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What do Spiders do all summer?
From our classrooms to our residence halls, from the Modlin Center to Robins Stadium, I am so grateful to our incredible staff and faculty for working smart and steadily 12 months a year. While routines shift between commencement and move-in, Spiders can be particularly active in the summer.
Summer is the busiest season for our facilities colleagues who repair, renovate, build, and maintain spaces on campus. Between May and August, they will manage 50 active projects, from completing key renovations to Boatwright Memorial Library (including an expanded 8:15 Café and Lora Robins Gallery) to updating classrooms and labs, roads and walkways, sports fields and locker rooms.
The Heilman Dining Center team continues serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to hungry Spiders. Colleagues in the SpiderShop continue selling gear to fans of Spider Nation. Many students also continue learning.
“Thanks to our Spider community, our university’s best days are ahead.”
Hundreds of students take summer classes, and hundreds more participate in faculty-mentored research or internships thanks to donors and the Richmond Guarantee. This summer, staff and faculty will also support some students as they continue learning in France, Indonesia, Japan, Latvia, and elsewhere. (An astonishing 70% of UR students will graduate with international experience!) While some faculty will continue teaching and mentoring, many will also develop creative projects, complete research grants, visit archives, and attend conferences.
Onboarding the incoming class is another significant undertaking. Our admissions team ensures that incoming Spiders register for fall classes and begin to plan a course of study. Our student development colleagues put the finishing touches on signature programming to enhance orientation and campus life.
Finally, continuing to strengthen our engagement with the Richmond region, we welcome competitors, supporters, and spectators for the Virginia Special Olympics and youth for 25 sports camps. We also welcome thousands of alumni and families back to campus for Reunion Weekend — some visiting from a few miles away and others traveling across the country or even across the globe to connect with fellow Spiders.
In addition to these vital efforts, Spiders are encouraged to set aside time over the summer, when possible, to prioritize well-being. While I will be working to secure funds to continue our momentum and planning for our future, I also look forward to spending a bit of time with Tina, our family, and friends on Cape Cod as we prepare to welcome our first grandchild in the fall.
Thank you for all you do for Richmond. I remain confident that, thanks to our Spider community, our university’s best days are ahead.