Update from The Commons

My name is David Greene, I am the Director of University Student Commons & Activities, aka The Commons. Our mission here at VCU is to promote student development by building community. 

After almost two decades in higher education, I can honestly say that never has this mission of building community been more critical than right now. I assure you that my staff of more than 40 full-time student affairs professionals and graduate assistants is committed to supporting and engaging you and our community. 

I am so very sorry for the uncertainty that many of you are feeling right now. My husband and I are the parents of a college student, and we see how this is impacting our own daughter at this extraordinarily ominous time. 

We recognize that as student leaders, artists, writers, performers, and researchers need the support of our VCU community and staff more than ever.  With courage, community, innovation, and commitment we will get through this.

I assure you that my team and I will work tirelessly to rebuild our community in new ways, and I am confident that these efforts will, in time, strengthen our bond. 

We are vigorously working to develop new, virtual means for connecting our VCU community and will be hosting some virtual events in the coming weeks. Whatever it takes, we are committed to safeguarding, strengthening and inspiring a strong VCU community. 

If you need anything, please use this directory for The Commons staff link. We welcome your ideas and engagement. We are here for you. We work for you and with you.

Attention Student Org Leaders:  Reserve Space for Your 2020-2021 Events

EMS will open exclusively to student organizations to reserve space for 2020-2021 in The Commons, Hunton, and Larrick on Monday, April 6.

Starting on April 6,  EMS will be open for students orgs to reserve space before opening EMS to the VCU community.  After May 4, student orgs can still reserve space but the EMS system will also be open to the VCU community. 

Any event organizer who needs help with event management or with reservations in the VCU EMS system may email uscaevent@vcu.edu or call 804.828.9502. We are always happy to help you with EMS and space reservation needs.  

Virtual Drop-in Hours for Student Orgs

For student organizations, The Underground and The Hub Student Organization Resource Centers now have virtual office hours from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.  Student org leaders schedule a virtual meeting here. 

Topics include but are not limited to: funding requests; reimbursements; student organization re-registration; elections on RamsConnect; and, online engagement.

New Deadline for the 2020 Student Leadership Awards: Nominations Now Accepted through Friday, April 3, 2020

All are invited to nominate VCU undergrad, graduate and professional students for outstanding contributions to student organizations, community service and co-curricular excellence.

New awarded added Creativity at Work Business Student Organization Award

Link to nomination forms.

What Does The Commons Do at VCU? 

University Student Commons & Activities, known as USC&A or The Commons, is a department of the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.  As a department, The Commons staff coordinate:

• all facilities and operations and all events in The Commons, Larrick Student Center and Hunton Student Center
• activities related to student organizations and student governance including SGA
• RamsConnect, an online platform and App for VCU events and activities 
• activities related to all Fraternities & Sororities 
• all programs supported by the Student Leadership & Engagement Office which include programs managed by the Activities Programming Board
• EMS, an online scheduling portal, which is used to reserve VCU’s campus spaces including classrooms, conference rooms, theaters, outdoor meeting spaces, and athletic fields/courts

COVID-19 Updates at The Commons

You probably know all of this by now, but just in case, here are the official COVID-19 announcements from The Commons:

Use of all university facilities and any off-campus locations for all fraternity and sorority chapters, student organizations and sports clubs is suspended until further notice. This includes:

• University Student Commons, Hunton Student Center, Larrick Student Center and academic and other spaces scheduled by Event Services
• Events related to student organizations and gatherings both on and off-campus
• Any meetings of organizations, events, parties, ceremonies, initiations, community service or any other activities affiliated with your organization

Major events affiliated with The Commons are cancelled including:

• Intercultural Festival
• CUPSI Poetry Slam Invitational
• Alternative Breaks
• US Census Day
• Student Leadership Retreat
• Expedition RVA programs
• Greek Week
• Storytelling Week

The Commons staff is working to expand virtual programming.  Stay tuned!

Helpful Links and Resources

The Commons Staff will communicate updates related to changes in facility hours, programming, and services on our website as well as our social media:

RamsConnect 
EMS VCU Space Reservations
The Commons Website
The Commons Updates 
The Commons Staff Directory
Instagram @vcucommons 
Facebook @VCUStudentCommons
Linktree 

Further resources are available through VCU’s COVID-19 Site which can also be accessed through the VCU Homepage and the VCU Alert page. 

Additional information is available through the Division of Student Affairs COVID-18 Student FAQs.

The VCU COVID-19 website and the VCU Health COVID-19 website are updated throughout the day and contain links to other VCU websites and approved resource links. 

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