In April 1994, human bones and artifacts from the 19th century were discovered in an abandoned well uncovered during construction on Virginia Commonwealth University’s MCV Campus. The well’s contents are believed to have been discarded in the 1800s by medical staff.

These humans, mainly of African descent, were not shown the respect they were due, neither in life nor in death. The university is committed to moving forward in a manner reflecting the dignity that should be accorded these individuals and has created the East Marshall Street Well Project to facilitate a process with the community that ensures the remains receive appropriate study, memorialization and reburial.

More information here.

Social & Economic Development & SWAM

VCU was one of the first universities to receive the Carnegie Engaged University Classification in 2005, and was reclassified in 2015. We will apply for the 2026 reclassification. The Carnegie reclassification process requires that VCU self-study and self-evaluate the degree to which community engagement is based on reciprocal, mutually beneficial partnerships, is institutionalized across VCU and VCU Health and ensure that the impact of those partnerships is beneficial to all involved stakeholders. Reclassification matters because it ensures continued national and state recognition of VCU’s commitment to its community, advances Quest 2028, VCU’s Strategic Plan, and helps us improve the impact and quality of our collaborations through rigorous self- study and data collection across the institution as the self-study looks at the following areas:

• How we define, measure, and deliver quality community engaged partnerships;
• Anchor strategies, which look at how the university uses core function to promote community advantage (e.g. procurement, staffing, workforce development):
• Student engagement, outcomes and impacts on both the students and the community;
• University-wide policies and practices that advance community-engaged work;
• Outcomes and impacts for faculty, staff, the community and the campus.

Carnegie Faculty Activities Survey

The Division of Community Engagement launched the Applied Community Engagement Badge to provide an opportunity to educate faculty, staff, students, alumni and our community members and partners in the foundational principles, practices and tools of community engagement. The training will be delivered across three distinct events - the Connect Conference in November, the Martin Luther King event in January and a Community Engagement Practices Webinar in the spring.  Participation in all three, including completing post-event reflection activities will lead to the Applied Community Engagement microcredential.  Each event will be designed to complement each other and deliver the training objectives. The Connect Conference will include interactive activities to support that learning. 

If you are unable to attend any of the activities, you may view recordings of each event and then complete the reflection activity so those who want the credential but are unable to attend all events in person will still have the opportunity to do so. 

You may access the links and reflection activities below: 

1) The Connect 2023 Conference video and the required the reflection activities.

2) Our MLK keynote event video, and the required reflection activities. 

3) Our spring practices webinar video featuring the Richmond Cemetery Collaboratory and the reflection activities.

If you have any questions about the Applied Community Engagement Badge, please email me at garmiseso@vcu.edu.