Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

As a student in the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), you will be appreciated for your unique background and perspectives.

You can expect the courses you take, the new friendships you embark on and the clubs and organizations you become a part of to reflect diversity in numerous forms.

We value your different perspectives, life experiences, cultural backgrounds and social identities. These foster our shared principles of inclusive excellence. Our commitment to social justice and equity are further demonstrated through community engagement. You will see our values reflected in activities that promote equity within our local community, whether through experiential learning classes, working on a community-based research project or volunteering.

You can expect resources, such as wellness activities, counseling, training and special events. These resources also include those that are uniquely tailored to your cultural group or social identity. We believe you will feel empowered by the many opportunities available to enable you to be successful.

Get Involved

v.c.u. students walking outside cabell library

As a student at VCU, you'll find multitudes of opportunities to engage with other people—people with similar interests, people who are completely different, people you’d never meet otherwise.

They’ll make your college experience meaningful and help you be a part of something bigger than yourself.

Explore opportunities

Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Highlights

Daniela Negrete (left) and Mariana Fernandes Gragnani have helped lead Collective Corazón, a student organization that aims to break down cultural barriers in health care. (Tom Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

May 24, 2023

From the heart, VCU student group promotes Latinx health equity

Collective Corazón’s efforts include a spring symposium that spotlighted professionals and inspired aspiring practitioners.

As part of her research project under mentor Chelsea Williams, Ph.D. (right), Vanessa Olazabal (left) honed her presentation skills and traveled to Salt Lake City to present her findings at a conference. (Allen Jones, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

April 24, 2023

VCU summer program gave psychology major Vanessa Olazabal a GREAT research subject: fellow Rams

She explored links among Latine students’ ethnic-racial identity, relationships, the pandemic and how alcohol use and anxiety were affected.

Saniya Phillips founded the student group, Leadership for Women of Color, among many other efforts during her undergraduate experience at VCU. (Contributed photo)

April 20, 2023

Class of 2023: Saniyah Phillips finds her stage beyond the theater

Activism and community are central for political science major, who next will pursue a Master of Public Administration degree at VCU.

Equity and inclusion: our core values

Within the College of Humanities and Sciences, inclusion and diverse representation are vital for the continued forward progression of the university. I see these values exemplified through the mentorship I receive from BIPOC faculty with identities salient to my own, diverse representation of students within my program, as well as through the growing recognition of and increasing value placed on community engaged work within my department.

Bianca 
Owens
Health Psychology Doctoral Student