Mississippi Valley State University

Mississippi Valley State University Summary

Mississippi Valley State University is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi. The institution, which opened in 1950, was created by the Mississippi state legislature as Mississippi Vocational College. Board of Education) and created the institution, hoping that its existence would draw African-American applicants who might have otherwise applied to attend Mississippi’s premier whites-only institutions—the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi. Creating separate institutions of higher learning for Mississippi’s black population, the state’s political leaders hoped, would help ease the pressure to integrate the state’s premier universities. After the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown decision, state Gov. Hugh White invited 90 black leaders to support the idea of voluntary segregation of public education in Mississippi. When a young black man, Clyde Kennard, applied to the all-white Mississippi Southern College, President White tried to dissuade him. (Kennard was later framed for his attempts to attend white universities.) In 1964, Mississippi Vocational College was renamed Mississippi Valley State College. In the early 1970s, civil rights leaders continued to protest the inequalities in higher education opportunities offered to whites and blacks in Mississippi.

Summary content courtesy of Wikipedia.

Mississippi Valley State University History

MVSU was officially founded in 1950, even though the approving legislature was approved more than four years previous. The University was originally a teachers college, serving over 300 in-service educators. The Liberal Arts degree was not offered until fourteen years later. The University emphasized pre-professional education and technical preparation. University status was granted in 1974.

Mississippi Valley State University opened as a vocational college. It is an historically black university. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its mission statement says in part, “Mississippi Valley State University values and promotes excellence in its central mission of teaching and strives to provide an inviting and supportive learning and living environment.” It is classed as a Baccalaureate College—General by the Carnegie Institute. Its emphasis is on service to the Mississippi Delta region.

Mississippi Valley State University Academics

Mississippi Valley State University has academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. There are 4 colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Professional Studies, and the College of Graduate Studies.

Bachelor’s degrees are offered in a variety of fields within the various academic colleges; there are 14 undergraduate degree-granting departments. Degrees at the bachelor’s level can be received in such areas as English, public administration, industrial technology, education, mathematics, biology, and environmental health. Graduate programs are offered at the master’s level in 5 areas: teaching, criminal justice, elementary education, environmental health, and special education.

Mississippi Valley’s primary academic offerings are provided through the College of Art’s & Sciences, College of Professional Studies, College of Education, and the College of Graduate Studies. MVSU also offers students the opportunity to earn a double major, provided they complete at least 30 credit hours in each major field. Areas of concentration are also allowed, provided the student completes 18-21 credit hours of courses in that particular field, as approved by the department in which it is offered.

Mississippi Valley State University Unique Programs

The MVSU Department of Criminal Justice is more than 20 years-old and is one of the University’s largest departments. Approximately 375 students are enrolled in the department’s various programs. Degrees offered include the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

MVSU also offers the Bachelor of Science in Public Administration through the Department of Social Science. It is the only undergraduate program in public administration in the State of Mississippi.

Mississippi Valley State University Financial Aid

Tuition at Mississippi Valley State University is $1,579 per semester for the 2005-2006 academic year for in-state, undergraduate students attending full-time. Students applying from out of state and graduate students have higher costs.

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. There is also some student employment. Students who seek financial aid will need to fill out the Federal Student Financial Aid Form, available on-line. Graduate students who have a 3.0 GPA are eligible for assistantships requiring 20 hours of work a week. A Graduate Diversity Scholarship is also available; it covers tuition and fees.

There are Diversity Scholarship awards of up to $700.00 for undergraduate students who are non-black, who come from out of state, or have taken at least two years away from high school or other college.

MVSU sees financial aid as a supplement to a student’s family resources. Therefore, the financial aid office calculates the cost of a student’s attendance and subtracts the family’s expected contribution to tuition. The remaining amount is considered financial need. MVSU considers income, assets, expenses, family size, and the number of children in calculating a family’s expected contribution. Entering freshmen must have a grade point average of 3.00 to qualify for aid and, based on test scores, can receive a variety of aid packages.

Mississippi Valley State University Students

Student life at Mississippi Valley State University includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations. There are 8 fraternities and sororities, academic, professional, and honor societies, a university band, two campus ministries, and the Cliché Fashion & Modeling Squad, among others.

MVSU is home to eight different Greek-letter organizations that are part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. There are also several dozen other student organizations on campus, including Army ROTC, various residence hall councils and clubs, and academic societies. The campus is home to over 1,000 residential students who occupy ten different “living/learning centers.” There are five male halls and five female halls.

Mississippi Valley State University Traditions

Among the University’s many various traditions are freshman orientation, Annual Fall Convocation, the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Student Christmas Dinner, and Founder’s Day during an entire week of celebrations for the University’s founders.

Mississippi Valley State University Local Community

Mississippi Valley State University is located in Itta Bena, Mississippi. The surrounding environment is largely rural farmland.

Itta Bena reported a population of 2,208 in the 2000 census. The majority of residents are of African American descent. Itta Bena is located in Leflore County and is roughly 1.4 square miles in land area. Nearby Greenwood offers a numerous array of entertainment venues, outdoor experiences, cultural attractions, and the historic Fort Pemberton museum.