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.

Brick Step repairs, CRUC

February 2026 Update

The upgrades in Ball Hall are underway with a lot closure at Fairfax Lot for materials, and a short detour planned for the front of Ball Hall as the accessible ramp is installed this spring. For the 2026-2027 academic year, Ball Hall will reopen and return to housing UMW’s long-standing all-female community. Then Bushnell Hall will be closed for the 2026-2027 academic year to undergo accessibility and utility updates.

In addition, over the summer, Jepson Hall and Combs Hall will have classroom updates for accessibility improvement.

May 2025 Update

Accessibility improvement planning and design is in progress for Combs Hall, Westmoreland Hall and the Battleground Athletics Complex. An new accessible ramp is forthcoming for James Farmer Hall, and this next academic year the improvements will take place at Ball Hall.