VCUarts fall 2020 return to campus
Dear VCUarts graduate and undergraduate students,
Yesterday, you received an email from the university with information about your return to campus this fall. The semester will be different, and we will need to be nimble as circumstances evolve, but please know that we are here to support you as we collectively navigate these changes. Protecting your health and continuing to provide you with a high-quality education remain our top priorities.
Today, I am writing to answer a few questions you may have following the university’s announcement.
Status of courses
As the university outlined yesterday, the fall 2020 class schedule has been updated with information about instructional formats and resources that are available to help you navigate any changes. Some classes will be taught in-person with special accommodations for physical distancing; some will be online; and others will be in a hybrid format, meaning a blend of in-person and online.
As soon as possible, please check your fall schedule on eServices and review the instructional mode, as well as any changes in meeting days and times. This 4-minute video will help you identify any of these changes. If you need to modify your schedule, please contact your undergraduate academic advisor or graduate program director.
Personal health and safety
Your participation in new safety protocols is paramount to your personal health, and that of your friends, peers, and professors. We need every member of our community to follow guidelines related to wearing masks, disinfecting their spaces, washing their hands often, and maintaining physical distance.
VCU will provide you with back-to-campus kits that include cloth face coverings, hand sanitizer, and other items to supplement those you may already have to help you stay healthy. Faculty and staff will find these kits in their workspaces, and students will pick them up from several locations across campus. Every member of our faculty and staff and every student must also complete online training related to safety protocols before returning to campus and then complete daily attestations of health once they have. Additionally, if you plan to live on campus this fall, you must test negative for Covid-19 before moving in. VCU will provide you with a testing kit. Non-residential students and employees will also be provided voluntary prevalence testing at no charge.
Facilities
VCU and VCUarts have implemented new safety protocols designed to protect your health while using on-campus facilities. University facilities will increase their cleaning schedule with a focus on high-touch surfaces in common areas, such as elevator buttons and handrails. And a task force is developing school-wide guidelines for cleaning equipment and technology in our classrooms and workshops.
We know the coming months bring much uncertainty, and I encourage you to regularly visit the One VCU: Responsible Together website for the latest updates and information. If you have additional questions, please email us at arts@vcu.edu or call 804-VCU-ARTS. We are here to help you prepare for the fall semester.
We look forward to welcoming you back to VCUarts!
Jody Symula
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs | Art Foundation Program Lead