students moving in

Fall semester kicks off with a roadmap for safety and well-being

August 16, 2021

CAMPUS LIFE

The University of Richmond is preparing to kick off its in-person, residential educational experience for the 2021–22 academic year. New and returning students have been arriving to campus for the past several days, and classes begin on Aug. 23.

As it has from the beginning of the pandemic, the University — which also provided in-person education during the entire 2020–21 academic year — has established numerous COVID-19 health and safety protocols and will adjust as needed to align with prevailing conditions.

The University announced in June that students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated as soon as one of the vaccines is granted full FDA approval, subject to exemptions. The University has strongly encouraged the COVID-19 vaccine since it became widely available. Currently, 96% of students have reported their vaccination status, 93% of whom are fully vaccinated. 98% of faculty and staff have reported their vaccination status, 92% of whom are fully vaccinated.

“A signature component of our residential educational experience is the faculty-student and student-student interactions in face-to-face environments such as the classroom, lab, studio, advising, and outdoor learning spaces,” said Jeff Legro, executive vice president and provost. “We are excited to continue reestablishing these signature learning experiences for UR’s students as we embark on the year ahead, and we will continue to evaluate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and hold our community’s health and well-being as our top concern.”

The University is opening in the Lime Stage of its Physical Distancing Framework, which allows for in-person classes while maintaining protective measures that support the health and safety of the community. The University will return to nearly 100% fully in-person classes and will not offer remote study during the 2021­–22 academic year.

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