ReportWire

Tag: Virginia State University

  • String of bomb threats force evacuations at HBCUs & DNC HQ after Charlie Kirk shooting

    [ad_1]

    The Democratic National Committee and several historically Black colleges and universities have been forced to evacuate or have locked down after receiving threats the day after far-right pundit Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at an event on a Utah campus.

    Capitol Police responded to a “potential security concern” at the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, which was deemed to be a non-credible bomb threat.

    “This afternoon, there was a bomb threat to DNC HQ that was determined to not be credible by the U.S. Capitol Police,” a DNC spokesperson told Axios. “Out of an abundance of caution, Capitol Police is conducting an interior sweep of the building. As DNC Chair Ken Martin has said, political violence in every form has no place in our country. We are grateful to the U.S. Capitol Police and DNC building security for responding quickly and professionally.”

    Meanwhile, several HBCUs went under lockdown Thursday, including Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University, Southern University, Bethune-Cookman Univeristy, and Clark Atlanta University, according to local news outlets.

    Alabama State announced it would be suspending all campus activities on Thursday after a “terroristic threat” was directed at the campus. Police have since issued an all clear, though campus will remain closed. Southern University has also been cleared, but activities will main canceled throughout the weekend.

    Shelter-in-place warnings have been lofted at Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University, the Atlanta Police Department told Atlanta News First. Spelman officials told the outlet that while no threats have been made toward the college, due to their proximity to other universities facing threats they have “increased security presence across campus.”

    Virginia State “remains on lockdown as we continue to prioritize the safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” it said in a statement, adding that “VSU Police, in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, is actively investigating the credibility of the threat received earlier today.”

    Hampton University also canceled classes for Thursday and Friday, saying in a statement, “Hampton University has received notice of a potential threat and has ceased all non-essential activity, effective immediately.”

    The Daytona Beach Police Department said in a statement that it is “actively investigating a reported threat directed at Bethune-Cookman University” and that “the campus has been placed on lockdown while officers work to ensure the safety of the students and staff.”

    While law enforcement has not confirmed what motivated the threats, they come one day after Kirk, the anti-LGBTQ+ commentator who founded Turning Point USA, died after being shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. Despite no suspects or motivations being known, conservatives online have blamed “the left” for Kirk’s murder and vowed revenge.

    Democratic Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana, where Southern University is located, strongly condemned the threats against Black institutions in a statement posted to social media, saying that “HBCUs are pillars of excellence, resilience, and progress. They have nurtured leaders, broken down barriers, and carried forward the torch of justice and equality in America. Any threat against them is a threat against us all.”

    “I am calling on the full weight of the federal government — including the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI — to utilize every available resource to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible,” Carter said. “These attacks cannot be tolerated, minimized, or ignored. They must be met with swift and decisive action.”

    This article originally appeared on Advocate: String of bomb threats force evacuations at HBCUs & DNC HQ after Charlie Kirk shooting

    RELATED

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Potential threats force historically Black Virginia universities to lock down – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    Less than a month after opening for the new school year, two Virginia HBCUs —  Virginia State and Hampton Universities  — closed on Thursday after receiving threats to their campuses.

    This article was reprinted with permission from Virginia Mercury. 

    Less than a month after opening for the new school year, two Virginia HBCUs —  Virginia State and Hampton Universities  — closed on Thursday after receiving threats to their campuses.

    Though neither school has released details on what the threats entail, attention on campus safety has been heightened nationwide after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

    In the past few years, Virginia’s institutions including Virginia State (VSU) and Hampton Universities have navigated multiple threats, some of which ended in no activity or followed after gun violence while others were found to be unsubstantiated.

    “The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors remain our highest priority,” Hampton University said in a statement Thursday morning, adding that further updates will be provided by the end of the day.

    Hampton said in a statement that it received notice of a “potential threat” and has ceased all non-essential activities, effective immediately. All campus activities and classes would also be closed through Friday including athletic events and activities.

    Virginia State advised the school’s community to continue checking VSU emails for updates.

    Last July, Hampton locked down the school to investigate a bomb threat targeting The William R. Harvey Library and the University Dining Hall, according to WAVY News. Officials determined there was no threat.

    Then, a month later in Petersburg, Virginia State locked down its school after four people, none of whom were enrolled students, were shot on Boisseau Street outside Daniel Gymnasium on the university’s campus, 8News reported. The media outlet reported that all four people were then taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

    As of 12:30 p.m., no other institute in Virginia has announced any similar closure.

    Historically Black educational institutions in other states were also forced to close Thursday due to threats, including Southern University in Louisiana and Alabama State University.

    [ad_2]

    Jessica Kronzer

    Source link

  • AUC schools lift shelter-in-place after targeted ‘terroristic threats’ made to HBCUs

    [ad_1]

    Morehouse-James Hall, which was built in 1901 and last renovated in 1979. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

    Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the U.S. initiated a lockdown or shelter-in-place order on Thursday morning after receiving potential threats made against the universities. As of Thursday afternoon, those schools included Virginia State University, Hampton University, Alabama State University, Southern University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Georgia HBCUs Morehouse College, Spelman College, Morris-Brown, and Clark Atlanta University. 

    Spelman, Morris-Brown, and Morehouse announced their lockdowns after Clark Atlanta received a direct threat. Out of precaution and due to their close proximity, the schools initiated their own lockdowns and increased security presence around campus. The shelter-in-place for Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta has since been lifted. 

    In a statement made by Clark Atlanta to The Atlanta Voice through text, the university said:

    “We were addressing a situation on campus that requires a shelter-in-place notice as a precautionary measure. That shelter-in-place mandate has been lifted.

    We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the campus community.  Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Our priority is the safety of all students, faculty and staff.” 

    Schools advised faculty, staff, and students to shelter in place and avoid the campus. Southern University in Louisiana, Virginia State, and Hampton University have canceled Thursday and/or Friday classes, disrupting the academic year less than a month in. These threats come on the day of remembrance for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a day after American right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University event. 

    In several social media posts, officials urge students to remain alert and report anything suspicious. CAU campus police, in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department, are actively investigating threats made to the campus. 

    [ad_2]

    Laura Nwogu

    Source link

  • SC State heightens security amid threats to HBCUs across the Southeast

    [ad_1]

    A South Carolina State University student walks outside the school’s new engineering building Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The school has heightened security in response to threats made to other Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the Southeast (File photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

    South Carolina State University put added security measures in place in response to unspecified threats made to several Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the Southeast.

    SC State has not received any direct threats, spokesman Sam Watson said, but the school has heightened security as a precaution. Security personnel stationed at campus entrances are checking photo IDs of students, employees and visitors before allowing people to enter.

    Watson called this “standard operating procedure” for the school any time there is a potential safety risk.

    The school is instructing students and staff to report any suspicious activity to the campus Public Safety office at 803-536-7188.

    In other states, some schools are locking down their campuses and cancelling classes in response to threats.

    Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana went on lockdown Thursday morning, citing “a potential threat to campus safety,” according to the Louisiana Illuminator, a States Newsroom affiliate. The school asked members of the public not to enter campus until further notice.

    Lockdowns also have been confirmed at other HBCUs including:

    • Bethune-Cookman University, in Daytona Beach, Florida

    • Spelman College, in Atlanta

    • Virginia State University

    Claflin University, Allen University and Benedict College did not immediately respond to messages from the SC Daily Gazette.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • 3 Virginia universities with ‘some’ viability risks, study finds – WTOP News

    3 Virginia universities with ‘some’ viability risks, study finds – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    While none of Virginia’s colleges and universities are considered to be a “high” viability risk, three institutions are rated as having “some” risks that could threaten their ability to survive and operate, researchers announced on Monday in Richmond.

    This article was reprinted with permission from Virginia Mercury. 

    The campus of University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.(Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

    While none of Virginia’s colleges and universities are considered to be a “high” viability risk, three institutions — the University of Mary Washington, Virginia State University, and Radford University — are rated as having “some” risks that could threaten their ability to survive and operate, researchers announced on Monday in Richmond.

    According to a study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts analysis and provides oversight of state agencies on behalf of the General Assembly, each institution is “attempting to address its viability risks through various initiatives and efforts.”

    JLARC assessed Virginia’s 15 public four-year public higher education institutions in three areas: enrollment, institutional appeal and finances using data collected through 2022.

    Del. Mark Sickles, D-Arlington, chair of the commission, said there’s a number of factors that have led to the increased viability risks for some institutions, including the state’s shift to offering education based on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, at four-year universities compared to the smaller, liberal arts schools, who are attempting to offer more STEM-education programs.

    “This is not a surprise to the presidents or the boards of visitors of all these schools,” said Sickles. “They’ve already taken some remedial action. I’m really curious whether what they’ve done now is going to work or not.”

    Researchers also found that public opinion on the value of higher education has changed while institutions, including Radford University, recover from enrollment declines over the past decade.

    Factors putting the schools at risk

    Radford’s viability is at risk because of declining enrollment, after JLARC found that its total full-time enrollment dropped by 26% over the past decade, more than any other four-year institution in the commonwealth including nearby Virginia Tech.

    Mary Washington and Virginia State’s viability is at risk due to the institutions’ inability to increase tuition without losing students and the age and condition of their facilities. Mary Washington also carries a risk due to its financial ratio because of its relatively high debt from absorbing foundation debt and assets.

    Between 2015-22, VSU, which has the oldest facilities in the commonwealth, experienced a decline in tuition revenue per student by 26%.

    On Monday, Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, questioned if the risks against Virginia State have any connection to the institution not being funded to the same levels as Virginia Tech after the federal government estimated a year ago that VSU is owed over $277 million in state funding from 1987 to 2020.

    Like Virginia Tech, the historically Black college in Petersburg is a land grant institution.

    “It’s an HBCU and this state is known for not having funded HBCUs to the levels that they should be funded,” Locke said.

    Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration has denied the claim, stating that the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture used a database that the administration characterized as having “well-documented issues.”

    As part of JLARC’s study in the cost efficiency of public higher education institutions, researchers found that Christopher Newport, Longwood, and Norfolk State Universities and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise all have a “very low” viability risk.

    JLARC made no further recommendations for action in addition to the analysis and planning processes each institution conducts.

    Sickles said the state increased its funding for higher education over the past two bienniums, which includes adopting a budget that provides $205.4 million over the 2024-26 biennium to increase access, affordability and degree production at public colleges and universities.

    Recommendations on spending and efficiency

    In a separate study to address the increased spending with the slow growth of enrollment, researchers recommended amending state code to place a cap on the amount of student fees and institutional funds that can be allocated to intercollegiate athletics.

    At James Madison University, athletics revenue grew by $11.8 million over 10 years, $8.7 million of which was funded by student fees and the institution without exceeding the statutory limit set in 2015.

    Researchers also recommended the legislature require institutions experiencing reductions in cost efficiency because of declining enrollment to report their efforts on how they’re working to improve enrollment operations.  JLARC also suggested amending the state code to ensure schools’ boards of visitors fully consider the impact that policies and decisions in non-instructional areas have on student costs.

    Researchers found that some institutions have not implemented efficiency strategies in areas of spending growth.

    Further, researchers added that some institutions are not “consistently” implementing efficiency strategies previously recommended by JLARC and subsequently required in the Appropriation Act.

    Total spending by Virginia’s 15 public four-year institutions increased by 64% over the past 20 years, which was adjusted for inflation. Instruction made up the largest cost.

    “Total spending by Virginia’s 15 public four-year institutions increased 64% over the past 20 years. This was greater than the national average for public four-year institutions during that time period, which was 50 percent.”

    [ad_2]

    Jessica Kronzer

    Source link

  • A College Hopes Its Home-Buying Program Will Attract Employees

    A College Hopes Its Home-Buying Program Will Attract Employees

    [ad_1]

    Colleges are facing challenges recruiting and retaining top talent in a pandemic-fueled employees’ market. But Virginia State University this month introduced a new strategy to set it apart from other institutions: It’s offering to help faculty and staff members buy a house.

    The historically Black institution will use discretionary funds to match up to $10,000 toward employees’ down payment or closing costs on a home. The program, called the Home Assistance Payment Initiative, is open to current and incoming employees, who can use the money to purchase any home, townhouse, or condominium in the village of Ettrick, where the university is located, or the neighboring city of Petersburg, Virginia.

    The idea of colleges helping employees pay for homes isn’t completely novel: The University of California system, for example, has a faculty recruitment allowance program, the amount of which is determined by the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. And the Virginia State effort is the latest that caters to staff members as well as faculty, joining institutions like the Johns Hopkins University and the Universities of Chicago and Pennsylvania, though VSU’s program stands out for its dual emphasis on bolstering the local economy and enticing employees.

    Colleges have adopted a range of strategies — like tweaking job listings and salary expectations, expediting the hiring process, and adding remote-work and flexible-scheduling perks — to stem recruitment and retention woes the past few years. In a “candidate’s market” that’s allowed prospective employees to be picky about their place of work, institutions have found themselves competing with one another and with the private sector for top talent. In a 2022 Chronicle survey, conducted with support from Huron Consulting Group, 84 percent of college leaders said hiring for administrative and staff jobs had been more difficult in the last year. Meanwhile, more than half of staff members who responded to a 2022 survey from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources said they’d consider leaving their job within a year.

    Some institutions have in recent years taken steps to attract residents to their communities. Purdue University and West Virginia University have lured workers to their college towns, aiming to encourage economic revitalization. But those programs have targeted people outside higher education whose jobs were remote. Purdue, for instance, is offering some applicants a $5,000 stipend, plus housing discounts and access to campus facilities, to join a “remote-working community”; participants can choose to live anywhere in the greater Lafayette, Ind., area. And West Virginia’s program, geared toward outdoor enthusiasts, offers remote workers $12,000 and a year’s worth of free outdoor activities like skiing and rafting.

    Our mindset is if people work in the community where they live and they shop, that would help the economy of those communities.

    Virginia State hasn’t experienced particular problems with attrition, said Donald E. Palm, the university’s executive vice president and provost. Rather, the home-assistance program is intended as a “more proactive versus reactive” approach to a competitive job market. Including it in a recruitment package for new employees, Palm said, “does a lot to communicate to future faculty and staff members that we are investing in them.” He hopes it will help set Virginia State apart in in-demand faculty disciplines like computer science and business.

    The program may also help draw employees to Ettrick, whose population is about 7,200, and to Petersburg, both of which sit south of Richmond. While Virginia State is the only four-year institution in Chesterfield County, many of its employees don’t live nearby, said Gwen Williams Dandridge, the assistant vice president for communications.

    “At 5:00 every day, the majority of the employees of Virginia State hit Interstate 95 and head to other parts of Chesterfield, Richmond, other areas as well,” Williams Dandridge said. “Our mindset is if people work in the community where they live and they shop, that would help the economy of those communities.”

    Virginia State leaders hope that faculty and staff members, many of whom rent property in the area, will be enticed by the prospect of home ownership, which could encourage longevity in their employment. Palm said the program’s announcement has already made a noticeable difference in morale. While administrators aren’t sure how many people will take advantage, employees and local realtors have already reached out for more specifics on the program, Williams Dandridge said.

    There’s no set cap for how much money the university will put toward the program or when it will end, Williams Dandridge said, adding that the university’s president, Makola M. Abdullah, will make those decisions depending on demand. Participating employees will need to commit to staying at Virginia State for at least a year after buying their home — which must be their primary residence — and use a lender approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

    [ad_2]

    Megan Zahneis

    Source link