Recruiting VCU Students from Northern Virginia

ram4life

ram4life

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The RTD reports today that "Virginia Commonwealth University plans to hire three additional counselors in an effort to recruit more academically competitive students, primarily from Northern Virginia." The article goes on to say, "...the university is focusing on student achievement, not class size...VCU is looking to Northern Virginia because of the region's growth and its excellent schools...students are well-prepared academically and "those are the type of students we want to attract.' "

It is good to see the quality of our students are improving like the quality of our athletic program and our physical facilities. As a person who has been associated with this university since 1956 (first as a student; then as a faculty member), it is a pleasure seeing this university grow, develop, and mature into a world-renown, research/teaching university. We are in the right place, doing the right thing for the right people.
 
I'm a VCU student from Northern Virginia.

That being said, I enjoyed the fact that VCU was the "anti-suburb," and that was a major reason I came here. So many of my graduating class went to JMU, Tech and UVA that you could form large fraternities, just of Hayfield students. Coming to VCU allowed me to get away from all of the snootyness of Nova, and embrace some of the raw passion that is VCU diversity.

I just hope we're careful to bring in all types of students, not just suburban kids from Nova. I'd like to make sure we make the Nova kids who come, a little more VCU, rather than getting so many that VCU becomes more Nova.
 
Pav, you make an excellent point. President Rao spoke to the retired faculty last week and your point was raised. Answer: "Maintaing VCU 's diversity is our number one priority." Remember, Dr. Rao is a minority himself and he is proud that VCU is the most diverse university in the state.

In the days of RPI and early VCU, we functioned as place where students were given a second chance. There were no community colleges. Now that we have a strong community college system, VCU is changing its role with marginal students. These students will be going to the community college and if they are successful, they will be admitted to VCU as a junior. VCU will focus on high school students who have a higher grade- point average and high college-entrance test scores. It will make us a stronger, more respected university. I really like the direction we are going. And I agree, Pav, VCU is not a traditional university. The culture here is so exciting and diverse. Once you are here, and become a part of VCU, you will never want to go to a more traditional university. Its a fun place to study, work, and play. It is our diversity that makes it happen. Thanks, Pav, for being a part of it. Go recruit other good students so they can become excellent alumni like you!
 
Not too hard to be more diverse than UVa, where the student body consists of only blue-blood whites and Asians. :lol:

But seriously, I like what Pav and 4life said. I actually transferred to VCU from a community college, so it was exciting coming to VCU and really seeing how diverse and alive this school is. One of my friends was from Australia, one of my roommates was from Africa, I had classmates who were Arab/Persian and I did know a couple of Asians too (Chinese to be exact).

And I'm glad I didn't accept the admission into ODU. :mrgreen:
 
I'm a VCU student from Northern Virginia.

That being said, I enjoyed the fact that VCU was the "anti-suburb," and that was a major reason I came here. So many of my graduating class went to JMU, Tech and UVA that you could form large fraternities, just of Hayfield students. Coming to VCU allowed me to get away from all of the snootyness of Nova, and embrace some of the raw passion that is VCU diversity.
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haha. man, you just described my situation to a T. i was raised up in sterling and came to vcu as a freshman in 1998. i was one of only 3 people from my high school to go to vcu, and most people at park view had never even heard of it. richmond was basically a foreign land. pretty much everyone was going to jmu, vpi, or mason so they could continue on with their little high school cliques, just in a different setting. while my high school friends were great, i wanted nothing of that sort. to this day, i don't regret choosing vcu over mason one bit.

i've heard from my mom that there are now TONS of kids from up there who now choose vcu. i think it's great. it's amazing how that major shift took place in only a few years.
 
I am OK with diversity as long as it includes the recognition and acceptance of all political view points.
 
mike7842 said:
I am OK with diversity as long as it includes the recognition and acceptance of all political view points.
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That's kind of narrow minded I think.
 
I disagree. It suggests a big umbrella. I may add that I hope we do not go to the bottom of the barrel to reach some diversity criteria.
 
BaNgMyPrOgRaM said:
mike7842 said:
I am OK with diversity as long as it includes the recognition and acceptance of all political view points.
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That's kind of narrow minded I think.
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I agree part of being diversified is having people who don't accept all view points. If everybody was open to everything it wouldn't be diverse
 
I stand corrected. I should have said tolerate all points of view. The umbrella or tent not only has a left side but also a right side. When I was at VCU, political discourse was dominated and contolled by the left side. This is generally true in most academic institutions even though the American population is to the right of center.
 
Mike, does that tell you anything about intelligent people? (Just messing with you!). :D P.S. Only 50% of the population is right of center, or is that the median?)
 
Dr. H, the people have spoken in the recent election. BTW, if diversity were carried to the extreme, you and I would have had to retire much sooner.
 
I am OK with diversity as long as it includes the recognition and acceptance of all political view points.
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I believe I knew every Republicans at VCU......I could count them on one hand :D
 
I am OK with diversity as long as it includes the recognition and acceptance of all political view points.
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first of all, this statement has absolutely nothing to do with vcu wanting to attract more competetive students from northern virginia. arlington, fairfax, and loudoun are three of the top ten wealthiest counties in the entire country, and they have long been known as conservative areas. so i don't follow your logic that this would in any way hinder diversity.

i assume you are speaking from past experience, so i must ask, when did you see a vcu student get turned away due to their political beliefs? i'm curious to know.

you are attempting to connect academic achievement with political beliefs. why?
 
Buck, what is your definition of diverstiy? Dr. H quoted Rao as saying maintaining diversity is our # 1 priority. What does he mean by that? You took my statement out of context. Diversity includes all aspects of VCU, not just students. Again, what do you mean by diversity?
 
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