 | This articlecontainspromotional content. Please helpimprove it by removingpromotional language and inappropriateexternal links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from aneutral point of view.(March 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | |
Former name | Fort Valley State College (1939–1996) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Be Bold. Be Amazing. Be Prepared. |
| Type | Publicland-granthistorically black university |
| Established | 1939; 86 years ago (1939) |
Parent institution | University System of Georgia |
Academic affiliation | Space-grant |
| Endowment | $6.6 million[1] |
| President | Paul Jones |
Administrative staff | 400 |
| Students | 2,182 (fall 2021)[2] |
| Location | , U.S. 32°32′3.9″N83°53′45.8″W / 32.534417°N 83.896056°W /32.534417; -83.896056 |
| Campus | 1,365 acres (5.52 km2) |
| Colors | Royal blue and old gold |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II –SIAC |
| Website | fvsu.edu |
 | |
 | |
Fort Valley State University (FVSU; formerlyFort Valley State College) is apublicland-granthistorically black university inFort Valley, Georgia, United States. It is part of theUniversity System of Georgia and a member-school of theThurgood Marshall College Fund.
Fort Valley State University is the state's 1890 land-grant university and enrolls over 2,500 students. Approximately 90% of the student body is of African-American descent. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley inPeach County. Its 1,365-acre (5.52 km2) main campus is Georgia's largest public university in area.
Fort Valley State University, was founded as Fort Valley State College in 1939.[3] It began with the 1939 consolidation of theFort Valley High and Industrial School (founded in 1890, chartered in 1896),[4] and theState Teachers and Agricultural College of Forsyth (founded in 1902).[5] Both schools had been founded privately, and were affiliated with theAmerican Missionary Association; they were transferred to state control and operation, to form Fort Valley State College.
In 1947, the stateBoard of Regents adopted a resolution moving the "land grant" designation from Georgia State College (later Savannah State University) to Fort Valley State College.[5] In response to the Regents' resolution, in 1949 the Georgia General Assembly officially designated the Fort Valley State College as the Land-Grant College for Negroes in Georgia. During this time, public education was segregated due toJim Crow laws.
The school became Fort Valley State University, a state and land-grant university, in June 1996.[citation needed]
The president of Fort Valley State University is the chief executive officer of the university. Paul Jones has held the position since 2015.[6] The complete list of presidents includes:
| Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Horace Mann Bond | 1939–1945 | [7] |
| Cornelius V. Troup | 1945–1966 | [8] |
| Waldo W. E. Blanchet | 1966–1973 | [9][10] |
| Cleveland W. Pettigrew | 1973–1982 | [11] |
| Luther Burse | 1983–1989 | [12][13] |
| Oscar L. Prater | 1991–2001 | [14] |
| Kofi Lomotey | 2001–2005 | [15][16] |
| Larry Eugene Rivers | 2006–2013 | [17] |
| Ivelaw Griffith | 2013–2014 | [18] |
| Paul Jones | 2015–present | [6][19] |
Fort Valley State University offersbachelor's degrees in more than 50 majors, as well asmaster's degrees in several fields of study.[citation needed] FVSU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's and specialist degrees.[citation needed]
The university also offers the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP) which provides an opportunity for qualified students to receive aSTEM degree from FVSU and anengineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, Pennsylvania State University, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, or University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.[20]
The university's honors program is a selective undergraduate program designed to cater to high-achieving students.[21]
Outreach services include Fort Valley State'sCooperative Extension Service Program, where extension service specialists operate in 42Georgia counties, and the Pettigrew Conference Center, which hosts more than 500 courses and events for 51,000 patrons each year. In an effort to accommodate graduate andnon-traditional students, external degree program courses are also being offered at off-campus sites inMacon,Cochran,Warner Robins andDublin. The university offers online courses viaWebCT, which allows students to pursue a number of majors and programs from home.
The College of Arts and Sciences, the oldest and the largest college at FVSU, houses 12 academic units and offers nearly 80 percent of the courses taught at FVSU. The college services the University System of Georgia's Academic Core and provides 20 undergraduate major fields of study. The Department of Business Administration and Economics is the largest academic department in the College of Arts and Sciences, and is an accredited member of theAccreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
The College of Education is an educator preparation program offering degrees in Middle Grades Education, undergraduate and graduate; Agriculture Education, undergraduate and post-baccalaureate; Early Childhood / Special Education undergraduate; School Counseling; Early Childhood / Special Education graduate; Health and Physical Education; Family and Consumer Sciences Education; and an MAT degree in the secondary teaching areas.
The College of Agriculture, Home Economics & Allied Programs is ranked 25th nationally in the production of African American agriculturists and the university's leader in placing first-time applicants into medical, dental, veterinary and pharmacy schools and colleges since 2001. The college has laboratories in the state, and scientists are securing grant funds and conducting cutting-edge research.[22]
Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center is a conference, convention, and fine arts facility.[23] It was named after the forth university president, Cleveland W. Pettigrew.[23]
Anderson House was the residence of Francis W. Gano, one of the university's founders.[23] It is the oldest facility on campus.[23] The exhibits and displays in the house come from the Biggs Collection of period furnishings, silver, glassware, china, quilts, linens and civil war memorabilia.
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 92% | ||
| Two or more races | 3% | ||
| Hispanic | 2% | ||
| White | 2% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[a] | 73% | ||
| Affluent[b] | 27% | ||
Student activities at Fort Valley State University includeNCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics, The Blue MachineMarching Band,concertchoir, Baptist Student Union Choir,forensics (intercollegiate speech and debate), andcheerleading.[citation needed] Overall, there are more than 70 clubs, social, and Greek organizations on campus.[citation needed]
FVSU has a radio station (WFVS-FM 96.9) and a television station (FVSU TV), as well as a college newspaper,The Peachite.[25]
Athletic opportunities include intramural sports and intercollegiate men's basketball, cross country, football, tennis, and track and field, and volleyball and women's basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, volleyball, and track and field. The school currently competes as a member of theSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.[citation needed]
| Name | Class year | Notability | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Anderson | 1986 | FormerNFLsafety for theSeattle Seahawks andLos Angeles/Oakland Raiders | [26] |
| John W. Blassingame | 1960 | Professor and Chair of African Studies at Yale University for 29 years | [27] |
| Catherine Hardy Lavender | 1952 | Olympic sprinter, won a gold medal in 1952 in the4 × 100 metres relay | |
| Nick Harper | 2001 | FormerNFLcornerback for theTennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts | [28] |
| Robert J. Jones | 1973 | Chancellor at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | [29] |
| Marquette King | 2012 | Former NFL punter for theOakland Raiders andDenver Broncos | |
| Greg Lloyd | 1987 | FormerNFL Pro Bowl player for thePittsburgh Steelers | [30] |
| Ricardo Lockette | Former NFL wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers | ||
| Tyrone Poole | 1995 | First round pick by Carolina Panthers; earned two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots as starter on the 2003 and 2004 teams | |
| Trey Wolfe | 2014 | Former NFL cornerback; NCAA career leader interceptions per game (2013) | |
| Charles Robinson Jr. | 1970 | President and CEO of Sadie G. Mays Health and Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta; first African American to become certified by the American College of Healthcare Administrators | [31] |
| Calvin Smyre | 1970 | Elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1974 as its youngest member at age 26; current Executive Vice President of the $34 billion financial corporation Synovus Foundation | |
| Derrick Wimbush | Former NFL player | ||
| Rayfield Wright | 1967 | NFL Hall of Fame inductee | [32] |
| Peppi Zellner | Former NFL player |
Links to related articles | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
