VCU news

By Tom Gresham

Virginia Commonwealth University will welcome its newest students this week when the Class of 2023 moves into the university’s residence halls, marking the opening of the academic year.

Most VCU first-year students will move into their residence halls from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Reuban Rodriguez, Ed.D., associate vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, will be available for media interviews about move-in day and the opening of the academic year from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday in front of Brandt Hall, at the corner of Laurel and Franklin streets.

VCU will enroll more than 30,000 students this fall. The first-year class is expected to comprise approximately 4,500 students. Thirty-two percent of this year’s first-year students are first-generation college students.

About 90% of VCU’s incoming class is from Virginia, including nearly 2,000 students from Northern Virginia and about 900 from the Richmond metro area.

Minority students represent 57% of the first-year class. 

VCU will enroll about 1,650 transfer students — about 70% from the Virginia Community College System. 

Traffic congestion is expected in the areas near VCU’s student residence halls on Saturday and there will be limited street parking available. 

To ensure safety and order as students move into residence halls, the following streets will have travel restrictions or will be closed:

- Franklin Street: One lane will be open for through traffic between Harrison and Belvidere streets; traffic arriving for move-in will be reduced to one travel lane between Harrison and Belvidere streets.

- Grace Street: Travel lanes will remain open, but drivers may experience some congestion between Ryland and Belvidere streets.

- Cary Street: Travel lanes will remain open, but drivers may experience some congestion between Cherry and Jefferson streets.

- Laurel Street: The street will be closed between West Grace and West Main streets. Parishioners of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will be allowed to park in designated spots on Cathedral Street and in the West Main Street Parking Deck (until 2 p.m.). Drivers may experience some congestion between Cathedral and Cary streets.

- Floyd Avenue: This street will be closed to through traffic but parishioners from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will be able to utilize it.

- Main Street: This street will have parking restrictions and experience congestion. 

Traffic restrictions and closures will be in effect on Saturday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. VCU Police will handle traffic control as students move in.