VCU news

By VCU News staff

A survey presented at a recent Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors committee meeting shows a high level of regard among area adults for the economic and cultural contributions of VCU and VCU Health System to the greater Richmond area.

The poll of 601 adults in Richmond and Henrico and Chesterfield counties was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and FrederickPolls from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 and has a margin of error of 4%. 

The respondents represent a variety of perspectives with regard to age, race, household income and education. Of those polled, 20% are 18-34 years old, 37% are 35-54 years old and 44% are older than 55; 31% of respondents are Black and 6% are Hispanic; 7% have an annual household income of less than $20,000 a year and 31% make between $20,000 and $60,000 a year; 38% do not have a college degree.

Among those surveyed, respondents ranked VCU first among six major employers in the Richmond area for economic impact, with 31% of those polled saying VCU has the most significant economic impact among a group that included the Virginia state government (21%), Dominion Energy (20%), Capital One (14%), Altria Group (7%) and Bon Secours Richmond (6%). 

Respondents also expressed favorable views of VCU’s reputation, with more than half of those polled (53%) giving VCU a strong brand rating of 75 points or higher, on a scale of 1-100 where 1 is very negative and 100 is very positive. Nearly three in four respondents (74%) ranked their personal feelings about the university’s academic and medical campuses at 51 points or higher.

Other key findings in the survey:

-       Those polled said improving health care in the Richmond area and attracting talented and diverse people to the area are VCU’s top two most important brand traits. Among respondents, 38% said VCU’s role in improving health care in the Richmond area was most important to them and 24% said VCU’s role in attracting talented and diverse people to the area was most important. Another 14% said VCU’s role in helping the Richmond area economy was most important to them.

-       Among respondents, 93% either agreed or strongly agreed that VCU is an important health care resource for Richmond area residents, 88% either agreed or strongly agreed that VCU’s continued growth and success is important for Richmond’s future, 85% either agreed or strongly agreed that VCU is a good neighbor and a trusted partner in the community, and 82% either agreed or strongly agreed that VCU makes the Richmond area a better place to live.

-       Of those polled, 79% either agreed or strongly agreed that VCU has a positive impact on communities of color and 71% either agree or strongly agreed that VCU has a positive impact on low-income communities in the Richmond area.