# Virginia International University

> private university in Fairfax, Virginia, United States (1998-2024)

**Wikidata**: [Q7934333](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7934333)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfax_University_of_America)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/virginia-international-university

## Summary
Virginia International University (VIU) was a private university located in Fairfax, Virginia, that operated from 1998 to 2024. In 2020, the institution rebranded and became known as the Fairfax University of America (FXUA). It served as an academic institution for further education in the United States.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Private university.
- **Location:** Fairfax, Virginia, United States.
- **Operational History:** Founded in 1998; operational status listed as ending in 2024.
- **Name Change:** Rebranded from "Virginia International University" (VIU) to "Fairfax University of America" (FXUA) on January 1, 2020.
- **Leadership:** Ahmed Alwani served as a director/manager.
- **Web Presence:** Historical website located at `http://www.viu.edu/`; subsequent website located at `https://www.fxua.edu/`.
- **Identifiers:** IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) 54-1954969; GRID ID `grid.449936.5`; ROR ID `05pgz6x52`.
- **Social Media:** Operated social media accounts under the handle `viuedu` (Twitter/Instagram) and `goviu` (Facebook/Pinterest).

## FAQs
### Q: Is Virginia International University still open?
A: According to available structured data, the entity described as "Virginia International University" had an operational range from 1998 to 2024. The institution rebranded as Fairfax University of America in 2020.

### Q: When did Virginia International University change its name?
A: The university officially changed its name to Fairfax University of America (FXUA) on January 1, 2020.

### Q: Where was Virginia International University located?
A: The university was located in Fairfax, Virginia, United States.

## Why It Matters
Virginia International University represents a specific case study in the landscape of American private higher education, illustrating the evolution of institutional branding and compliance. Operating for over two decades in the competitive Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the university served international and domestic students seeking further education. Its transition to the Fairfax University of America brand in 2020 marked a significant pivot in its identity strategy. This rebranding differentiated the institution from other nearby entities, such as Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Fairfax, solidifying its distinct presence in the academic sector until its listed end date in 2024.

## Notable For
- **Rebranding Initiative:** Successfully transitioned its identity from VIU to Fairfax University of America (FXUA) in 2020.
- **Geographic Distinction:** Explicitly differentiated itself from other similarly named institutions, such as the "University of Fairfax" and "Virginia Commonwealth University."
- **International Focus:** Maintained a digital presence across multiple languages, including English, Russian, and Urdu, reflecting an international student orientation.
- **Archival Presence:** Holds records in major academic and organizational databases, including ISNI, Ringgold, and OpenCorporates.

## Body
### Identity and Naming History
Virginia International University (VIU) was established in 1998 as a private institution of higher learning. On January 1, 2020, the university underwent a significant rebranding effort, adopting the name **Fairfax University of America** (FXUA). Consequently, the "Virginia International University" branding is classified with an end time of January 1, 2020.

*   **Short Name:** VIU (pre-2020); FXUA (post-2020).
*   **Aliases:** Американский университет в Фэрфаксе, Международный университет Виргинии.

### Location and Operations
The university was physically situated in **Fairfax, Virginia**. It was incorporated in Virginia (OpenCorporates ID: `us_va/05226949`) with a registered branch in Washington, D.C. (OpenCorporates ID: `us_dc/EXTUID_4288124`).

### Administrative and Technical Data
The institution is defined by the following structured properties and identifiers:
*   **Director/Manager:** Ahmed Alwani.
*   **Tax Status:** IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) **54-1954969**.
*   **Academic Identifiers:**
    *   ISNI: `0000000406488748`
    *   ROR ID: `05pgz6x52`
    *   GRID ID: `grid.449936.5`
    *   Ringgold ID: `97455`
*   **Legacy Web Assets:** The original website (`www.viu.edu`) was archived effective January 2, 2020, redirecting to the new FXUA domain (`www.fxua.edu`).

### Status
The wikidata description for the entity lists the date range as **1998–2024**, indicating the cessation of operations or the historical definition of the entity within that timeframe.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
2. ROR release v1.19
3. [Source](http://www.viu.edu/)
4. GRID Release 2016-05-31
5. Quora
6. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph