COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Student FAQs

March 12, 2020 by Student Affairs

For Monroe Park Campus students:
VCU will hold remote classes for the remainder of the semester to ensure that students can complete the semester as safely as possible and with as much continuity as possible. For the full announcement, please visit: https://news.vcu.edu/article/Major_COVID19_announcements.

For MCV Campus students:
Students of the College of Health Professions, School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy should refer to the Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences for information on academic operations.

Housing

When are the residence halls closing?

Given the recent update from the University and guidance by the CDC and Virginia Department of Health, students currently registered to remain on campus must vacate campus by Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 4 p.m. EST.

What if I need to retrieve items for class?

If you have the necessary items at home to complete your online classes, you do not need to return to campus at this time to collect any belongings. We will communicate to you when there is an appropriate time to gather your belongings. We ask that all residents who return to campus to retrieve items, to please take the proper precautions. When making travel plans, please arrange for your return to campus to be as brief as possible. Students must bring their student ID and room key for easy and quick access to their room. Below are the times that you can return to retrieve items from your on-campus housing assignment:

Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 1 p.m.. – 4 p.m.
Friday, March 20, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

What if I cannot make it to campus before 4 p.m., Sunday, March 22, 2020?

Residence halls are closing normal operations at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Anyone not able to make it to campus by 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2020 are being asked not to return to campus. Residential Life and Housing will communicate with you when residents are able to return and retrieve the remainder of their items.

What if I completed the same-room sign up for 2020-2021?

Residents that completed the same room sign-up for next year and are not approved for emergency housing, must vacate campus by Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 4 p.m. Same room sign up residents have the option to leave their belongings in their room. If residents choose to leave belongings, we will communicate additional information at a later date when residents can return to campus.

What about my mail on campus?

The VCU Residence Hall Central Mail and Package Center located at 207 N Laurel Street will be open for package pickup:

Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday, March 20, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hours will decrease in the upcoming weeks to only Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, and April 29.

How can I ensure my package is delivered to me?

UPS, FedEx, and DHL packages will be returned to the sender unless the recipient provides a prepaid shipping label for RLH Mail Services to ship the package to their requested address. If a resident wants to provide a prepaid shipping label, please email the PDF version of the label to reshallmail@vcu.edu.

Will Residential Life and Housing be providing refunds?

All eligible students who left the residence halls due to the COVID-19 response effective March 13, 2020, will automatically receive a credit/refund. This includes students who were unable to remove all of their belongings and must return at a later time to do so.

Students with 9-month contracts will receive a $1,150 credit/refund.
Students with 12-month contracts will receive a $1,450 credit/refund.

Visit the Residential Life and Housing FAQs for more information.

When is the remainder of the 2020-2021 room selection process being completed?

This timeline is still being reviewed by Residential Life and Housing. Once a new timeline is decided, we will communicate broadly to all residents with a completed 2020-2021 housing application that has yet to select a space. This communication will be sent to residents VCU email address once a new timeline is established.

Student Services

How can I access Student Health?

University Student Health Services on the Monroe Park Campus is currently open. Please call ahead before visiting their office at (804) 828-8828. Visit their website for updated hours. University Student Health Services on the MCV Campus are closed.

How can I access Counseling Services?

University Counseling Services can be reached at (804) 828-6200 for Monroe Park Campus students and at (804) 828-3964 for MCV Campus students.

Will Rams in Recovery meetings and resources still be available?

Rams in Recovery has moved their meetings to Zoom and has been posting links on their Facebook page. There is also a Google Doc link on their Facebook with resources.

Will my Student Conduct and Academic Integrity hearing/meeting still take place?

Meetings will take place over the phone and hearings will be moved to teleconferencing.

Will the cultural achievement ceremonies coordinated by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs still occur?

Lavender Graduation sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and the Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness and Success will take place virtually on April 24. In addition, cords will be mailed to students. Email lavgrad@vcu.edu for more information.

The Kente Donning Ceremony and Latinx Cultural Achievement Ceremony have been cancelled and will not have a virtual option. Kente and Serape stoles will be mailed to students interested in receiving a stole. Email ingramtd@vcu.edu for more information.

How can I access Ram Pantry?

Ram Pantry will provide pre-packed boxes of food to students in need beginning Wednesday, March 18 at 1 p.m. through Friday, March 20, at 3 p.m. until current supplies last. Ram Pantry will be closed for operations after Friday, March 20, until further notice.

Students must make an appointment online in order to pick up a box. Individual appointments are offered at designated times on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Pick-up will occur outside of the University Student Commons at the 10-minute traffic circle (907 Floyd Ave). Detailed instructions for pick up will be emailed to you once you schedule your appointment. If you have any questions, please contact us at rampantry@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4514.

In addition, we encourage all in-need students to access their local food bank and apply for SNAP benefits for additional food. To find information on your local food banks please visit here. This site will allow you to enter your zip code, and then it will direct you to additional resources. To enroll for food stamps, please visit this website. If you would like assistance with either process, please email rampantry@vcu.edu or schedule a virtual/phone appointment with Off Campus Student Services via https://vcuoffcampus.youcanbook.me.

Recreational Sports

All VCU Recreational Sports facilities are closed for the foreseeable future. For updates, program cancellations, and refund information, visit VCU Recreational Sports COVID-19 Information page.

Visit our Virtual Programming page, to participate in Virtual Fitness, play eSports, or find outdoor challenges and resources. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see our workouts of the day and more!

Accommodations

Will my accommodations with Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity be impacted (SAEO) still be in place?

Yes! If you have been approved for accommodations, that has not changed. The question now is how they might translate as the courses are redesigned for online/remote learning. In many cases, they will translate exactly as designed. In some cases, alternate arrangements may need to be made. The best thing you can do at this time is to contact your instructors and ask the question, “How will my accommodations work in your class, moving forward?” As always, SAEO is here to help make these arrangements.

What should I do about my testing accommodations? Will I still test in SAEO’s Testing Access Center?

The Testing Access Center will be closed for the foreseeable future. Since your exams will no longer be held on campus, we encourage you to contact your instructors as soon as possible to ask about how testing will work for the remainder of the semester. You should also inquire about how your testing accommodations (such as extended time) will be factored in. Any students needing assistance with testing should contact SAEO.

I have concerns about access to my classes in the online format. What should I do?

Your instructors are in the process of redesigning their courses, as we speak. I encourage you to contact them immediately to share any concerns or ask any questions. The sooner they hear from you, the better able to address your concerns they will be. You can also contact SAEO with any questions or concerns.

Student organizations, meetings and events

Will student organization meetings or events still take place?

The Division of Student Affairs has suspended the use of all university facilities and any off-campus locations for all fraternity and sorority chapters, student organizations and sports clubs. This includes:

University Student Commons, Hunton Student Center, Larrick Student Center and academic and other spaces scheduled by Event Services.
Events related to student organizations and gatherings both on and off-campus.
Any meetings of organizations, events, parties, ceremonies, initiations, community service or any other activities affiliated with your organization.

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