Academic Initiatives

Academic Initiatives

Investing our resources strategically allows the University of Richmond to converge our efforts to advance our educational mission. By strengthening signature programs and linking high-impact educational practices, we create pathways to specific, powerful outcomes for our students.

Aerial image of campus.

Undergraduate Curriculum

Our recently approved new General Education curriculum provides a clear identity that is purposeful and coherent. Six areas of inquiry – literary, scientific, social, historical, symbolic reasoning, and visual and performing arts – are complemented by integrated focus areas: quantitative data literacy; equity, power, inclusion & culture; and written and oral/embodied communication. Students explore these areas through a foundation of liberal arts experiences, which includes a First Year Seminar, WELL 100, and a second language proficiency.

Undergraduate Curriculum
Three students, who appear to be studying, in Ryland Hall. There is a large Gothic window behind one student sitting in a chair with a laptop.

Inclusive Pedagogy

We benefit from the diversity of our student body, with increasing enrollment from underrepresented minority groups, international students, first-generation students, Pell grant recipients, and students identifying with a range of religious, gender, political, and sexual orientations. However, educational access does not always translate into meaningful inclusion or the dividends it affords. Our Inclusive Pedagogy program supports the development and incorporation of course content and pedagogical practices that enhance inclusion in the classroom.

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Students work collaboratively in a study space.

Enhance Student Learning

We are committed to ensuring all our students can make the most of their Richmond experience and accomplish what they set out to achieve. We provide academic resources at every stage of the educational journey, complementing and integrating skill-building with our curriculum to enhance and support holistic student development.

Weinstein Learning Center
A female student speaking with a professor in her office

Academic Program Review

As part of our continuous pursuit of excellence, we established a systematic and rigorous external review of academic units. External reviews complement departmental self-assessments by inviting individuals from peer institutions to share their perspectives and to provide advice on resource allocation and future direction. At least every ten years, each academic unit will undergo an external review.
Guidelines for departmental self-study with external review