VCU Welcomes Students for New School Year

By Tom Gresham

The new freshman class at Virginia Commonwealth University arrives this weekend to move into student dormitories, marking the beginning of the 2010-11 academic year.

VCU expects to enroll approximately 32,250 students this fall, including about 3,650 freshmen. Ninety percent of VCU’s incoming freshmen are from Virginia. Approximately 5,000 students will live in student housing on campus, filling the capacity in the dorms. More than 2,900 freshmen will live in student housing.

Freshmen will move into their dorm rooms on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities will be held in Monroe Park and on the MCV Campus lawn for new students and their families.

Reuban Rodriguez, Ed.D., associate vice provost and dean of student affairs at VCU, will be available for media interviews about move-in days and the opening of the academic year at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday in front of Brandt Hall, at the corner of Laurel and Franklin streets.

Traffic congestion is expected in the areas near VCU’s student dormitories on both Saturday and Sunday and street parking will be blocked in the vicinity of residence halls.

Heavy traffic areas include the 700 and 800 blocks of West Franklin Street, near Brandt, Johnson and Rhoads halls; the 700 block of West Main Street, near Gladding Residence Center and the 700 block of West Grace Street near West Grace Street Housing. Congestion also is expected on the MCV campus near Cabaniss Hall, 615 N. Eighth St.