To whom it may concern,

It is in times of challenge and controversy that we are presented with the true reality, character, and intentions of those in positions in power. Unfortunately, as students, we have been let down in a vicious cycle. Due to this, our university has shown their true intentions, and that they are not interested in our well being: only in their profits.

As a result of the ongoing pandemic, VCU has had to shut down both campuses entirely; removing most students from their housing assignments regardless of circumstances, closing all on-campus facilities, and moving all courses online. However, VCU announced via a COVID-19 update on its website (with no email notification) that college students will have to pay for the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees for the 2020 Spring semester, which fails to protect one of the most important pillars of communication and trust: transparency. Seeing as most students are ineligible for the government-issued stimulus checks, many of our peers will struggle with significant financial burdens throughout this time. 

We do not have access to either libraries, nor do we have access to any VCU Health facilities, the Recreational Sports Facilities and a plethora of other resources. These are mandatory fees that are included along with our tuition but seeing as we have been moved to online-courses, there is no reason why we should pay for these resources; especially in the midst of a pandemic. Many of the resources we have been offered as students are only available via Zoom and are extremely limited in their capabilities.

The burdens students face from this crisis are seemingly insurmountable; many of us are unemployed, have parents/guardians who have been laid off, in toxic home environments, social isolation and facing severe mental repercussions from the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of this, they still must continue to focus on their now online classes with course-loads expected to increase throughout the semester. This is the time for the university to extend its resources back to the student body. This is the time for the VCU community to come together and support each other instead of finding ways to maintain its bottom line. 

We are demanding that in addition to prorated Housing and Dining Plan refunds, students are additionally granted prorated refunds from the multiple university fees and a portion of their tuition back. If students could just get a fraction of those fees and tuition back, they will be able to support themselves and ease at least some of the financial stress they have faced in this time. This demand is not exclusive to Virginia Commonwealth University, students across the country are asking for similar conditions to be met from their respective administrations. It would behoove VCU to be proactive in this effort to support its students, instead of resorting to impersonal and reactive emails and social media responses. Now is the time to listen to what students are asking for and to support them accordingly.

Sincerely, 

Concerned Students