virginia University of Lynchburg since its founding:{{cite web |title=About VUL |url=https://www.vul.edu/index.php/about-us |website=Virginia University of Lynchburg |access-date=23 November 2022 |language=en-gb}}
- Philip F. Morris, 1888–1890
- Gregory W. Hayes, 1891–1906
- Mary Rice Hayes Allen, 1906–1908
- James Robert Lincoln Diggs, 1908–1911
- Robert C. Woods, 1911–1926
- William H.R. Powell, 1926–1929, 1934–1946
- Vernon Johns, 1929–1934
- Madison C. Allen, 1946–1966
- MacCarthy C. Sutherland, 1966–1980
- Benjamin W. Robertson, 1980
- Leroy Fitts, 1980–1981
- Thomas E. Parker, 1982–1987
- Melvin R. Boone, 1988–1990
- Ada M. Palmer, 1990–1992
- Elisha G. Hall, 1992–1999
- Ralph Reavis, 2000–2015
- Kathy C. Franklin, 2016–Present
Athletics
The VUL athletic teams are called the Dragons. The university is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The Dragons were formerly a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). VUL previously competed as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), which is currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference, from 1921–22 to 1953–54.
VUL competes in eight intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, football and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
Notable alumni and faculty
- Lawrence Carter, civil rights historian
- John Chilembwe, a Nyasa (Malawian) Baptist preacher and leader of the 1915 Chilembwe uprising. Graduated in 1901.
- Georgia Mabel DeBaptiste, academic
- James Robert Lincoln Diggs, pastor and civil rights activist
- Herman Dreer (1888–1981), academic administrator, educator, educational reformer and activist, author, editor, minister, and civil rights leader{{Cite web |title=Herman Dreer (1889–1981) |url=https://missouriencyclopedia.org/people/dreer-herman |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Missouri Encyclopedia}}
- Vernon Johns, pastor and civil rights activist
- W. Henry Maxwell, politician and pastor
- Stella James Sims, biology professor at Storer College, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and Bluefield State College
- Anne Spencer, poet, teacher, civil rights activist, librarian, and gardener
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://vul.edu}}
- [http://athletics.vul.edu Official athletics website]
{{HBCU}}
{{Colleges and universities in Virginia}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia}}
{{NCCAA Division I South navbox}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States
Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Virginia
Category:Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Category:University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
Category:USCAA member institutions
Category:Former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association schools
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lynchburg, Virginia
Category:1886 establishments in Virginia
Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia