Strengthening VCU's Climate and Inclusion

Resources

The provided list of resources has been carefully curated to serve as an initial reference point for navigating the various types of support available on campus. It is by no means exhaustive, and there may be additional relevant resources or options beyond those outlined here. 

Faculty & Staff Support

  • Division of Inclusive Excellence Resources The online resource library offers quick guides, webinars, and campus-wide DEI resources available anytime. This evolving collection is your go-to for DEI knowledge and tools.
  • Work/Life - Human Resources VCU is committed to supporting your work-life balance with resources to manage stress, enhance well-being, and navigate challenges—helping you build a fulfilling personal life while excelling professionally.
  • Culture of Care and Appreciation  This resource link provides tools and support for VCU employees to thrive both personally and professionally. Explore resources that promote physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being, and discover strategies to foster a culture of care, where everyone is valued and empowered to contribute to our community’s success.
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging This link offers access to VCU HR’s DEIB programs and services, designed to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment where all feel valued. 
  • Employee Health  This link connects you to Employee Health Services, offering comprehensive health and wellness support for both university and health system employees. Access resources for maintaining your well-being and supporting a healthy work environment.
  • TimelyCare Employees can now get the emotional and mental health support they need wherever they are, whenever they need it. TimelyCare offers free, 24/7 access to virtual care, self-care, and well-being tools to help the VCU community thrive.
  • RamStrong RamStrong is your go-to well-being resource at VCU, covering the eight dimensions of health—physical, emotional, financial, intellectual, occupational, environmental, social, and spiritual. 
  • Course Catalog - Human Resources VCU HR's Learning, Development and Organizational Culture team provides a wide variety of trainings to support individual and team development. 

Reporting and Compliance Support

  • Equity and Access Services responds to student and staff needs related to accessibility, equal opportunity, affirmative action, discrimination, harassment, protection of minors, and Title IX.
  • Ombudsperson  An independent dispute resolution practitioner for faculty, staff and students. For actual or suspected violations of laws, regulations, VCU policies and procedures, or other misconduct.
    • Call or email the ICO to discuss the situation or learn more about reporting options at (804) 828-2336 or ucompliance@vcu.edu.
    • Call the VCU Helpline at (888) 242-6022, or log a report online at vcuhelpline.com. You may choose to remain anonymous, and any information you provide will be handled with discretion and remain private. The VCU Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
    • From Qatar, call +1 (720) 514-4400  to make a reverse charge/collect call. Give the name "VCU" instead of your name for anonymity.
  • VCU’s Human Resources Office of Employee Relations provides private assistance to university employees, supervisors and faculty, to help resolve work-related problems.
    • Contact VCU HR Employee Relations by phone: (804) 828-1510  TDD: (800) 828-1120 or Email: emprel@vcu.edu
  • The Integrity and Compliance Office resource library is dedicated to promoting a culture of ethics and legal compliance within the organization. Access tools and guidance to support ethical decision-making and adherence to compliance standards.
  • Compliance Corner is a blog designed to promote an organizational culture of ethical conduct and legal compliance. Featuring videos, highlights, and practical insights, it offers engaging content to help employees stay informed and aligned with VCU’s compliance standards and ethical values. 
  • Office of Student Advocacy was created to serve as a one-stop shop for students at VCU, with the primary aim of being a guide and gateway to all services and resources offered at the university. 
    • Contact Student Advocacy via advocacy@vcu.edu, 804-828-8940 or by dropping in at 907 Floyd Avenue, Suite 229
  • Dean of Student Advocacy provides a single student resource for sharing concerns. View resources for reporting concerns.

Student Engagement Experience & Support

  • The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs celebrates diversity, promotes inclusion, and advocates for social justice. While serving as a resource for the entire VCU community, OMSA proudly specializes in supporting historically underrepresented student groups. 
  • RamsConnect is VCU's student engagement platform, providing a comprehensive portal for campus activities and student organizations. 
  • The Dean of Student Advocacy Office provides support, advocacy, and guidance on university policies to help students navigate academic and personal challenges.
  • Student services - Ombudsperson  An independent dispute resolution practitioner for faculty, staff, and students.
  • Survivor Support Students affected by sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking can meet with a trained advocate, receiving free services that include emotional support, guidance on reporting options, safety planning, and referrals to additional resources through Survivor Support Services. 
  • TimelyCare VCU students have FREE, 24/7 access to virtual care services with TimelyCare — the virtual health and well-being platform from TimelyMD, designed for college students.
  • RecWell supports the well-being of the VCU community by fostering environments for growth, providing resources, and empowering individuals with the knowledge, mindset, and skills needed to thrive both at VCU and beyond.
  • Rams in Recovery seeks to ensure students do not have to choose between their recovery and their education. View training and information at https://recovery.vcu.edu/training--resources/recovery-ally/.

Learning Opportunities & Training

  • Inclusive Education The Division of Inclusive Excellence offers accessible, evidence-based learning opportunities for everyone—ranging from online resources to interactive workshops—to empower the VCU community and its neighbors in building skills for positive change.
  • Training programs VCU HR's Learning, Development, and Organizational Culture team offers diverse training programs for faculty/staff to enhance individual skills and foster effective and inclusive team development across the university.
  • Safe Zone is a 2-hour training workshop at VCU designed to increase awareness and understanding of LGBTQQIA+ identities, address intersecting identities, recognize challenges Queer individuals face, build advocacy skills, and encourage self-reflection on biases related to sexual and gender identities.
  • Military Student Services at VCU provides Green Zone training to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills to support veterans and their families as they transition to academic life.
  • Guide to Constructive and Inclusive Dialogue
  • Psychological Safety Workshop is a facilitator-led training for department leaders and units that helps create a culture where employees feel safe to express ideas, take risks, and engage in open dialogue without fear of judgment or retaliation, fostering innovation, collaboration, and well-being.
  • The Institute for Transformative Leadership at VCU seeks to build a more caring world by developing leaders who have the courage and skills to deeply connect with others.
  • Global Zone Training The Global Education Office provides a workshop for VCU faculty and staff to explore best practices for working with VCU’s growing number of 1200+ international students.  Attendees will attain micro-credentials and earn a digital badge after completing training in entry-level culture theory and intercultural communication strategies.
  • Recovery Ally Training Learn to be an advocate and ally for people struggling with substance use disorders and people in recovery. 

Engaging with Others

  • Guide to Constructive and Inclusive Dialogue Constructive and inclusive dialogue has been a cornerstone of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ work dating back to its founding in 1935.
  • LARA Method Intergroup Dialogue Project LARA is a tool used to communicate across differences. We find that regular use of this tool helps to reframe one’s ability to engage in conflict empathetically in a way that invites diverse perspectives in an effort to create shared meaning.
  • Constructive Dialogue Institute The Constructive Dialogue Institute provides tools and training to help individuals engage in respectful, open conversations across differences, fostering understanding and empathy on challenging topics.
  • Interfaith America Interfaith America is a nonprofit organization that promotes cooperation and understanding across religious, spiritual, and secular lines, aiming to build an inclusive society where people of diverse faiths and beliefs can work together on shared values and social issues.
  • Being a Good Ally In this 3 1/2-minute video, creator Franchesca Ramsey defines an ally as someone who advocates for equality for marginalized groups they aren’t part of, explains privilege, and encourages active listening, learning, and speaking up.
  • Fostering Civil Discourse: Civil Classroom Conversations The tools and strategies in this guide will help prepare students to engage in difficult conversations on topics that matter to them, to their communities, and our world. 
  • The Danger of a Single Story Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
  •  Crucial Conversations is a nationally recognized, highly interactive course that teaches communication skills around high-stakes, emotional, or risky topics – at all levels of an organization.
  • Immunity to Change (ITC) is an evidence-based change approach developed by Harvard researchers Lisa Lahey and Bob Kegan. It is best suited when individuals or groups find they are unable to make progress towards an important goal. The process is led by trained facilitators and is available upon request. 

Supportive Spaces for Reflection and Inclusive Access 

  •  The Reflection Room, located in room 212 in Cabell Library, is for individual quiet reflection, meditation, contemplation, or prayer.
  • VCU School of Business Care Room The Care Room offers a tranquil space for reflection, meditation, prayer, and contemplation, inviting visitors to practice self-care, mindfulness, and find peace amidst their day.
  • VCU Nap Pods Nap pods are a student-driven initiative designed to provide a dedicated space for students in The Commons and Harris Hall to relax, recharge, and take restorative power naps between classes or study sessions.
  • The Commons Interfaith Meditation Room The Commons Interfaith Meditation Room, located on the first floor, is an accessible space open to everyone for prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection during building hours.
  • Gender Inclusive Bathroom Map This map identifies the single-stall, gender-neutral restrooms on VCU’s Monroe Park and MCV campuses. 

Inclusive Identity Initiatives

  • VCU's Age-Friendly University Initiative  VCU is dedicated to fostering an age-inclusive environment that reshapes perceptions of aging through education, advocacy, research, and policy, aiming to create vibrant intergenerational communities across its campuses, health system, and broader community.
  • Call Me by My Name This initiative enables VCU to acknowledge individuals by their chosen name, gender, and pronouns, fostering an inclusive and respectful campus environment.
  • The Queer Research and Advocacy Center (Q Collective) at VCU is a vibrant hub supporting LGBTQIA+ artistic and scholarly work for faculty, staff, students, and the Greater Richmond community. 
  • VCU Gender Inclusive Housing Gender Inclusive Housing is an inclusive living option within VCU residential communities that allows students to live together without regard to birth sex, gender, or gender identity. 

Understanding Bias

Supporting campus through the Israel-Hamas War