In Fall 2024, a group of Virginia State University students were temporarily housed at Richard Bland College due to limited on-campus housing.
While VSU strives to accommodate all students, off-campus placements are sometimes necessary. Housing availability often changes after the first semester as students unenroll, transfer or switch dorms. For some, the rural setting of Richard Bland College offered a unique experience.
Only a few out of more than one hundred students, like Angel Patino, were satisfied with their housing at Richard Bland College.
“I found it unique that you do not have to use money on food at their bookstore, you basically use flex for it. I was able to buy snacks without ever having to pull out a dime, said Patino.”
The housing at Richard Bland College is structured where students that are housed in dorms also have a Residence Assistant (RA). Student Zaria Graham who is a RA, lived at Richard Bland for a semester.
“Something unique about residing at RBC was having access to a school store that sold groceries under a flex dollar system. Having the convenience to purchase groceries for free was definitely a blessing to have during my stay, said Graham.”
Before transitioning from Richard Bland College (RBC) to Virginia State University (VSU), very few students found the dorms’ quiet atmosphere and cleanliness to their liking.
For Patino, living off-campus at RBC offered a more peaceful and less stressful environment.
“Unlike the open campus at VSU, RBC rarely dealt with rave alerts or concerns over illegal activities,” Patino said.
Also students at RBC had access to gyms and various campus facilities, similar to those offered at VSU, to meet their needs and interests.
Although RBC is just a few miles from VSU, students had access to transportation through the VSU shuttle service, or, for those who could, they drove their own vehicles.
“As an RA at RBC, I primarily relied on the VSU shuttle to get to campus. However, when the shuttle was running late or during off-hours, I had to rely on Uber,” Graham said.
Moving back on campus was fairly smooth for students who had been away.
“When I moved back on campus, I did not feel like I had to readjust myself because I am highly acclimated to VSU’s campus,” Graham said.
Even though some VSU students have finished their stay at RBC, there are still students residing there.
It’s clear that while some logistical adjustments were necessary, most students, like Graham and Patino managed to adapt without difficulty. The availability of transportation options and the opportunity to stay on campus made the process smoother for many. With students continue to reside at RBC even after the move, it’s evident that the shift, though significant, was not as disruptive as it may have seemed.
