FAQ’s: Spring Semester Questions Regarding Housing Returner Process, Housing Availability, and Off-Campus Housing
The Division of Student Affairs received some questions this spring centered around changes to returning student housing application process for 2024-25, general availability of on-campus housing for students, health and safety in the residence halls, and navigating the local off-campus housing market. Below are responses to those questions.
Responses to Student Questions
(1) VCU Housing Renewal Options and Notice:
Students Comment: VCU did not provide upper-class students ample notice about shrinking and limited housing which limited their renewal options.
Response: Residential Life and Housing was intentional in designing the returner process for Fall 2024 in a way that allowed the overall housing process to best serve returning and new fall 2024 students. RLH communicated changes to the process and limited availability for returning residents well in advance of the process.
- Changes to the process included:
- Same-room and same-building room selection is no longer an option in the returning student selection process.
- The process began with the Transform Living Learning Community selection process and transitioned to the general room selection process.
- Returning students had the option to apply to live in one of six different on-campus residence halls. Details of the on-campus housing options for returning students can be found in the Returning Students Housing Application Brochure.
- Communication to Returning Residents:
- To ensure students had the information about changes in a timely manner, all students living on-campus received multiple messages to current residents via multiple channels (email, brochure mailed to home addresses, website updates, social media posts).
- Timeline of Communication:
- November 27, 2023: All current residents notified via email.
- Winter Break: All current residents received information about the housing renewal process to their home addresses.
- January/February: RLH regularly posted about the changes on their social media channels.
- Communication Content Highlights:
- Communication informed students about the changes to the process for this year.
- Specific language about limited on-campus housing availability included: “Please be aware that on-campus housing spaces are limited and we cannot guarantee that everyone who participates in the room selection process will be able to select a room.”
- Returning room selection process timeline was shared:
- Returner Application Dates: January 22 – February 9.
- Room Selection Dates: February 15 – February 29.
- Residence Hall options available to returning students were shared.
(2) Off-Campus Housing Website:
Student Comments: The off-campus website info is often out of date and not accurate
Response: The off-campus website is a contracted service and relies on the information provided by the various off-campus entities that provide housing. The listed properties currently provide a range of housing with a range of costs, however the information is fluid and “live” information is provided by the company at the time of inquiry. There are routine checks by the contracted service and needed follow-up takes place when there are gross inaccuracies (sites have closed, content inaccuracies, etc.) Students who have questions while navigating the off-campus housing process can reach out to advocacy.vcu.edu and connect with the team for assistance.
(3) Financial Assistance for Off-Campus Housing Application Fees:
Student Comments: Students would like for VCU to provide a stipend to pay for off-campus housing application fees
Response: Although VCU does not offer specific/dedicated funding to support the application fees incurred from off-campus application fees, we are assessing the possibility of creating a process that allows for students to get reimbursed for applications fees through financial aid, fundraising efforts or the emergency fund.
(4) On-Campus Housing Facility Comments
Student Comments: Concerns expressed about old and outdated on-campus housing facilities.
Response: VCU works diligently to ensure on-campus housing facilities are well-maintained and up to date. There are also efficient processes in place to quickly address facility concerns reported by students. Additionally, VCU consistently works to update current on-campus housing facilities and explore new construction opportunities. Additional details include:
- Residential Life and Housing completes annual facilities audits to assess and address needed updates and repairs for housing facilities. Over the past 10 years, $176 million has been allocated for building updates or system replacements.
- Since 2005, VCU has built and opened: Brandt Hall (2005), Cary & Belvidere (2008), West Grace South (2012), West Grace North (2013), Grace & Broad 1 and 2 (2015), and Gladding Residence Center (2018).
- A new housing project was delayed in 2020 due to Covid, as costs escalated due to contractor availability and costs for materials.
- Proposal submission is currently underway for a new undergraduate residential housing facility (Laurel & Grace) for 1,000 – 1,250 additional students to live on campus, with capacity of semi-suite beds and apartment beds that will house both first-year and upper-class students. The projected opening date is to be determined but likely Fall 2027 or Fall 2028 pending construction timelines.
(5) Johnson Hall (2021) mold incident
Student Comments: Question was asked about the Johnson Hall mold incident in 2021.
Response: On November 23, 2021, Johnson Hall closed until further notice after testing from an outside contractor determined elevated mold spores in 41 spaces throughout the building. These spaces included student rooms and common areas. As a result, the 414 student residents of Johnson Hall were relocated to other living spaces on campus and in the Richmond area, or elected to be released from their housing contracts. Prorated refunds and cash incentives were offered to students who were released from their housing contracts as a result of this issue. Students that chose to not cancel their housing contract were relocated based on on-campus housing vacancies and other alternative housing options within the Greater Richmond area that were identified and assigned by Residential Life and Housing. Those off-campus housing options included: 8 ½ Canal Street, The Lofts at Capital Garage, 1200 West Marshall, and the Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown.
(6) VCU Use of Graduate Hotel to Accommodate Fall 2023 Incoming Class
Student Comments: Question was raised about freshman living in the Graduate Hotel in Fall 2023.
Response: To secure additional housing for first-year students in the fall of 2023, VCU Residential Life and Housing partnered with the Graduate Hotel, just 0.3 miles from Monroe Park. The Graduate housed a cohort of 80 first-year VCU students in double bedrooms, and five Resident Assistants (RA). These rooms included a queen size bed, an in-room mini-fridge, and a microwave. All residents living in the Graduate Hotel had wifi access and access to the common areas in the building such as the game room and lounge. Other services (programming, crisis response, support) were provided as in all other VCU properties.
(7) Residence Hall Health and Safety: Overall
Student Comment: What can VCU administration do to ensure healthy living within the dorms including the timely reporting of health and safety issues?
Response: VCU takes the health and safety of our community seriously and encourages students, faculty and staff to report any concerns related to mold, broken items, or other safety concerns through the university’s non-emergency work order system, VCU Facilities Self Service (FSS). In the event of an emergency, they can contact the 24/7 Facilities Management Operations Center at (804) 828-9444. In addition, Residential Life and Housing and Facilities, Maintenance and Design staff routinely do checks of public areas, maintenance systems, and overall public areas where cleaning by staff occurs.
(8) Residence Hall Health and Safety: Mold Related
Student Comment: How can residents be assured that mold is not present in their residence hall rooms?
Response:
- Currently, there are no outstanding mold investigations. The vast majority of previously submitted mold-related work orders reference areas where water is present, such as kitchens and bathrooms. VCU Facilities Management is the first to respond and, in most cases, finds that either no mold is present or that it is minor (e.g., bathroom mildew), does not raise health concerns, and can be addressed by cleaning, HVAC adjustments or maintenance, or repairs to prevent water intrusion or condensation.
- Air quality conditions that require further investigation receive an indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment. IAQ assessments are performed following guidance from nationally recognized health and safety organizations. In rare cases where mold is present at unacceptable levels, spaces are closed, remediated and retested before re-occupancy.
- In 2023, VCU Safety & Risk Management (SRM) received nine mold investigation requests for residence halls. Seven of the spaces investigated had no evidence of mold or required basic cleaning. To date in 2024, SRM received three investigations for residence halls, none found mold.
- Students and employees who have health concerns related to mold, or who are at increased risk, are referred to Student Health Services and Employee Health Services, respectively. Residential Life and Housing provides a mold prevention resource page to help on-campus students navigate any questions or concerns.
(9) Off-Campus Apartments and VCU
Student Comment: Is there a possibility of getting accredited/approved/affiliated apartments that may work closely with VCU?
Response: In lieu of creating a VCU-affiliated housing partnership with off-campus apartments, we are committed to establishing a team of staff who are dedicated to working with students in need of off-campus housing.
(10) On-Campus Housing Availability for Students
Student Comment: How can we ensure that there’s enough housing and/or dorms for the number of students that are being enrolled?
Response: Residential Life and Housing works with the Office of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success to anticipate enrollment numbers and potential need for on-campus housing each year. Trends in previous years have shown that when enrollment at VCU increases, the number of students applying to live on campus increases as well. Here are some additional details:
- Like many housing programs across the country, RLH has contingency plans in place to accommodate as many on-campus students as possible. Last year, RLH created additional on-campus housing opportunities with converted spaces and will take a similar approach for Fall 2024.
- Living on-campus as a first-year student is not mandatory but RLH typically holds enough beds for 85% of the projected incoming class. The current order of priority for on-campus housing is as follows: (1) incoming first-year housing; (2) special VCU program/initiatives for students; (3) rising sophomores who currently live on campus; (4) rising juniors who currently live on campus; (5) rising seniors who currently live on campus; (6) existing VCU students who live off campus and/or transfer students.
- Here is a list of how VCU compares to other universities in Virginia (School/Enrollment-On-Campus Bed Percentages):
| Institution | Beds/Undergraduate Enrollment % | Beds Available | Undergraduate Enrollment |
| Willam & Mary | 71.01% | 4646 | 6543 |
| UVA | 39.70% | 6994 | 17,618 |
| VA Tech | 34.76% | 10,186 | 29,300 |
| Old Dominion | 28.11% | 4689 | 16,678 |
| VCU | 26.50% | 5710 | 21,548 |
| George Mason | 24% | 6518 | 27,160 |