Bluefield State College

History

According to its charter, the school was founded in 1895 as Bluefield Colored Institute and created as a "high graded school," for the Negro youth in the nearby area. It later served as a teacher training school in the state's then-segregated system of education. The new school, assisted by the federal Morrill Act, was to be located on four acres on the north side of the Norfolk and Western Railway's massive Pocahontas Division rail yards in Bluefield, a central location within 100 miles of 70% of West Virginia's black citizens.

Bluefield Colored Institute began modestly with 40 pupils under the supervision of Hamilton Hatter, Bluefield State's first president, although he was denied the prestigious title, instead serving as "principal." Hatter oversaw the construction of Mahood Hall, the administrative building, as well as Lewis Hall and West Hall dormitories. Hatter was an energetic leader who built the foundation of the College. He faced enormous challenges, running the institution with no legislative appropriations whatsoever for two years. In the late 1920s, the students and staff of the school referred to it as "Bluefield Institute", but this name was never sanctioned by the West Virginia legislature. In 1906, Hatter handed the reins of leadership at BCI to Robert P. Sims, a graduate of Hillsdale College, who would lead Bluefield State for three crucial decades. Sims showed dedication, commitment, and prudent management in his lengthy tenure at Bluefield State. By adopting formal teacher training--"normal education"—in 1909, Sims created the great role that Bluefield State would play, educating educators to carry traditions of excellence throughout the bustling coalfields, fulfilling the mission of its enabling legislation.

Enrollment climbed to 235 by 1920, with annual summer sessions for teacher certification attracting hundreds more. With efficient professional management and careful supervision, the College prospered, expanding to 23 acres, adding Payne Hall and colonnaded Conley Hall, faculty residences, and the stately President's House. Enrollment soon exceeded six hundred, many of whom lived on the close-knit campus, termed the "terraced hills" for its verdant landscaping. Grateful graduates created the Alumni Association to rekindle collegiate memories and support programs of the institution. BSC students achieved notable distinction in a wide variety of fields.

Sims and his successor, Academic Dean and BCI alumnus Henry Dickason, president from 1936-1952, managed this growth with patience and resourcefulness. Bluefield State Teachers College, as the institution was renamed in 1931, was at the center of the rich cultural world of African-American society. Although the rough and tumble bituminous coalfields were far from the urban and sophisticated east coast, Sims and Dickason managed to involve their college heavily in the explosion of black American culture known as the "Harlem Renaissance," bringing Langston Hughes to read poetry, John Hope Franklin to teach Negro History, and even heavyweight champion Joe Louis to box exhibitions in Arter Gymnasium. Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Dizzie Gillespie, and Count Basie entertained the active Greek-letter fraternities and sororities. Bluefield State's "Big Blue" football team twice won national Negro College Athletic Association championships in the late 1920s.

A 1929 survey of the 702 alumni of Bluefield State demonstrated the college's wide-ranging influence. There were no fewer than 326 school teachers, among dozens of administrators, physicians, pharmacists, ministers, businessmen and homemakers. The name "Bluefield State College" was adopted in 1943. After a half-century of inadequate salaries, extreme sacrifice, and passionate dedication, Bluefield State was finally awarded full academic accreditation in 1947, rewarding the institution's measured progress.By September 1954, the state-supported colleges in West Virginia were integrated. Three white students (James Ernest Watkins, Joseph Tice and Douglas Ralph Whittaker) in a total body of 354 enrolled at Bluefield State.

By the 1960s, the College had a comprehensive four-year program of teacher education, arts and sciences, and engineering technology. Gradually a variety of two-year technical programs evolved in response to local needs.

During the late 1960s, black students protested that the state was transforming the school from a traditional black college to a white commuter college. One of the allegations made was that black faculty and staff were being fired and replaced by less qualified white personnel. On November 21, 1968, the racial tensions culminated in the bombing of the gymnasium. A $5,000 reward was offered by Governor Hulett C. Smith. Ironically, the administration responded by immediately closing the dormitories, which housed a significant percentage of the college's out-of-state black student population, hastening the transition to a predominantly white college.

The Alpha House and President's House, Bluefield State College (now named The "Hatter" House) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2003, the school's two-year programs, except for those in nursing and engineering technology, were separated out from Bluefield State and became the foundation of the newly formed New River Community and Technical College.

Academics

Instructional programs are offered in engineering technologies, business, teacher education, arts and sciences, nursing and health science professions, and a variety of career fields. Students may also complete the non-traditional Regents Bachelor of Arts degree through Bluefield State College. The college is also dedicated to offering a wide variety of off campus courses at centers in Beckley, Lewisburg, Summersville and Welch, West Virginia.

As of 2009, Bluefield's student body is 60.58% female and 39.42% male. Although Bluefield is a historically black college, its student body has the racial composition listed in the table.

Athletics

Bluefield State's athletic teams, known as the Big Blues, compete in NCAA's Division II as a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. They were a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference until the conference's dissolution, then went independent until being granted membership into the ECAC. Their sponsored sports are men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, tennis and cross-country, men's golf and women's volleyball.

The college fielded a football team until 1981. In 1927 and 1928, Bluefield State was voted the Black college football national champion by the Pittsburgh Courier. Ray Kemp was the team's coach for an extended period of time beginning in 1934.

There are also several intramural sports including swimming, mixed martial arts, soccer, bowling and flag football.

Greek life

Bluefield State College currently hosts two fraternities (Lambda Chi Omega and Delta Sigma Tau) and three sororities (Delta Chi Omega, Phi Sigma Zeta, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.).