Safety and Support

Balancing school and life is not always easy, especially when the unexpected happens. The Dean of Student Advocacy Office is here to help students who are struggling with academic, personal, or emotional difficulties or who may be exhibiting worrisome or other concerning behavior.

If you are experiencing difficulty or are concerned about a student share a concern or request assistance.

Our office evaluates all shared concerns and requests for assistance during normal business hours to determine the type of follow-up necessary to address them. If the student is acting in a threatening or violent manner or is demonstrating immediate harm to self or others, immediately call VCU Police at (804) 828-1234 or call 911. The Dean of Student Advocacy Office will receive notification from the VCU Police Department regarding these reports for appropriate follow-up. Please note that you may not receive an automatic update regarding reported behavior. Please contact the Dean of Student Advocacy Office with follow-up questions or concerns.

VCU is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment free from sexual violence. For those who believe they have experienced sexual violence, VCU offers care and support. We encourage you to seek this help as soon as possible since important evidence may be lost as time passes. Anyone in the VCU community can contact the VCU Police Department (which offers the You Have Options program), VCU Health System Forensic Nurse Services (through the Emergency Department) for support. Additionally, students can utilize the University Counseling Center Advocacy Services (for confidential advocates), Student Health Services, and University Counseling Services. Equity and Access Services serves as the Title IX office for VCU and coordinates the university’s response to reports. Students can confidentially explore the available options based on individual circumstances, by contacting Advocacy Services with University Counseling Services at MyOptions@vcu.edu.