VCU College of Health Professions

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We, the VCU Department of Occupational Therapy align ourselves with Vision 2025 of the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the vision of the College of Health Professions and the University in promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and work environment.  The efforts of the Department of Occupational Therapy to create an inclusive learning environment is a collaborative effort between faculty, staff, and students.  They include:

• Utilization of a holistic admissions process:  Through a holistic admissions process, more weight is placed on an applicant’s experiences and attributes.  In doing so, we are able to create cohorts of students with diverse perspectives, that impact the student experience and ultimately the profession.  
• Creation of DEI Advisory Board comprised of students, alumni, and clinicians to advise and guide DEI initiatives
• Learning activities and experiences inclusive of diverse backgrounds, identities and lived experiences including race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic class, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and ability.
• Participation in pipeline programs aimed at exposing underrepresented high school and undergraduate students to health professions 
• Engaging capstone students in DEI efforts 
• Providing opportunities for students to come together for open discussions
• VCU Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) Chapter

Demographics