Bluefield State College Bluefield State College ( BSC ) is a historically black college located in Bluefield , West Virginia , United States . It is a part of West Virginia ' s public education system and offers baccalaureate and associate degrees . The school is not connected in any way with Bluefield College in nearby Bluefield , Virginia . The only non - residential four - year college in the state system , Bluefield State administers the separately accredited New River Community and Technical College , which conducts classes throughout the southeastern part of West Virginia . Bluefield State College is a member - school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund . History . According to its charter , the school was founded in 1895 as Bluefield Colored Institute and created as a high 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 . 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 . 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 black student population , hastening the transition to a predominantly white college . The Alpha House and President ' s 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 . Bluefield State College has emerged as a culturally diverse , four - year state supported commuter college serving southeastern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia with a primary thrust in the direction of career and technical two - and four - year programs . The liberal arts offerings of the College are focused to enhance its unique mission . 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 . , 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 . Student life . Athletics . Bluefield State ' s athletic teams , known as the Big Blues , compete in NCAA ' s Division II as a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in men ' s and women ' s basketball , baseball , 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 " . There are also several intramural sports including swimming , mixed martial arts , soccer , bowling and flag football . Greek Life . Bluefield State College currently host two fraternities ( Lambda Chi Omega and Delta Sigma Tau ) and three sororities ( Delta Chi Omega , Phi Sigma Zeta , and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority , Inc . )