Our Values

In our service to the VCU community, The Commons is dedicated to these core values:

Respect
We respect each other, we are inclusive, we value the individual as well as the group, and we work to embrace diversity and foster a sense of responsibility.

Discovery
We believe learning should occur in all spaces across the university and provide services and programs that encourage creative expression of the individual’s exploration of self and educational potential.

Responsibility
We are stewards of financial, natural, and physical resources and work to ensure those resources are used for the betterment of the students we serve.

Excellence
We strive to be among the premier university commons and set expectations and standards that reflect our commitment to students, the university, and the community. We assess our programs and services, so we meet the ever-changing needs of the campus community.

As VCU’s student union, The Commons creates a sense of community on campus outside the classroom, bringing together the diverse students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests of VCU.

Through cultural, educational, social, and recreational programs, services, and facilities, we enhance the VCU experience, helping students become lifelong learners and global citizens.

The Commons is the heart of the VCU community. We help students grow and learn by: 

• Teaching students leadership skills and social responsibility through firsthand experiences and workshops.
• Advocating for inclusivity and equity, fostering respect and affirming the identities of all individuals.  
• Providing gathering spaces that encourage students to interact with one another and the VCU community, helping them build meaningful relationships in the process.
• Operating as a student-centered organization that engages in shared decision making and holistic development through employment and involvement. 

Through programs and events, clubs and organizations, and the use of gathering spaces, The Commons enhances the VCU experience, creating an impact that lasts well beyond graduation.

_{Learn more about the value and tradition of the student union at colleges and universities!}