Welcome Back from Lynanne Yndestad, director of New Student & Family Programs
Welcome back to another semester at Virginia Commonwealth University! We hope you enjoyed some quality time with your students, and that they are feeling refreshed and ready for the semester ahead. Spring 2020 is shaping up to be an exciting time here at VCU for both students and their families and we can’t wait for you to see what we have in store.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our parents and families of new students. We are thrilled to have you join the Ramily and are here to support you and your student in a successful transition to VCU’s campus and community. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at ramfamilies@vcu.edu with any questions, concerns or celebrations of the remarkable things your student accomplishes throughout the semester.
We have many opportunities to connect with the university, including our monthly family events through the VCU Family Association. Last year these events included paint nights, museum tours and happy hours, and we are hard at work to create new events that will take you around campus and the City of Richmond. The VCU Family Association includes all parents and family members of VCU students. It is an organization with an open and free membership which includes:
- Access to the New Student and Family Programs office for navigation and resource help
- Ongoing communication through the website, monthly electronic newsletters, daily blog posts, VCU Mobile app and social networks
- Invitations to events such as the Spring Ramily Reunion and monthly opportunities to interact with faculty, staff, students, and other family members
- Assistance on the VCU Family Helpline Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Access to bi-monthly webinars designed to help you and your student succeed academically, physically and mentally
If you already receive the monthly Ram Family Update electronic newsletter, you are part of the VCU Family Association. If you would like to connect to our resources please email us at ramfamilies@vcu.edu to join in on the fun!
We are also happy to continue the VCU Family Council, an advisory board that serves the VCU Family Association, VCU students, and the University. Any family member of a current VCU student is eligible to apply for membership. This Council is responsible for advising the University on family programs and services and serves as a vehicle for communication between the Family Association and VCU administrators to address concerns of VCU parents and families.
Want more frequent updates on what’s happening around campus throughout the year? Please join us on our VCU Families Facebook Page where we will continue to share important information and deadlines, as well as interesting photos and videos from campus and beyond. If you have any questions, concerns, stories or triumphs to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at ramfamilies@vcu.edu or at (804) 828-7322. We can’t wait to see your student thrive in Spring 2020, and wish you and your student the best of luck in the semester ahead!