Virginia Union University Virginia Union University ( VUU ) is a historically black university located in Richmond , Virginia , United States . It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools , Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary , each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American Baptist Home Mission Society . VUU ' s campus is located at 1500 North Lombardy Street in Richmond ' s North Side . Mission . Virginia Union University stated mission is to " 1 ) Provide a nurturing intellectually challenging and spiritually enriching environment for learning ; 2 ) Empower students to develop strong moral values for success ; and 3 ) Develop scholars , leaders , and lifelong learners of a global society . " The University was founded in 1865 to give the newly emancipated freedmen an opportunity for education of the mind in an ethical , religious environment . Excellent teaching and enlightened guidance for all students remain the institution ' s primary emphases . An historically black university , Virginia Union University embraces the uniqueness and contributions of the African Diaspora , celebrating the value of cultural and intellectual diversity . However , enrollment is open to all students without regard to racial background . Seeking to empower students for the pursuit of lifelong learning , the University provides comprehensive undergraduate liberal arts programs and graduate education for Christian ministries . To this end , a guiding principle of the University ' s educational program is a strong focus upon moral values and ethics , and students are encouraged to engage in activities that promote self - actualization . History . The American Baptist Home Mission Society founded the school in 1865 shortly after Union troops took control of Richmond , Virginia , at the end of the American Civil War . Approximately 4 million former African American slaves , or freedmen , were to become citizens , although many had been deprived of formal education and prevented from becoming literate by Southern state laws . Southern states were in upheaval after the war . Both planters and freedmen were trying to figure out what a free labor market would entail . Members of the American Baptist Home Mission Society ( ABHMS ) proposed a " National Theological Institute " to educate freedmen wishing to enter the Baptist ministry . Soon , the proposed mission was expanded to offer courses and programs at college , high school and even preparatory levels , to both men and women . This effort was the beginning of Virginia Union University . Separate branches of the National Theological Institute were set up in Washington , D . C . and Richmond , Virginia , with classes beginning in 1867 . In Washington , the school became known as Wayland Seminary , named in commemoration of Dr . Francis Wayland , former president of Brown University and a leader in the anti - slavery struggle . The first and only president was Dr . George Mellen Prentiss King , who administered Wayland for thirty years ( 1867 – 97 ) . Famous students there included Dr . Booker T . Washington and Dr . Adam Clayton Powell , Sr . In Richmond , the efforts were more difficult . Beginning in 1867 , Colver Institute , a VUU predecessor school , was housed in a building long known as Lumpkin ' s Jail , a former " slave jail " owned by Mrs . Mary Ann Lumpkin , the African - American widow of the deceased white owner . In 1899 , the Richmond Theological Institute ( formerly Colver Institute ) joined with Wayland Seminary of Washington , D . C . to form Virginia Union University at Richmond . In 1932 , the women ' s college Hartshorn Memorial College , established in Richmond , Virginia in 1883 , became a part of Virginia Union University . Storer College , an historically black Baptist college in West Virginia ( founded in 1867 ) , merged its endowment with Virginia Union in 1964 . Academics . School of Theology . Virginia Union University ' s Theological training program is called " The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University " . The school of theology is known for producing preachers such as Dean John W . Kinney , Dr . Miles Jones , Dr . A . B . James , Dr . James Henry Harris . The School is a member of the Washington Theological Consortium . Student activities . Fraternities & sororities . Eight of the National Pan - Hellenic Council organizations currently have chapters at Virginia Union University . These organizations are : Athletics . Virginia Union competes in the NCAA Division II in the Eastern Division of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association . The school has varsity teams in men ' s basketball , football , cross country , golf , tennis and track and field , and in women ' s basketball , bowling , cross country , tennis and track and field , softball and volleyball . Virginia Union plays basketball and volleyball in the Barco - Stevens Hall ( also known as the Belgian Building ) , which was first built in 1939 as the Belgium Building for the New York World ’ s Fair . It was listed in the June 20 , 2005 edition of the NCAA News as one of 13 athletic facilities around the country which are worthy of “ unique ” distinction . The Belgium Building , with its stone reliefs of the Belgian Congo on the walls , was awarded to VUU after a competition among the nation ’ s 23 historically black colleges in 1941 . Relocation of the building to its current location on the VUU campus was completed in 1943 , and the VUU men ’ s basketball team played its first game in January , 1947 . Men ' s basketball . Under the leadership of head coach Dave Robbins since 1978 , the Panthers basketball program has been to the Division II " Final Four " seven times ( 1980 , 1991 , 1992 , 1996 , 1998 , 2005 , 2006 ) and have won three NCAA Division II national championship titles ( 1980 , 1992 , 2005 ) . The team was the 2006 National runner - up with a record of 30 - 4 . The team has also captured the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference championship 20 times . The school plays in an annual exhibition game with the Division I cross - town rival Virginia Commonwealth University . Coach Robbins ' program has produced eight NBA players , including Detroit Pistons star center Ben Wallace , and former New York Knicks power forward Charles Oakley . Women ' s basketball . The women ' s basketball team won the NCAA Women ' s Division II Basketball Championship in 1983 .