Disclaimer of Inclusivity & Open Access Requirement
On March 6, 2025, in response to federal directives, a new Content, Disclaimer of Inclusivity & Open Access (5.12) requirement was introduced.
This new requirement instructs all public-facing websites must include the following disclaimer in the footer of every page:
“Virginia Commonwealth University is a nationally renowned public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of all members of its community. VCU student, faculty and staff groups and associations are open without regard to any characteristic or identity protected by law.”
What to expect
- Deadline: All public-facing websites must include this disclaimer by April 7, 2025.
- For Compass users: If your website is in T4 and uses the default Compass footer, this disclaimer has automatically been added to your website. No action is required on your part.
- For all other websites: If your site does not use the default Compass footer, you must manually add the disclaimer to your website before the deadline.
Importance
In response to federal directives that impact higher education, the university president and task force created this statement. This is to communicate with the university’s web community and visitors, “following federal requirements and supporting all members of our university community are not mutually exclusive. VCU will continue to be a place where all people are welcome and can achieve their fullest potential.” Read the full article on VCU News.
Implementation
The disclaimer should live in the footer of a website, below all content and at the bottom. It should use gold and italicized text on a black or dark background.