Chap. 86.—An ACT to authorize the Virginia State College for Negroes to estab-
lish a division of the College in the City of Norfolk, and for that purpose to
accept on behalf of the Commonwealth conveyances of certain property in that
city, and to authorize the City of Norfolk to convey, lease or grant to the Com-
monwealth of Virginia, without cost, certain property for the use of such divi-
sion. [S 113]

Approved February 29, 1944

1. Whereas, the College of William and Mary in Virginia, in co-
operation with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, has successfully op-
erated in Norfolk a division of the College offering to the white citizens
of that vicinity freshman and sophomore college courses and other courses
of a vocational and technical character ; and

Whereas, in Norfolk and the adjacent communities there is a very
large Negro population, with many members of that race in need of addi-
tional educational opportunities, particularly in the skilled trades and in
specialized vocational subjects; and

Whereas, the City of Norfolk has signified its willingness to turn
over to the State, without cost, for use in the training of Negro students
such part of the property known as Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital as
may be required for this purpose, upon the vacation of that property by
the hospital when it moves to its new quarters now under construction ;
and

Whereas, the Norfolk Polytechnic College, a local institution serving
the Negro people of Norfolk, has signified its willingness to transfer its
property and equipment to the Commonwealth of Virginia without cost
for use in the training and development of the Negro race; now, there-
fore

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. The State Board of Education, the governing body of the Virginia
State College for Negroes at Petersburg, is authorized and directed to
establish and operate at the present site of the Norfolk Polytechnic Col-
lege and/or on the property of the Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital in
the city of Norfolk or at such other point or points as it may determine,
a division of the Virginia State College for Negroes, to provide fresh-
man and sophomore college courses and such other courses of a voca-
tional and technical character, not to extend beyond the sophomore year.
as in the judgment of the State Board of Education may seem best suited
to the needs of the students and the area which it will serve. (All courses
offered under the provisions of this act are to meet the normal standards
set by the State Board of Education. )

The State Board of Education, the governing body of the Virginia
State College for Negroes, is further authorized and empowered to ac-
cept on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia under lease or by con-
veyance such real estate, personal property, gifts, and grants, from the
city of Norfolk, from the Norfolk Polytechnic College or from other
agencies, aS may, in its opinion, be useful and/or necessary in the or-
ganization and operation of such division of the Virginia State College
for Negroes as may be established by this act.

For such purposes the City of Norfolk is authorized and empowcred
to convey or lease to the Commonwealth of Virginia without costs and
on such terms and conditions as the governing body of said city shall
deem proper, the aforesaid real estate in whole or in part and such other
personal property, gifts and grants, as said city’s governing body shall
deem necessary and proper for said purposes.

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