VCU news

By William Lineberry
University College & Honors College

Anirudh Mepperla knows that sometimes as a college student you just need somewhere to relax during a day that is packed full of classes and work.

This month, and in partnership with one of his professors, Mepperla’s efforts culminated with four nap pods being installed on campus – one in the Commons and three on the fifth floor of Grace E. Harris Hall. Students, faculty and staff can reserve pods online in half-hour or hourlong increments.

“I just could see in my courses that my classmates were just tired a lot of the time,” said Mepperla, a sophomore majoring in health, physical education and exercise science in the College of Humanities and Sciences. “As a commuter student myself, I know that it is demotivating to come to campus and not have a place to rely on where I can take a 30-minute break and rest my mind. It would be really nice for students in general to just allow them to have a place to relax.”

As a freshman last year, in the research project associated with his UNIV 111 and UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry courses, Mepperla decided to study sleep among college students and explore ways to enhance student wellness. With the help of his instructor, assistant professor Kirk Richardson in the Department of Focused Inquiry, they began laying the foundation for a proposal, Project Z, that would eventually bring the nap pods to the Monroe Park Campus. 

“This has been great to watch play out,” Richardson said. “This is the type of thing that we, as college professors, are always angling at with our students: Take the lessons learned inside the classroom and apply them to the outside world to effect change.”

He and Mepperla found wide support across campus for the idea and received direct support from the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation’s Shelfie Program, which lets entrepreneurs test their ideas through customer and peer feedback in a retail environment. Their contact points included VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., and Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor. Project Z received financial support from VCU’s Division of Student Affairs and the Student Government Association through the student activities fee.

“The Commons is always looking for ways to meet the needs of students and improve the wellbeing and academic success for all Rams at VCU,” said Carole Dowell, director of The Commons. “This student-driven initiative to install a nap pod in The Commons and in Harris will allow students to take a moment to relax and rejuvenate —whether that is for a power nap during the day, in between classes or studying.”

Dowell added that The Commons is building a “relaxation corner” that will be anchored by a nap pod being installed into The Commons.

The project does not end at the nap pods being installed. The final stage is to collect data from student users in upcoming months to develop a pod design tailored to college students. The goal would be to work with design engineers on campus to develop a prototype – and ultimately produce models that other universities could purchase, Richardson said. 

“There are years and years of research that says sleep is good for you,” he said. “We know that Project Z will help improve academic success, student well-being and that it also is a great way to collaborate and create with our campus community.”

Mepperla hopes Project Z will help students long after he has graduated and, hopefully, established a career in health care.

“I’ve always just wanted to help other people, and that’s what I want to do with my career,” he said. “I want to help students have success in the classroom, and I think that providing them a place to reset and relax will help them mentally and physically.”

Mepperla is excited to see Project Z come to new states of fruition. 

“I could have used a pod today,” he said with a laugh. “I’m on campus from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.”

Nap pods at Grace E. Harris Hall can be reserved at vcufillnappods.youcanbook.me, while the pod in the Commons is first-come, first-served.