Mold closes VCU dorm, displacing more than 400 students

By The Associated Press
November 30, 2021 | 8:47 AM

RICHMOND, Va. — Hundreds of Virginia Commonwealth University students have been displaced after elevated levels of mold were found in a freshman dormitory.

News outlets report that VCU announced last week that Johnson Hall will remain closed for the rest of the academic year.

The move is displacing 414 students.

They can cancel their housing contracts or be relocated by the university.

After students reported concerns about humidity, moisture and mold in the 106-year-old building in September, a contractor found elevated levels of mold in a small percentage of rooms and affected students were relocated.

But in early November, further testing found elevated spore counts in 18% of the 228 spaces tested.

Howard University president says more than 200 students readmitted after mass unenrollment

By The Associated Press
July 29, 2026 | 6:20 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The interim president of Howard University said over 200 of the more than 500 first-year incoming students who were unenrolled for the fall semester have been readmitted to the Washington, D.C. school. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Wayne A. I. Frederick defended the way the historically Black university handled the initial unenrollment, saying many students and their families apparently misunderstood the communicated financial obligations they were expected to meet before the start of instruction in August. “There were no issues as far as what we communicated," Frederick said, adding that the school had been clear since March about unpaid balances for tuition that were due by mid-July. Students who were unenrolled for financial reasons had outstanding tuition balances after their financial aid and scholarships were applied, he said. Others were unenrolled because of unreported immunizations.

Related Stories

Historic divinity school is offering the first doctoral degree in ‘AI and Moral Agency’

Investigation revealed 'devastating' reports of sexual misconduct at school supported by Epstein

Community colleges brace for local cuts after Texas funding shortchanges them millions

Howard U. interim president says more than 200 students reenrolled of 502 who received email

Wisconsin's appeals court overturns ruling that had restored collective bargaining power