Virginia Commonwealth University’s Board of Visitors this morning changed a key policy that now makes it easier for the university to revoke a degree. The university has been under fire since former Richmond police Chief Rodney Monroe was improperly awarded a degree.

The coordinator of the program through which former Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe received his bachelor’s degree says she argued from the start that he should have received his degree from the University of Phoenix, not Virginia Commonwealth University. Linda L. Spinelli, who retired in May as the degree investigation began, said yesterday that she objected from the moment she received Monroe’s transcripts from her supervisor, Jon Steingass, who was then dean of University College. That’s because Monroe didn’t have enough credits from VCU to receive his degree.