Virginia Commonwealth University Launches VCU ASPiRE Community

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Division of Community Engagement and Division of Student Affairs will host a media tour of the new West Grace South Apartments residence hall, a $29.9-million, five-story residence hall with classroom and meeting space, which houses VCU’s new ASPiRE (Academic Scholars Program in Real Environments) program.

Reporters are invited to the new residence hall at 835 W. Grace St. on Friday, Aug. 24, at 10:30 a.m. Vice Provost of the Division of Community Engagement Cathy Howard, Associate Vice Provost of and Dean of Student Affairs Reuban Rodriguez, Executive Director of Residential Life and Housing Curtis Erwin and VCU ASPiRE Executive Director Mary Slade will be available to answer questions about VCU ASPiRE and the new residence hall. Afterward, media will be able to visit with selected students and have a guided tour of the building.  

Some parking spaces have been reserved for media on Shafer Street between Franklin and Grace streets. Contact VCU’s Office of Public Affairs at 828-1231 for more information.

ASPiRE is a four-semester, community engagement-focused, living-learning community for sophomores and juniors. The first program of its kind at VCU, ASPiRE aims to enrich and deepen students’ understanding of their capacity to create positive change in communities through the connection of course work, co-curricular activities and a vibrant residential experience. ASPiRE students will be involved in projects with community partners to address community-identified needs in four areas: education, health, sustainability and vibrant communities.

Students selected for ASPiRE live on the first two floors of the new residence hall.

The West Grace South Apartments residence hall includes 112 apartment style rooms with washers, dryers and kitchens; 23 study lounges; 13 common lounges; and more than 6,000 square feet of program classroom, meeting and office space on the first floor.

The new residence hall will be joined in August 2013 by another learning-living residence hall directly across Grace Street on the north side. These buildings, along with the current Honors College, located on Grace and Laurel, form the Grace Street Village concept.