All VCU parents and family members are automatically members of the VCU Family Association. Formed in 2019, the VCU Family Council is an advisory board that serves the VCU Family Association, students and the University. The VCU Family Council provides increased involvement for family members and guides VCU families toward increased support, understanding and enthusiasm for VCU and its mission.

The VCU Family Council:
- Provides advice and guidance on family programs and services to VCU
- Advocates for students and families as needed on various topics and initiatives
- Serves as a vehicle for communication between the VCU Family Association and VCU administrators
- Volunteers for and often coordinates family-focused events and initiatives that benefit students and families

Members of the VCU Family Council provide guidance and direction on University efforts and have the ability to influence and shape policy and decision-making aimed at creating a better experience for students and families. Members have the opportunity to meet in person twice annually with university leaders to discuss important information about VCU and network with other VCU family members and meet throughout the remainder of the year virtually to conduct business and connect. In addition, members receive campus discounts and Family Council swag items to highlight their membership in the organization.

The VCU Family Council is governed by active family volunteers who connect regularly with one another, serve as ambassadors of VCU during major events, and are annual contributors to the VCU Student Emergency Fund. They are expected to provide feedback to the Associate Dean for Families and Family Programs about various initiatives designed to engage and inform families and to communicate with families about important happenings at VCU that impact students and families.

MEETING AND PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Council members must participate as follows:

- Three in-person meetings per year
- Three video conference meetings per year
- On an ongoing basis through our “Slack” (online collaboration platform) channels
- Each council member serves on at least one project team which convenes at meetings and communicates on conference calls, at events or via Slack throughout the year.
- Volunteering at a minimum of two VCU family events per year (e.g. Family Orientation, Summer Send-offs, Family Weekend, monthly family events, etc.). This may include serving as a panelist, hosting an event, meeting with incoming families or helping at events. Council members are encouraged to participate in as many VCU family events as possible.

GIVING REQUIREMENTS

- Contribute annually to the VCU Student Emergency Fund, which assists students in crisis situations such as accidents, illness, death, fire damage or unexpected homelessness that might impact the student's likelihood of graduating. Council members are expected to contribute to the fund annually at a level commensurate with their ability to give. Council members may raise money in lieu of donating to the fund personally.

VCU Family Council members will be appointed by the Family Programs office in consultation with the Family Council Leadership Team, various university students and staff on a rolling basis with a major recruitment process taking place each summer. Council members will be representative of the diversity of the VCU student body as applications allow.

Any family member of a current full-time undergraduate VCU student in good standing with VCU is eligible to apply for membership. Council members represent each of the four undergraduate classes (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior) and serve for a term of one year. This term is renewable until a council member’s student is no longer enrolled at VCU as long as they continue to meet the required responsibilities, are active in their membership and are positive ambassadors of the University. Parents and others who have served in a guardian capacity for their VCU student are encouraged to apply.

There is no membership fee - only the requirement to contribute whatever one is able to the VCU Student Emergency Fund and to volunteer your time and talents at council meetings and family events.

If you would like to be considered for membership, please complete the following application. Applicants may be selected based on application or invited to participate in telephone interviews. Final selection and notification of new members will occur in August and on a rolling basis after that at regular intervals as applications are received throughout the academic year.