Virginia Commonwealth University is open and welcoming, and we believe in creating and maintaining a learning, living and working environment that enables everyone to thrive. Equity and Access Services (EAS) is committed to equity and access for students, employees, patients and visitors.

Through our processes, policies and procedures, we foster an environment that is transformative, justice-oriented and human-centered. We are composed of four distinct areas who collaborate together and with partners across campus to continuously maintain an equitable, accessible and inclusive campus, in keeping with our core values and mission to transform the lives of students and patients.

From the digital to the physical space, our ADA and Accessibility Services focuses on removing barriers to equal opportunity and maximizing access for people with disabilities, whether physical, sensory or neurodiverse (or self-identifying as neurodistinct), at VCU. Our work is guided by federal standards and guidelines including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Our office provides a safe environment for consultation and a person-serving interactive process. We welcome all people with disabilities, both seen and unseen.

Our Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) office promotes an environment of trust, equity and access. This office also implements the Preventing and Responding to Discrimination policy, and has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of discriminatory harassment. Informal resolution processes such as restorative justice are also available, on a case-by-case basis. Our team achieves compliance with EEO/AA  through publishing an annual affirmative action plan, monitoring the university’s compliance to applicable EEO/AA laws and facilitating outreach, training and support for VCU faculty, staff and students. Our office also takes proactive measures to consult with managers and partner offices, as needed.

The Title IX office is also situated within EAS and responds to all allegations of prohibited conduct as defined by the university’s Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy - Interim and Sex-Based Misconduct Policy - Interim. Our TIX office also provides informal resolutions, including restorative justice, on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, EAS provides oversight on the university’s Protection of Minors policy and facilitates the registration of programs on campus that host participants who are minors. Our office provides training and outreach for program managers. Our program’s ethic of care fosters the notion that today’s youth are tomorrow’s VCU students!