In the final days of fall, across campuses around the country, students are celebrating their graduations from colleges and universities. Some may be the first in their family to reach this milestone. Others may be finishing after sprinting through their curriculum at an accelerated pace, while still others are finally crossing the finish line after years of study, work and raising a family. Every campus is full of remarkable stories of achievement, sacrifice and determination. Check their websites — many schools highlight a few graduates with unique paths to their diplomas that are inspiring and uplifting. 

At Virginia Union, there is no fall commencement ceremony this year. The university usually holds its annual ceremony in May. But there is still plenty to celebrate: The school recently received reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC. Until the commission’s recent decision at its meeting in Nashville, the university had been on academic probation since 2023, during which the school was required to address concerns about its financial management and governance. 

We’re glad that progress has been made. Students won’t have to worry about the status of their degrees or financial aid drying up because of the school’s lack of financial controls and its fiscal infrastructure. There are some in the community who hoped for the best but had doubts that the school would recover, especially after the probation was upheld in 2024. 

“Reaffirmation is a powerful validation of the work we have done and the work we are committed to doing,” said Hakim J. Lucas, president and CEO, on the school’s website. “This achievement reflects the strength of our governance, the innovation of our corporate strategy, and the transformational progress our university has made. VUU is rising, and our future is bright.” 

We hope so. Now that this chapter is behind it, perhaps attention can turn to the building that once housed Richmond Community Hospital. After months of protest and a lawsuit, the school agreed to preserve the property, which had been slated for redevelopment. The lawsuit has been dropped and, while the building remains in a long-standing state of disrepair, it also represents an opportunity for the university to continue making progress.