Inclusive Excellence

VCU Climate Report

The Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness and Success has launched our diversity and inclusion campus ratings system that provides diversity, inclusion and engagement scores for each major unit on campus. Access the diversity and inclusion campus ratings for all major academic and administrative units on campus on the campus ratings system dashboard.

Index scores

VCU academic and administrative meta-units (i.e., colleges and schools; major divisions and offices) receive three index scores that illustrate how well they’re doing with respect to diversity, inclusion and engagement. The data used to compute the index scores are derived from VCU Human Resources, Institutional Research and Decision Support, Vice Presidents and Deans, and a quasi-annual assessment of VCU faculty and staff. The index scores can change from year to year based on a unit's improvement or decline in certain areas.

Diversity index

Rated on a scale of 0-5, the diversity index is comprised of three separate sub-scores:

  • Compositional diversity: (Score of 0-2) Faculty and staff populations reflect our student populations
  • Representational equity: (Score of 0-1) Leadership positions are representative of gender and gender identities across campus
  • Systems diversity: (Score of 0-2) Policies, practices, priorities and procedures reflect our institutional commitment to diversity and inclusion

Inclusion index 

Rated on a scale of 0-5, the inclusion index factors are:

  • Fair environment: Faculty and staff are treated fairly and equitably
  • Open environment: Unit leadership supports diversity in all ways
  • Empowering environment: Faculty and staff have resources and support to excel
  • Cooperative environment: Unit leadership encourages communication and collaboration

Engagement index 

Rated on a scale of 0-5, the engagement index evaluates:

  • Leaders lead: Faculty and staff have positive perceptions of integrity and leadership
  • Supervisor support: Faculty and staff have the trust, respect and support of their supervisors
  • Intrinsic work experience: Faculty and staff feel motivated and competent regarding roles in the workplace

Performance index

We also collect data on unit performance and satisfaction. However, at this time, performance data is used for internal purposes only.

Campus ratings

VCU academic and administrative meta-units (i.e., colleges and schools; major divisions and offices) receive ratings based on their comparative index scores.

  • Excellent:Academic or administrative unit is performing at least 0.67 standard deviation units above the VCU average and/or score.
  • Very Good: Academic or administrative unit is performing between 0.33 and 0.66 standard deviation units above the VCU average and/or score.
  • Good: Academic or administrative unit is performing between 0.01 and 0.32 standard deviation units above the VCU average and/or score.
  • Average: Academic or administrative unit is performing at the VCU average and/or score.
  • Fair: Academic or administrative unit is performing between 0.01 and 0.32 standard deviation units below the VCU average and/or score.
  • Poor: Academic or administrative unit is performing between 0.33 and 0.66 standard deviation units below the VCU average and/or score.
  • Unacceptable: Academic or administrative unit is performing at least 0.67 standard deviation units below the VCU average and/or score.