As You Move Off Campus Guide

Click on one of the letters above for information.

A guide for Virginia Tech Students: What you need to know as you move into off-campus housing in Blacksburg, VA.

Published by:

Virginia Tech
Office of Student Programs

with assistance from:

University Unions and Student Activities/Off-Campus Housing Center
Town of Blacksburg/Planning & Engineering and Police Departments
Town/Gown Community Relations Committee

Letter From Dr. Spencer

Dear Student:

Both Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg welcome you to the Blacksburg Community. Other students and community members suggested that it would be helpful to have a publication which summarizes some of the important information which you should know as you move out of residence halls and/or live off campus for the first time as a university student. With considerable input from students, staff, community members, and Town of Blacksburg officials, this publication has been prepared. It is not designed to be a comprehensive publication, but rather one we believe covers the most critical issues that you are likely to face as an off-campus student.

We invite you to consult a number of web pages which are relevant and may be helpful to you:

• Virginia Tech
• Student Programs
• Town of Blacksburg
• Blacksburg Electronic Village
• Virginia Tech Off-Campus Housing Center
• Student Legal Services

Moving off campus changes your responsibilities and opportunities in many ways from on-campus living. You will be responsible for getting and cooking your own food, paying your rent and utilities each month, and being thoughtful about living in a civic community. Some advantages of off-campus life are greater access to town facilities, more opportunities to use personal transportation, and a greater sense of self-reliance. The most important benefit may be that you will be a neighbor to those around you.

You can enjoy the friendship of your neighbors and have the opportunity to be a friend to them. Membership in this kind of neighborly community includes many intangible benefits. Your main responsibility is to be a good neighbor who is considerate. Most neighborhoods have a character that is unique and choosing to live in a neighborhood means that you also choose to adopt that character. So, look at what your neighbors do about maintaining property, parking cars, having parties and getting together, and try your best to fit in. Good neighbors make lifelong friends. This will enrich your time in Blacksburg and your experience as a student.

We hope that your off-campus experience will be a positive one for you and we invite you to call upon the various resources outlined in this publication for assistance as you need it.

Sincerely,

Edward F. D. Spencer, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

EFDS/rmr

Resources

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Main Switchboard: 231-6000

Off-Campus Housing Center: 231-3466 (121 Squires)

Student Legal Services: 231-4720 (143 Squires)

Student Programs: 231-6207 (109 E. Eggleston)

Town Of Blacksburg

Town of Blacksburg Main Switchboard: 961-1100

Blacksburg Transit: 961-1185 (2800 Commerce Street)

Fire Department: 911 (Emergency)
961-1175 (Non-Emergency - Price's Fork Road)

Planning & Building Department: 961-1126 (300 South Main Street)

Police Department: 911 (Emergency)
961-1150 (Non-Emergency - 200 West Clay Street)

Rescue Squad: 911 (Emergency)
961-1189 (Non-Emergency - 200 Progress Street)

Town Parks and Recreation: 961-1135 (615 Patrick Henry Drive)

Town Services:

Public Works Department (Water/Sewer/Refuse/Recycling): 961-1119

Special curbside collections (bulky debris, yard waste, leaves, brush): 961-1142

Move Off Campus Intro

Letter From Dr. Spencer

Resources

Back to Publications and Policies