RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is implementing multiple policy changes, including one stating that anyone on university property or at a university event who is covering their face will need to show identification.
As the 2024-25 semester begins, VCU’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Aaron Hart, shared a press release detailing several updates to university policies. This was sent out to the VCU community on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
These updated policies are effective immediately — though the university noted that “the university community will have opportunities to provide feedback during this academic year” prior to any of the interim policies becoming final.
Change to existing VCU policy
The release detailed a change to VCU’s “Campus Expression and Space Utilization” policy, which Hart said he is sharing because “members of our community have the right and responsibility to gather and speak freely without disruption to university operations.”
“Specifically, antisemitic, anti-Muslim, anti-religious or race or ethnic-based threats are taken seriously and are investigated in accordance with state and federal laws and applicable policies,” Hart said in the release. “We expect students, faculty and staff to adhere to VCU policies; violations can lead to disciplinary action.”