Changes

Petersburg gained white state-operated Richard Bland College as a junior college in 1960. (Petersburg also has a separate local junior college John Tyler Community College founded in 1967.) When Richard Bland College proposed to expand from a two-year to a four-year college, a lawsuit successfully blocked the expansion on the grounds that it would make it difficult for VSU to attract white students. ''Norris v. State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.'' <ref>See, Stephen C. Halpern, On The Limits of the Law (JHU Press) pages 238-39 ISBN 0-8018-4897-0</ref>

Petersburg gained white state-operated Richard Bland College as a junior college in 1960. (Petersburg also has a separate local junior college John Tyler Community College founded in 1967.) When Richard Bland College proposed to expand from a two-year to a four-year college, a lawsuit successfully blocked the expansion on the grounds that it would make it difficult for VSU to attract white students. ''Norris v. State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.'' <ref>See, Stephen C. Halpern, On The Limits of the Law (JHU Press) pages 238-39 ISBN 0-8018-4897-0</ref>

==Present day==

==Present day==

VSU faces serious financial challenges.  VSU faces a $5.3 million budget shortfall for the 2014-15 academic year.  Its enrollment dropped by more than 10%, and in order to fill its dormatories, it now requires all freshmen and sophomores to live on campus.  There are also serious concerns about campus safety.  In fall 2013, a student was fatally shot in VSU's University Apartments.<ref name=tp/>  There was also a stabbing at its homecoming event.<ref name=tp/>

VSU faces serious financial challenges.  VSU faces a $5.3 million budget shortfall for the 2014-15 academic year.  Its enrollment dropped by more than 10%, and in order to fill its dormatories, it now requires all freshmen and sophomores to live on campus.  There are also serious concerns about campus safety.  In fall 2013, a student was fatally shot in VSU's University Apartments.<ref name=tp/>  There was also a stabbing at its homecoming event.<ref name=tp/>  In 2013, five VSU football players assaulted a Winston-Salem State quarterback in the bathroom during the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship game luncheon. The attack led to the cancellation of the championship game.<ref name=interim>{{cite news|url=http://www.progress-index.com/article/20141114/NEWS/141119806/?Start=1|title=VSU picks interim president|work=Progress-Index|date=November 14, 2014|accessdate+November 14, 2014}}</ref>

Its official motto is "Building a Better World". Dr. Keith T. Miller was appointed the 13th president of VSU by the Board of Visitors in 2010.<ref>http://www.vsu.edu/about/leadership/index.php Retrieved September 12, 2014</ref> In the fall 2014, 950 students signed a petition calling for Miller's resignation.<ref name=chester>{{cite news|url=http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2014-11-12/Front_Page/Under_the_microscope.htm|title=Under the microscope: State agents investigating complaints at VSU|first=Peter |last=Galuszka|work=Chesterfield Observer|date=November 12, 2014|accessdate=November 12, 2014}}</ref> Miller announced his resignation effective December 31, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vsu.edu/news/headlines/2014/10/miller-resigns.php|title=Dr. Keith T. Miller steps down as VSU President|accessdate=November 8, 2014}}</ref> The Office of the State Inspector General then sent two agents to the campus to investigate complaints about fraud and abuse.<ref name=chester/>

Its official motto is "Building a Better World". Dr. Keith T. Miller was appointed the 13th president of VSU by the Board of Visitors in 2010.<ref>http://www.vsu.edu/about/leadership/index.php Retrieved September 12, 2014</ref> In the fall 2014, 950 students signed a petition calling for Miller's resignation.<ref name=chester>{{cite news|url=http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2014-11-12/Front_Page/Under_the_microscope.htm|title=Under the microscope: State agents investigating complaints at VSU|first=Peter |last=Galuszka|work=Chesterfield Observer|date=November 12, 2014|accessdate=November 12, 2014}}</ref> Miller announced his resignation effective December 31, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vsu.edu/news/headlines/2014/10/miller-resigns.php|title=Dr. Keith T. Miller steps down as VSU President|accessdate=November 8, 2014}}</ref> The Office of the State Inspector General then sent two agents to the campus to investigate complaints about fraud and abuse.<ref name=chester/> On November 13, 2014, VSU named Pamela Hammond, Provost of [[Hampton University]], to serve as VSU interim president.<ref name=interim/>

==References==

==References==