Board member: Va. State University ‘in trouble’

PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) — A member of Virginia State University’s Board of Visitors is raising concerns about the state of the Petersburg school.

With enrollment down students, the university has closed residence halls, cut back its dining operation and curtailed maintenance.

Board member Terone B. Green told the Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1nQ3cYK ) that he believes the school is in trouble and is calling for state education officials to take a close look at its operations.

School officials say its enrollment for the fall is 4,917, which is down 550 students. The decline in enrollment will cost the university $1.6 million, adding to a $5.3 million shortfall it is facing this fiscal year.

Rector Harry Black took issue with Green’s assessment, but did acknowledge the historically black land-grant university is experiencing “challenging times.”

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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