THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502040306
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Norfolk State University has won a $2.5 million contract from the U.S. Army to run summer training programs for reserve officers for the next three years.
``I think it will open up the eyes of the military that we have some historically black colleges that have some good facilities and run good programs, and they will want to come back to campus,'' said Harrison B. Wilson, Norfolk State's president.
The award is the largest contract the university has received, said Paula Shaw, assistant vice president for sponsored programs.
Last fall, NSU won the largest grant in its history - $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to beef up its materials research program.
Under the contract, the Army will train almost 400 officers on Norfolk State's campus for each of the next three summers.
The Army will provide its own teachers. The money will pay for housing and feeding the students and instructors. Wilson said the university might also be able to use some of the money for other needs, such as hiring instructors.
``The university does not have a big enrollment in the summer. We're probably at 30 percent capacity,'' Wilson said.
``Now the Army will use the facilities and will pay for the use of those facilities.''
Officials said the award will pave the way for more contracts.
``I just think it's a wonderful opportunity to broaden our contacts with our own constituents throughout the commonwealth and the country,'' Wilson said. by CNB