Dan Thomas puts a sign into a temporary storage area in Cabell Library while removing COVID-related safety signage to prepare for the return of students for the fall semester. (Kevin Morley, University Marketing)

July 28, 2021

VCU to host return-to-campus webinars for students and their families, faculty and staff

The Aug. 4 events are a chance for members of the university community to hear from leaders and ask questions about VCU’s return-to-campus plan.

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By James Shea

Editor’s note (8/1/2021): The faculty and staff information session mentioned in this story, originally scheduled for Aug. 12, has been rescheduled to Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. The story has been updated.

The COVID-19 pandemic is constantly changing. Two months ago, vaccination rates were rising, and case numbers were declining. Now cases are increasing in certain areas of the country, and vaccination rates have plateaued. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines on when, where and who should wear face masks.

To keep faculty, students and staff informed about the changing situation, Virginia Commonwealth University is holding a pair of information sessions — one for families and students, the other for faculty and staff — on Aug. 4. The one-hour webinar events are a chance for members of the university community to ask questions about VCU’s return-to-campus plan and hear from VCU leaders.

Charles “Chuck” Klink, Ph.D., senior vice provost for student affairs, and Tomikia LeGrande, Ed.D., vice president for strategy, enrollment management and student success, will host the student and family session Aug. 4 at noon. Topics will include an overview of classes/modalities, an update from VCU’s Public Health Response Team and information from offices such as housing, commons, counseling and dining.

At the faculty and staff session (Aug. 4 at 9 a.m.), Meredith Weiss, Ph.D., vice president for administration, and Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, will facilitate a discussion about on-campus workplace, health and safety protocols, supporting students and each other.

Registration is required for both events. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and to submit them in advance. Questions for the student session must be submitted by Aug. 1 and questions for the faculty and staff webinar must be submitted by Aug. 4.

VCU is requiring all students who live, learn and work on campus to be vaccinated for the fall semester. University employees are required to complete a vaccine survey and all non-vaccinated employees must follow safety guidelines, including but not limited to: wearing a mask, routine COVID-19 surveillance testing, completing daily health checks, and continuing to follow public safety measures including quarantine procedures. VCU Human Resources has introduced guidelines to help employees navigate work arrangements for the fall. A phased transition to on-campus work will begin for the majority of employees on Aug. 1 and the fall semester will start Aug. 24.

For more information, visit together.vcu.edu.