Bluefield State College

Bluefield State College is a public college located in Bluefield, West Virginia, and is part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The college has a long history, dating back to 1895, when it was founded as the Bluefield Colored Institute by Richard Pemberton, with the support of Booker T. Washington and the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. The college has undergone several transformations over the years, including becoming a Junior college in 1929, and later a Liberal arts college in 1943, with the help of Morris College and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The college has also been influenced by other institutions, such as Virginia State University and the West Virginia University.

● History

The history of the college is closely tied to the history of West Virginia and the African American community, with notable figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes visiting the campus. The college has also been shaped by the Civil Rights Movement, with many of its students and faculty members participating in events such as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Selma to Montgomery Marches. The college has also been influenced by other institutions, such as Tuskegee University and the Alabama State University. In the 1960s, the college became a Public college, and began to offer a wider range of academic programs, including those in Business administration and Engineering, with the help of Howard University and the National Science Foundation. The college has also been recognized for its contributions to the STEM fields, with partnerships with institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology.

● Academics

The college offers a range of academic programs, including those in Arts and sciences, Business administration, and Engineering, with courses taught by faculty members from institutions such as Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. The college is also home to a number of research centers and institutes, including the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which have partnerships with institutions such as Stanford University and the Carnegie Mellon University. The college has also been recognized for its online and distance education programs, which have been developed in partnership with institutions such as Penn State World Campus and the University of Florida Online. The college's academic programs have also been influenced by institutions such as Yale University and the University of Chicago.

● Campus

The college's campus is located in Bluefield, West Virginia, and features a range of modern and historic buildings, including the Conley Hall and the Gothic Revival-style Memorial Hall, which have been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places and the National Park Service. The campus is also home to a number of state-of-the-art facilities, including the Health Sciences Center and the Engineering and Technology Building, which have been funded by institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. The college's campus has also been recognized for its beauty and sustainability, with features such as the Bluefield State College Arboretum and the Green Roof Initiative, which have been developed in partnership with institutions such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Arbor Day Foundation.

● Student Life

The college offers a range of student life programs and activities, including those in Student government, Greek life, and Community service, with partnerships with institutions such as American Red Cross and the Habitat for Humanity. The college is also home to a number of student organizations and clubs, including the Bluefield State College Choir and the Bluefield State College Drama Club, which have performed at events such as the Kennedy Center and the Apollo Theater. The college's student life programs have also been influenced by institutions such as Morehouse College and the Spelman College. The college has also been recognized for its support of Student athletes, with partnerships with institutions such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

● Athletics

The college's athletic teams, known as the Bluefield State Big Blues, compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Mountain East Conference, with rivalries with institutions such as University of Charleston and the West Virginia State University. The college offers a range of sports programs, including Basketball, Football, and Volleyball, with coaches and players from institutions such as University of Kentucky and the Ohio State University. The college's athletic programs have also been influenced by institutions such as Grambling State University and the Florida A&M University. The college has also been recognized for its support of Student athletes, with partnerships with institutions such as the National Football League and the Women's National Basketball Association.

● Notable Alumni

The college has a number of notable alumni, including James Walker, a former NASA engineer, and Sheila Crump Johnson, a businesswoman and Philanthropist, who have been recognized by institutions such as the National Academy of Engineering and the Forbes 400. Other notable alumni include Ronald McNair, a former NASA astronaut, and Mae Jemison, a former NASA astronaut and Physician, who have been recognized by institutions such as the National Science Foundation and the American Medical Association. The college's alumni have also been influenced by institutions such as Howard University and the Tuskegee University. The college has also been recognized for its contributions to the STEM fields, with alumni working at institutions such as Google and the Microsoft.

Category:Historically black colleges and universities