COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Latest updates

Virus graphic

3/16/2020 2:42 p.m.

Because of ongoing and expanding threats related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Virginia Commonwealth University has altered our academic calendar and other university policies to help protect the health, well-being, and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and those in the community we serve.

This site is updated throughout the day as information is decided. The most recent information will be labeled as NEW.

For questions about the impact of COVID-19 on VCU and VCU Health, please contact us at covid-19@vcu.edu.

Special Announcement: COVID-19 confirmed case

NEW: VCU has been informed that a person who attended a program at VCU’s Larrick Center on March 5 and 6 recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports that the individual, who is not a VCU, VCUHS employee or a student, is self-quarantined at home.

VCU is working with VDH. To the best of our knowledge, the individual did not have symptoms while attending the program. VDH indicated that based on the individual’s circumstances, the risk is low to program participants as well as the broader VCU and VCU Health System community.

For more details, please visit: https://blog.president.vcu.edu/2020/03/15/covid-19-update-confirmed-case/

Academics and classes

  • The Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences issued a message to the VCU College of Health Professions, School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy about a number of modifications to its initial response so as to maximize the safety of all our students, faculty and staff. For full details, visit: https://healthsciences.vcu.edu/covid-19-/ .
  • Monroe Park Campus’s spring break has been extended an additional week, March 16-20. All students are strongly encouraged to not return and remain at home, if possible. Students who must remain on campus should visit https://housing.vcu.edu/announcements/coronavirus/ for more information.
  • When the semester resumes March 23, classes will be taught remotely for the foreseeable future using digital resources such as Blackboard, videoconferencing, online programs, etc. Faculty should note that a resource-heavy website, Keep on Teaching, launched recently to aid in preparing and planning for their courses. This resource site will be continually updated.
  • Clinical placements will proceed as planned.
  • Professors will reach out to their students with further details and instructions specific to their classes, labs, and studios.
  • Other, more-specific details will be shared soon. In the meantime, please contact your dean’s office if you need further information or have questions specific to your programs or courses.

Campus operations

  • NEW: VCU Health announced that effective immediately, all routine visitation is suspended until the transmission of COVID-19 is no longer a threat to our patients, visitors and team members. For everyone’s safety, no visitors will be allowed who: have any symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat or difficulty breathing; have returned from any of the COVID-19 high-risk countries or regions within the last 14 days; have been exposed to COVID-19; or are under 16 years of age. For full details, visit: https://www.vcuhealth.org/news-center/news-story?&news=1587
  • NEW: Effective March 16, the VCU Dental Clinics are closed until further notice for all treatment except to provide emergency care. The length of closure is not known at this time. For updates, please visit: https://vcudentalcare.com/covid19/
  • All Recreational Sports’ facilities will be closed beginning Sunday March 15 through Sunday March 22. For details, visit: https://recsports.vcu.edu/about/news/post-title-385604-en.html.
  • The Office of the Provost and the Vice President for Administration issued an update on decisions and information that are important to maintaining operational and academic continuity of the university. The message includes information on teleworking, flexible scheduling and other social distancing to prevent infection spread, as well as VCU operations and more. For details, visit: https://news.vcu.edu/article/university_operations_update.  
  • The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation has issued guidance for research continuity to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the VCU research enterprise. For more information, visit https://research.vcu.edu/covid-19.
  • Residential Life and Housing has distributed a message to VCU students with additional information about on-campus housing in connection to the extension of spring break through Sunday, March 22 and the shift of all undergraduate classes to remote instruction beginning Monday, March 23. For details, visit: https://housing.vcu.edu/announcements/coronavirus/.
  • Both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses remain open and will operate as usual. Normal work hours for employees are expected in the weeks ahead. However, employees and their supervisors may discuss telework agreements when possible. For details, visit: https://hr.vcu.edu/covid-19/
  • Information about dining and student services will be forthcoming. Please contact these offices if you have questions or concerns about in-person appointments.
  • VCUarts Qatar is moving to a fully virtual, online work model for all of their employees. Starting Monday, March 16, VCUarts Qatar’s buildings will be accessible only to designated essential personnel. Previously, VCUarts Qatar announced it was suspending on-campus instruction and move to a remote model of operation. More information can be found at: https://www.qatar.vcu.edu/coronavirus-updates. 
  • Research facilities will remain operating as normal.

Travel

  • University-sponsored out-of-state travel, both domestic and international, is suspended until further notice. This includes faculty, staff and students.
  • For their own personal health and safety, members of the VCU community are encouraged to limit personal travel.
  • For more travel updates, visit: https://blogs.vcu.edu/covid-19-coronavirus/student-and-employee-travel/

University events

  • VCU Athletics announced that in response to concerns related to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Atlantic 10 Conference has canceled all spring competitions and championships for member schools. During this time, VCU student-athletes will be permitted to work out. In addition, athletic training, sports psychology and other services will be available to student-athletes. For more information, visit: https://vcuathletics.com/general/2019-20/releases/20200312tdt67t.
  • Effective immediately, university events that include more than 100 people are cancelled until April 15. For smaller events, please consider rescheduling or online alternatives when possible, and please take every necessary precaution to prevent the spread of infection.
  • The VCU Office of Alumni Relations announced that VCU events in New York City around the A-10 tournament have been canceled. For more information, visit https://enews.vcualumni.org/2020/03/vcu-cancels-a-10-events.html.

About this site

This is a rapidly changing situation, and we know you have questions. We are working to answer those questions and will be communicating with you directly on an ongoing basis as plans and procedures are finalized.

VCU’s Incident Coordination Team and VCU Health System’s Coronavirus Task Force are working together around the clock to monitor and update response plans.

We remain in close contact with the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and continue to take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of our students, patients, faculty and staff.

In the meantime, this site is updated at least once a day and includes the latest university actions, information, and recommendations. VCU Health also maintains a COVID-19 website that includes frequently asked questions and additional resources.

Non-discrimination policy

Virginia Commonwealth University remains committed to promoting a culture of inclusion for all its employees, patients and students. Discrimination or discriminatory harassment is not only unlawful, but it is harmful to the well-being of our university community. We are aware of the news reports regarding bullying, harassment and stereotyping of Chinese Americans and persons of Asian descent in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19). There is no place for this sort of behavior, especially not at VCU. Our university values, specifically those related to diversity and inclusion, have withstood many difficult situations and trying times, and they will not falter now.

Please be assured that VCU will make every effort to prevent the occurence of unlawful discrimination and, if necessary, take prompt and appropriate action to remedy and prevent its reoccurence. Every member of our community is asked to:

  • Become familiar with the university’s policy on preventing and responding to discrimination in the VCU Policy Library. 
  • Consult with Equity and Access Services or VCU Human Resources for additional guidance on how to maintain a bias-free environment.
  • Encourage individuals affected by this type of misconduct to file a report of discrimination or harassment with Equity and Access Services.
  • Bookmark and share information on university or community agencies that offer support or services, such as VCU Counseling Services.
  • Offer nonjudgmental support and empathy to those affected.