Accessibility Improvements

Accessibility Improvements

The 2022-23 budget includes $11.2 million to address accessibility needs over the next several years. The first step will be to identify projects, followed by physical improvements. And the Office of Disability Resources will receive an annual increase of $480,000 to support students, faculty and staff with disabilities.

Accessibility improvements are in the preliminary design phase and will include updates to academic buildings and residence halls over the next three years, including entrance ramps, additional accessible seating in large classrooms, elevators and work across Campus Walk and the Battleground Athletics Complex. UMW is working with Glave & Holmes on the project, which is planned in three phases.

The first package focused on improvements to Ball, Custis, and Madison Halls, and large classrooms in Jepson and Combs; the second package focuses on site improvements at the Battleground Athletic Complex and wayfinding and navigation throughout the Fredericksburg Campus; and the third package is directed at improvements to Westmoreland and Bushnell Halls.

Improvements are planned for:

• Accessible ramps to both residence halls and academic buildings
• Ball, Bushnell and Westmoreland Halls – accessibility renovations to include addition of elevators, accessible dorm rooms, restrooms, and common spaces.  Renovation to the residence halls will need to be phased in over the next couple of years, with only one residence hall being offline at any one time.
• Site Improvements on main campus to include repairs to existing walkways, improved directional signage as to pathways and entrances, and improvements to blue light phones on accessible pathways to ensure full accessibility.
• Classroom improvements to some of the large tiered classrooms and upgrading of accessible furniture for all classrooms
• Battleground Athletic Complex (BAC) – addition of accessible pathways and parking to all event fields.

These renovations are scheduled to start in spring 2025, with Madison Hall, which will be offline for residence life.