- Mississippi Valley State University
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"MVSU" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU).
Mississippi Valley State University 
Established 1950 Type Public, HBCU President Dr. Donna H. Oliver Students 2,500 Location Itta Bena, Mississippi,
United StatesCampus Rural Former names Mississippi Vocational College
Mississippi Valley State CollegeColors Forest green and White
Athletics NCAA Division I (FCS) Sports football
basketball
cross country
golf
tennis
track
soccer
volleyball
softball
bowlingNickname Delta Devils or Devilettes Affiliations Southwestern Athletic Conference Website www.mvsu.edu Mississippi Valley State University (commonly referred to as MVSU or "The Valley") is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, in the United States.[1] MVSU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.
Contents
History
The institution, which opened in 1950, was created by the Mississippi Legislature as Mississippi Vocational College. The legislature anticipated that legal segregation of public education was in danger (and would in four years be declared unconstitutional in the United States Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education the institution, hoping that its existence would draw African-American applicants who might have otherwise applied to attend Mississippi's premier whites-only institutions—the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi. Creating separate institutions of higher learning for Mississippi's black population, the state's political leaders hoped, would help ease the pressure to integrate the state's premier universities. To attract the support of those who opposed any government action to provide higher education to blacks, those proposing creation of M.V.C. used the term "vocational" to imply that the institution's main purpose would be to train blacks to take on blue-collar jobs.
The original legislative proposal would have located M.V.C. in Greenwood, but the white leadership of that city did not like the idea of hosting an institution that would attract young, ambitious blacks to the area. Thus, the proposed site was moved to Itta Bena. Even that town, however, objected to too close a proximity of a black institution, so the final site was chosen to place the college away from the downtown area, on cheap, uncultivatable land.
In 1964, Mississippi Vocational College was renamed Mississippi Valley State College.
In 1970, a student boycott was organized to protest President White's administration of the institution. Half the enrolled students of the institution—about 900—were arrested. However, White was ousted as president soon afterward.
In the early 1970s, civil rights leaders continued to protest the inequalities in higher education opportunities offered to whites and blacks in Mississippi. In an effort to defuse some of the criticism, Gov. [William Waller] proposed changing the names of three black institutions from "colleges" to "universities." Thus, in 1974, the institution was renamed again, as Mississippi Valley State University.
In 1998, the university renamed many of the buildings on campus, except for the ones named after Sillers, Wright, and J. H. White.
Student Activities
Activities include theater, orchestra, and band. Students may work on the Delvian (yearbook) or the Delta Devil Gazette (student-run newspaper). Leadership opportunities are found in the Student Government Association (SGA) or other organizations such as English Club, Future Teachers of America, and Trades and Industries Club.
NPHC Greek-letter organizations
- Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Epsilon Pi chapter
- Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Zeta Phi chapter
- Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Eta Alpha chapter
- Iota Phi Theta fraternity, Eta Kappa chapter
- Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Zeta Zeta chapter
- Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Beta Theta chapter
- Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Delta Phi chapter
- Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, Kappa Chi chapter
- Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Psi Gamma chapter
Non-NPHC Greek-letter organizations
- Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Phi chapter
- Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority, Zeta Psi chapter
- Alpha Phi Sigma national criminal justice honor society, Zeta Tau chapter.
Curriculum
Mississippi Valley State University has academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. There are 2 colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Education and Professional Studies, and a Graduate School.
Tuition
2011 Tuition per Semester: $2465.52 (off campus, in-state); $6036.48 (off campus, out-of-state); Room and board: $5234.02 (resident); $8804.98 (non-resident).
Athletics
MVSU's colors are forest green and white. Their nickname is the Delta Devils for men's teams and Devilettes for women's teams. MVSU sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Famous alumni include NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice of the 1984 football team.
The Mississippi Valley State University Department of Athletics currently sponsors men's intercollegiate baseball, football, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis and track along with Women's Intercollegiate basketball, soccer, volleyball, cross country, golf, softball, bowling and track.
Notable alumni
Name Class year Notability References Patricia Hoskins 1991 former player for the women's basketball team, the Devilletes, who once held the record for NCAA Division I women's basketball points scored in a career Katie Hall 1960 former U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1982 to 1985, and former city clerk of Gary, Indiana Ashley Ambrose 1992 NFL cornerback Alphonso Ford 1992 Former NBA and Euroleague basketball player George Ivory 1988 Current head basketball coach at University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Parnell Dickinson 1975 Former NFL quarterback Ricky Feacher 1975 Former NFL wide receiver and member Fred Bohannon 1982 Former NFL defensive back [2] Jerry Rice 1984 Former NFL wide receiver; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Willie Totten 1985 Former Head coach of the Delta Devils football team Vincent Brown 1987 Former NFL linebacker and current college football coach Ted Washington, Sr. 1972 Former NFL linebacker James Haynes 1984 Former NFL linebacker (1984-1989) for the New Orleans Saints Melvin Morgan 1976 Former NFL defensive back Corey Holmes 2000 Mayor of Metcalfe, Mississippi; former CFL running back Tyrone Timmons 2006 Arena Football wide receiver References
- ^ "List of HBCUs—White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities". http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whhbcu/edlite-list.html. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ "Fred Bohannon bio". databaseFootball. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BOHANFRE01. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
External links
- www.mvsu.edu — Official web site
Public Colleges and Universities in Mississippi Four-year colleges and universities: Alcorn State University • Delta State University • Jackson State University • Mississippi State University • Mississippi University for Women • Mississippi Valley State University • University of Mississippi • University of Mississippi Medical Center • University of Southern MississippiTwo-year colleges and universities: Coahoma Community College • Copiah-Lincoln Community College • East Central Community College • East Mississippi Community College • Hinds Community College • Holmes Community College • Itawamba Community College • Jones County Junior College • Meridian Community College • Mississippi Delta Community College • Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College • Northeast Mississippi Community College • Northwest Mississippi Community College • Pearl River Community College • Southwest Mississippi Community CollegeThurgood Marshall College Fund Alabama A&M University · Alabama State University · Albany State University · Alcorn State University · Bluefield State College · Bowie State University · Central State University · Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science · Cheyney University of Pennsylvania · Chicago State University · Coppin State University · Delaware State University · Elizabeth City State University · Fayetteville State University · Florida A&M University · Florida A&M University Law School · Fort Valley State University · Grambling State University · Harris-Stowe State University · Howard University · Howard University School of Law · Jackson State University · Kentucky State University · Langston University · Lincoln University (Missouri) · Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) · Medgar Evers College · Mississippi Valley State University · Morgan State University · Norfolk State University · North Carolina A&T State University · North Carolina Central University · North Carolina Central University School of Law · Prairie View A&M University · Savannah State University · South Carolina State University · Southern University and A&M College · Southern University at New Orleans · Southern University at Shreveport-Bossier City · Southern University Law Center · Tennessee State University · Texas Southern University · Thurgood Marshall School of Law · Tuskegee University · University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · University of the District of Columbia · University of District of Columbia Law · University of Maryland Eastern Shore · University of the Virgin Islands · Virginia State University · West Virginia State University · Winston-Salem State University · York CollegeSouthwestern Athletic Conference East Division Alabama A&M Bulldogs • Alabama State Hornets • Alcorn State Braves • Jackson State Tigers • Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
West Division Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions • Grambling State Tigers • Prairie View A&M Panthers • Southern Jaguars • Texas Southern Tigers
Coordinates: 33°30′45″N 90°20′33″W / 33.5125597°N 90.3424215°WCategories:- Mississippi Valley State University
- Universities and colleges in Mississippi
- Historically black universities and colleges in the United States
- American Association of State Colleges and Universities
- Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Education in Leflore County, Mississippi
- Buildings and structures in Leflore County, Mississippi
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