VCU is reviewing its Quest 2028 Strategic Plan for two main reasons:

1. Compliance with Federal Guidance: Recent directives from the U.S. Department of Education require VCU to ensure its policies and strategic plans align with federal and state guidance. This includes maintaining a discrimination-free environment and protecting federal funding that supports students.
2. Balancing University Priorities: VCU aims to balance its long-held focus on providing affordable and accessible education with the need to comply with new federal policies. The review process is designed to recommend necessary adjustments to the existing plan without creating a new strategic plan or adding new goals.

This review is essential to continue VCU's success in increasing student enrollment, growing funded research, and rising national rankings while adhering to evolving external requirements.

Several key aspects are at stake with this review of VCU's Quest 2028 Strategic Plan:

• Federal Funding: VCU students rely heavily on federal funding for their education. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the federal government provided $255 million in financial awards to VCU students. Ensuring compliance with federal guidance is crucial to protect these critical resources.
• Institutional Priorities: VCU prides itself on maintaining a discrimination-free environment and providing affordable, accessible education. The review aims to balance these priorities while adhering to new federal directives.
• Strategic Alignment: The review will ensure that VCU's strategic plan aligns with current federal and state guidance, which is essential for the many unit-level strategic plans that are responsible for the university's continued success in increasing student enrollment, growing funded research, and rising national rankings.
• Community Feedback: The advisory group's recommendations will be shared with the campus community for feedback, ensuring that the plan reflects the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders before being presented to the Board of Visitors.

No, VCU remains dedicated to its Quest 2028 Strategic Plan. Instead, the university is conducting a review to ensure it aligns with recent federal and state guidance. This compliance-driven process aims to make necessary adjustments without creating a new strategic plan or adding new pillars or goals. The goal is to maintain the strategic plan's effectiveness while adhering to evolving external requirements.

There are three important questions advisory group members can ask to ensure the strategic plan, or really any university program or initiative, complies with the recent federal and state guidance:

Does the program or initiative involve any race-based preferences or classifications?

This question helps ensure that the program does not use race as a factor in admissions, hiring, financial aid, or any other institutional policies, in compliance with the Supreme Court's ruling and Title VI.

Are all actions and policies within the program or initiative aligned with Title VI and other federal nondiscrimination laws?

This question ensures that the program adheres to legal requirements, avoiding any form of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.

How does the program or initiative promote inclusivity and equity without relying on race-based criteria?

This question encourages academic leaders to focus on creating an inclusive and equitable environment through means that do not involve race-based preferences, ensuring compliance with the legal guidelines.