# Virginia Union University

> private university in Richmond, Virginia

**Wikidata**: [Q1814758](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1814758)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Union_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/virginia-union-university

## Summary
Virginia Union University (VUU) is a private, historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1865, this Baptist-affiliated institution is recognized as a National Register of Historic Places listed place and focuses on arts and sciences education. The university serves a student body of approximately 1,500 students and is classified as a private not-for-profit educational institution.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 1865
- **Location:** 1500 N Lombardy St, Richmond, Virginia, 23220 (United States)
- **Type:** Private, historically black college or university (HBCU); private not-for-profit educational institution
- **Religious Affiliation:** Baptists
- **Enrollment:** 1,516 students (as of September 2020)
- **Staff:** 359 employees (as of September 2020)
- **Endowment:** $32,618,729 USD (as of June 30, 2020)
- **Admission Rate:** 75% (as of 2020)
- **Athletics:** Virginia Union Panthers
- **Heritage Status:** Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (July 26, 1982) and designated a Virginia Historic Landmark (June 16, 1981)

## FAQs
### Q: Is Virginia Union University a historically black college?
A: Yes, Virginia Union University is classified as a historically black college or university (HBCU).

### Q: When was Virginia Union University founded?
A: The university was founded in 1865.

### Q: What is the religious affiliation of Virginia Union University?
A: The university is affiliated with the Baptists.

### Q: Where is Virginia Union University located?
A: It is located at 1500 N Lombardy St, Richmond, Virginia, 23220.

### Q: What is the acceptance rate for Virginia Union University?
A: As of 2020, the admission rate was 0.75, or 75%.

## Why It Matters
Virginia Union University holds significant historical and cultural importance as an institution of higher learning founded immediately following the American Civil War in 1865. As a historically black college or university (HBCU), it has played a crucial role in providing educational opportunities to African American students for over a century and a half.

The university's campus itself is a recognized landmark; it was designated a Virginia Historic Landmark in 1981 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, cited for criteria A and C (events and architecture). This heritage status underscores its role not just as an educational facility, but as a preserved site of historical significance in Richmond.

Furthermore, the university maintains a distinct identity through its Baptist affiliation and its Carnegie classification as a "baccalaureate college" with an "arts and sciences focus." With assets totaling over $85 million and an endowment of over $32 million as of 2020, VUU remains a financially active and significant small, highly residential institution within the landscape of American higher education.

## Notable For
- **Historical Status:** Designated a Virginia Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- **HBCU Heritage:** Classified as a historically black college or university.
- **Academic Focus:** Recognized specifically as a baccalaureate college with an arts and sciences focus.
- **Religious Affiliation:** Affiliated with the Baptists.
- **Architecture:** Its campus features structures significant enough for National Register listing (notably Pickford Hall).

## Body

### History and Heritage
Virginia Union University was established in 1865 in Richmond, Virginia. It holds dual heritage designations: it was recognized as a Virginia Historic Landmark on June 16, 1981, and subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 26, 1982 (Reference #82004590). The listing was based on Criterion A (association with events) and Criterion C (distinctive characteristics/architecture). The university is also tracked by WikiProject African diaspora.

### Academic Profile
The institution is a private, not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptists. According to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, VUU is defined as a "baccalaureate college" with an "arts and sciences focus" and "no graduate coexistence." It operates on a semester-based academic calendar. The university is a member of the American Council on Education.

### Campus and Location
The university is situated in Richmond, Virginia, at the coordinates 37.5625° N, 77.4511° W. Its physical address is 1500 N Lombardy St, Richmond, VA, 23220. A key facility on campus is the L. Douglas Wilder Library & Learning Resource Center.

### Student and Operational Data
As of September 2020, the university employed 359 individuals and served a student population of 1,516. The admission rate for the year 2020 was 0.75 (75%), with an admission yield rate of 0.08 (8%). The university's social media presence includes verified accounts on Twitter and Instagram under the handle `vaunion1865`.

### Financials
Financial data as of June 30, 2020, indicates the university held total assets of $85,531,512 USD and an endowment of $32,618,729 USD.

### Athletics and Identity
The university's athletic program competes as the Virginia Union Panthers. It is commonly abbreviated as VUU.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
3. GRID Release 2017-01-10
4. [Source](http://hbculibraries.org/libraries-year.html)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120080233/https://acememberdirectory.azurewebsites.net/)
6. Google Knowledge Graph
7. MusicBrainz
8. National Register of Historic Places
9. National Archives Catalog
10. Virginia Landmarks Register
11. GeoNames
12. Freebase Data Dumps
13. [Source](http://www.vuu.edu)
14. [Source](https://www.vuu.edu/)
15. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
16. GRID Release 2015-12-14
17. GRID Release 2016-12-06
18. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
19. Quora
20. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
21. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aipro.php)
22. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
23. National Center for Education Statistics