Virginia Commonwealth University has evolved from quite a small college into an educational establishment offering numerous courses in various fields (Bonis, Koste and Lyons 7). Moreover, VCU has also shaped the layout of the city (Peifer n.p.). It is quite easy to predict the future of this university when taking into account the past of VCU. One of major values of VCU has been diversity and development (“Report of the Commission to plan for the establishment of a proposed state-supported university” 33). The university now offers courses in medicine, education, business, engineering, science and so on. It has also announced development of the art school. VCU will offer a number of courses in the contemporary art. Importantly, introduction of new courses is associated with construction of new facilities that are often combined into a complex of campuses.
It is necessary to note that the university’s prestige has increased significantly since the 1990s (Peifer n.p.). More students as well as educators are attracted. Of course, these are talented and ambitious people, who contribute to development of their disciplines and strive for self-development. This leads to expansion of the university as new facilities are built to meet the demands of newcomers and attract more students. This also leads to diversity that affects the development of the educational establishment. New courses are provided to respond to this diversity.
Hence, the next step in the development of VCU is further integration of its facilities into a single complex. Thus, VCU is likely to be connected with MCV through a number of facilities that will be built in the nearest future. Opening of the art school in 2015 may play an important role in this process. Facilities of the new faculties will physically unite VCU and MCV. New buildings and areas used by the educational establishment will be located between VCU and MCV.
In the long run, the city’s downtown can transform into a university city where facilities of a single educational establishment will be located. The city is already changing significantly and these changes respond to demands of new students and educators. New shops, malls, restaurants and recreational areas appear in the city. New parks and squares will contribute to transformation of the city into a big and complex VCU campus.
The newly integrated educational establishment is likely to be called Virginia Commonwealth University. Its culture will be still based on principles of diversity and development. Each faculty will have a significant degree of freedom but there will be centralized management as well. It will ensure that all faculties will comply with the culture and major regulations of VCU. It will be easier to impose certain standards and follow them, which is important for the image of the educational establishment.
To sum up, it is possible to foresee big changes that will take place in VCU. It will become bigger and more complex. The university will offer courses in major fields and this will affect its diversity and further development. The growth of the educational establishment will also bring changes in the city, which will become a university city where campuses make up the major part of the area. VCU is likely to become one of the most prestigious educational establishments in the USA as talented educators and ambitious students become a part of the VCU community.
Works Cited
Bonis, Ray, Jodi Koste and Curtis Lyons. Virginia Commonwealth University. San Francisco: Arcadia Publishing, 2006. Print.
Peifer, Karri. “Does Walmart on VCU Campus Mean the End of Grace Street as We Know It?” Richmond Times-Dispatch. 2014. Web.
Report of the Commission to plan for the establishment of a proposed state-supported university in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. 1967. Web.