Inclusion, comfort, and a sense of belonging are all integral parts of getting acclimated to college. Having groups out there with your best interests at heart is a perfect start to anyone’s university journey. The University of Virginia has a thriving, diverse community of students, faculty and staff, and the University and the Alumni Association are proud to offer a host of resources for Black students.
There are numerous organizations on and off Grounds to support and connect Black students to each other and cultivate growth and new opportunities. Two of the most significant are the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office of African-American Affairs.
- Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI): The role of ODEI is to help all units of the University recruit and retain persons from underrepresented groups and provide supportive environments for work and life at the University of Virginia.
- Office of African-American Affairs (OAAA): Established in 1976, the OAAA assists academic and non-academic units in delivery services to Black students and helps create a supportive environment that addresses their needs, interests and culture.
Another important support system for Black students on Grounds is the Ridley Scholarship Program. Named for the trailblazing UVA graduate Dr. Walter N. Ridley, the Ridley Scholarship Program (often shortened simply to ‘Ridley’) is a merit-based program that seeks to attract and retain the brightest Black students to UVA.
Ridley offers several scholarships to Black students over the course of their UVA careers; while most are for incoming first years, there are also awards reserved for exceptional upper-class students. Students who receive an award through Ridley are eligible for up to eight semesters of support. For more information on Ridley, take a look at our article on the subject.
Below is a list of other organizations and Schools at UVA that support Black students—and if you don’t see one that fits your needs, you can always make your own!