As a result of its various programs and initiatives that make diversity and inclusion a top priority on campus, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has been ranked as one of Diverse’s Top 100 institutions for minority students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs.
According to Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande, vice provost for strategic enrollment management, about one third of VCU’s incoming class are first-generation students and one third are low-income students. In general, VCU has a student population of around 31,000 with representations from 101 countries and all 50 states.
“What we’ve found when we’ve looked at data from why students select VCU, [is that] one of the top reasons they select VCU is because of its diversity,” says Dr. Sybil C. Halloran, senior associate vice provost of strategic enrollment management. “So we have students here that appreciate diversity, understand it and frankly, expect it.”
VCU offers resources for first-generation students that guide them through their college journey, from new-student orientation to graduation day. For example, the “You First at VCU” initiative was created in order to address academic success, social integration and provide family support for first-generation college students.
“I think the ‘You First’ model is an example of how VCU thinks through continuing to build and expand our infrastructure in a way that speaks to this goal of degree progress for these groups of students,” says LeGrande.
In addition, in order to increase the population of Latinos at VCU, the Primeros Pasos program was established. The program provides Latino high school students and their families with an overview about the college experience and VCU in general.
For the incoming freshman class, VCU created the Summer Scholars Program to help with the college transition period. It’s a five-week program that allow students to receive six college credits, meet new and returning VCU students and become familiar with the campus as well as with the city of Richmond.
