Welcome to the 2024 Fall Semester from the Division of Student Affairs
Dear VCU Students,Happy Black and Gold Wednesday! I am thrilled to welcome you to VCU for the Fall 2024 Semester and hope to see you at the Black and Gold Wednesday Launch Party at Noon today at the Compass! We are excited to have you as part of our RAMily and look forward to engaging with you throughout the year. It is my pleasure to share some important resources related to advocacy, well-being, involvement, and safety in this message.
Advocacy and Well-Being
Our team in the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) wants your time at VCU to be remarkable. We strive to provide innovative programs and services designed to help you succeed during your time at VCU. The Office of Student Advocacy, located in The Commons, 907 Floyd Avenue, Suite 229, is the place to go to find answers to general questions, support when encountering a challenge, assistance in navigating university policies, and help for students needing emergency support. If you have any issues during your time at VCU and do not know where to go, start with the Office of Student Advocacy.Developing and maintaining a plan for your personal well-being is crucial to your success at VCU. Our teams within DSA focused on well-being work in concert to assist you with your physical, mental, social and emotional well-being needs. University Counseling Services (UCS) offers comprehensive in-person clinical counseling services, recovery support, and outreach to all students. Additionally, VCU students have access to free virtual care services through TimelyCare so that you can obtain mental health support and health coaching whenever you need it. University Student Health Services provides a wide variety of primary care services. Their talented group of physicians and health care professionals are available to assist you when you need medical care. Recreation and Well-Being (RecWell) offers a wide variety of programs and services that include workout facilities, fitness classes, intramural sports, sports clubs, yoga classes, and much more. During your time at VCU, make sure to utilize all of the well-being resources available to you and follow the hashtag #VeryCaringU on Instagram for well-being related information and programming.
Involvement Opportunities
You belong at VCU and we are here to help you find your place through our involvement opportunities. One of the best ways to form lifelong friendships and connections at VCU is to get involved on campus. Your student activity fee helps support the nearly 450 Registered Student Organizations that are beloved by our students. The best way to learn more about student organizations and things to do on campus is through RamsConnect and at the upcoming SOVO Fair on Friday, August 23. You can connect with your fellow Rams and learn more about all of our student organizations over the next few weeks at our Weeks of Welcome events that run through Sunday, September 8. Gaining skills that will help you throughout your life is important. We offer those experiences through our transformative student experiences programs. Some examples include getting involved with our Student Government Association, joining the student team that produces the Commonwealth Times, or getting involved in our leadership development programs offered through the Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning. We also encourage you to join the Vice President of Student Affairs Advisory Council so you can share directly with us how we can best serve you.
Student Behavior Expectations
As you look to get involved on campus, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities. I encourage you to review the Code of Student Conduct, the Registered Student Organization (RSO) Conduct Report and to familiarize yourself with Hazing Prevention and Discipline Policy and our VCU Hazing Prevention resources. Additionally, AlcoholEdu is required for all new VCU first-year and transfer students to complete during Orientation. If you haven’t already, please complete the required AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention training and before September 9, 2024.
It is also important to know that VCU is committed to providing an environment free from sexual misconduct, assault, harassment or any sex/gender discrimination that may violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and other state and federal laws. To make a report and for additional information, please visit the Title IX website.Contributing positively to the university and greater Richmond community is an integral part of being a VCU Ram. As members of our VCU and Richmond community, it is important to practice civility and to be considerate of those living around you.
Safety
Your safety at VCU is important to us and we want you to play an active role in keeping yourself safe. The VCU Police encourage students to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to report any suspicious behavior immediately. All members of the VCU community are encouraged to become familiar with the Threat Assessment and Violence Prevention Policy. VCU Police reminds students that officers are available to help all members of the VCU community; if you need assistance, please call (804) VCU-1234 / (804) 828-1234 to reach VCUPD directly at any time, day or night. Students can also download the free LiveSafe app.Thank you for taking the time to read my welcome message. I hope that you have an outstanding fall semester. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need assistance. Follow us on Instagram (@VCUDSA) for important information and to engage with us.
Best wishes,
Aaron J. Hart, Ed.D.
Vice President
Division of Student Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University
[email protected][email protected] | students.vcu.edu | Sitterding House, 901 Floyd Ave