The VMI Pandemic Task Force and Institute leadership continue to monitor the latest information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). Based on the analysis of the current COVID-19 situation, changes to operations, events, and protocols may occur throughout the school year. Increased cleaning and sanitizing protocols have been implemented across all aspects of cadet life, and leadership has identified key areas for social distancing enforcement to maintain safety throughout the course of physical training and activities required of all cadets.
This website will be updated as new information regarding the coronavirus and its impact on the Institute is available. Cadets are encouraged to be signed up for emergency alerts through the VMI Mass Notification System to receive a phone call and text with emergency information. For questions or more information, contact coronavirus@vmi.edu
The health and safety of the corps of cadets, faculty, and staff is our top priority.
Ensuring the health and safety of the entire VMI community while operating in a COVID-19 environment requires modifications to virtually all aspects of the VMI experience. The Institute continues to monitor and follow best practices and guidelines from the CDC, governor's office, and local health officials. Further information is available in VMI’s .
Wear Face Coverings if not vaccinated
Wash Hands Frequently
Maintain Social Distancing
Monitor Your Health
Cadets experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms need to inform the Infirmary. Medical staff will determine the next steps of testing, isolation, quarantine, and/or contact tracing.
To ensure the safety and health of the VMI community during the COVID pandemic, all employee and contractor COVID case reporting will process through Col. Jay Williams, Director of Emergency Management office. Please use the following process:
At this time, face coverings are required for non-vaccinated cadets, faculty, staff, and visitors at all times while on Post. Exceptions for those not vaccinated are when a cadet is in his or her own room in barracks and when an employee is alone in his or her office.
The Institute Physician and our VMI Infirmary team are critical to successful continuation of in-person learning at VMI. They are also responsible for supervising the isolation of any cadets diagnosed with COVID-19 and the quarantining of any cadets determined through contact tracing, to have had close contact with an infected person. Finally, the Institute Physician and his staff, in coordination with Human Resources and Emergency Management, developed COVID-19 training that has been completed by the entire VMI community upon return to Post.
The VMI community is also kept up-to-date on local vaccination clinics in the Rockbridge area through e-mails from Institute administrators.
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To best protect cadets, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors, Virginia Military Institute will require cadets to get a COVID-19 vaccine, allowing for more normal operations in a safe way, including dining, extracurricular activities, physical training, and classes. Full details regarding requirements, documentation, and upcoming vaccination clinic schedules are avaiable: COVID-19 Vaccine Protocols.
This decision was made thoughtfully and through a lot of discussion and research with the hope that distancing, mask inventories, and high-volume testing are things of the past.
While the Institute continues to test and track cases as appropriate during summer courses and programs, the dashboard will not be utilized from May 17 - Matriculation. New reported cases will be tracked in the table below, but rolling average data will also be on hold at this time.
Please note: The positive COVID-19 cases listed below are those that have been officially reported to VMI. This list does not include any case status information from cadets, faculty, or staff which has not been reported to the Institute. Also, this page auto-refreshes every 10 minutes, but you may want to refresh your browser manually each day based on your personal cache settings.
Operational Status Updates and Cancellations
| Facility | Status |
|---|---|
| Cocke Hall | CLOSED to the General Public |
| Corps Physical Training Facility | CLOSED to the General Public |
| Cormack Hall | CLOSED to the General Public |
| George C. Marshall Research Library | The George C. Marshall Research Library is open to researchers by appointment only. |
| Preston Library | CLOSED to the General Public |
| Jackson House | Visit the house, located at 8 East Washington Street, from 0900-1700 Thursday–Monday. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the house, visit the vegetable garden, and spend time in a new orientation/gift store that includes an exhibit area focusing on Jackson and his family. For more information: stonewalljacksonhouse@vmi.edu, 540-464-7704. |
| VMI Museum | 9-5 Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) |
| Virginia Museum of the Civil War | Open seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
Up-to-date information about public events can be found on the VMI Calendar. If your event is not listed there, it is still scheduled to occur as planned. For more information about events that have been changed or cancelled, contact the office responsible for the event:
VMI thanks you for your patience and understanding as decisions are made and as we continue to operate as an educational institution. Previous post-wide notices can be found on our Previous Communications page.
COVID-19 information, including mask directives and updates from the mayor, is available from the City of Lexington.
Answer: In accordance with the governor’s updated guidance on the use of face coverings, cadets, faculty, and staff who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear face coverings on post. Those who are not fully vaccinated must continue wear a mask including at large outdoor gatherings including commissioning, awards ceremonies, and graduation. The CDC considers people fully vaccinated two weeks after they have received the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson). For those not vaccinated:
Non-vaccinated cadets may remove their facial coverings when:
Non-vaccinated faculty, staff, and employees may remove their facial coverings when:
