Mississippi Valley State University Mississippi Valley State University ( commonly referred to as MVSU ) is a historically black university located in unincorporated Leflore County , Mississippi , in the Mississippi Delta , near Itta Bena . MVSU is a member - school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund . The institution , which opened in 1950 , was created by the Mississippi Legislature as Mississippi Vocational College . The legislation to form the institution was signed into law by Governor Thomas L . Bailey on April 5 , 1946 . The legislature anticipated that legal segregation of public education was in danger ( and would in four years be declared unconstitutional in the United States Supreme Court ' s decision in Brown v . Board of Education 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 . To attract the support of those who opposed any government action to provide higher education to blacks , those proposing creation of M . V . C . used the term " vocational " to imply that the institution ' s main purpose would be to train blacks to take on blue - collar jobs . The site selection committee appointed by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning had originally selected the Greenwood Army Air Base , which had many facilities ready for use and thus would have been a very cost - effective choice . The " Greenwood Commonwealth " celebrated the choice . However , residents of Carroll County , Mississippi objected to having the institution located near their property . Thus after further study , the proposed site was moved to Itta Bena . Even that town , however , objected to too close a proximity of a black institution , so the final site was chosen to place the college away from the downtown area , on cheap , uncultivatable land . In 1964 , Mississippi Vocational College was renamed Mississippi Valley State College . In February 1969 , a nonviolent student boycott which included 800 students , male and female was organized to protest President White ' s administration of the institution . The students were demanding required courses in black history , more library purchases of works by black writers , remedial courses in English and Math , scheduling of prominent black speakers and fewer curfew restrictions . In the early 1970s , civil rights leaders continued to protest the inequalities in higher education opportunities offered to whites and blacks in Mississippi . In an effort to defuse some of the criticism , Gov . [ William Waller ] proposed changing the names of three black institutions from " colleges " to " universities . " Thus , in 1974 , the institution was renamed again , as Mississippi Valley State University ' . Following President White , Dr . Earnest A . Boykins took office in July 1971 . Dr . Joe L . Boyer became MVSU ' s third president in January 1982 and was followed by Dr . William W . Sutton in July 1988 . Dr . Lester C . Newman became the fifth president of MVSU on July 1 , 1998 . Dr . Donna H . Oliver became MVSU ' s sixth president and first female president on January 1 , 2009 . Effective December 2012 , the Mississippi IHL appointed Dr . Alfred Rankins Jr . as the Acting President of the University . [ ] In 1998 , the university renamed many of the buildings on campus , except for the ones named after Sillers , Wright , and J . H . White . Campus . The campus is on a tract of land adjacent to U . S . Highway 82 in unincorporated Leflore County , in the Mississippi Delta region , northwest of Itta Bena . The university is about from Greenwood , about from Greenville , about north of Jackson , and about of Memphis , Tennessee . Student Activities . Activities include theater , orchestra , and band . Students may work on the Delvian ( yearbook ) or the Delta Devil Gazette ( student - run newspaper ) . Leadership opportunities are found in the Student Government Association ( SGA ) or other organizations such as English Club , Future Teachers of America , and Trades and Industries Club . NPHC Greek - letter organizations Non - NPHC Greek - letter organizations Curriculum . Mississippi Valley State University has academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level . There are 2 colleges : the College of Arts & Sciences , the College of Education and Professional Studies , and a Graduate School . Tuition . 2011 Tuition per Semester : $ 2465 . 52 ( off campus , in - state ) ; $ 6036 . 48 ( off campus , out - of - state ) ; Room and board : $ 5234 . 02 ( resident ) ; $ 8804 . 98 ( non - resident ) . Athletics . MVSU ' s colors are forest green and white . Their nickname is the Delta Devil s for men ' s teams and Devilettes for women ' s teams . MVSU sports teams participate in NCAA Division I ( I - AA for football ) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference ( SWAC ) . Famous alumni include NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice of the 1984 football team . The Mississippi Valley State University Department of Athletics currently sponsors men ' s intercollegiate baseball , football , basketball , cross country , golf , tennis and track along with Women ' s Intercollegiate basketball , soccer , volleyball , cross country , golf , softball , bowling and track . In 1986 , the men ' s basketball team received a 16 seed in the NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Championship . There , they faced # 1 ranked Duke in the first round . The Delta Devils almost became the first 16 seed to beat a 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history . They forced 23 turnovers and led 40 - 37 at the half before falling 85 - 78 . References . Notes