VCU news

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University leaders met with representatives of the Monroe Park Advisory Council on Dec. 8 to update community members on VCU construction projects and the university’s strategic plan.

VCU President Michael Rao discussed VCU’s Quest for Distinction, a six-year strategic plan endorsed by the Board of Visitors in May that focuses on academic excellence, student success, human health and community engagement.

“Under Quest, our enrollment, which peaked at nearly 33,000 has shrunk to about 31,500,” Rao said. “That’s by design. At the same time, we are working to graduate more students.”

Rao detailed current and future university construction projects, including plans for an upgraded Cabell Library, a new university learning center between Cabell Library and the Meeting Center, the new ASPiRE residence hall being built on the south side of West Grace Street and a new global residence hall with a global education theme planned for the north side of Grace Street.

“As much building as you have seen happening at the university, the space is not what we need yet,” Rao said. “But we want to have conversations with you as we move forward. We want you to be involved in our master site plan.”

The master site plan lays out the vision of growth on both campuses. Those attending the meeting were encouraged to tell their neighbors to become part of the process.

“The goal of the master site plan at the end is to have no one say that they didn’t know about the plan and didn’t get a chance to comment on it,” said Brian Ohlinger, associate vice president for facilities management.  

Provost Beverly Warren thanked the neighborhood leaders for taking part in the creation of the Quest for Distinction and called on them to continue to play a role as the plan moves forward.

“Carrying out Quest requires a sincere partnership,” Warren said. “We are partners. It’s not just that VCU resides in this community. We are partners.”  

Joseph Seipel, dean of the VCU School of the Arts, presented an update on the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA), a state-of-the-art facility designed by renowned architect Steven Holl that will serve as a new gateway to the university. It will be built at the southwest corner of Broad and Belvidere, near one of the busiest intersections in the city.

The Monroe Park Advisory Council consists of leaders and activists from the Carver, Fan, Oregon Hill and Randolph neighborhoods.

VCU’s Neighborhood Team participated in the meeting. The team, created under the Division of Community Engagement, includes representatives from the Division of Community Engagement, the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, the VCU Police Department, the Division of University Relations, the Student Government Association, the Office of Sustainability, Off Campus Student Services, Judicial Affairs, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and the Wellness Resource Center.

Neighbors may ask questions or report problems to neighbors@vcu.edu.