Virginia State UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Virginia State University. Free for students.

University in Petersburg, VA. Operating on a semester system.

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5K+

Total Enrollment

University

Institution Type

14

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall Semester 2026

The semester, explained for Virginia State University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall Semester 2026
Campus terms
26
Local details
18

Academic calendar

Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 4, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

13 entries
  1. Summer Semester 2026 Session I
  2. Summer Semester 2026 Session III
  3. Summer Semester 2026 Session II
  4. Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
  5. Fall Semester 2026 Term I (8-week)
  6. Fall Semester 2026 Term II (8-week)
  7. Winter Term 2026
  8. Spring Semester 2027
  9. Spring Semester 2027 Term I (8-week)
  10. Spring Semester 2027 Term II (8-week)
  11. Summer Semester 2027 Session I
  12. Summer Semester 2027 Session III
  13. Summer Semester 2027 Session II

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

26 terms

1

1882
The founding year of the university, frequently used in chants, social media, and apparel.

B

Branch
Branch Hall, a residence hall typically housing upperclassmen.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, responsible for organizing student events and concerts.

D

Dining Dollars
Funds specifically designated for use at on-campus retail food outlets.

F

Flex
Flex Dollars, declining balance funds attached to a student's meal plan for use at retail locations.
Foster
Foster Hall, which houses retail dining options like Subway and Chick-fil-A.

G

Gateway
Gateway II, a suite-style residence hall often preferred by upperclassmen.
Greater Happens Here
The official university tagline, often used by students to describe campus achievements.

J

Jones
Jones Dining Hall, the primary all-you-care-to-eat dining facility on campus.

L

Land of Troy
A poetic nickname for the VSU campus and its community.
Langston
Langston Hall, a residence hall named after John Mercer Langston.

M

M100
The Marching 100, Virginia State University's renowned marching band.

N

NPHC
National Pan-Hellenic Council, representing the 'Divine Nine' historically Black Greek-letter organizations.

O

Orange and Blue
The official school colors, used as a shorthand for school spirit and identity.

R

RHA
Residence Hall Association, representing students living on campus.

S

SAAC
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, representing the interests of VSU's student-athletes.
SGA
Student Government Association, the primary representative body for the student voice.

T

The Caf
Common student shorthand for Jones Dining Hall.
The Grill
The Trojan Grill, a retail dining location offering burgers, wings, and late-night options.
The Hill
A common nickname for the VSU campus, referring to its elevated geography overlooking the Appomattox River.
The P.O.D.
Provisions on Demand, a campus convenience store for snacks and essentials.
The Quad
The Quad Hall, a modern residence facility consisting of four wings.
Trojan
The official mascot and the term used to describe a VSU student.
Trojan Land
A term of endearment for the VSU campus and its community culture.

V

VAB
VSU Activities Board, the student-led group responsible for planning campus events and concerts.

W

Whiting
Whiting Hall, a residence hall on campus.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

18 details
Banner
The self-service student portal used for registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
Blackboard
The learning management system where professors post syllabi, assignments, and grades.
chick_fil_a
Chick-fil-A
Foster
Foster Hall, the student union building housing the ballroom and student activity offices.
Gandy
Gandy Hall, the building housing the College of Agriculture and various labs.
gateway_dining_hall
Gateway Dining Hall
Hunter-McDaniel
The main science building housing biology, chemistry, and physics departments.
Johnston
Johnston Memorial Library, the main academic library on campus.
jones_dining_hall
Jones Dining Hall
MPC
The Multi-Purpose Center, the university's arena for basketball and major events.
Singleton
Singleton Hall, the primary building for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
starbucks
Starbucks
subway
Subway
The Loop
The campus shuttle service that transports students between various points on campus.
The MPC
The Multi-Purpose Center, the arena used for basketball games, concerts, and graduation.
Trojan Card
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
Trojan Express
The campus shuttle service that transports students around the university grounds.
VSU Alert
The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety or weather closures.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 4, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
26 approved campus terms and 18 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · Virginia State University

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What we’ll email you about

  • Aug 1

    Fall Tuition and Fees Payment Deadline

    Required · source

  • Aug 1

    Mandatory Immunization Records Submission

    Required · source

  • Aug 12

    New Student Move-In Day

    Required · source

  • Aug 31

    Health Insurance Waiver Deadline

    Recommended · source

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  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

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Using DormWay at Virginia State University

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Virginia State University on DormWay

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Life in Petersburg for Virginia State University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Petersburg.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$950

Cost of Living Index

90

Student Population

4,600

City Transportation

Walkability

55

Bikeability

45

Public Transit

Petersburg Area Transit (bus), Amtrak service via nearby Ettrick station (regional rail)

Nearest Airports

Richmond International Airport (regional primary), Dinwiddie County Airport (general aviation)

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

57°F

Avg Snowfall

6 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Lot 42

surface_lot

Designated lot for permit holders.

University Apartments at Ettrick (UAE) Lot

surface_lot

Requires a specific UAE permit ($225/year) in addition to a VSU campus decal for on-campus parking.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Virginia State University

2026 VSU Homecoming Alumni Day Party

July 31, 2026

Petersburg, VA

Homecoming Alumni Day Party presented by Dr. Shandra Cain and Dr. Michael Rainey.

WWE presents: NXT LIVE

August 15, 2026

VSU Multi-Purpose Center

NXT LIVE comes to Petersburg for the first time ever featuring WWE NXT Superstars.

Fall Semester Term I Classes Begin

August 17, 2026

Campus-wide

Official start of classes for the Fall 2026 semester Term I.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Virginia State University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

14 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Branch Hall

Capacity: 197

Room types: single, double, triple

Byrd Hall

Eggleston Hall

Gateway Hall

Langston Hall

Lucretia Campbell Hall

Magnolia Residence Hall

Capacity: 450

Moore Hall

Capacity: 499

Room types: Suite A (4-person single), Suite B (4-person double), Suite C (2-person single), Suite D (1-person single)

Otelia Howard Hall

Capacity: 254

Room types: single, double

Residence halls total

Capacity: 586

Room types: double, single

Seward Hall

VSU Quad I

Capacity: 458

Room types: single, triple

Whiting Hall

Williams Hall

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@vsu.edu

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