You First at VCU

Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success

AAPI Program

As a recipient of the 2022 AANAPISI Grant, You First at VCU was awarded $2 million to expand its initiatives for supporting our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student population The goal is to provide VCU AAPI students with culturally competent support services and resources that will maximize their higher education opportunities.

Who’s included?

AAPI is an umbrella term used to describe all people who identify as Asian, Asian American, and/or Pacific Islander. 

Asian may refer to a person whose family originates from the regions of Far East and Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent. This includes, but is not limited to, the countries of Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam (United States Census Bureau, 2022). 

Pacific Islander may refer to a person who identifies as a Native Hawaiian or whose family originates from Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands (United States Census Bureau, 2022).

What’s offered?

  • Individual Coaching: Students can schedule ongoing 1-on-1 appointments with the You First AAPI Student Success Coach to receive support in a broad range of areas such as in academic support, career exploration, social and personal well-being, and financial literacy.
  • AAPI Success Group: The purpose of this discussion group is to provide AAPI students with the tools and resources necessary for navigating university life successfully while also fostering positive peer relationships and community-building. This is an open group and new members are welcome to join at any time.
  • AAPI Peer Mentorship: Within the You First Peer Mentoring Program, there is a specific AAPI cohort. Interested students can join the program as either a mentor or mentee and be matched with a fellow AAPI student.
  • Summer Scholars AAPI Cohort: VCU’s Summer Scholars program has a cohort specifically for incoming VCU AAPI freshmen looking to get a headstart on their college careers. For more information about Summer Scholars and the AAPI cohort, visit: https://summerscholars.vcu.edu/about-summer-scholars/. 
  • Year-long programming: Our office hosts events all year-long in support of our AAPI students. This may include presentations, workshops, mixers, and other educational and social events tailored toward the AAPI student experience. Make sure you are receiving our biweekly newsletters to receive updates about upcoming events or check out our calendar for more information.

How do I get involved?

Contact the You First AAPI Student Success Coach, Julie Nguyen (nguyenjq7@vcu.edu), to book an individual coaching appointment, get more information about the AAPI Success Group, or for any other inquiries.

References
United States Census Bureau. (2022, March 1). About the topic of race. https://www.census.gov/topics/population/race/about.html