Virginia College Access Network is an assemblage of professionals who each have a role in ensuring access to postsecondary education for underrepresented populations. Those in our network consist of access providers, financial aid administrators, college admission staff, school counselors, K-12 administrators, state policy-makers, and others in the education field. This diversity of organizational setting is a strength, because right now, everyone is needed.

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment in our country. For hundreds of years, institutions, systems, and individuals have allowed and in some cases perpetuated gross injustices against Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Although federal law mandated school integration in the 1950’s, Virginia shamefully chose a path resulting in school closures instead. Massive Resistance is only one particularly egregious instance of discrimination. Many others can be found in historical records, and yet countless others occurred on a smaller, quieter, but no less insidious scale. 

To even begin to understand the scale, we must listen to the personal experiences of Black and Brown students of all ages, from prior years to current day. The work isn’t close to being done. Funding of K-12 schools by property taxes continues to uphold deep disparities in educational resources. Black and Brown students are denied access to and support for advanced coursework. Disproportionate methods of discipline have devastating consequences for students funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline. Culturally-responsive educational environments are not a given as they should be. All of this results in skewed outcomes for students based on their race and zip code.     

The VirginiaCAN Board stands firmly with our BIPOC colleagues and students in making the statement that educational equity is long overdue. We take seriously our responsibility to support and enhance postsecondary education access and attainment for residents of the Commonwealth, and we will continue our efforts with greater urgency. Black lives do matter.   

Three action steps we are taking now:

  • Increasing the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content of our 2020 conference offerings.

  • Partnering with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities on workshops and trainings available at our 2020 conference and beyond.

  • Reviewing our mission statement to better communicate our commitment to racial equity.

VirginiaCAN Board of Directors:

Joy Pugh
Scott Kemp
Lyons Sanchezconcha
Paula Craw
Laura Clark
Tierney Jackson
Erin McGrath
Anne Michie
TeCarla Moore
Mary Morris
Reshaud Rich
Paula Robinson
Ashley Woodous